Post pregnancy compression wraps

jmohio

FTM never dealt with any of the pregnancy stuff let alone post pregnancy things. Someone brought up compression wraps to me for post pregnancy... I had no clue what they were talking about. They said there are some that can help your uterus constrict back, which can help with infections and things. There are also some that can help your hips go back to normal after labor. I was looking into them and got quite confused, wondering if anyone had used anything before or if anyone knew more than me about them. 

BabyboyS2016

I am interested in this as well. Will be stalking this post. 

alysemci

Following this too 

purplefan1

Interested to hear as well. Have heard some things about it but nothing legit and no real life experiences.

jmohio

I am so glad I am not alone in this!! 

DeePaddy24

Jumping on board...I'm also interested in this! 

edeibel89

I'll just go ahead and hop on and wait for an answer too thanks for posting OP!

alsbaldwin

STM here. I started using a Bellefit PP girdle (maybe not that same thing as a compression wrap, so maybe not applicable to this discussion?) a few days after DS was born. I loved it. Even though I had a relatively easy labor and delivery, it made everything feel more secure and tighter. The pressure on all the beat-up lady goods felt great (especially when put with a pad-sicle). It held my stomach and abs in after everything felt like a deflated beach ball and that my organs were just kind of "floating" inside. I honestly wish I would have gotten two so I didn't have to go without one during laundry.

MynaBird

I used the Bellefit, too, and the Belly Bandit. I hated the Belly Bandit, which was super stiff and uncomfortable, but the Bellefit was awesome. I actually ended up owning a few -- ordered a second one so I wouldn't get stuck without one during laundry, and then I had to order the next size down when the larger ones started to be too big. I will definitely be using them again. I also tried on the ShrinkX, which I hated even more than the Belly Bandit. If your hips spread a lot, though, it might be a better option than the Bellefit, which was more about holding the torso together in the way @alsbaldwin described.

BOH1025

Which bellefit product did you use? I just looked on Amazon, there are a lot
of different styles.

gauge1234

One of my friends (who is super into being in shape etc) specifically told me to get a Belly Bandit she said it was amazing and helped her tummy shrink quickly. 

I plan to get one and maybe the hip bandit as well. 

I cant give you my experience as a FTM but binding in one form or another has been in practice for a long time.

ask your care provider for feedback as well. As far as I know the hospital usually provides supplies to bind your stomach after a c section for support 

HBamama2B

My boss swears by the belly bandit after her birth. She also had the 'floating organ' feeling and hated it and said the wrap helped. I'm excited to look into the belle fit too!

gauge1234

Also if you can afford it / have health coverage don't forget the benefits of chiropractic care as your hips are tightening back up (more advice given to me by STM)

totsabounding

This sounds interesting! @MynaBird  and @alsbaldwin did you ladies use the "pull-up" one?

MynaBird

I used the "corset" model. I loved it because it was super easy to pull on open and then the hooks (given, there are a lot of them -- you don't want to be sliding it on and off a lot) really made it feel secure. As I recall, there are two rows of them, so you can adjust it to be more or less tight. Wearing it was a huge confidence booster after childbirth. I felt more secure, but I also felt like I looked better, which probably actually made me look better, which definitely made me feel more secure. A big confidence-boosting cycle. 

Some people swear by the Belly Bandit, but for me it was just the wrong product. It was harder to bend over while wearing the Belly Bandit than the Bellefit, and I could never find just the right way to wear it. It was always too low or too high. Just very uncomfortable. I found the Bellefit much easier to wear. I think people with longer torsos might have better Belly Bandit experiences than I did.

HeartLikeMine3

I used belly bandit as well and plan on using it again. I do feel like it was a little stiff but it definitely seemed to help a lot. 

Tawny87

When you order these things do you order for your pregnancy hip size or pre pregnancy hip size? Also looks like bellefit has some sales right now.

MynaBird

If I recall, they have measuring instructions on their website. 

jmohio

Huge help ladies thank you!! Now time to go shopping. 

marriedtoadutchman

For those that have used them did you find that you got too hot in them? 

Sydvicious08

There are also linen wraps that are pretty and adjustable. You can find measurements for the length of fabric and make your own or buy one. 

MynaBird

marriedtoadutchman said:

For those that have used them did you find that you got too hot in them? 

I didn't, although my first was born in late August, when it's starting to get cooler where we live, and I was cold most of the time for the first few weeks because of blood loss from my postpartum hemorrhage. In June it might be a different story, more so with the Belly Bandit, which is thicker. 

Sydvicious08

https://mothernaturale.com/bengkung-belly-binding/

scotten

Would anyone recommend one brand over another for c-section recovery? I'm a STM, but my hospital didn't give me any type of compression/binder after my first!

PBear93

scotten said:

Would anyone recommend one brand over another for c-section recovery? I'm a STM, but my hospital didn't give me any type of compression/binder after my first!

That's crazy.  I had one on when I was wheeled out of the room after my section. 

Mr0616

May has a discussion about this recently.    I think I need to order one based of my tiny torso length.  

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12668688/bellefit-psa#latest

alsbaldwin

parsonsperson said:

This sounds interesting! @MynaBird  and @alsbaldwin did you ladies use the "pull-up" one?

