What is Traditional Belly Binding

What is “Diastasis Recti”?

“Diastasis Recti” is very common during and following pregnancy. This is because the uterus stretches the muscles in the abdomen to accommodate your growing baby, belly sticks out because the space between your left and right belly muscles has widened.

Common signs of “Diastasis Recti” during the postpartum period are:

A visible bulge or “pooch” that protrudes just above or below the belly button
Difficult lifting objects
Pain during sex
Pelvic or hip pain
Low back pain
Poor posture
Urine leaking when you sneeze or cough
Constipation
Feeling weak in your abdominals

What is Traditional Belly Binding?

Traditional "Jamu"Belly Binding treatment is an age-old treatment that originated before the 17th century. It is a traditional Malaysian/Indonesian approach to natural postpartum care. Due to hormonal and physiological changes during pregnancy, the pelvis expands, the buttocks become wider, the uterus is enlarged, the internal pressure is displaced, and the belly is distended.

Once the mother’s rectus abdominal muscles are pulled apart by the growing belly during pregnancy, this separation makes it difficult for the abdomen to return to its original state without intervention. Hence, Tanamera’s traditional method of abdominal binding is specifically designed to effectively target and resolve this underlying issue.

Traditional Belly Binding provides many benefits to the postpartum mother. This includes helping to alleviate uterine contractions and repair the separation in the rectus abdominis muscles (Diastasis Recti).

Belly Binding Benefits

Supports pelvic floor, can assist in pelvic floor rehabilitation and improves urine leaking problem
Supports the abdominal muscles and heals diastasis recti/abdominal separation
Provides back support, can help relieve back pain
Eliminates wind & gas and edema
Restores the skeletal frame, stabilizes the positions of organs and returns to pre-pregnancy size

Malaysian Belly Binding Method vs Indonesian Binding Method

There are 2 kinds of Abdominal Binding techniques in Malaysia. One is the traditional knot method, and the other is the shoelace girdle method.

The Traditional Knot

This Abdominal Binding method is relatively complicated. It requires using tens of meters of cloth to bind the belly one section at a time, and there is a chance that the knots can come undone if not secured correctly. It also requires wrapping an extra layer of cloth on top of the initial binding. Since each knot needs to be secured firmly, it may cause some level of discomfort. Also, as the lower section is left unwrapped for ease of bathroom use, the buttocks are not completely covered in this technique. This in turn hinders the effective repair of the enlarged hips and pelvic bones postpartum.

Hence, very few mothers in Malaysia use the traditional knot method, but opt for the shoelace girdle method instead which is comfortable as well as effective.

The Shoelace Girdle

This binding method is easy to do, and you can easily bind your abdominal at home with this technique. The fabric used is unbleached and dyed cotton, which is firmer in texture and much more breathable, and helps to support the entire waist and pelvic floor. When tied correctly from the buttocks to the base of the chest, this method can help to repair the separation of enlarged trabecular bones, as well as the pelvis, sternum and rectus abdominis.

Most postpartum mothers in Malaysia have now switched to Tanamera Binder which can be easily used at home to achieve a sculpted abdominal and physique. Going to the bathroom is easy too as all you will need to do is unfasten the black button attached.

Indonesian Bali Belly Binding Method

The cloth used in the Indonesian Bali binding method is relatively rigid, and is secured from the pelvis (around the mid-section of the buttocks) up to the base of the chest.

This form of binding restricts the abdominal area and makes it difficult to bend over. And just like the traditional knot method, there is a chance of the binding coming undone which in can in turn adversely affect the repair of the pelvic floor and rectus abdominis muscles.

Additionally, the belly mask used in Bali, Indonesia usually only consists of shell powder, lime juice, and peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils to drain, detoxify and tighten the abdomen, which is far less than what Tanamera Malayisa’s “Jamu” blend contains.

Tanamera Malaysia Natural Belly Firming Mask

Tanamera Malaysia’s “Jamu” belly firming mask is a very important and indispensable component in our traditional belly binding treatment!

"Jamu" in literal translation means herbal medicine, and "Jamu" will be applied onto the belly beforehand. The main ingredients in our “Jamu” are Ginger, turmeric, vegetable hummingbird, clove, anise, Garcinia Cambogia fruit powder, Alyxia stellate bark powder, nutmeg and a healing blend of natural herbs and botanical ingredients. The tummy will feel warm after application, and this warming effect will in turn help to expel wind, stimulate lymphatic drainage, detoxify the body, promote blood circulation, tone the body and skin, and effectively reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

As the ingredients used are all natural, the mask is safe and suitable for both postpartummothers as well as breastfeeding mothers.

The belly firming mask produces a warming and soothing effect on the skin, and many of our mothers report an improvement in bowel movements and a reduction in bloating.

In addition to improving gastrointestinal health, our belly firming mask also helps to

Detoxify the body
Eliminate edema
Relieve flatulence and expel wind
Warm the womb
Promote healing and repair
Reduce the appearance of stretch marks

We know all 3 different Belly Binding methods, but we trust Tanamera shoelace girdle method is the best for both its comfort and efficacy.

Mothers can decide on the number of Belly Binding treatments they want to go for according to their budget. Our therapists will also teach mothers how to wear and secure the Tanamera Binder wrap correctly. Armed with this knowledge, mothers can continue to apply traditional belly binding techniques on themselves in the comfort of their own homes.