Welcome to Cabea Babybellyband Blog
Hi,
I am Caroline, inventor of the Babybellyband. I created this abdominal, back and groin support product based on my own needs as a pregnant mom. I had painful inguinal hernias, one sister had vulvar varicosities, we (5 of us) all had round ligament pain, back pain, you name it, we had it. In addition,my babies were quite large, one was 10.5 lbs at birth, and my sister who was 5'4" and 110lbs, had an 11.5lb baby. Can you imagine! She was enormous! Who knows why we had such large babies, but whatever the cause, many ailments came with those babes. Having found very limited support products on the market I decided I wanted to create a product for women with strong support, style, color choice, versatility, and ease of use. Cabea's Babybellyband was born. In addition, I wanted to educate women about their choice to wear support products during pregnancy to prevent or relieve pregnancy difficulties such as those mentioned above and more. During my 1st pregnancy, I was told by my doctor to just deal with all these ailments,"they are part of pregnancy and will be over in 9 months" she said. During my 2nd and 3rd pregnancy I had a midwife who encouraged me to find a support product. The difference in wearing support and not was tremendous. My family benefited because I was more comfortable. My body and mind benefited because I was not in such discomfort. I encourage all women to wear a support product during pregnancy, especially during exercise, or while lifting other children, or if you are standing on your feet all day, or have multiple fetuses.
You will have a more enjoyable pregnancy. Please feel free to share stories or comments on Cabeas' Babybellyband Blog. We need to support each other during pregnancy!! and beyond.
With best wishes for a smooth labor and delivery. Caroline
A bit of my history with birthing which I would be glad to discuss in this blog:
1st baby boy-delivered at Bristol Hospital in CT, smooth delivery, excellent hospital
2nd baby girl-delivered at home in a birthing pool with a midwife, hospital support always available.
3rd baby girl-delivered at home in a birthing pool with a midwife, hospital support always available.
Links:
Find a certified nurse midwife in CT:
http://www.connecticutmidwife.org/
Finding a homebirth midwife in CT
http://www.ufmidwiferycare.freeservers.com/find.htm
Find a certified nurse midwife in the USA through American College of Nurse Midwives:
http://www.midwife.org/find.cfm
Find a homebirth midwife in the USA
http://birthpartners.com/
I am Caroline, inventor of the Babybellyband. I created this abdominal, back and groin support product based on my own needs as a pregnant mom. I had painful inguinal hernias, one sister had vulvar varicosities, we (5 of us) all had round ligament pain, back pain, you name it, we had it. In addition,my babies were quite large, one was 10.5 lbs at birth, and my sister who was 5'4" and 110lbs, had an 11.5lb baby. Can you imagine! She was enormous! Who knows why we had such large babies, but whatever the cause, many ailments came with those babes. Having found very limited support products on the market I decided I wanted to create a product for women with strong support, style, color choice, versatility, and ease of use. Cabea's Babybellyband was born. In addition, I wanted to educate women about their choice to wear support products during pregnancy to prevent or relieve pregnancy difficulties such as those mentioned above and more. During my 1st pregnancy, I was told by my doctor to just deal with all these ailments,"they are part of pregnancy and will be over in 9 months" she said. During my 2nd and 3rd pregnancy I had a midwife who encouraged me to find a support product. The difference in wearing support and not was tremendous. My family benefited because I was more comfortable. My body and mind benefited because I was not in such discomfort. I encourage all women to wear a support product during pregnancy, especially during exercise, or while lifting other children, or if you are standing on your feet all day, or have multiple fetuses.
You will have a more enjoyable pregnancy. Please feel free to share stories or comments on Cabeas' Babybellyband Blog. We need to support each other during pregnancy!! and beyond.
With best wishes for a smooth labor and delivery. CarolineA bit of my history with birthing which I would be glad to discuss in this blog:
1st baby boy-delivered at Bristol Hospital in CT, smooth delivery, excellent hospital
2nd baby girl-delivered at home in a birthing pool with a midwife, hospital support always available.
3rd baby girl-delivered at home in a birthing pool with a midwife, hospital support always available.
