Belly bands come in various shapes and styles to tailor to your every need during or after pregnancy. Belly Bands offer support and alleviate pressure off your hips and pelvis. In addition, many belly bands designed for maternity may be worn after pregnancy to support your muscles and joints while you heal.
When should you start wearing a belly band?
During Pregnancy
It is never too early to start wearing a belly band during pregnancy. However, most women find it most beneficial to wear a belly band at the end of the second and beginning of the third trimester. Usually, by the end of the second trimester, your uterus increases in size and begins to put added pressure on your pelvic region and nearby organs. As a result, you may feel more pain in your muscles and ligaments and therefore find a maternity belly band most useful to alleviate that strain.
After Delivery
For nine months, your uterus substantially increases in size. Then, after giving birth, it takes your uterus around six weeks + to return to its pre-pregnancy size. A belly band helps your abdomen during this process by promoting mobility and supporting weakened muscles while your body heals. A Belly Band may be worn as soon after delivery or when you feel comfortable.
Benefits of Belly Bands
During Pregnancy
- Helps reduce swelling in your legs
- May Decrease back pain
- Helps reduce pressure on your bladder
- Helps stabilize your pelvis
- Improves posture
- Reduces pain in your sacroiliac joints
After Delivery
- Improves posture
- Decreases risk of Diastasis Recti
- Provides stable compression to support your belly, waist and hips
- May help to strengthens core muscles and ligaments that were loosened during pregnancy
- Promotes mobility
- Provides comfort and incision protection after a C-Section
Best Belly Wraps for Pregnancy and Postpartum
Let’s take the guesswork out of Belly Wraps with these suggested Belly Bands for Pregnancy and Postpartum
Upsie Belly® Pregnancy Support Band
When to wear: During Pregnancy
As your belly grows, it begins to strain your back and pelvic area. The Upsie Belly Wrap provides much-needed support to your belly to alleviate the pain in your back. In addition, there are 12 inches of adjustability to grow with you and mold flawlessly to your body.
2-in-1 Hip Bandit™ A Maternity Belly Support Band & Hip Wrap
When to wear: During Pregnancy and Postpartum
The 2-in-1 Bandit offers benefits during and after pregnancy. This support band helps alleviate pelvic pain and support your bladder during pregnancy. After delivery, this support band helps keep your hips by providing gentle compression to your pelvic area. It is especially important after birth to support your pelvic muscles and ligaments that are weak and need extra support while they heal.
When to wear: Postpartum
The Postpartum Luxe Belly Wrap offers a customized fit with regular or petite sizing. In addition, this belly wrap allows for customized compression for an ideal fit, so you can feel comfortable and supported throughout the day. The Luxe wrap provides two layers of secure stretch fabric and four body contouring panels for core and back support. Belly Bandit suggests wearing this wrap for up to ten weeks after delivery. Many women, however, find it beneficial to wear it longer than ten weeks.
Original Postpartum Belly Wrap
When to wear: Postpartum
Belly Bandit spent over a decade creating a Belly wrap so good that even doctors recommend it. This belly wrap features nine inches of adjustability, so you can adjust the compression as you size down. In addition, the Power Compression core utilities targeted compression to help support your belly, waist, and hips after delivery and encourage better posture.
When to wear: Postpartum
This belly wrap lives up to its name; it will indeed be your best friend while you recover from delivery. It features up to nine inches of adjustability and two tabs to customize the fit and the compression level. This product is made from viscose from bamboo and latex free. The B.F.F. Belly wrap can safely be worn after a C-section to provide additional comfort and stable compression while you heal.
Are pregnancy belly bands and postpartum wraps worth it?
Belly wraps help support your belly as your belly grows and alleviates back and pelvic joint pain. Proper support during pregnancy is essential to ensure that your body has the support it needs to accommodate the increased weight. After delivery, it is crucial to wear a belly band to support your body while you heal. In addition, your uterus grows substantially during pregnancy, which causes ligaments and organs to move to make space for your growing belly. While your uterus begins to shrink minutes after birth, your body takes a minimum of 6 weeks to adjust to a pre-pregnancy body. Finally, belly wraps help prevent a common condition known as Diastasis Recti. Diastasis Recti is not easy to reverse without surgery and exercise. Therefore, a Belly Band is worth wearing during pregnancy and postpartum.
Closing thoughts
Pregnancy is a journey with many new experiences and challenges. It is truly remarkable what our bodies can do to accommodate a new life. Sometimes, we focus so much on preparing for the baby that we forget what support we may need for our bodies. Belly Bands and Belly wraps by Belly Bandit utilizes century-old traditions to create a belly wrap that helps support you from pregnancy to delivery, allowing you the opportunity to focus on your baby while leaving you comfortable and secure.
