Making the right decision for yourself is a matter of knowledge and understanding, especially during pregnancy. In order to provide an individually tailored approach to your pregnancy and postpartum needs, we strongly recommend that you consult a Women's Pelvic Health professional such as a physiotherapist/physical therapist who specialises in pelvic health.
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Why use pregnancy belts or bands?
We know that approximately 70% of all pregnant women suffer from low back pain, and up to 45% experience Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)¹,². Pregnant women suffering from one or both conditions may find it difficult to function daily. Pregnancy Bands and Belts are often used to provide support and relief for these discomforts. Before we explore this aid any further, let us consider the causes of these pains.
It is believed that Relaxin, which is released during pregnancy, softens ligaments and soft tissues throughout the pregnancy and during breastfeeding. As ligaments become softer, the joints become more mobile, which may cause varying degrees of pain.
A pregnancy belt “holds up” your pregnant belly and relieves pressure on your back.
In the same way that “maternity belts” do not specify whether they are for pregnancy or post-natal use, the terms “belly belt” and “maternity belt” can sometimes be seen as vague. You must decide which stage of your maternity journey you need them for, during pregnancy or after delivery. The term pregnancy belt and belly band, which are interchangeable terms, may refer to either a pregnancy support belt or in some cases a post-pregnancy belly wrap. We will only discuss pregnancy belts and belly bands here.
A pregnancy belt or belly band clearly states that it is to be worn during pregnancy, so you are better able to learn about the pros and cons for your particular situation before consulting your doctor.
So let’s take a closer look at the Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of pregnancy and maternity belts.
The Good
The following are a few good reasons to wear a pregnancy belt during your pregnancy, especially if you suffer from Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) or Low Back Pain (LBP):
Helps reduce, low back pain and aids with sacroiliac joint and hip joint pain.
They provide support to the pelvic area by stabilising the pelvis and relieves pressure on the lower back during various activities.
Dr. Smith, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, says maternity belts improve comfort during daily activities.
Although research has found 83% of women with Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) or Lower Back Pain (LBP) experience reduced posterior pelvic pain when wearing a pelvic support belt, only 12% experience no relief, and 5% reported that they felt worse (Depledge et al., 2005). Other factors need to be considered when prescribing pregnancy belts, since the target population is pregnant women.
The Bad
Sherry A. Ross, MD, author of "she-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. period”, says that pregnant women's benefits and risks depend on the maternity shapewear product and how much you wear it. She explains this by saying; "Maternity shapewear that is too tight and puts too much pressure on the body is never a good idea. If you have trouble breathing, or you're in pain while wearing your shapewear, that's a sign that it's probably too tight for you. Discomfort, pain, reduced blood circulation and heartburn are some of potential issues from maternity shapewear that is too tight or worn for prolonged periods of time. Ross is most concerned about the Kardashian favourite “waist trainers” that can, if done up too tightly, compress and squeeze internal organs and ribs."
If a pregnancy belt is used too long or incorrectly, it can behave like shapewear, which by definition is designed to change the shape of your body by applying quite high levels of compression. Some medical opinions on maternity belts include the following: It is possible to alleviate back pain during pregnancy using pregnancy belly bands. Pregnancy belts provide support for the lower back and help redistribute the weight of the growing belly. However, it is important to consult with your healthcare provider before using them and follow the manufacturer's instructions. The danger is that if you do up the pregnancy belt too tightly you may deactivate your pelvic muscles making them weaker rather than activating them and making them stronger.
The Ugly
Dr. Christopher Smith has warned against wearing a maternity support belt for too long, as it may impede blood circulation as well as affect pelvic floor and bowel activity. However, he does advise women to wear them for brief periods during pregnancy, to prevent reliance on the belts and pair them with pelvic floor strengthening exercises. Remember, it's never too soon or late to begin improving your pelvic muscle strength!
Many Pelvic Health physiotherapists/specialists, as well as the founder of SRC Health, Sinead O'Donovan, often advise women to "activate don't de-activate," Sinead developed tailored compression garments for pregnancy and recovery after delivery.
Sammy Margo, a spokeswoman for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, says: "I tell my patients "use it or lose it". It has been found that women who wear maternity shapewear when they have no physical need can weaken their bottoms, stomachs, and lower backs. According to her, they are more likely to be injured after giving birth because of lifting and caring for their newborns.”
Additionally, there are low levels of compliance³ in the population wearing pregnancy belts because of issues with comfort, frequent re-adjustments, and skin irritation caused by the seams and fasteners.
If you choose to wear a pregnancy belt, you should ask your Pelvic Health Specialist how to wear it properly to prevent long term issues.
Now let’s look at an alternative to a pregnancy belt.
Having been in the industry for 15 years, we know a thing or two about helping mothers cope with pregnancy's most common conditions.
