Tag Archives: belly

Are there any “MUST HAVES” that I should purchase for my upcoming surgery?

Here are some suggestions from our customers:

“I loved having an ice pack. At first I used a sack of frozen peas and then I ordered the cold/heat packs from the store. LOVED them. I used them multiple ways for my surgery recovery and then I keep them in the freezer for any aches and pains on me or the family. I’ve also been known to put the ice pack inside my shirt if I’m having a hot flash. Desperation!”

“I found I most “needed” two things: my body pillow and a big plastic cup with a lid and a straw. The pillow I purchased a couple weeks before surgery at Walmart, and the hospital gave me the cup.”

“Love the abdominal binder!”

“Support underwear was a requirement. I wanted to get back to work as soon as possible. When I wore them, my “swelly belly” felt supported as I walked around. If you get some, consider sizing up slightly to accommodate your swollen belly. You want the panties snug but not so tight they hurt.”

“My husband put a bell next to my bed for me to call for help! It made me giggle since I could text him on my phone, too!”

“For lounging around the house, I loved my loose fitting night gowns or pjs.”

“Don’t forget your gassy tummy. I found Gas X, lots of water and walking helped me the most.”

“I put a basket near me in bed and moved it next to the sofa as I moved from one spot to the other. In my recovery basket I kept: tissue, lip balm, my hospital papers, phone, pad of paper, pen, a place to write down when I had last taken my pain meds and a few water bottles.”

“The Perfect Pocket Binder at the Hysterectomy Store was indeed – perfect! It came with an ice pack that can be frozen or heated. It felt awesome against my sore tummy!”

“Don’t forget a Tummy pillow! When you cough or sneeze, hold it against your tummy anytime you need extra support or protection. In fact, I kept my tummy pillow with me and it protected me from my fur babies who liked to share the couch with me. The one from the store had a pocket for my cold pack. It was extra relief for my tender belly.”

“The store packaged the binders together to make it easy. They call it the Great Binder Set. It came with the binder, the pocket binder, cold/hot packs and a laundry wash bag. I loved the convenience and used each of the binders while my tummy was so swollen and sore.”

Have you recovered from a hysterectomy? What would you add to the list?

Be kind to yourself,

Blanket Shawl

The Blanket Shawl is such a versatile product. We love it for a few reasons! Definitely not tight about the midsection. It also give us a little coverage when visitors come by! Pair it with leggings and oversized shirt, or throw it on with a pair of jeans! It can be worn multiple ways, and it’s not just for surgery recovery!

We have two color options: navy and gray.

Watch the video to see all the ways you can wear it!

Blanket Shawl available at Bluebird Sisters

Be kind to yourself,

What can I do about my swelly belly?

Question: What can I do about my swelly belly?

Swelly Belly

Note: If your tummy becomes hot, red, or painful, please call your doctor. This is NOT normal and NOT part of the normal post-op swelling. Report any unusual symptoms, or anything that you’re not comfortable to your doctor immediately. Keep your incisions dry and covered according to your doctor’s instructions.

One of the challenging aspects of having abdominal surgery is post-op swelling of the abdomen. It can occur in any type of abdominal procedure: open abdominal, laparoscopic, robotic hysterectomy, tummy tuck, hernia repair and even c-section.

Trauma to your abdominal tissues, gasses used during surgery, and/or fluids collecting in the tissues cause your swollen tummy.

You may think keeping everything away from your tender belly is the answer, but..

Gentle compression is often the answer.

Compression after a laparoscopic or open abdominal surgery, myomectomy, appendectomy, hernias, csection, or tummy tuck is helpful to your recovery! Compression aides to reduce recovery time.

Binders support your tummy and back, allowing you to move with less pain and greater mobility. Additionally, abdominal binders provide incision support, help prevent tearing, and make it easier to get out of bed, move and walk.

And, yes, a binder is great for both horizontal and vertical incisions, as well as for minimally invasive surgery.

Products for gentle compression

Finally, the good news is that there are products made just for your belly.

Perfect Pocket Binder has a pocket for an ice pack (2 cold/heat packs come with this binder) for the early days of recovery, providing ice pack to your tender belly.

Abdominal binder is another specifically shaped binder for women with a simple velcro closure to adjust sizing. These are worn under clothing and they have darts to shape the product to minimize the binder from moving or rolling as you sit, stand and move around.

Post-op Panty (abdominal surgery) or the C-Panty (csection specific) provides gentle compression and support as you are preparing to get on with your life and is worn as underwear, under your regular clothing.

Hopefully, your swelly belly will go away soon enough and you can ease back into your activities with the help of the gentle compression. Always consult your personal doctor for specific health needs you experience.

Be kind to yourself,