Knowing when to wear a postpartum belly wrap is a bit confusing. You might be wondering if it’s too late to wear a postpartum wrap or girdle. Continue reading to see if it’s too late for you to wear a belly wrap after having a baby.

 

how long should I wear a postpartum belly wrap

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Most new moms who discover postpartum belly wraps well into their postpartum recovery ask the question, “When is it too late to wear a postpartum belly wrap?”

I wish someone would have told me about belly wraps earlier” is a common follow up statement.

This may be very familiar for you and also among a lot of other new moms who are just finding out about postpartum belly wraps. And it may be a little too late.

There is a window of time that is ideal for wearing a postpartum belly wrap, and some new moms find out that postpartum belly wraps exist when they are already several months into their postpartum recovery.

In this article we are going to answer the question of when is it too late to wear a postpartum belly wrap.

Is It Too Late To Wear A Postpartum Belly Wrap?

How long after birth can you wrap your stomach with a postpartum belly wrap, a postpartum girdle, belly binding or some other product?

These products all are in the same category and the timeframe is the same for each. 

If you want to know in your situation if it’s too late to wear a postpartum belly wrap, I recommend going by these guidelines.

 

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 Belly Wraps Work?

You may be wondering if postpartum belly wraps actually work, and to give you the quick answer, yes, they very much do. I’m a physical therapist, and I highly recommend wearing one after giving birth.

A postpartum belly wrap is something you wear around your belly, your lower abdomen, after pregnancy.

You wear it during postpartum recovery to help your belly to decrease in size via compression.

The compression helps to decrease your uterus after having a baby.

The uterus contracts naturally after having a baby, and the amount of contraction can be increased if you are breastfeeding.

Postpartum belly wraps act as an assistant to the natural contractions that take place in your uterus. The wrap speeds up the healing process.

How Long Can You Wear A Belly Bandit For?

Belly Bandits are among the most popular belly wraps for postpartum moms. These quality products are highly recommended and are very durable. And not to mention the style and shape is top-of-the-line. Moms absolutely love them, and I’m one of them. To read a review of the Belly Bandit wrap click here.

If you are not sure how long you should wear your Belly Bandit wrap, I continue to recommend 2 days to 4 months postpartum. Some women love the feel of the Belly Bandit wrap and continue to wear it well into their 9th month postpartum especially when going out to help with the streamlined look of their belly under clothing.

That is completely ok to do. It acts more as shapewear rather than postpartum compression. While this is an acceptable way to use the wrap, I recommend using it sparingly in order to continue to strengthen your muscles naturally without the wrap hindering your progress. 

What Is The Best Way To Get A Flat Belly Without A Postpartum Belly Wrap?

If you are out of the ideal window of time to wear a postpartum belly wrap, like I mentioned, focusing on a postpartum core program is the best route to take.

You will see faster results and improve your inner core muscles that will ultimately tighten your core even better than a belly wrap would.

The belly wrap does not strengthen your core muscles, only exercises can do that. If you are ultimately looking to flatten your belly postpartum, you need to focus on improving your transverse abdominis muscle of your core.

This muscle, when strengthened, helps to draw in your belly and help with the appearance of a flatter stomach.

How Do I Strengthen The Transverse Abdominis?

In order to strengthen your transverse abdominis muscle, you will need to start by lying on your back on a flat surface that is hard, preferably the floor. Avoid using your bed or another soft surface like the couch.

It’s important to keep your knees bent and relax your spine. In order to target your transverse abdominis you need to focus on drawing your belly button in towards your spine. Continue reading to further learn how to strengthen the transverse abdominis muscle.

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.

how long should I wear a postpartum belly wrap

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