Video: How to Use a Bengkung Belly Bind
The Benefits of Bengkung
"Madison is an incredibly sweet and helpful person. I used her belly binding services. I had an umbilical hernia and got diastasis recti with my third pregnancy. She came to me after the birth and wrapped me. The support was amazing. She was also flexible about which days to come. She taught me how to wrap myself but it is worth it to have her come and do it for you. My stomach went way down and I healed my diastasis recti within a few weeks with the binding and doing gentle ab exercises. I had used a different wrap previously and the bengkung belly binding is definitely worth it. I will use her again with the next birth" |
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The Tradition of Bengkung
Although there are many countries around the world who practice belly binding for postpartum health and healing, the Bengkung style of bind comes from Malaysia. There are a few different types of Bengkung, but the most popular style used in the US is the Java style Bengkung which you will see on this website.
The Bengkung tradition would start after giving birth as part of a 44 day confinement period called Pantang. Malay women would follow a detailed postpartum regimen and mostly stay in bed or their room the entire time. This period of rest was (and is) a time for the mother to heal and to bond with her new baby, which we commonly refer to as the “fourth trimester” or sometimes “babymooning”. During the 44 days, women practice a series of rituals including heated uterine massage, partaking of a special turmeric drink (Jamu), eating a special diet, enjoying herbal baths and participating in daily Bengkung binding.
Among all the practices and rituals pertaining to Pantang, the Bengkung is the cornerstone of the entire confinement period. It was believed that the uterus was a woman’s life source and if the uterus was healthy, it would translate throughout her entire body.
After giving birth, often a midwife would massage the woman’s uterus for the first 3 consecutive days with a hot stone wrapped in leaves and cloth. On day 4, the belly binding would start and was performed by a mother, grandmother or a midwife.
Today, modern Malaysian women still practice Pantang and Bengkung belly binding, though some choose to condense their confinement period and binding to 2 weeks or so. Still, the time is specifically reserved for mother and baby to heal, bond, learn to nurse and to honor and respect the postpartum time.
The Bengkung tradition would start after giving birth as part of a 44 day confinement period called Pantang. Malay women would follow a detailed postpartum regimen and mostly stay in bed or their room the entire time. This period of rest was (and is) a time for the mother to heal and to bond with her new baby, which we commonly refer to as the “fourth trimester” or sometimes “babymooning”. During the 44 days, women practice a series of rituals including heated uterine massage, partaking of a special turmeric drink (Jamu), eating a special diet, enjoying herbal baths and participating in daily Bengkung binding.
Among all the practices and rituals pertaining to Pantang, the Bengkung is the cornerstone of the entire confinement period. It was believed that the uterus was a woman’s life source and if the uterus was healthy, it would translate throughout her entire body.
After giving birth, often a midwife would massage the woman’s uterus for the first 3 consecutive days with a hot stone wrapped in leaves and cloth. On day 4, the belly binding would start and was performed by a mother, grandmother or a midwife.
Today, modern Malaysian women still practice Pantang and Bengkung belly binding, though some choose to condense their confinement period and binding to 2 weeks or so. Still, the time is specifically reserved for mother and baby to heal, bond, learn to nurse and to honor and respect the postpartum time.