Get expert tips from a physical therapist about C-sections and postpartum belly wraps. Find when and for how long you can wear a postpartum belly wrap after a cesarean section.
You may or may not have been recommended to wear a postpartum belly wrap after having a C-section, but you are curious if these belly bands are worth the time and investment.
A lot of new moms are interested in wearing a postpartum belly wrap to lose the postpartum pooch or the C-section shelf, but there are so many more benefits to wearing a postpartum belly wrap than flattening your stomach.
Some may call it a postpartum belly band, but in this post I refer to them as postpartum belly wraps, which is the most commonly used name from the most well known and trustworthy brands.
Are you curious which belly wrap is the best for a C-section and whether or not it’s worth wearing? Also, are you confused about when to start wearing the wrap and for how long? Let’s dive right into this highly popular topic of C-sections and postpartum belly wraps.
First, before we get into all the nitty gritty details of when to wear a postpartum belly wrap and what the benefits are of wearing a belly band, I want to first explain what a postpartum belly wrap is.
A postpartum belly wrap is a piece of high grade material that wraps around your core or torso to create compression.
The compression can be adjusted by the design of the belly wrap. Some articles may refer to these as postpartum belly bands, but when actually clicking on the product, they are typically called postpartum belly wraps.
Basically, on the internet the term postpartum belly wrap and postpartum belly band are interchangeable. But I want to caution you when searching for a product, that you make sure you purchase a product that is high grade compression and doesn’t have a lot of give.
Check the reviews before you buy.
I recommend my top 12 postpartum belly wraps at the end of this post, so be sure to continue reading before you make a decision on which one you plan on getting.
When Can I Use A Postpartum Belly Wrap After C-Section?
The timeline on when you can use a postpartum belly wrap after having a C-section can differ for all new moms post surgery. One doctor may recommend right away (even within the first 24 hours) while another may suggest waiting until your scar is healed (several days or weeks later).
It really is at your doctor’s discretion, and that is why I always recommend you consult with your doctor before beginning a wear time schedule with your postpartum belly wrap.
But let’s say you are given the green light to wear a postpartum belly wrap. I recommend putting it on right away and wearing it for 30 minutes the first day. After that it’s a slow progression to build up your tolerance and to check for any adverse reactions you may have to wearing a postpartum belly wrap. Continue reading to learn how long you should wear a postpartum belly wrap.
Should You Wear A Belly Band After C-Section?
You may be wondering if you should even wear a postpartum belly wrap after having a C-section, and my recommendation as a physical therapist is definitely, “YES!” I highly recommend wearing a postpartum belly wrap after a cesarean section and generally for a number of other abdominal procedures (ex: tummy tuck, hysterectomy, bariatric surgery).
The compression that the belly wrap provides post C-section is aiding in support and pain relief. When your muscles are weak and unable to tolerate even just the position of standing upright, the wrap can aide in a simple activity like that while also relieving pain and discomfort.
The postpartum belly wrap is not a long term fix by any means and if worn long term can weaken your muscles and do more harm than good. However, using the wrap earlier on in your recovery process will help with the healing process and decrease overall pain from the surgery site.
Do Belly Bands Help Flatten Your Stomach After C-Section?
And extra bonus to wearing a postpartum belly wrap after having a C-section is the benefit of assisting the stomach to flatten and minimizing the postpartum pouch.
The uterus stretched out significantly during pregnancy; over the first several weeks of postpartum recovery, the belly wrap can help to assist the uterus to shrink back to its normal size. Read more about how this works in this article.
Something important to remember is that you get the most benefit from wearing a postpartum belly wrap early on in your postpartum recovery because that’s when a lot of the hormonal changes are taking place.
Your uterus is beginning to shrink at a faster rate during this time.
The postpartum belly wrap will assist in the shrinking of your uterus and speeds up the healing process significantly.
When Is It Too Long To Wear A Postpartum Belly Wrap?
The ideal time to wear a postpartum belly wrap is between 2 days postpartum and 6 weeks postpartum. This is when the uterus contracts the fastest after childbirth.
However, it is also well known for new moms to wear it up to 4 months postpartum, which is what I recommend doing. You will continue to get the added benefit of compression all the way up until you are 4 months into postpartum recovery.
If you are 4 months and 1 week postpartum for example, you may want to consider whether or not the cost outweighs the benefit. If you are 5 months postpartum, I recommend saving your money and investing it into a good postpartum core workout program. You will get more bang for your buck.
Do Postpartum Belly Wraps Really Work?
You may be skeptical about postpartum belly wraps and think they are just a gimmick, but let me tell you something, they are surely not.
They work, and there are so many benefits to wearing a postpartum belly wrap, I’d hate for you to miss out on the opportunity to have a smooth recovery after having a C-section.
So what are the benefits to wearing a postpartum belly wrap? I have 6 benefits that I explain in detail here, but I’ll list them out for you to have right now.
- Tactile cues
- Assist with uterine contraction/decrease uterus size
- Abdominal support
- Posture
- Self-confidence
- Motivation
Just having the abdominal support alone is enough to convince me to wear one, but the added bonus of self-confidence and motivation is a game changer. Learn more about the benefits and how the postpartum belly wrap can help you in the above mentioned areas.
Can I Wear A Postpartum Belly Wrap While Sleeping?
I do not recommend wearing the postpartum belly wrap while sleeping for several reasons. Primarily, because this is a time when your skin needs to breathe and have air flow.
Also, the wrap is to assist you when you are up and on the move or, in other words, when you are standing up against gravity. That’s when you need the support the most. You don’t need to wear it 24 hours a day. Learn more about what you should and should not do with a postpartum bell wrap in this article.
C-Section Belly Bands On Amazon
If you are looking for my best recommendation for purchasing a C-section belly band on Amazon, I highly recommend the ChongErfei 3-in-1 belly wrap and support on Amazon. It’s a one size fits all and is affordable (typically under $30).
I wore it for two of my 4 pregnancies and had great results. Learn more about the 3-in-1 postpartum belly wrap in my review here and purchase the belly wrap here.
But before you make your final decision, I highly recommend considering the Postpartum Belly Wrap from Belly Bandit instead of the 3-in-1.
It’s higher quality, more comfortable and seamless under your clothes, so it’s easily discreet under whatever you are wearing when going out in public. Learn more about Belly Bandit postpartum belly wraps here and get more details on their #1 postpartum belly wrap, the Luxe Belly wrap here.
12 of the Best Postpartum Belly Wraps and C-Section Belly Bands
Still want to shop around? Here are my top 12 postpartum belly wraps on the market. I’ve included wraps that are specifically designed for C-sections, plus-size women and for all budget ranges.
You can learn more about which postpartum belly wrap made the top 12 list here. I hope this helps save you time so you can ultimately make the best purchase for you and help speed up your postpartum recovery.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
*It is important to always consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program and get medical clearance. Always warm up thoroughly and stretch after all workouts. LiveCoreStrong.com and Jena Bradley will be not be responsible or liable for any injury sustained while exercising at home, gym or elsewhere. Perform exercises at your own risk.
Up Next….
If you liked this post, please take a quick second to share it! 🙂
