maternity belt; pregnancy support belt
A traditional Japanese cloth belt worn around the abdomen from the fifth month of pregnancy to support the back and protect the baby. Also called 腹帯 (はらおび) in modern contexts.
Since I entered the fifth month of pregnancy, I decided to wear an iwata-obi.
I inherited an iwata-obi from my grandmother.
The origin of the name 岩田帯 is uncertain. It may derive from a place name or a historical figure, but the exact derivation is unclear. The belt itself is a traditional Japanese maternity garment with cultural significance.