Links:
Find a certified nurse midwife in CT:
http://www.connecticutmidwife.org/
Finding a homebirth midwife in CT
http://www.ufmidwiferycare.freeservers.com/find.htm
Find a certified nurse midwife in the USA through American College of Nurse Midwives:
http://www.midwife.org/find.cfm
Find a homebirth midwife in the USA
http://birthpartners.com/
Posted by Cabea' Babybellyband Blog at 10/23/2008 10:15 AM 
Categories: Babybellyband Maternity Support Wear
Tags: babybellyband Baby belly band bladder belly belt Maternity Band abdominal band uterus prolapsed baby Pregnancy Band band prenatal cradle belly bandit hernia
Categories: Babybellyband Maternity Support Wear
Tags: babybellyband Baby belly band bladder belly belt Maternity Band abdominal band uterus prolapsed baby Pregnancy Band band prenatal cradle belly bandit hernia
I heard about the BabyBellyBand through a friend and although I had finished having my children, I wondered if it would help my medical problem. Cancer and my radical medical treatments eventually caused many GI tract problems which developed into a prolapsed rectum. I took a chance and ordered a BBB and it has changed my life. I used to have to lie down & elevate my body several times a day for relief, now I wear the BabyBellyBand I can function as normal. Thank you BabyBellyBand for today and many more days of comfort!
Meredith in Southern Vermont
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Dear Meredith,
Thanks for your comments and I am so glad you are finding relief using the Babybellyband plus under bands for prolapsed rectum. I am finding that the product has multiple uses beyond the pregnancy years and our company is planning to expand the packaging of the product to hernia patients, women with prolapsed rectum, uterus, and bladder . I recently was featured in the womens section of a CT newspaper and received a call from a woman with a massive abdominal hernia. She came right to our office and we fitted her with both the abdominal band and shoulder straps to lift the hernia and ease her pain. She had tried other hernia relief products which just were not supporting the hernia properly so she was thrilled to try the Babybellyband even though it is maternity oriented. When she left we hugged and she said, " I think I'll go polka with my husband tonight". This is the kind of response that makes me really love working with women and helping them through uncomfortable times with this product. Again thank you for sharing your comments so other women know there is relief out there for them.
Caroline Christensen
founder
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The BabyBellyBand isn't just for women with a baby in their belly! I'm 56 and post-menopausal and I LOVE MY BABYBELLYBAND! I love to hike, bike, and do yoga, but long hours in my job, where the furniture isn't the most ergonomical, leaves me needing a 'reminder' to hold my body in correct alignment. I love how secure my core feels wearing the BabyBellyBand. Now, at the end of the day, my lower back and shoulders no longer feel stressed and I swear I feel taller and more energetic for not allowing myself to fall into poor posture. Not only that, I've become a more efficient hiker because my BabyBellyBand makes me aware of how I'm carrying myself. Where I used to start to feel heavy in my step, I now walk with a lightness which definitely adds to the appeal of hiking or walking for cardio health. I know this was intended as a pregnancy product, but I would recommend trying it out if lower back soreness or 'tired' shoulders is an issue. Thank you for (perhaps) inadvertently developing a product that has made a big difference in my day to day awareness of my posture. Good posture is imperative to good health.
Kim in Boulder, CO
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Hey Thanks Kim for a different perspective on the use of the Babybellyband. One of Cabea's goals is to work with women of all ages and body types to make their lives more comfortable using a holistic, preventative solution and your testimonial is right on with what we are attempting to achieve. So many women suffer ailments and,with some women, I think it is in their nature to feel like they just need to get suffer through what ever pain they are enduring, whether it be pregnancy or later life discomforts. As a group, I feel we need to support each other and spread the word about products like the Babybellyband and many more support products that change lives or at least help us lead a more healthful life. Thanks for your input.
Caroline
founder
Cabea
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Although being past the childbearing age, I have sisters and nieces that will benefit. I recall clearly walking around holding up my growing abdomen due to the pressure and weight of the pregnancy and my babies were both very average sized 7.5 pounders! The Babybellyband sounds like the perfect solution for every pregnant woman regardless of size and weight of the baby - any pressure "down there" is uncomfortable and would benefit by the "hike" provided by the babybellyband! I could use one after Thanksgiving dinner!
