Naturally, it takes time to recuperate from giving birth. It’s normal to have pain, swelling, and diastasis recti (separated abdominal muscles). The skin has been stretched and takes time to recover. Having a C-section can make it more challenging to bounce back. Thankfully, the best postpartum belly wraps support the body, reducing pain, easing breathing, and improving circulation.
This is not a new trend. For centuries, women have been wrapping their bellies after giving birth. It’s documented in Japan, Malaysia, and other cultures around the world. Abdominal binding is also used to help people recover from surgery in modern times, too.
Are postpartum belly wraps worth it?
A recent study explored whether abdominal binders could reduce postoperative pain after a C-section. Sure enough, women who use them experienced less pain (1).
Mothers who feel self-conscious about the weight they gained during pregnancy also appreciate the slimming effect. But more importantly, belly wraps help with lower back pain, may improve posture, alleviate pressure around a C-section incision, and promote healing from diastasis recti (separated abdominal muscles).
However, postpartum belly wraps are not the same as corsets or waist trainers although each of these devices provides compression.
When should you start wearing a postpartum belly wrap?
We suggest that you consult with the obstetrician or midwife about when to start wearing a belly wrap. Oftentimes, women start the day after they give birth and continue to use the wrap for months.
Do belly bands help flatten the stomach after pregnancy?
Although a postpartum belly band won’t return the woman’s body back to the pre-pregnancy size, it may create a slimmer-looking appearance kind of like shapewear does.
Which belly wrap is best postpartum?
There are different kinds of postpartum belly bands.
Some wrap around the abdomen and have Velcro, zipper, or hook and eye closures. These are our favorites, especially if they are adjustable because they are the easiest to dress.
Others need to be pulled on like pantyhose or compression stockings. This style may be more lightweight, but it’s also more prone to rolling up or rolling down. It’s difficult to don if you’re sore and not advisable if you have a healing C-section scar.
How to choose the best postpartum belly band
Before you do anything else, please take your measurements so that you get the correct fit on the first try. Each manufacturer should provide a size chart and recommendations for how to measure.
Next, comfort is key. You need support that relieves pain and allows you to move as needed. This is much more important than the color or how bulky the wrap is.
Nevertheless, it’s important to consider how easy it is to use the band. If it’s too difficult to put on or take off, you’re unlikely to use it.
Lastly, now it’s time to consider how it looks under your clothing. Conversely, some belly wraps can be worn over clothes. Most come in white, black, and beige.
When should you not wear a postpartum belly wrap?
If you have vaginal prolapse, please don’t use a belly band unless under a doctor’s supervision
If the wrap feels painful to wear, makes you dizzy, or increases postpartum bleeding or bladder leakage, don’t use it. Check with your doctor about alternatives.
Lastly, the wrap is there to help you heal but it can’t replace rest and exercise to rebuild your body. Please don’t wear the belly band all day long unless you’re following medical advice.
Now, here are the best postpartum belly wrap reviews:
| The best postpartum belly wraps | Why we love them |
|---|---|
| Belly Bandit - Original Postpartum Belly Wrap |
|
| Bellefit Girdle with Side Zipper Postpartum Belly Support Belt |
|
| Upspring Shrinkx Belly Wrap |
|
| Mama Strut Postpartum Support Brace |
|
| Leonisa Postpartum C-Section Underwear |
|
| Belly Bandit - B.F.F. Belly Wrap |
|
Best Postpartum Belly Wraps in 2024
Belly Bandit – Original Postpartum Belly Wrap
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The Belly Bandit is one of the world’s most popular postpartum belly wrap brands. We reviewed the original belly wrap but they also make a bamboo viscose version and an adjustable belly wrap (scroll down to the bottom of the reviews).
The Original Belly Bandit is 9 inches tall and has 6 inches of adjustability. That means you can tighten or loosen it at will.
It features medical-grade compression to improve circulation, support your core, and help with posture while easing pain. Believe it or not, major health insurance companies even cover its costs. Moreover, The Bump gave it a Best of Pregnancy Award.
Happily, the material is latex-free and lightweight. Even though it’s described as “breathable”, It is not the same as wearing a thin cotton shirt, for example. It’s going to feel a bit warm as it’s an extra layer.
On the bright side, it’s designed to not roll up or roll down. It can be worn 24 hours a day for the first few weeks as you recover from either a vaginal birth or C-section.
Weirdly, the recommendation is to not size up. The idea is that the swelling will reduce over time so it’s better to start with a wrap that barely fits. Then you can tighten it as the weeks passed and you recover and slim down.
If there are any downsides, it’s that it looks a little lumpy underneath thin fabric and it needs to be hand-washed.
Pros:
- Affordable and often covered by major health insurance plans
- Award-winning design with medical-grade compression
- Aids in recovery after vaginal birth or C-section
- Latex-free and lightweight with 6 inches of adjustability
Cons:
- Hand-wash only
- Only available in beige or black
- May be noticeable if worn underneath sheer fabric
Bellefit Girdle with Side Zipper Postpartum Belly Support Belt
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Who cares about Velcro when you can use a zipper instead? This postpartum belly band for diastasis recti has medical-grade compression. The side zipper makes it super easy to put on and take off. If you don’t feel like removing it, however, it has a gusseted crotch that splits open for bathroom business.
The design is the genius invention of a couple who wanted to help their daughter recover from C-sections. But the postpartum belly girdle is also helpful after a natural birth. It provides support all around the body with a reinforced front panel and weight-distributing back panels.
