Postpartum wraps have been around for generations. The material is usually wrapped tightly and helps to provide support and keeping the abdomen in place.
During pregnancy, the body grows and stretches to accommodate the baby. Organs move out of their normal position, and even the abdominal muscles separate to make space.
But after giving birth, body needs to move those muscles and organs back to their original position. When done properly, belly binding applied to the abdomen and around the hips can provide support to the pelvic floor muscles & assist in maintaining good posture. It also offers gentle compression that holds muscle and ligaments safely in place as your body heals.
While there’s no evidence that wearing a belly band offers any medical benefits for women postpartum, many women with back pain and pubic symphysis pain report that they find the bands comfortable after pregnancy.
Choosing A Postpartum Belly Band
- Look for a postpartum belly band or wrap that’s adjustable and made of soft, comfortable materials.
- Make sure that the postpartum belly band or wrap fits you properly and isn’t too restrictive.
- Avoid waist trainers or cinchers and corsets, which are made of stiffer materials and are usually less about healing and more about appearance.
- Avoid wearing a postpartum belly band or wrap all day, every day. Some experts say that relying on the support for too long will cause your core muscles to weaken even further, which could then worsen your back and hip pain.
- Also, if you had a C-section, make sure the edge of the band is not directly on your incision, where it could irritate the wound.
The Bottom Line
While a belly wrap may help you feel better during pregnancy or post-baby, it’s not going to be a cure-all and you don’t want to rely on it for complete relief or recovery.
A wrap is never going to take over the function of your muscles. Proper exercise (or rest when needed!), core work, and pelvic floor moves can help you heal and gain strength in time.