A pouch and method of making a pouch having configured to displace stress from an inner peripheral edge of a seal is provided. The pouch includes a pouch body sealed along its peripheral edge so as to define a panel. The pouch includes an outer strip. The outer strip is mounted to both sides of the panel, and a distal edge portion of both sides of the strip extends inwardly towards the center of the pouch body so as to extend beyond the inner peripheral edge of the panel. The side edges of the strip overlap the inner peripheral edge of the seal.