Whether you’re in your first trimester, snuggling your little one postpartum, or somewhere in between, a little belly support goes a long way. As your belly grows during pregnancy and shrinks postpartum, you might find that a belly band or belly wrap is all you need to feel energized and ready to conquer the day.
We’ve pulled together some of our favorite belly bands and belly wraps, plus a list of how you can use them at every stage of pregnancy—especially in that critical “fourth trimester.” But first, let’s talk about the benefits of wearing a belly support band during pregnancy.
Why You Need a Pregnancy Belly Support Band
Here are three ways a belly band can help support you and your little one as they grow inside you:
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Belly bands can help decrease pain. By the time your little one is ready to come out, you’ve gained quite a bit of weight in your belly. That’s going to take a toll on your back and hips. In fact, 71 percent of women struggle with lower back pain during pregnancy. Belly bands give that little extra support you need, and just the right amount of pressure on your lower back to relieve any pain, to help you accomplish what you want to when you’re pregnant.
- Belly bands provide compression. When you’re running around (exercise, chasing older kids, or having a great time on vacation), having a little bit of compression to support your back and belly can make all the difference. Just make sure it’s not too tight and that you give your belly a break after an hour or two.
- Belly bands support posture. Something about a comfortably snug band around your middle reminds you to sit and stand up straighter, which is so great when you’re pregnant. You’ll be tempted to hunch over and cuddle that baby belly, but a pregnancy support band can help you stand up straight and give your little one all the space they need to grow.
Who doesn’t want an easy piece of clothing that decreases pain, provides compression, and adds posture support? Whether this is your first pregnancy or your fourth, you might have some more questions about belly bands—and that’s where we come in.
We’re breaking it down trimester by trimester, with some ideas of when to start wearing a belly band, how often, and what type might be best for each stage of pregnancy.
First Trimester Belly Bands
These three months probably feel like survival mode for many moms-to-be. Between morning sickness and exhaustion, your growing body is putting you through the ringer as you nurture that little one through its earliest days of life.
In these first few months, you might not need a belly band regularly, but once in a while, the support can make all the difference. Here’s what we suggest:
2-in-1 Bandit™
This maternity belly support band is a smart purchase because it also doubles as a hip wrap for postpartum. It lifts and supports your growing belly, while also reducing the strain on your back muscles. During your first trimester, you might need this band towards the end as your belly really starts to grow. We suggest wearing it for an hour or two at a time, especially if you’re exercising.
Second Trimester Belly Bands
For so many women, the second trimester is their favorite. Baby is moving a lot, you get to see that cute little face in an ultrasound, and you might even get to start planning a nursery or choosing a layette. But even more exciting—the second trimester is usually when women feel their energy come back and want to get out and about. If you want to capitalize on that newfound energy, don’t forget to take a belly band with you.
2-in-1 Bandit™
This one is your best friend, again! Seriously, we can’t recommend this band enough as you and your baby are growing.
Flawless Belly or Belly Boost
We also recommend the Flawless Belly or Belly Boost, both of which are designed to gently support your belly and seal in any stretch mark lotions or creams. Just rub that shea butter all over your growing belly to soothe itchy skin and help prevent stretch marks, slip on one of these, and keep your skin soft and moisturized all day long.
Third Trimester Belly Bands
This trimester, it’s all about growing. As you near the end of your pregnancy, your baby will start putting on a pound a week. And baby isn’t the only one changing. You might experience leg cramps, swelling in your ankles and hands, and backaches. Guess what? All of these things can be alleviated by wearing a belly support band just a few hours a day.
While you don’t want a lot of compression on your baby as they’re growing, having the support of a belly band can help relieve the pressure on your legs and feet (helping ease cramps and swelling!) and, of course, that support on your back will feel oh-so-wonderful.
V-Sling
You know how you said you wouldn’t be one of those pregnant women who waddles by the end of her pregnancy? Nine months later, you might be eating your words. But with the V-Sling, you can get relief and avoid the waddle! The V-Sling supports your belly and uterine wall, which helps with symphysis pubis, pelvic floor pressure, and other issues that cause that stereotypical waddle.
Postpartum Belly Wraps
Many doctors are embracing the idea of a “fourth trimester.” You and your baby are still going through so much change and growth after birth. While your body is actively recovering from a major event—whether you had your baby vaginally or via C-section—you deserve all the support and love you got while you were pregnant, and then some.
With that in mind, we’ve developed several different types of Belly Wraps to help you not just recover from birth, but start to feel like yourself again . Here’s a breakdown on what each of our belly wraps do, so you can choose the one that fits your needs in the fourth trimester.
Original Postpartum Belly Wrap
We still love our O.G. belly wrap! It does all the things we designed it to do over a decade ago: slims and supports, strengthens core muscles, eases back pain, promotes mobility, and provides support after C-sections.
B.F.F. Belly Wrap
Utilizing Power Compress Core™ fabric, the B.F.F. Belly Wrap applies targeted compression; slims your belly, waist, and hips; and helps strengthen your core muscles that went through so much during pregnancy.
Viscose from Bamboo Belly Wrap
Our softest wrap ever, this wrap is covered in viscose from bamboo fabric, perfect for caring for your incision after a C-section or just giving your midsection a soft hug after birth.
Postpartum Luxe Belly Wrap
This belly wrap was designed with five levels of targeted compression for the perfect cinch postpartum. Ten years in the making, it combines all the things we love about our other belly wraps into one. Ultra-thin, breathable, and invisible under your clothes, it’s a new-mama favorite.
Couture Belly Wrap
If you need a self-esteem boost or want to feel chic after giving birth, snag this belly wrap! Covered in a super soft lace-printed fabric, it gently hugs and shapes your postpartum curves.
Mother TuckerⓇ Belly Compression Corset
This corset is designed for when you’re ready to transition out of wearing a postpartum belly wrap. It provides compression to help you look and feel your best postpartum, plus released tension at the bottom for more comfortable sitting. Flexible boning helps prevent rolling and digging, and gives your torso that long, lovely shape you want.
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Having a belly band during pregnancy and a belly wrap for the postpartum period can give your body the extra level of support and compassion (even compression!) you need to feel and look great—through every stage of motherhood.
