Wrapping Up Your Recovery: A Doula’s Perspective on Compression
This is the fabulous bellies inc. Ab Wrap!
As doulas, we’ve walked alongside many families during the tender weeks after birth. One of the most common themes we hear from new parents is this: “I feel like my body/core is weak and like jello!” The postpartum period brings incredible physical, emotional, and hormonal shifts—and while these changes are normal, it doesn’t mean you need to tough it out without support. This rings true for vaginal birthing and cesarean birthing.
One of the tools we love to recommend in the early postpartum weeks is belly wrapping. This is not about “getting your body back” or squeezing into your pre-pregnancy jeans. This shouldn’t even feel like a tight squeeze at all! It’s about offering gentle support to a body that has stretched, shifted, and carried life.
Why We Love the Ab Wrap
Before we talk about why belly wrapping matters, let’s talk about who makes our favorite wrap. The Ab Wrap from Bellies Inc. isn’t just any product.. it’s:
A Canadian brand
Locally manufactured right here in British Columbia
Owned and run by women
Promoted by pelvic health experts
A few other reasons are it is..
Backed by Science: Designed with pelvic floor physiotherapists and built around the principles of core and pelvic floor recovery.
Breathable & Comfortable: No stiff corsets or bulky binders—this is soft, flexible, and wearable under your clothes.
Evidence-Informed: Instead of compressing your midsection in ways that could harm recovery or pelvic floor function, it supports natural healing patterns.
That matters to us. Every time we choose to buy from a Canadian small business, especially those run by women, we’re supporting families, communities, and local economies. In birthwork, we talk so often about community care. Choosing products like this is one way we can live that value in practice.
Why Belly Wrapping?
During pregnancy, your abdominal wall stretches to accommodate your growing baby. After birth, your muscles, ligaments, and core systems need time and help to realign. Belly wrapping provides:
Gentle Core Support: Instead of feeling like everything is “falling forward,” wrapping gives a subtle lift and hug around your midsection. This helps those separated abdominal muscles come back together.
Pelvic Floor Connection: The abdominal wall and pelvic floor are teammates. When your belly is supported properly, your pelvic floor has a chance to recover more efficiently.
Comfort for Everyday Movements: Simple activities like standing up, walking, or carrying your baby can feel steadier with a wrap.
A Reminder to Slow Down: Wrapping isn’t a magic fix—it’s a gentle nudge to honour your recovery and listen to your body.
After a Cesarean Birth: Provides gentle support to the incision area, reducing discomfort with movement (like standing, walking, or coughing) and helping stabilize the core as healing begins.
What Belly Wrapping Is Not
It’s important to say this clearly: belly wrapping is not about “bouncing back” or forcing your body into a shape it’s not ready for. Recovery is not linear, and your worth has nothing to do with your waistline.
Instead, think of belly wrapping like a well-fitted sports bra for your midsection; something that provides support while your body is regaining strength.
From Our Hearts as Doulas
When we talk about postpartum care, belly wrapping is just one piece of a bigger picture: rest, nourishment, connection, and time. What we love about the Ab Wrap is how it gives a simple, practical layer of support to a time of life that can otherwise feel wobbly—literally and figuratively.
You deserve to feel held as you step into this new chapter. Belly wrapping is one way to do that.
Curious about whether belly wrapping is right for you? Reach out to us—we’d be happy to talk about how to use the Ab Wrap and share other ways to support your body in postpartum recovery.