I used the pull-up one because it was the cheapest, and didn't know if I'd love it, so didn't want to spend more than necessary. I know they don't recommend the pull-up one for c-section recovery though...

scotten

PBear93 said:

scotten said:

Would anyone recommend one brand over another for c-section recovery? I'm a STM, but my hospital didn't give me any type of compression/binder after my first!

That's crazy.  I had one on when I was wheeled out of the room after my section. 

Right?! I didn't know any better at the time (also wasn't planning on a csection, therefore I was really uneducated on the procedure/recovery).

GinnyJ2012

I never used one for my first two, but am considering it this time. My abdominal muscles never returned to normal after my second. I still had a gap at 14 months PP. Do these help the abdominal muscles go back? 

fishwife799

scotten said:

PBear93 said:

scotten said:

Would anyone recommend one brand over another for c-section recovery? I'm a STM, but my hospital didn't give me any type of compression/binder after my first!

That's crazy.  I had one on when I was wheeled out of the room after my section. 

Right?! I didn't know any better at the time (also wasn't planning on a csection, therefore I was really uneducated on the procedure/recovery).

Is it normal practice to get one after a c-section? I also was never given one. 

scotten

@fishwife799 I've heard a lot of hospitals provide them, but not all. No one at mine even mentioned it though. 

gauge1234

@GinnyJ2012 they are supposed to help. Because you have a pre existing abdominal separation getting some input from a doctor or physio who is experienced might be a good idea. From my understand the gap can be closed but it takes different degrees of work depending on the separation. 

mar101483

This is a great thread. Thank you to all the mom's who have contributed. I Have heard of belly binding post partum, but not of products. I do have another question, I don't think it's been answered on here. When/ how soon after giving birth, do you use it?

GinnyJ2012

gauge1234 said:

@GinnyJ2012 they are supposed to help. Because you have a pre existing abdominal separation getting some input from a doctor or physio who is experienced might be a good idea. From my understand the gap can be closed but it takes different degrees of work depending on the separation. 

*****Ugh stuck in the box. *******

I didn't even notice it until someone mentioned that their friend had that problem. I had gotten in really good shape after baby 2, but noticed my abdominal muscles weren't as strong. I just figured that I was sacking on those exercises. I'm just worried it'll be worse after this birth. I'll ask my OB after my next appointment. 

MynaBird

mar101483 said:

This is a great thread. Thank you to all the mom's who have contributed. I Have heard of belly binding post partum, but not of products. I do have another question, I don't think it's been answered on here. When/ how soon after giving birth, do you use it?

I don't recall exactly, but I think I brought one in my hospital bag and wore it home when we were discharged? I didn't wear it in the hospital because I was on a catheter most of my stay due to some postpartum complications, but I think I started wearing one when I got dressed to go home. 

Tawny87

From what I was reading on the bellefit site you are good to start wearing when you are discharged but it wouldn't hurt to ask the discharging physician if you are good to go.

emmyfreeman27

I have never used one, but have always meant to. I just checked out Bellefit.com and ended up buying one-- I actually got $20 off, free shipping, and then an additional $30 off (I bought a bundle of two-- wasn't exactly sure on the size). I think the $30 off is for Easter weekend only, so if you are interested, go take a look now

TunieBee

I had an unplanned c-section and used the Bellefit. I had purchased it prior to delivery and brought it to the hospital with me. I delivered in the morning and put it on for the first time the night of my c-section. I absolutely LOVED it and wore it for many, many weeks (months? I don't remember). I felt totally unsupported when I didn't wear it and even wore it to sleep some nights. It helped tremendously with pain. My husband definitely had to help me into it for the first week-ish (maybe less). They gave me some sort of abdominal binder at the hospital that totally paled in comparison. On the plus side, it was a HUGE confidence booster because it essentially works like industrial-grade Spanx. They look like torture devices, but I PROMISE, the Bellefit is amazing. Go with their sizing information, don't try to size down but still be aware, the first couple time you put it on, you will feel like it's not going to fit, but it does. Also, there is no issue with the corset style being uncomfortable or with the crotch-flap thing, it's super easy to work and you can always leave it unbuckled. I just purchased a new one for this delivery. DO YOURSELVES A FAVOR AND GET ONE NOW!

StayingFocused

Looking into this with one question.  How difficult is it to use so soon with all the talk I hear about needing padcicles and all the bleeding post delivery?  Thanks, FTM.

BabyboyS2016

Agreed. I planned on wearing Depends with padsicles so I'm wondering how this affects sizing. 

photomama142

Just ordered using the "deal" they have right now, so paid $88 for the corset and tank.  What did everyone use for sizing?  There was the online tool and the chart, which showed different sizes for me...went with the chart sizing being the tool changed sizes for me based on a half an inch (M vs L) but the chart I was square in the middle of the M sizing...think it had to do with the fact I gained a little over the 33 lbs so far, but I had gone according to sizing with a different girdle last pregnancy and it was too big within a week...still have the other one (that I didn't like as much) just in case it takes me a week or two to fit into this one, but really didn't want to buy TWO of these as it suggested for people like me that have gained over 33 lbs...maybe with a combination of the girdles I'll get it right 

editing to add: I had used the velcro wrap type of girdle (can't remember the name, but another well known, popular brand) in previous pregnancies and hated it (because it would bunch up and roll, and I'd always be tugging it down), I could only stand using it for a week or two, not the recommended 6 weeks or more. That's why I wanted to try this style instead.  Hoping it works!