noun
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.
妊娠五ヶ月に入ったので、岩田帯を巻くことにした。
Since I entered the fifth month of pregnancy, I decided to wear an iwata-obi.
祖母から岩田帯を譲り受けた。
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.