Pregnancy Belt: How Can It Support You During And After Childbirth

[ Know what a pregnancy belt is and how it can support you both during and after childbirth. ]

Pregnancy is a beautiful period filled with joy, anxiety and some discomforts for moms-to-be. Some moms are blessed to have an uneventful pregnancy where they sail through the nine months without any uneasiness.

However, some moms like me grapple during their pregnancy as they deal with morning sickness, aches, and other serious complications. While I had no nausea or vomiting, I struggled with severe lower back pain. During this time, I turned towards a pregnancy belt to help relieve my persistent back pain.

What is a pregnancy belt?

A pregnancy belt, also known as a maternity belt, belly band, or maternity support brace, is a belt you use around your belly during the second and third trimesters of your pregnancy to support your growing stomach.

A pregnancy belt not only supports your belly to relieve aches and pain, but also helps maintain a healthy weight during your pregnancy.

A maternity support belt can have the following features:

• It is generally made of soft, stretchy and long-lasting fabric
• Fastens easily with Velcro
• It is designed to fit under your belly
• It can adjust as your stomach grows.

Reasons to use a pregnancy belt

•  Provides relief from pain and discomfort

The main reason I decided to try a maternity belt was to relieve the excruciating back pain I was experiencing. As the baby grows, it puts more pressure on the body, resulting in back and joint pain.

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These pains can be annoying and even make it difficult for a woman to complete her everyday activities.

During the second trimester, ligaments loosen to accommodate the growing baby, resulting in pain in your hips, groin and legs as you enter the advanced stages of your pregnancy.

• Allows you to exercise and participate in other activities with ease

While not everyone may enjoy doing a workout or yoga during pregnancy, it is essential to remain physically active during this phase. Exercise during pregnancy has a lot of positive benefits for your health.

A pregnancy band can help you do your workout more effectively by reducing discomfort, It prevents your stomach from getting hurt during training by providing some compression.

However, it is always advisable to avoid exercising excessively during pregnancy and take things slow. Additionally, take extra precautions while you are pregnant to stay safe.

• It helps to correct posture

Belly bands support your body in such a way as to facilitate proper posture. When I was pregnant, all the extra weight I accumulated affected my standing and walking.

My husband even said I reminded him of a duck as I waddled from one room to another.

This typical pregnancy waddle is due to the extra weight carried in front of your body and the weakening of the core muscles supporting the spine. A belly band encourages correct posture by supporting the lower back and torso.

• It can be a great outfit hack.

Even though a belly seems to grow, your legs and hips remain somewhat the same. As a result, fastening on a pair of pants or jeans may prove challenging.

I learned an easy hack that helped me wear pants during my pregnancy.

I would pull up my pants, leave them unfastened, and then use the pregnancy belt around my abdomen to cover the upper part of my pants. It also spared me the embarrassment of showing my back and belly whenever I bent down.

• It can support post-partum healing

The best part of the pregnancy belt is that you can use it even after pregnancy. Childbirth often takes a toll on the body and decreases core strength in the weeks after birth.

The stretched muscles and ligaments during pregnancy will need time to heal. Also, physical weakness with the demanding job of caring for an infant may be challenging and can cause injuries.

Many women have found wearing a belly belt post-partum useful as it provides additional support to the abdomen and lower back, thus resulting in faster healing.

Some safety considerations before getting a pregnancy belt

• Talk to your doctor: It’s always best to consult your doctor before trying anything new during your pregnancy. A doctor will determine whether a pregnancy belt benefits you based on your symptoms.

• The right compression and size: Your pregnancy belt should not feel tight on your abdomen and should be of the appropriate size. It should offer gentle compression around your back and below your belly.

If the belt is too tight, it can cause heartburn and indigestion and adversely affect blood circulation and blood pressure.

• Time limits: Don’t wear your pregnancy belt for more than two to three hours at a time, as it can lead to over-dependence and cause the weakening of muscles.

Bottom Line

A pregnancy belt can be just the aid you are looking for to provide respite from aches, pains, bad posture etc.

But remember that it’s just a temporary fix, and you need to consult your doctor to heal the underlying condition that is causing you discomfort.

After reading the reasons mentioned above for getting a pregnancy belt, you can decide whether it’s something you need. If yes, then talk to your doctor and purchase one immediately.

Image source: mykolasosiukin free on CanvaPro

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