Postpartum Belling Binding - Bengkung

The Art of Belly Binding: Nurturing Your Postpartum Recovery with a Bengkung Wrap

The postpartum period is a time of deep transformation — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. After pregnancy and birth, your body begins the beautiful process of healing and rebalancing. One traditional practice that has supported this transition for centuries is belly binding, particularly through the use of a Bengkung wrap. It's one of the tools I keep in my doula bag for mums who are 1-3 months postpartum. 

What is a Bengkung Wrap?

Originating from Malaysia, the Bengkung belly bind is a long piece of soft, breathable fabric — usually cotton — that is wrapped snugly around the abdomen from the hips up to the ribcage. Unlike modern elastic or Velcro binders, the Bengkung wrap offers a customisable firmness, gentle, and supportive way to nurture the body after childbirth.

Each layer of the wrap is carefully tied, creating a firm yet comfortable embrace around your core. This ancient practice goes far beyond aesthetics — it’s a mindful ritual of care, helping new mothers feel grounded and supported in their recovery.

The Benefits of Belly Binding

Belly binding isn’t just about physical recovery; it’s also about honouring the postpartum journey. Some of the key benefits include:

🌿 Support for core and pelvic recoveryAfter birth, your abdominal muscles, ligaments, and organs need time and support to realign. The gentle compression of the Bengkung wrap helps your core regain stability, reduces abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti), and offers support to your lower back and pelvis.

💧 Encourages circulation and healingThe even pressure of the wrap can help promote better circulation, which may assist in reducing swelling and aiding tissue repair.

🕊️ Improves posture and comfortIn those early days of feeding and caring for your baby, it’s easy to slouch or strain your back especially if you're breastfeeding. A Bengkung wrap provides subtle posture support, making daily activities more comfortable.

💗 A grounding self-care ritualWrapping yourself each day can become a meditative practice — a moment to connect with your body and honour its strength. Many women describe it as feeling “held” and comforted, both physically and emotionally.

How to Use a Bengkung Wrap

Traditionally, belly binding begins a few days after a vaginal birth (once bleeding has reduced) or around two weeks after a cesarean (with your practitioner’s approval). The wrap is applied by gently binding from the hips upward, layer by layer, ensuring it’s snug but never restrictive. It can be worn for several hours a day, or even just 30 minutes, depending on your comfort and needs.

If you’re new to the practice, working with a postpartum doula familiar with Bengkung wrapping can help ensure you’re supported safely and effectively.

A Loving Return to Your Center

The postpartum body deserves the same care, reverence, and attention given during pregnancy. Belly binding with a Bengkung wrap is not just a physical aid — it’s a way to honour your body’s incredible journey, to reconnect with your core, and to nurture your recovery in a gentle, natural way.

When practiced mindfully, it becomes more than a tradition — it’s a reminder that healing takes time, and that motherhood, in all its forms, deserves to be held with tenderness.

To read more about postpartum doula care click here.