The fabric is a slightly stretchy spandex/polyamide blend that’s 100% latex-free. Of course, it’s hand-wash only. Reviewers love it because it helps keep everything in place and makes them feel supported.
If you’re not sure if the side-zippered style suits you, the same brand also makes a postpartum corset girdle, a girdle with a front zipper, a bodysuit corset, a postpartum corset girdle, and a “cheekster” corset. Some have hook and eye closures and others are zippered.
Pros:
- Postpartum belly band with medical-grade compression
- Speeds recovery from diastasis recti, natural birth, and C-sections
- Latex-free polyamide/spandex blend with a front zipper
- Gusseted crotch opens for trips to the bathroom
Cons:
- Hand-wash only
- Minimal color selection
Upspring Shrinkx Postpartum Belly Wrap
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This belly band has an interesting gimmick. The fabric is infused with bamboo charcoal fiber with the goal of decreasing swelling and increasing circulation for better healing. The bamboo fiber is fused with polyester and woven with rayon, nylon, and rubber to make this unique fabric. On the bright side, it’s also moisture-wicking.
More importantly, it provides adjustable compression and back support with built-in boning. It can be worn starting the day after giving birth whether it was vaginal delivery or a C-section.
The wrap is 9 inches tall and comes in two sizes. The smallest fits bellies up to 44 inches and the largest up to 52 inches. To get the best fit, measure yourself before giving birth and size down 3-5 inches.
Pros:
- Unique fabric blend of rayon, nylon, rubber, and polyester infused with bamboo charcoal fibers
- Wicks moisture, improves circulation, increases swelling, provides support
- Can be worn after vaginal delivery or a C-section
- Fits bellies up to 52 inches
Cons:
- Hand-wash only
Mama Strut Postpartum Support Brace
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If you’ve had a C-section, you know how sensitive the incision site is. We think this is the best postpartum belly wrap for C-section because you can use either an ice pack or heat therapy with it. (Unfortunately, this abdominal accessory is sold separately).
Out of all the postpartum belly girdles, this one’s relatively discreet under clothing. We also loved the removable fabric liners that protect underwear. They can be machine-washed.
What’s more, the Velcro straps and design make it very adjustable. It comes in sizes from extra small to 4XL so that every woman can find the right fit. Not only does it provide compression and support, but it’s also FDA-registered as a post-pregnancy belly wrap. As such, it can be purchased with an HSA or FSA flexible spending or health savings account.
Pros:
- FDA-registered post-pregnancy belly wrap that can be purchased with HSA/FSA
- Compatible with heat therapy and cold therapy to reduce pain after a C-section
- Washable liners to protect underwear
- Very adjustable and available in sizes up to 4XL
Cons:
- The hot pack/cold pack accessory must be purchased separately
- Only part of the wrap (the liner) is machine-washable
Leonisa Postpartum Tummy Control Belly Band C-Section Underwear
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This postpartum belly band is actually a high-waisted pair of underwear with compression. It’s helpful after a cesarean delivery or a vaginal birth.
What’s interesting is that some women use it as shapewear long afterward. (If you’ve given birth multiple times, even if you’re in great shape, you can understand how useful it is to have something that flattens the tummy. Things never quite go back to the way they used to be).
The fabric is a moisture-wicking, smooth-textured polyamide/elastane blend. It’s a patented material called PowerSlim with multidirectional compression. It has a hook and loop closure, also known as Velcro. Of course, it’s hand-wash only, which is the only downer.
On the plus side, this is no-show underwear with special seams that don’t leave an impression on fabric.
Pros:
- High-waisted underwear with adjustable compression
- Moisture-wicking and soft polyamide/elastane blend often found in shapewear
- Flattens the tummy
- Can be worn after a vaginal or cesarean delivery
Cons:
- Hand-wash only
Belly Bandit – B.F.F. Belly Wrap
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We started the postpartum belly band reviews with a Belly Bandit and we’re wrapping up with a different model. The “B.F.F.” in the name stands for Body Formulated Fit. It’s designed to provide support for the first couple of months after delivery. It can help alleviate back pain and allow you to exercise, too.
It feels silky smooth to the touch because the outer layer is bamboo viscose. The latex-free fabric offers targeted compression that can be customized as needed with the Velcro tabs. If you have a short waist, the 9-inch band should be a perfect fit. There are a variety of sizes that fit stomachs up to 57 inches.
It comes in either black or cream colors and hallelujah, it’s machine-washable.
Pros:
- Soft and silky belly band with adjustable compression
- Machine-washable
- Available in 2 colors in sizes to fit pretty much anyone
Cons:
- Some reviewers say that the fabric tends to curl after a few weeks
Conclusion
Give your poor body a break and use a postpartum belly wrap. It provides support for your tummy and back while you heal. The best belly bands are adjustable with medical-grade compression to help you get on with life as painlessly as possible.
Source:
1. https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/2019/05001/Comparison_of_Mobility_and_Pain_With_the_Use_of_an.357.aspx Makarova, Natasha MD; Tussey, Christina MSN, CNS, RNC-OB, RNC-MNN; Erickson, Laurie Paullette MD Comparison of Mobility and Pain With the Use of an Abdominal Binder Versus No Abdominal Binder Post Cesarean Delivery [27I], Obstetrics & Gynecology: May 2019 – Volume 133 – Issue – p 102S doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000558804.86752.e6