Should You Try Postpartum Belly Wrapping?

Navigating the postpartum time — or the time just after you’ve given birth — can be challenging. In the past nine months, your body has transformed significantly. Even after you give birth, you’ll still be dealing with physical changes, some of which might be unexpected or challenging.

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This is all perfectly normal, says Ob/Gyn Erica Newlin, MD. “Your body has just gone through a major event, so you’ll feel sore and tired and need a little time to recover.”

One thing you might find helpful in the postpartum period is belly wrapping. “This refers to putting some sort of band around your abdomen after you deliver,” explains Dr. Newlin. “Some women even wear a band during pregnancy.”

Wearing a postpartum belly wrap (which is sometimes called a postpartum belly band) isn’t a new practice. In fact, people have been wrapping their bellies after giving birth for centuries. “Some cultures even have a tradition of wrapping the belly after giving birth,” notes Dr. Newlin.

Read on for insight on what a postpartum belly wrap can — and can’t — do, and tips on choosing one that’s right for you.

What to expect from a postpartum belly

After you give birth, you experience multiple physical changes. Your breasts swell and become larger because you’re starting to produce milk. Your hormone levels fluctuate. And along with these changes, your uterus starts contracting.

“It’s basically just held a watermelon, so it has to go back down to the size that it was before,” says Dr. Newlin. “You can expect usually to lose around 20 pounds pretty quickly after delivery, just due to loss of the baby, placenta and fluid. But you may still look a little pregnant after delivery.”

Belly-binding benefits

People use belly bands for many reasons depending on how they feel physically. “You might feel out of sorts after giving birth because your ligaments are a little more stretched,” says Dr. Newlin. “A belly band can help provide some stability. Sometimes, they can help you feel more supported or help you with your posture.”

Don’t underestimate the importance of a little extra support during this time. “Other belly wraps can simply make you feel better as you’re healing,” Dr. Newlin adds. “As I mentioned, your uterus is still going back down a size so you may still look a little pregnant. So, the belly band may feel nice for you.”

C-section binding

For people who’ve had a C-section, belly bands can be especially useful to provide support as their incision heals. “They can also help with discomfort,” Dr. Newlin says.

Types of belly wraps

There are many kinds of postpartum belly wraps available. “Some look more like girdles or are more structured,” Dr. Newlin explains. “Some almost look like a big headband that goes around your abdomen.”

Belly wraps or belly bands come in a variety of materials. Dr. Newlin suggests sticking to ones made from natural materials as much as you can. “Cotton can be less irritating to your skin,” she explains. “Also look at getting ones where you’re not having a lot of Velcro that’s irritating the skin.”

Belly-binding risks

But if a belly band is causing you pain, that’s a sign that you should remove it. “If you feel like it’s cutting off any sort of circulation, that would be another reason to take it off,” cautions Dr. Newlin. “I also usually recommend that people don’t keep it on for prolonged periods at night while they’re sleeping.”

A belly band can offer both support and relief during the postpartum period. But there are limits to what a belly band can do. “In the long run, a belly band won’t make your waist smaller or help you lose weight,” says Dr. Newlin. Plus, “Don’t feel like you need to spend $100 on a belly band that promises that it will change your body forever. It won’t.”

To wrap or not to wrap. That is the question. One simple Google search for “postpartum belly wraps” tells you it’s a question a lot of people are asking. But how do you sort through all the conflicting information and compelling ads promising smaller waistlines in no time? How do you know if a postpartum wrap (or binder, or band, or girdle) is right for YOU?

In this piece, we break down the very latest research on wraps — revealing what data has shown (and not shown). We also share guidance from physical therapist and PROnatal Advisory Board Member, Dr. Sneha Gazi, so that you can make the best decision on whether or not a binder makes sense for your personal circumstance. Let’s begin by first defining what we mean by belly wraps.

What is a Belly Wrap?

Typically, belly wraps are designed to be light compression garments that span the area from ribs to hips. You may also hear them referred to as belly binders, abdominal wraps, abdominal binders, or even postpartum girdles. They can be standalone wraps, like below:

They could some as shorts or pants that have extra material to cover the belly, like this:

The material is often elastic, but can also be made from natural fibers like bamboo, cotton, or muslin, like these:

For What Conditions Would a Wrap Be Useful?