SRC Pregnancy compression garments, leggings, and shorts are designed by women for women in consultation with an obstetrician.
A quasi-experimental study by Szkwara J, Hing W, Pope R, Rathbone E, Bond University, Robina, Australia, November 2017 showed that as a non-pharmacological option for preventing and managing pregnancy pain, SRC Pregnancy Shorts are effective, thermally safe, and non-toxic."
Watch (90 seconds) why Physiotherapist Anna Scammel prefers SRC Pregnancy Leggings and Shorts over Maternity Belts and Belly Bands during pregnancy and recovery.
SRC Pregnancy Compression Shorts /Leggings with their unique patented Anatomical Support Panels (ASP) are recommended by thousands of women's health care professionals around the world to provide consistent gentle medical grade compression to increase pelvic and back support and reduce pain by improving their patients' mobility.
Their ASP’s deliver True Cross Compression which is a multilayered support panel that provides consistent and anatomically targeted compression. To manage pregnancy pain, SRC pregnancy compression garments are an effective, evidence-based choice:
82% of women who wore SRC Pregnancy Shorts or Leggings reported less discomfort².
The products are endorsed by the Australian Physiotherapy Association and the Australian College of Midwives.
SRc Pregnancy Leggings
SRC Pregnancy Leggings and Shorts can treat various conditions, are more comfortable and convenient to wear and are therefore more likely to be worn for longer periods that increase their effectiveness.
The product is backed by a 100% Money Back Guarantee.
SRC Pregnancy Compression Shorts or Leggings and a pregnancy belly belt are sometimes combined by women. In the event of severe pain, women can wear their SRC Pregnancy Shorts/Leggings 24 hours a day without experiencing muscle atrophy as a result of prolonged muscle deactivation. In cases where they need to be on their feet for a long period of time, they can combine both products by adding the pregnancy belly band over top.
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Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
Whether you are pregnant and suffering from vulvar varicosities or postpartum and struggling with SI joint pain, you may have found yourself googling “belly band” or “SI belt” or “pelvic floor support underwear” at some point during your journey through motherhood. And some of those results may have felt overwhelming because there are just SO MANY options – but you want to make sure the support garment you choose is helpful for your symptoms and does not cause any further harm to your pelvic floor or core. That’s where I come in as a pelvic floor physical therapist. Today I’m breaking down everything you need to know about support wear and reviewing a few of my favorites.
During pregnancy your body is constantly experiencing change from your growing uterus, your increasing blood volume and your lengthening abdominals – just to mention a few.
All of these changes during pregnancy can lead to increased vulvar swelling, increased pelvic heaviness and weakened abdominals. But do not fear, these are all common changes you may experience during pregnancy and there are tons of options for treatment and pain relief, including some support wear.
Here is a list of common dysfunctions that can benefit from support garments during pregnancy:
Please note, if you are experiencing any of these dysfunctions I highly recommend scheduling an appointment with a pelvic floor physical therapist or consider following an online prenatal program to focus on appropriate strength and mobility work in addition to wearing a support garment.
Now you may think that after delivering your baby that you will be free of any aches and pains that you experienced during pregnancy, but unfortunately that is not always the case.
For example, if you were experiencing SI joint pain during pregnancy due to weakened hip musculature, and never addressed the weakness during pregnancy, then it will likely continue postpartum to some extent.
I also highly recommend pelvic floor and/or core support wear after delivery regardless of your mode of delivery just to provide a little extra TLC to your body – I promise you will not regret it. I basically LIVED in my Support Bloomers from Bao Bei after my vaginal delivery with Ava even though it was a relatively smooth delivery to help with swelling, abdominal support and pelvic floor support.
Here are some common reasons to wear pelvic floor and/or core support postpartum:
And just like during pregnancy, I highly recommend scheduling an appointment with a pelvic floor physical therapist or consider following an online postpartum rehab program to focus on recovering, reconnecting and rebuilding your pelvic floor, core and full body strength postpartum. The old advice of “just take it easy” and “you’re cleared after 6 weeks” just isn’t cutting it anymore. Postpartum pelvic floor rehab should be standard of care after all deliveries – and that is a hill I’m ready to die on!
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Pelvic Brace For Pregnancy. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Did you know that you can still experience pelvic floor dysfunctions even if you have never had a child? Many of the women I work with in my clinic in Nashville have never had children and are still experiencing prolapse, urinary incontinence, diastasis recti, and SI joint dysfunction.
While many of these symptoms are common during pregnancy and postpartum due to your body’s changes, they are not isolated to the peri-natal population. All women have pelvic floors (and men too!) and therefore all women can experience pelvic floor dysfunctions. So if this is you, please don’t be afraid to reach out to a pelvic floor therapist – we can help women of all ages and through all stages of life.
