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I expected pregnancy to be uncomfortable; what I did not expect was to feel as though a bowling ball was exerting 1,000 pounds of pressure downward on my lower organs, and that they were all going to fall out at any minute as a result (along with the bowling ball). But that is what pregnancy feels like, at least for me, which is how I found myself researching a very sexy product known as the belly band. Belly bands, which are also called support bands, look like back braces, which is essentially what they are: They’re designed to support the lower back, hips, pelvis, and abdomen during the pregnancy and postpartum periods.
Here’s everything you need to know about both pregnancy bands and postpartum bands, which are technically different, along with intel on the best ones to buy according to experts and moms.
So, you’re on the hunt for the best belly bands?
➼ FAQs
➼ Best pregnancy bands
➼ Best postpartum bands
➼ Our experts
Best Pregnancy Bands
Best Overall
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Belly Bandit Upsie Belly Pregnancy Support Band
Size: S – XL | Material: 92 percent bamboo from viscose, 8 percent spandexcore, 75 percent polyester, 25 percent spandex| Color: Black and white
Several of the moms I spoke to recommended this specific band, which is also the type of support garment that sports and orthopedic physical therapist Winnie Yu favors in that it’s just one long continuous band that adjusts for more or less compression and support via a single “anti-dig” velcro closure. It offers a significant amount of support given its size relative to some other bands, but it’s also incredibly comfortable, thanks in no small part to its high-quality material. This band is so unobtrusive that it’s easy to toss on and forget, but it’s nonetheless successful at alleviating back, hip, and pelvic pain. This band is pricier than others, but it is FSA/HSA eligible, which means you might be able to get reimbursed for it through your health insurance.
$65 at Amazon
$65 at Belly Bandit
Best Budget
AZMED Maternity Belt
Size: One size | Material: Velcro | Color: Beige and black
Yu says this band tends to be a favorite among her clients. “It’s affordable, well-reviewed, and straightforward,” she says. It’s designed to alleviate back, hip, and pelvis pain, correct posture, and reduce pressure on the abdomen and bladder by more evenly distributing the baby’s weight. “It’s not the thinnest one and it’s not the thickest one, so it tends to be a happy medium for clients who need a little more support but find the thicker bands to be too much.” This band is super adjustable, which means it will grow with your belly, and the fabric is breathable for added comfort. It could also be used as a postpartum band on a tighter setting if you’re looking for soft support, says Yu. This band is FSA/HSA eligible as well.
$31 at Amazon
Best for Exercise
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Gabrialla Pregnancy Belly Band
Size: S – XXL | Material: Polyester 80 percent, lycra 20 percent| Color: Available in 6
If your aches and pains are specific to exercise, including walking, this is an excellent band to consider. I’ve been doing a lot of walking through my pregnancy, and I’ve found this band offers the perfect amount of support I need. It cradles the bump like some of the others on this list, but it’s a little more heavy duty, with two separate bands that offer more customizable tension and a taller back for increased support. My favorite thing about this band is that it contains a pouch at the back for inclusion of cold or hot therapy, which can be a godsend during pregnancy — especially after you’ve exercised. You’ll want to measure yourself precisely before buying, as you may need a different size than you’d normally take.
$30 at Amazon
Best Over-the-Bump Band
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Bao Bei Maternity ProBump Pregnancy Belly Support Band — Black
Size: S- XL | Material: Exclusive PRO fabric, 85 percent nylon, 15 percent lycra | Color: Black
This one is a favorite of Dr. Rawlins, a pelvic-floor physical therapist and the clinical content specialist at Origin. While most pregnancy belly bands sit below the bump, this one stretches to cover it. This is mostly just a matter of personal preference, as some women feel less supported with the whole belly out. In order to cover the bump comfortably, this band is made from lightweight, breathable material that grows with your belly and can fit under clothes, but it still provides significant support thanks to its exclusive Core Support technology.
$65 at Bao Bei Body
Best Convertible
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Belly Bands 3-in-One Belly Band for Pregnancy, Postpartum & C-Section
Size: Petite, standard, large | Material: 70 percent cotton, 25 percent spandex, and 5 percent polyester (Latex Free) | Color: black and bisque
Yu likes this one as either a maternity or postpartum band (or both) for those who want a little more support than the other bands she recommends. “It’s a bit thicker or wider, and I’ve found that people who are wanting something a bit more ‘fitted’ find it beneficial.” With that said, it’s super adjustable and comes in three sizes ranging from 0-20 U.S — and if you do not fall within this range, the brand will make you a custom belt within 48 hours. It’s designed to help with lower back pain, pelvic pain, sciatica pain, and to generally offer support pre- and postnatally.
Best Postpartum Bands
Best Overall
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Keababies Revive 3-in-1 Postapartum Recovery Support Belt
Size: M – 2XL | Color: Available in 6
Yu really likes this brand, and moms really like this band. As its name suggests, it actually features three bands — one to support your waist, one to support your stomach, and one to support your hips. This three-tiered system enables this band to maximize support for your postpartum journey, but in a stepped-out process. Initially, you’ll wear just the stomach belt, until you feel ready to add the waist belt and, finally, the pelvic belt. (The brand offers week-by-week guidance for which belt to wear when, and you can always pick and choose between the bands depending upon your needs and activities, even when you’re technically ready to wear all three.) Each separate band is also adjustable for optimal support and comfort.
