The roots of belly binding

May 2

Across many cultures and generations, postpartum care has included a simple but deeply supportive ritual: wrapping the abdomen after birth. Whether known as bengkung, sarashi, faja, or other traditional forms of binding, this practice reflects a shared understanding after birth, the body benefits from being held.

As Ayurvedic practitioner and postpartum doula Ysha Oakes describes, belly binding can feel “like being hugged at a time when there is so much empty space inside.” That image resonates across traditions. After pregnancy and birth, there is a significant shift, not just physically, but emotionally and energetically. Binding has long been used as one way to support that transition.

A Practice Found Around the World

Postpartum abdominal wrapping appears in many regions, including parts of Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. While techniques vary, the intention is similar: to provide gentle compression, stability, and comfort to a body that has expanded and is now recalibrating.

In Malaysia, the bengkung method uses long strips of cloth wrapped from the hips to the ribcage, often worn daily for several weeks postpartum.
In Japan, the sarashi wrap is shorter and folded rather than knotted, traditionally worn during a period of rest and recovery known as ansei—a time centered on quiet, nourishment, and healing.
In many Latin American cultures, the faja is used alongside abdominal massage, with the belief that it supports the uterus and abdominal muscles as they recover.

And this practice extends even further:

In parts of India, postpartum cloth binding is often paired with oil massage and warming rituals within Ayurvedic care traditions.
In China, supportive wraps or belts may be used during the “sitting month” (zuò yuè zi), a structured period of rest and recovery.
Across regions in the Middle East and North Africa, abdominal wrapping is sometimes included alongside herbal care and protected postpartum rest.
In some West African traditions, cloth wrapping and hands-on bodywork are used together to support healing and stability after birth.
In Western and European contexts, structured corsets and modern abdominal binders have also been used postpartum, particularly following cesarean birth.

Though the cultural language and techniques differ, these practices share a common thread: caring for the postpartum body with intention and respect.

What Does the Evidence Say?

Modern research on belly binding is still emerging, and much of what we know comes from a combination of clinical insight and lived experience. While traditional claims sometimes include “bringing organs back into place” or accelerating weight loss, current evidence supports a more grounded understanding of its benefits.

Studies suggest that abdominal binding or support garments in the postpartum period may:

Improve core support and stability, especially as the abdominal wall and connective tissue recover (Gillier et al., 2016; Benjamin et al., 2019).
Reduce pain and discomfort, particularly after cesarean birth, by providing gentle compression and support to healing tissues (Cheifetz et al., 2010).
Enhance posture and body awareness, which can be helpful during feeding, carrying, and daily newborn care.
Offer a sense of emotional containment, which many parents describe as comforting during a time of significant change.

It’s also important to note what belly binding does not do: there is no strong evidence that it permanently alters body shape, closes diastasis recti on its own, or “repositions” internal organs. Healing of the abdominal wall and pelvic floor is multifactorial and best supported with time, rest, nourishment, and—when appropriate—guided rehabilitation.

More Than a Physical Practice

What often gets lost in modern adaptations is the context these traditions came from. Belly binding was rarely a standalone practice. It existed within a larger system of postpartum care—one that included rest, community support, warm foods, bodywork, and protected time to recover.

For example, in Japan, the concept of ansei emphasized stillness and being cared for. In Malaysia, postpartum recovery rituals often extend over 40+ days, supported by family or traditional caregivers. In China, zuò yuè zi centers rest and nourishment during the first month after birth. Across many cultures, hands-on care like abdominal massage is just as important as the wrap itself.

In other words, the wrap was never the whole story—it was one piece of a much larger circle of care.

Bringing It Into Modern Postpartum Care

Today, many families are rediscovering belly binding and integrating it into their postpartum experience in ways that feel supportive and aligned.

At its best, belly binding can be:

A tool for comfort and support in the early weeks after birth
A ritual of tending to the body, not “fixing” it
A way to reconnect with your core after pregnancy

And like all postpartum practices, it should be optional, adaptable, and consent-based. Not every body will want or benefit from binding, and that’s okay.

The Common Thread

No matter the origin bengkung, sarashi, faja, or beyond—these traditions reflect something deeply human: the understanding that after birth, the body deserves to be supported, held, and cared for.

And maybe that’s the real takeaway.
Not just how we wrap the body, but how we surround the person within it.

References (evidence-informed)

Benjamin, D. R., van de Water, A. T., & Peiris, C. L. (2019). Effects of exercise on diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle in the antenatal and postnatal periods: a systematic review. Physiotherapy.
Cheifetz, O., Lucy, D., Overend, T., & Crowe, J. (2010). The effect of abdominal support on functional outcomes in post-cesarean patients. Physiotherapy Canada.
Gillier, C., et al. (2016). Postpartum abdominal support garments and their effect on pain and mobility.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2013). Postnatal care of the mother and newborn.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2018). Optimizing postpartum care.