Benefits of Maternity & Postpartum Compression
What Are Maternity & Postpartum Compression Garments?
Maternity & postpartum compression garments provide gentle support and relief for new and expectant mamas. Made of soft, breathable fabric, medical-grade compression garments are meant to provide strength where it’s needed most: areas like the lower back and core that are weakened during pregnancy, or feet and ankles that are swollen and retaining fluid.
Types of Compression Garments
Maternity Lumbar Support (Belly Band)
A maternity support garment (commonly referred to as a maternity lumbar support, maternity support band, belly band, pregnancy belt, maternity belt, support belt, or maternity compression garment) is typically worn from around three months of pregnancy until birth to alleviate common pregnancy pain & discomfort.
The extra weight of your growing belly is supported by your abdomen, back, hips, and pelvis. Over time it’s common to develop lower back pain. In fact, 45% of women experience low back pain during pregnancy. As your hips loosen and your pelvis expands, more pressure is placed on your pelvic ligaments and joints which may cause sacroiliac (SI) joint pain or round ligament pain.
Although maternity support garments can’t completely take away all pregnancy-related discomfort, studies have consistently shown that women move better, feel better, and fall down less often when using a belly band of some kind.
Benefits of Maternity Support Garments:
- Relieves pressure that causes pregnancy-related pain, sciatica, and discomfort
- Corrects posture by preventing the lower back from becoming extended as core muscles take on the extra weight of the baby
- Improves overall balance, stability, function, and quality of life while pregnant
- Makes daily activities & prenatal exercises easier by giving the spine and muscles extra support
Maternity lumbar support garments can be worn as much or as little as you feel is helpful. It may be most beneficial to prioritize using your support garment during activities, such as walking, exercising, household chores, and other activities that involve full-body movement.
As for the fit of the band, you’ll want it to feel as though it is providing gentle compression around the pelvic bones and lower back, with a light lift sensation applied to the lower belly for support. No more and no less! Though you may feel immediate relief, you may find that using your garment consistently for 2-3 weeks further improves the benefit of reducing your low back and pelvic pain.
Postpartum Compression Garments
Medical-grade postpartum compression garments (or postpartum recovery/support garments) are made to provide extra support and tighten the areas most affected by pregnancy, and are worn between one week and four months postpartum.
After giving birth, most new mothers will experience soreness, abdominal pain, swelling, and loss of bladder control. Slowly your body will start to regulate and recover but it takes time and proper care. By providing stabilization and gentle compression with a postpartum recovery garment, your glutes, pelvis, hips, stomach, and back (as well as many major tissues and organs) will be able to move into place more quickly. Light compression can have a huge impact on overall wellbeing and recovery by alleviating pain, reducing swelling and postpartum bleeding, plus more. With proper use, you’ll be able to recover more quickly and soon be able to get back to a more normal routine.
There are different types of postpartum compression garments, but no matter the specific one, their overall purpose is to provide the correct support for faster healing. These garments can easily and discreetly be worn under clothing, and are made with breathable fabric for ultimate comfort.
Postpartum compression garments are specifically designed by medical professionals. Although they may look similar to shapewear, they are not the same nor are they intended to help mothers “bounce back” after giving birth.
Benefits of Postpartum Compression Garments:
- Assists with and speeds up postpartum recovery time
- Provides gentle compression & support to reduce swelling, soreness, and pain
- Stabilizes the abdomen, lower back, and hips for improved posture
- Increases overall mobility
- Tightens and tones belly, hips, waist, pelvis, and lower back
- Aids in c-section wound healing and scar pain
