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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
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Best Pregnancy Bands
Best Overall
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.
Best Budget
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.
Best for Exercise
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.
Best Over-the-Bump Band
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.
Best Convertible
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
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.
Best Time-Tested
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.
Best for C-Section Recovery
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.
Best Splurge
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.
Another Splurge
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.
Best Under Clothing
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.
Best for Exercise
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.
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FAQs
What are the two types of belly bands?
Pregnancy (or maternity), to be worn during pregnancy, and postpartum, to be worn in the weeks following delivery.
What is a pregnancy belly band?
Pregnancy belly bands are external braces designed to be worn during pregnancy to add support to the lower back, hips, pelvis, and abdomen, according to sports and orthopedic physical therapist Winnie Yu, DPT, CSCS. They typically, though not always, start around the lower abdominal area, go across the lumbar spine, and support right below the belly, she says. These bands come in a variety of materials — some are more rigid, while others are softer and more stretchy, and some include Velcro and straps while others are made up of just one long band that circles the waist. They also vary in width from a few inches to as wide as 12 inches. The wider the belt, says Yu, the more support it offers.
When might you need a maternity belly band?
Most women use them from the middle of the second trimester and throughout the third. “[Belly bands] can help offload some of that pull into what we call ‘anterior pelvic tilt,’ or that more arched lower back position that comes from holding what’s essentially a bowling ball in front of your chest, which can be fatiguing for the spinal musculature over time.”
What are the benefits of a pregnancy support band?
The main benefit of a pregnancy support band is that it can alleviate and prevent some of the many, many aches and pains of pregnancy. According to Hollie Champion, PT, DPT, PCES, pelvic-floor therapist at CityPT, this can include back pain as well as pelvic pain, the most common types of which are sacroiliac pain, pubic symphysis pain, and even round ligament pain. A pregnancy support band can also offer postural reeducation and gentle compression during daily activities, adds Katie Plitt, PTA & Physician Success Specialist at Luna. “It may also feel helpful if you and your muscles are feeling extra fatigued during your normal daily activities or exercise,” adds Ashley Rawlins, PT, DPT, a pelvic-floor physical therapist and the clinical content specialist at Origin.
When should you wear a pregnancy belly band?
“You can benefit from a pregnancy band in most positions,” Yu says. “But it’s most commonly used during exercise, or when you’re doing things around the house like cleaning dishes or doing laundry, or anytime you’re standing for prolonged periods of time. Pretty much anytime you’re vertical is a great time to wear it.” You can strap on a belly band when you’re sitting, she says, but it’s less necessary because you’re more supported from the weight of gravity by the chair.
It’s important to note that these bands aren’t made for continuous wear since they can cause irritation and can weaken the abdominal muscles, says Dr. Rawlins. As such, you should take frequent breaks from your band — Yu reiterates that it’s best used while you’re vertical, and that it should never be worn to sleep.
Are there any risks to wearing a pregnancy belly band?
As long as you’re wearing it properly, there is no reason for most moms-to-be to worry about wearing a maternity support band. The only real risk comes from wearing it too tightly.
If you feel lightheaded, dizzy, pressure, or that you’re taking smaller, shallow breaths, those may be signs that your band is too tight. “It should lightly or gently pull on the belly to provide a bit of support, but it should be subtle,” Yu says.
There are some pregnant women who should avoid maternity bands, says Dr. Rawlins. For example, if you have an inguinal hernia or a history of meralgia paresthetica, she says a belly band may worsen your symptoms. If you’re unsure as to whether or not it’s safe for you, Dr. Rawlins recommends consulting with an obstetric health-care provider before use.
How do you know which type of pregnancy belly band to get?
There are two main types of belly bands. The first is thinner in width, softer, and more flexible, and generally does not involve a ton of bells and whistles. It may feature just one continuous strip of fabric, with or without a velcro closure. The second is more rigid, thicker in width, and may include various straps and other means for tightening and customizing fit.
When it comes to which one is best for you, Yu says it depends. Someone who has a weaker core or more lax or flexible ligaments to begin with may be at higher risk for aches and pains and could benefit from a band that’s more rigid and supportive. Someone who has a stronger core, who is training and conditioning before and throughout pregnancy might do well with a softer, less rigid brace. And if you don’t need extra support, Yu says it’s best to go without it.
What is a postpartum support band?
“A postpartum belly wrap, band, or bind is a material wrapped around the abdomen to provide support and other benefits to help your body heal properly following changes to the body after giving birth,” says Plitt. These bands are very similar to pregnancy support bands; in fact, some (but not all) can be repurposed for use after baby.
What should you look for in a postpartum support band?
Factors to consider, according to Dr. Rawlins, include the following:
- Adjustability: Look for a band that can be easily adjusted as your body changes and recovers after childbirth.
- Proper Sizing: Select the correct size based on your postpartum body measurements, not your pre-pregnancy size, to ensure the band is neither too tight nor too loose.
- Fit: The band should fit snugly but comfortably around your abdomen without rolling up or down. It should not make you feel bound, have increased pain, or disrupt breathing or movement.
- Closure System: Consider the type of closure system (e.g., Velcro, hooks, zippers) for ease of putting on and taking off the band.
- Washability: Look for a band that is easy to clean, as you may need to wash it frequently.
Are there any risks to wearing a postpartum support band?
With proper use, most women can safely wear a postpartum band. Plitt advises wrapping your postpartum band upwards from the hips to the stomach to avoid pelvic floor prolapse, and notes that applying it with too much compression may pose risks such as pain, difficulty breathing, or fainting. “If the band is too tight, it can increase pressure on your pelvic floor and put you at risk for problems down the road such as leakage or prolapse,” Champion adds.
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Our experts:
- Winnie Yu, DPT, CSCS, sports and orthopedic physical therapist.
- Hollie Champion, PT, DPT, PCES, pelvic-floor therapist at CityPT
- Katie Plitt, PTA & physician success specialist at Luna
- Ashley Rawlins, PT, DPT, a pelvic-floor physical therapist and the clinical content specialist at Origin
