Belts and Belly Bands During Pregnancy

While you might love your growing baby bump, you might also notice some new pelvic and low back pain. Hormone changes loosen the ligaments in your pelvis to help prepare your body for birth. Muscle imbalances can occur around your hips, abdomen, and lower back as your body shifts and stretches to make more room for your baby. All of these musculoskeletal changes can add up to the need for a little extra support. Enter pregnancy support garments, such as belly bands and belts. A 2018 study on 90 pregnant women found that wearing a pregnancy support garment slightly improved posture during all trimesters.

Hinge Health does not recommend specific brands, but these guidelines can help you find the right products for you.

Belly Bands

These are worn low on your abdomen and can help support your bump by pulling your baby off your pelvis. This may help relieve lower back pain or pelvic pain caused by the increasing weight of your uterus on supportive ligaments. Research has shown that these support bands can be worn all day or sporadically as needed, and will not weaken your muscles if worn for prolonged periods.

Sacroiliac Support Belts

Worn further down around your hips, they provide compressive support to help sacroiliac pain, pubic pain, or pelvic girdle pain. They support your joints as compared to the bands, which support your belly. Belts are more snug and best used underneath your clothes. If there’s skin irritation, they can be worn over light clothing. FYI: These belts aren’t just for pregnancy: They are commonly worn for sacroiliac joint pain. When searching for this type of belt, look for SI or sacroiliac support belts.

Belly ‘Cradles’

No, not the kind that rocks your baby to sleep. These garments have a belly band support and crossed bands to support the upper back. These are often worn when you’re expecting multiples or you need additional support. They can be more complicated to put on and might require some help.

Posture Bras

These can help support your growing chest and relieve pain related to upper back posture changes during pregnancy. Many people will go up two cup sizes during pregnancy so these types of support can be helpful for upper body issues shoulder or upper back pain.

Help for Pregnancy Aches and Pains

Belts, bands, and supportive devices can be very helpful in easing discomfort that stems from pregnancy-related body changes. If you're experiencing low back pain, sacroiliac joint pain, pelvic pain, or round ligament pain that might benefit from a support garment, talk to your Hinge Health physical therapist to explore the option that might work best for you as well as discuss additional exercises or modifications to treat your symptoms.

Key Takeaways

1. Wearing pregnancy support garments can help improve posture and reduce pain during pregnancy.

2. Pregnancy support garments can be worn all day or as needed and will not weaken your muscles if worn for prolonged periods.

3. There are many different types of support garments available including belly bands, sacroiliac support belts, belly cradles, and posture support bras.

References

1. Bey, M. E., Arampatzis, A., & Legerlotz, K. (2018). The effect of a maternity support belt on static stability and posture in pregnant and non-pregnant women. Journal of Biomechanics, 25(75), 123-128. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.05.005

2. Azadinia, F., Takamjani, E. Kamyab, M. Parnianpour, M. Cholewicki, J. & Maroufi, N. (2017). Can lumbosacral orthoses cause trunk muscle weakness? A systematic review of literature. The Spine Journal, 17(4), 589-602. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2016.12.005