$26 at Amazon
Best Time-Tested
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Belly Bandit Original Postpartum Belly Wrap
Size: XS -XL | Material: 83 percent polyester, 17 percent spandex| Color: Black and nude
This belly band has been around for over a decade, which is when mother of three Kelly Atterton first discovered it. “I used this belly band after my third birth. Wished I had used it for the two others because It made a huge difference!” she says. “The results were undeniable.” The Original Postpartum Belly Wrap’s Power Compress Core applies compression around the belly, waist, and hips to aid recovery by enabling better mobility and abdominal support. It’s also highly adjustable, so you can use it through the entire postpartum process. And its high-quality materials are built to last, which means Atterton could technically use it for a fourth baby all these years later.
$50 at Amazon
$50 at Nordstrom
Best for C-Section Recovery
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Bodily Belly Band
Size: One size | Material: 71 percent OEKO-TEX certified nylon, 22 percent polyester, 5 percent spandex, 2 percent rubber (contains Latex)| Color: Light gray
While it can support any postpartum mom, this belly band, which Champion recommends, is specifically designed to offer support after a C-section. Yu notes that if you’ve ever had abdominal surgery, you may be familiar with the feeling of wanting to be “held in” after. This band features two layers of Velcro wrap so you can customize its compression benefits to wherever they’re most needed around your abdomen, hips, and pelvis. It can be a great comfort around the house or support on postpartum walks. It’s also super comfortable, which is an important consideration during this delicate period as it won’t further irritate the surgery site. Some women have said it runs a bit on the small side.
$50 at Bodily
Best Splurge
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Belly Bandit Luxe Belly Wrap
Size: XS – XL | Material: SecureStretch™ fabric | Color: Black and almond
This is one of Belly Bandit’s more premium bands, which one mom I spoke to says she is still wearing years after the birth of her daughter. If you read the FAQs below, you know this type of prolonged wear is a major no-no, but it speaks volumes about the quality and comfort of this band nonetheless. It offers significant support for your back and abdomen to alleviate pain and provide comfort while also helping to enable postural reeducation. Given all of this, you might assume it’s uncomfortable. But it’s made from breathable fabric and is relatively lightweight, both of which help it to feel less like a corset than it looks. It’s also not going to move around and have to be fidgeted with frequently or irritate your skin. It comes in two sizes, one designed for tall and long-waisted frames and the other for petite bodies. If you’re looking for significant support and compression, this band won’t miss.
$100 at Belly Bandit
Another Splurge
Mamaway Postnatal Recovery Belly Band
Size: M – L | Material: 52 percent nylon, 34 percent polyester (derived from bamboo charcoal fiber), 13 percent rubber, 1 percent spandex| Color: Gray
Moon Juice founder Amanda Chantal Bacon previously told New York Magazine that she began wearing this band mere hours after giving birth to her daughter. “It felt so good to have immediate support. Your abdominal muscles are so separated and your skin is so stretched out. Your organs move when you’re pregnant; your uterus is huge. I wore this for pretty much six weeks; that’s the amount of time it took for my uterus to shrink back down and for everything to feel like it found its place,” she said. This breathable belly band features two adjustable bands and is made from a bamboo charcoal fabric designed to absorb far-infrared rays from the environment and pass them into the body, where they are said to help improve blood circulation. It can be worn from day one postpartum, as Bacon did, and is designed to safely accommodate C-section scars.
$90 at Amazon
Best Under Clothing
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Bumpsuit The Support Waist Trainer
Size: XS- XL | Color: Black and beige
If you’re familiar with Bumpsuit, you know the brand knows its stuff when it comes to form-fitting garments. This postpartum band is a top pick among those who want something seamless to wear under their clothes, as it includes zero bells and whistles that might stand out under your shirt. It offers the sort of gentle compression and support Yu recommends, and it’s one of the most comfortable, non-irritating bands on the market. Some moms even report that it’s so comfortable they forget they’re wearing it, which is a nice feature in the oh-so-uncomfortable postpartum phase.
$68 at Bumpsuit
Best for Exercise
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ReCore FITSplint Postnatal Ultimate Core Recovery
Size: S-L | Material:Made from silicone, nylon and breathable neoprene | Color: Black
This belt is specifically designed to be worn once you’ve been cleared postpartum to resume exercising, as it offers some support but also allows the core muscles to work and rebuild. As such, it’s less restrictive than some other bands on the market, and is made from a flexible fabric that wraps around the belly in two separate straps to offer adjustable support and compression. As this band is meant for core reconditioning, it is designed to be worn for a period of four to six weeks while you’re training, and in that way it’s quite different from the most passive bands on this list. With that said, you don’t have to wear it to condition, and in fact it can be worn as any other postpartum band would be, even as C-section site support.
FAQs
Our experts:
Erin Bunch , 2024-06-26 13:12:15
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