Taping the Abdomen After Childbirth

Tape the abdomen after childbirth

Usually, it takes about a year for abdominal muscles to recover after childbirth. However, you can speed up this process if you wish. To do this, regularly perform special exercises to strengthen the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, work on the back and posture, and have massages. An important aspect is also proper nutrition. A method such as abdominal taping after childbirth can also help address problems related to muscle tone and sagging skin. Let’s see how tapes affect the abdomen after childbirth.

What is taping?

Taping (kinesiology taping) involves applying special adhesive tapes to injured body areas for recovery. These special tapes, known as kinesiology tapes, are glued to the skin with a hypoallergenic adhesive for several hours or even days. The procedure is completely safe and painless. The tapes do not cause discomfort and do not restrict movement.

Benefits of Abdominal Taping Postpartum

Taping the abdomen after childbirth has many advantages compared to wearing a bandage: it is cheap, effective, unobtrusive, and convenient. The tapes are hypoallergenic, moisture-resistant, and allow moisture and air to pass through. They take on part of the load, helping muscles work correctly and preventing further stretching. It is a misconception that tapes strengthen muscles. They only help weakened muscles avoid overload. However, to have a toned abdomen and a healthy body, physical exercises are necessary. And they can be done right while wearing the tapes.

What problems does taping solve?

Tapes applied to the abdomen address postpartum issues such as:

1. Looseness, sagging, stretch marks. The tapes help to tone flabby muscles and reduce stretch marks.
2. Diastasis. Diastasis is the separation of abdominal muscles. This is facilitated by the growth of the uterus during pregnancy. After childbirth, the muscles should come back together, but this does not always happen. Hence the protruding belly. Taping can help solve this problem.
3. Cellulite. Applying tape to the stomach, as well as hips or buttocks, eliminates cellulite. Their use helps improve blood circulation, which smooths the skin and reduces swelling.

When can you start using taping?

Abdominal taping can start from the 2nd-3rd week after the baby is born, but it is advisable to consult with your gynecologist before using it. The doctor will tell you if taping is allowed and how to apply them correctly to rehabilitate muscles and remove stretch marks. Special attention should be paid to this issue by women who have given birth via cesarean section.

How to properly use taping?

The final outcome of the method depends on correctly applying the strips to the abdomen. To properly tape the abdomen postpartum, it is necessary to first prepare the body for the procedure.

Preparation for taping:

For this, the abdomen and upper part of the pubic area should be epilated. Then the skin should be degreased with an alcohol wipe. Hold the strips in your hands to warm them up. After preparation, you can start applying the tapes.

• For lymphatic drainage taping, you will need 3 tapes, which should be cut into a fan shape with 6 strips. The base of each fan should be attached to a lymph node. The intrabdominal lymph node is located in the middle, slightly below the chest between the ribs, and the other two are inguinal, left and right. The tapes should be applied in a wavy manner with minimal tension.
• For taping with diastasis, lie on your back and apply 2 strips parallel on either side of the diastasis.

If the tapes are applied correctly, they will not restrict movement, bunch up, or cause discomfort. After 5-7 days, the tapes should be removed for 2-3 days.

Attention! For the first tape application, it’s better to see a specialist to learn how to do it correctly. The best effect is achieved with active physical exercises.

The course for postpartum recovery focuses on the abdominal muscles, pelvic floor, back, and body conditioning. There is also plenty of information on proper nutrition. All of this together helps to restore not only the body’s appearance but also internal health.