During pregnancy, the pelvic and abdominal areas become looser to allow for expansion, in order to carry a progressively larger baby (or babies). After delivery, whether vaginal or C-section, those same areas continue to be quite lax for several weeks. This laxity can lead to low back pain or pelvic pain, such as SI Joint Pain. Abdominal wraps may provide support for low back pain or discomfort in the pelvic region. Wraps may also reduce downward pressure on the pelvic floor, helping to alleviate issues like incontinence. In some Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern cultures, wraps are thought to help reduce postpartum bleeding, encourage uterus involution (shrinking), and provide warmth to the healing womb (2).

While the research is light on the subject, it appears that wrapping may help reduce post-operative pain and psychological distress, and provide the support necessary to help you move with greater ease following a C-section delivery (1, 4). Some research showed no improvement on those measures (3) but, anecdotally, wraps seem to provide the wearer with some benefit, as long as they are not so tight that they constrict breathing or movement.

Even though more evidence is needed to form more robust conclusions, especially in those who have delivered vaginally, the results indicate that wraps may be helpful in alleviating acute pain following delivery.

For What Conditions Would a Wrap NOT Be Useful?

While it may be tempting to use wraps for the purpose of speeding postpartum weight loss or shrinking your waistline, there is NO evidence showing that benefit. There is also no evidence at this time showing that wearing a wrap will help diminish or heal the common pregnancy and postpartum issue of abdominal separation, known as Diastasis Recti.

For What Conditions Would a Wrap be Detrimental?

If a wrap is too tight or constricting, it can hinder the ability of the deep core muscles to function properly, and therefore hinder the rebuilding of the deep core. So yes, wearing a very tight binder could actually have the opposite effect of its intended purpose in giving you a flatter tummy.  In addition, tight binders may also increase the pressure on the pelvic floor, which could lead to pelvic floor dysfunction. Because of these reasons, we say that the use of any extremely tight girdles or corsets, like the one below, is a clear and unequivocal NO.

The Bottom Line (from a Physical Therapist)

Dr. Sneha Gazi, a physical therapist and PROnatal Advisory Board Member, only recommends wearing a wrap in cases of acute pain or dysfunction. So, if certain activities cause pain, and you find the wrap helpful in alleviating that pain, then use it temporarily while you work on rebuilding your core muscles. Or, if you are going to be doing more strenuous activities (like going on a long walk or wearing your baby for an extended period), and you feel the wrap helps, then use it. However, you never want to use it as a “crutch” and start relying more on your wrap for support than your own body awareness.

The appropriate length of time to wear a wrap varies by individual. If you are in pain, and have no childcare or partner to assist you in baby caring tasks, then you may need to wear it longer. If not, you may only need it for a few days to manage through some minor low back pain or SI joint dysfunction. The important thing is that you do not use it all the time just to feel a little better. “A wrap should never be used as an excuse not to practice moving your body with good mechanics and activating the correct muscles in functional activities,” advises Dr. Gazi.

How to Select a Wrap

If you have decided that you want to try wearing a wrap, make sure to select one that supports with gentle compression, but still allows you to breathe and move comfortably. For a review of different wraps and their benefits, you can check out this piece on The Best Postpartum Belly Bands and Wraps by What to Expect. Again, we recommend wearing a wrap primarily for more active or strenuous parts of your day, and then taking it off during less strenuous times.

Want Additional Resources?

For additional resources to help you recover, build strength, and get back to doing what you love, explore our Postpartum Training Programs. Or, for a more personalized approach, visit our Find a Coach page to find an expert trainer who can design and coach you through a customized training program.

Are you a Health & Fitness Professional?

If you are a health & fitness professional interested in coaching pre & postnatal clients, explore our ProNatal Education & Certification.

Resources:

1. Arici, E., Tastan, S., Can, & M.F. (2006). The effect of using an abdominal binder on postoperative gastrointestinal function, mobilization, pulmonary function, and pain in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 62, 108-117.
2. Dennis, C., Fung, K., Grigoriadis, S., Robinson, G.E., Romans, S., & Ross, L. (2007). Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals: A Qualitative Systematic Review. Women’s Health, 3(4), 487–502.
3. Gillier, C.M., Sparks, J.R., Kriner, R., & Anasti, J.N. (2016). A randomized controlled trial of abdominal binders for the management of postoperative pain and distress after cesarean delivery. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 133 (2), 188-191.
4. Saeed, S., Abdullah, R.K., Memon, Siraj, A., Sarah, K., & Ahmed, S.K. (2019). Use of Abdominal Binders after a Major Abdominal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cureus, 11 (10).