Protect Your Back & Avoid Stretch Marks … Wear Sarashi!
When my mother was pregnant with me (her first), her mother bought her a sarashi to wear. It’s a strip of cotton about 15 feet long which you tie on in to support your back and lift your belly a bit. Basically, you mummify your midsection. It works SO well. I don’t know how I would have gotten through my pregnancy without it, especially around the end.
I’ve seen some really scary stretch marks on some mommies but I didn’t get any (not around my stomach anyway … LOL, nm, TMI) and the other mothers I know who used it didn’t get any either.
I can’t find anything about it except a book called Shiatsu for Midwives which I found on Google Book Search. It’s probably the next book I’m going to buy as soon as I get some extra spending money. (Ooooooh, how I miss single money. There’s so much more single money than married money somehow. LOL.) I posted a screenshot of the excerpt about sarashi on the left. Click on the thumbnail to see it in full size.
If any of you are interested, I’m going to Tokyo this March and will pick some up for you if you want, ’cause I haven’t been able to find it for sale in America, online or offline. Just e-mail me or leave a comment below.
EDIT: Dawn asks, “If it’s just a strip of cotton couldn’t it be made? Is there anything special about an official Japanese one, besides sounding cool when you tell everyone it’s from Japan? :)”
Well, I think you can see from the videos I made that it’s not “just” a strip of cotton. I don’t know enough about fabric to explain it properly, but it’s different. LOL. Sarashi is the name of a particular type of Japanese fabric (see Google). Of course, you can try making one yourself from American stuff if you want to….
“Protect Your Back & Avoid Stretch Marks … Wear Sarashi!” has been splattered on 5 times.
Wish I had known about this. I carried Terran WAY out in front and my whole abdomen is covered in stretch marks. I’ll hold off on buying one until I know baby #2 is coming along. If it’s just a strip of cotton couldn’t it be made? Is there anything special about an official Japanese one, besides sounding cool when you tell everyone it’s from Japan? :)
I used to call Hiroko’s tummy “the moose” when she was pregnant since her tummy would take on the shape of a moose’s nose. Emeth, where were you when we needed to know this information? :)
Hi Emeth,
I have a feeling Asians, or at least some, have different skin and somehow get away without stretch marks. My mom was huge with my younger brother–but no stretch marks on her belly. I’ve had two babies now and I don’t think I have any (at least noticeable ones).
I’d be curious to see whether sarashi prevents stretch marks on those not Asian.
Hana
Yes, yes, I want one! Is it still March, are you in Tokyo?
emethhesed
emeth.hesed
Kristen Telling | 11:58 AM, Friday, February 8, 2008
Hi, Emeth. I happened upon your blog and thought this post was really interesting. I’m almost 5 months along right now and am popping out pretty far already and starting to have some discomfort. This wrapping thing seems to make a lot of sense! Would you mind emailing me more info (how to wrap, what kind of fabric it is, etc.)? My email is kristentelling@yahoo.com. Many thanks and your little girl is beautiful!