Post-pregnancy Belly Wrap: The Necessity, Types, Pros, and Cons

After giving birth, more and more women today use special orthopedic products to facilitate the first weeks, and then quickly return to their previous body shape. How to wear a post-pregnancy belly wrap? What models can be found on the market, and can a doctor forbid wearing this device? We will answer all these questions, and at the same time we will find out how much time you can wear such a wrap.

What is a Prenatal/ Post-Pregnancy Belly Wrap?

A belly wrap is a wide elastic band with a special sealed insert in the abdomen area.

There is a prenatal bandage and a post-pregnancy belly wrap. In this article, we will talk about the postpartum one. Post-pregnancy belly wrap is a useful orthopedic product, which should be chosen according to the doctor’s recommendations. The fact is that in some cases it helps to recover faster, but sometimes it may be harmful to the body. Unfortunately, there is still no consensus among specialists on whether to use a post-pregnancy belly wrap or not.

The Necessity of a Belly Wrap

Post-pregnancy belly wrap is worn not only to hide the abdomen. It still performs a number of medical functions:

• Restores muscle tone of the abdominal wall
• Supports abdominal muscles
• Promotes rapid uterine contractions
• Prevents prolapse of the abdominal organs
• After cesarean section fixes the seams
• Relieves back pain
• Reduces the load on the spine

Indications for Wearing a Belly Wrap

• After cesarean section (wearing a bandage reduces pain)
• If the mother has back problems (scoliosis, radiculitis, etc.)
• With severe abdominal pain after a natural birth
• If there are stretch marks and the stomach is very sagging
• With reduced muscle tone of the abdominal wall

Contraindications

But even if a woman wants to wear a post-pregnancy belly wrap, the doctor can forbid it for several reasons:

• Inflammation of the joints
• Flatulence (excessive accumulation of gases in the intestine)
• Regular pain in the lower abdomen
• Longitudinal seams after cesarean section
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
• Renal or cardiovascular failure, accompanied by swelling
• Dermatitis and other skin diseases with foci of inflammation at the places where the belly wrap fits the body

The individual intolerance of the materials from which the bandage is made is also a standard contraindication for all types of orthopedic products.

Choosing a post-pregnancy belly wrap is necessary only on the recommendation of a gynecologist. At first, it is better to use a belly wrap and then switch to panties. It is important to choose the right size and follow all tips for wearing the product. Only in this case, you will get positive results from the post-pregnancy belly wrap.

Types of Belly Wraps

Postpartum Elastic Waist Wrap

In the first weeks after birth, it is considered one of the most popular models. A belt with a width of 15 -30 cm is sewn from breathable and environmentally friendly fabrics.

Pros

• Allows you to quickly tighten the abdominal muscles and skin of the abdomen
• Effectively supports the spine in the presence of semi-rigid bones on the back
• It is easily corrected according to a body shape by means of fasteners and additional lateral clamps
• Easy to put on and take off both immediately after childbirth and in the future
• High hygiene, as it is worn on cotton underwear
• Affordable cost
• Large lineup

Cons

• Visible under tight clothing
• With active movements often slides to the back
• Does not correct figure flaws

Postpartum Bandage Panties

The second most popular model, which is high-waist underwear and tight inserts in the abdomen. Sometimes the wrap is supplemented with additional fasteners in front, on the gusset, or on the sides.

Pros

• Corrects the parameters of the waist, hips, buttocks, abdomen
• Looks elegantly and is invisible under clothes of any style
• Huge assortment
• Wide price range: from budget options to premium products
• Does not slide if correctly selected

Cons

• Low level of hygiene, as it is worn on a naked body
• Difficult to put on in the first weeks after birth
• If special fasteners are not provided, then it is inconvenient when visiting the toilet or during an examination with a gynecologist
• If the size is chosen incorrectly, then the model cannot be adjusted

Universal Belly Wrap

A special belt that can be worn during pregnancy. After childbirth, it is simply turned over on the other side and is ready to provide all possible assistance in restoring the female body again.

Pros

• Cost savings: you do not have to buy two belly wraps
• Effectively copes with the assigned tasks: a high back pulls up the stomach, and a low one supports the spine, unloading the lower back
• High level of hygiene
• A little more expensive than a standard postpartum bandage, but still a universal model will cost less than buying two products

Cons

• May be uncomfortable after childbirth, although it was ideal during pregnancy
• With intensive use, it often wears out quickly – many customers note that their bandage “did not live” until the postpartum period
• Sometimes the wrap slides and gets deformed

How and How Long Can One Wear a Post-Pregnancy Belly Wrap?

Do not get carried away wearing a bandage. Constant help to the body can lead to the fact that your muscles and spine will not want to work on their own. You can return to the orthopedic accessory all day long, but wear it for no more than 3-4 hours in a row, making at least one-hour breaks.

Doctors usually do not recommend using a post-pregnancy belly wrap for more than 7 months. During this time, the body manages to recover so much that it is ready to function in the previous model without outside help.

In the future, you can use the wrap during physical exertion – housework, long walks, shopping, and on trips. In this case, it will perform a preventive and aesthetic function – to reduce the load on the spine and adjust the contours of the body, slightly reducing the waist, hips and making the stomach flatter.

The bandage after cesarean section should be removed every 3 hours. During a 15-20-minute break, it is necessary to assess the condition of the seams. At the slightest suspicion of deterioration, stop wearing this orthopedic product. You can start using it again only after a second consultation with a doctor.