Here are some common non-pregnancy related reasons to wear pelvic floor and/or core support:
If you need help finding a pelvic floor therapist, use this directory to find one! If you’re nervous or unsure about scheduling an appointment, read this post about what to expect at your first pelvic floor therapy appointment.
Now, before you purchase your belly band or compression underwear, it is important to recognize that these support garments are NOT meant to replace your own muscle. They are simply meant to assist your muscles during periods of acute pain with the goal of getting rid of the support garment and relying on your own muscles instead.
As a pelvic floor physical therapist, my goal for my patients is to get to the root cause of your pelvic floor or core dysfunction and address your symptoms through corrective exercise and appropriate workout programming. This means that support garments are NOT the long-term solution, but rather a short-term assistive device to help you through acute pain.
So how long can you wear your support garment throughout the day?
Many of the products listed below will note that you can wear your pelvic floor or abdominal support garments 24/7 (with the exception of bathing), but I advise my patients a little differently based on their symptoms and intended use of the product.
A good rule of thumb is to wear your support garments during times of acute pain or increased symptoms. For example, if you are experience SI joint pain consistently while walking your dog for longer than 2 miles, then I would recommend to apply your SI belt after 2 miles – and remember, you should ALSO be working with a pelvic floor therapist to eventually rebuild your own strength and mobility to decrease your need for external assistance.
Still a little confused on how long to wear your specific support garment? Don’t worry, I have included sections on “what they help” and “recommended wear time” for each of the below support garments.
One of the biggest points of caution to note when wearing a support garment is tightness.
Frequently you may see on the internet women wearing abdominal binders to help “heal” their diastasis or “shrink their waist” and I want to emphasize that this is NOT the intended purpose of these support garments.
I do not recommend wearing them as tight as possible. If you wear some of these garments too tight then you run the risk of increasing pressure down onto your pelvic floor contributing to prolapse or other pelvic floor dysfunctions – the very ones you are trying to prevent and support!
Signs your garment is too tight:
Please, please, please make sure you can see your ribcage move as your breathe in and out while wearing any of the belly bands or abdominal binders. You should be able to see your ribcage and belly expand as you breathe without restriction.
Additionally, I recommend watching this reel I filmed on proper placement with abdominal binders to ensure you are not wearing it too high which can also contribute to unwanted pelvic pressure.
V2 – While this support garment may look funky, it is beyond helpful if you are experiencing any vulvar swelling or prolapse symptoms. It can be difficult to adjust and requires some trial and error with clothing choice to hide the seams, but many of my patients have absolutely loved the V2.
What it helps:
Recommended wear time:
Boxer Briefs – I recently ordered a pair of these to test myself and WOW I was absolutely amazed at the support they provide. The fact that the support is built into a brief makes it much easier to hide the garment under clothing and not worry about the garment falling down. Highly recommend this one.
What it helps:
Recommended wear time:
Bao Bei Support Bloomers – As mentioned above, I LIVED in these support bloomers after my vaginal delivery for the first 6 weeks and continued to wear them as needed for another month. These bloomers provide pelvic floor and abdominal support through gentle compression from the bottom up which is why I love them for vaginal deliveries and pelvic floor support.
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What it helps:
Recommended wear time:
Serola SI Belt – This SI belt is the gold standard for all SI belts and is used all across the country by MDs and PTs alike.
What it helps:
Recommended wear time:
Bao Bei Belly Band – I love this full coverage belly band because of its gentle compression without any velcro use making it easy to wear under your clothes, during a workout or while sitting at work.
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What it helps:
Recommended wear time:
Belly Band – This belly band is probably the most common one you may see women wear during pregnancy. Make sure you place it low enough under your belly to avoid abdominal compression. It is often helpful to secure it around your hips while you are lying flat on your back to ensure proper placement. While this band is helpful, it can be difficult to wear while working out or sitting.
What it helps:
Recommended wear time:
Bodily Abdominal Binder – If I could gift this abdominal binder to every single woman post cesarean delivery I would. Many hospitals will provide you with an abdominal binder upon request after a cesarean delivery, but the quality of this binder is FAR superior.
What it helps:
Recommended wear time:
Remember, the goal with any of these pelvic floor and core support garments is to provide gentle assistance while continuing to address the root cause of your symptoms through working with a pelvic floor physical or occupational therapist.
And if accessibility, affordability and time are barriers to working with a pelvic floor therapist in-person, then I have created rehab and fitness programs for you to complete from the comfort of your own home.
My Movement Through Pregnancy program provides you with 4 workouts per week focusing on strengthening your full body and preventing pelvic floor and core dysfunction throughout your pregnancy. My Movement Through Early Postpartum program provides you with 12 levels of pelvic floor, core and full body rehab to return you to strength training and an active lifestyle. You should not and do not have to live with these symptoms forever!
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