Find out when you can wear a postpartum belly wrap after a C-section and learn the steps you need to take before you start wearing a postpartum belly wrap after cesarean delivery. postpartum belly wrap after a C-section
You might have just had a C-section and you feel completely lost and confused on how to take care of your body after surgery in addition to taking care of your baby.
There’s a lot of new changes going on all at once, plus your body feels like you went through a train wreck. First, take a deep breath, there is hope.
This difficult time you might be facing right now will get better, with the right information and with time to heal.
In this article, I will help you heal faster by providing you with tips on when to use a postpartum belly wrap after having a C-section.
Let’s get right to the specifics…
Wearing A Postpartum Belly Wrap After Having A C-section
A postpartum belly wrap may or may not have been prescribed for you after having a C-section. If your doctor gave you a belly binder of some kind, that’s great.
You can go ahead and keep wearing it, or you can order a new one that fits you better, is made of better quality material or is more comfortable and supportive.
My best recommendation is a Belly Bandit. Learn more about Belly Bandit’s postpartum belly wraps here in my review.
If you were not prescribed a postpartum belly wrap or binder after a C-section, then here’s what I recommend you do first…
1. Call Your Doctor For Approval Before Wearing A Postpartum Belly Wrap After A C-Section
Call your doctor if you are already home and discharged from the hospital. Speak to the nurse on call and ask if you can wear a postpartum belly wrap. Some doctors will not approve it while others will.
Also, it’s at the discretion of the doctor to determine if you are healed well enough at your incision to wear a postpartum belly wrap. If your incision is not healing well, it may be contraindicated (meaning it’s not allowed).
2. Research The Best Postpartum Belly Wrap Products
Research which postpartum belly wrap is right for you. There are a lot on the market and some are much better at compression than others. Some postpartum belly wraps are more comfortable than others.
There are postpartum belly wraps that are meant for taller women and others for shorter women. They even make XL postpartum belly wraps if you are in plus sizes.
You can check out my list of the Top 12 Postpartum Belly Wraps here.
3. Order Right Away, The Sooner You Start The Better The Results
If you were given the green light to wear a postpartum belly wrap, do everything you can to order it right away. Don’t wait on this. The sooner you wear a postpartum belly wrap the better.
You get the most benefit early on in your postpartum recovery because that’s when a lot of the hormonal changes are taking place and your uterus is beginning to shrink at a faster rate. The postpartum belly wrap will assist in the shrinking of your uterus.
4. Put The Postpartum Belly Wrap On And Feel Better Instantly
Once you get the postpartum belly wrap in the mail, go ahead and open it up right away, Let’s put this thing on. It’s going to make your body feel so much better, instantly.
Watch this video on how to put on the 3-in-1 postpartum belly wrap if you decided to order that one. It can be a bit confusing when you put it on for the first time.
If you ordered a different postpartum belly wrap that is one piece, it’s a bit more self explanatory and easier to put on.
Read this helpful article that explains what not to do with a postpartum belly wrap, like whether or not to sleep in it or to wear it directly over your skin or on top of a t-shirt.
5. Gradually Progress The Wear Time Schedule Of The Postpartum Belly Wrap
Now the big question is, “How long do I wear it for?” I have the answer for you.
It’s a gradual progression.
There is not one fixed number. Start with 30 minutes the first day and work from there.
You want to get your body used to wearing it at the beginning and then check your skin and assess how your body feels before wearing it any longer. The next day you will progress to 1 hour of wear time.
You’ll also find a wear time calendar so you can keep track of how long you should wear it each day. Be sure not to exceed the recommended amount of time of 12 hours a day.
When Should You Start Wearing A Postpartum Belly Wrap After A C-Section?
So when can you wear a postpartum belly wrap after a C-section? The answer is immediately after your doctor says yes! The sooner the better. Don’t wait. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get good results from the compression.
But always keep in mind, if your incision is not healing well (if it is red, inflamed, has discharge coming out of it or has an odd odor), call your doctor right away and notify him or her.
You should not use a postpartum belly wrap if this sounds like your incision. That’s why it’s important to call your doctor for approval.
Follow These 5 Postpartum Belly Wrap Steps After Having A C-Section
You should have a good handle on postpartum belly wraps now after reading those 5 steps.
- Call your doctor for approval
- Research the best postpartum belly wrap products
- Order right away, the sooner you start the better the results
- Put the belly wrap on and feel better instantly
- Gradually progress the wear time schedule
Be sure to use the postpartum belly wrap in conjunction with postpartum ab exercises to get the maximum benefit and ultimate healing.
Your first postpartum ab exercise should not be painful, but it should be relaxing, easy to do and ultimately make you feel better about yourself.
I’m a physical therapist, and I only recommend doing this one ab exercise after pregnancy and after a C-section. Learn more about the #1 postpartum ab exercise for moms who just had a baby here.
(disclaimer: only start postpartum ab exercises after your 6 week postpartum check-up and after obtaining clearance from your doctor)
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.
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