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Dear Kristen,
I can not tell you how many women have told me just what you have written, that they too wish there had been a product available when they were pregnant. Tell all your nieces, friends, etc. who become pregnant because so many women have no idea that there is help out there for an uncomfortable pregnancy. This will provide the "hike" they need for back,abdominal, and "down under" relief. -Also if you see any beer belly boys around after thanksgiving, maybe they could use a little boost too.
Thanks again for your comments.
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I wish this was around when I was pregnant with my kids. I felt like a DOG carrying puppies! With my first pregnancy, I had pretty serious preeclampsia and carried a huge excess of water along with the baby. I was so uncomfortable. I think that if I had this product, I certainly would not have had as much back "damage". My second was a large baby (in a short woman's body) so taking the pressure off my "southern states" would have been a giant relief. Oh well, I hope that pregnant woman now take full advantage of this product! Your company has a bright future.
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This is a perfect example of how wearing a support system may have at least relieved an uncomfortable pregnancy. We really want women across the world to know they have a choice when it comes to pregnancy relief. By wearing support products they can go about their daily lives without so much pain and potentially avoid problems like back damage caused by issues like pre-eclampsia. Thank you so much for your support and sharing issues like this with other women.
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Snug as a bug in a rug!!!
I am in love with this product! I have had back problems since about 5 months into my pregnancy with no relief in sight due to a small frame and preeclampsia. A co-worker brought the babybellyband and shoulder straps in for me and from the moment I put them on I had instant relief! The pulling and pressure is gone. I am walking and sitting straighter. I even got up in the middle of the night last night and put on just the band and for the first time in weeks I slept comfortably and without a million pillows stuffed under and around me.
I wish that I had known about this for my last two pregnancies. I will most certainly be recommending this to all of the pregnant women I know and will be bringing it to the attention of my OB and my chiropractor. Women do not have to suffer while pregnant.
This is the best invention for pregnant women! Thank you for your ingenuity!!
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Dear Pam,
Thanks so much for your comments. I think it is vital that women blog or talk to each other about their pregnancies and share info. like this so we can experience a more comfortable pregnancy. I agree that women no longer need to suffer through a pregnancy. There are things we can do to help ourselves and wearing a support system when in pain is one of many things we can do. I love the idea of wearing it to hold up the belly in the night. I never have even thought of using the Babybellyband for support in the night but do remember stuffing about 3 pillows down my entire side to prevent the belly hang. I hope the rest of your pregnancy is much more comfortable.
Caroline
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The babybellyband has all but eliminated the pain I was having. I'm in the 30th week of my 4th pregnancy, and have had 3 C-sections. Since my second C-section, the left part of my stomach hangs lower than the rest. During my 3rd C-section, I had a hernia in the lower left portion of my stomach repaired.
During this pregnancy, I had been having increasing pain in the lower left part of my stomach that became incapacitating at times. I was having to curtail most of my activity. The doctor has been unable to feel a distinct hernia, and suggested that the weight of my stomach might just be pulling on scar tissue. The only suggestion she had was to reduce my activity.
I researched support products online as an alternative. Some products didn't seem like they would be supportive enough. Other products seemed to be focused on lower back pain, but I didn't have any back problems! I decided to order a babybellyband, and while I waited for it to ship, wore a folded crib sheet tied around my abdomen as a stopgap.
From the first day of using the babybellyband, my pain was virtually eliminated. I now have no pain and have been able to bring my activity level back to normal. The belly band holds the protruding part of my stomach up and holds everything in.
The band is very comfortable, even in the summer, and is easy to use. It stays put very well, and I like the fact that it's machine washable!
I also bought the shoulder straps. The shoulder straps didn't seem to provide much 'lift', so I've stopped using them, but the belly band is great! Thanks for an excellent product.
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Thank you very much for taking the time to write this wonderful review. I am so glad that you are feeling relief and can comfortably enjoy your pregnancy using the Babybellyband. Having testimonies from women like you who have actually used the Babybellyband, is invaluable to my business and to other women who are looking for a product amongst the sea of products out in cyberspace. Thank you again and I hope that you have a safe labor and delivery and your babe is in your arms soon.
Kindly,
Caroline
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