Does Postpartum Shapewear Work?

What is Postpartum Shapewear?

What is postpartum shapewear? Is it the same thing a corset? Or a waist trainer? Or a Belly Wrap? There are so many different types of compression garments it can seem impossible to get them all straight! What should I be wearing? When should I wear it? Is it safe? Does it work? These are all questions that you are probably asking yourself, and trust us, we’ve been there. There is so much going on in those first weeks after giving birth – it’s overwhelming!

Worry not, we made a trusty guide to make sure that you are wearing the correct garments, at the correct time, and making sure you remain safe and healthy while doing it. We’re going to break down the different types of garments into their main function so you can make an informed decision.

Waist Trainer

You have probably heard people like Kim Kardashian and other influencers talk about waist trainers in the past. These are compression garments that are used to slim the waist while also “training” it to appear smaller.

There is no current scientific “proof” that waist trainers work, and they compress your waist so tightly that they can cause nausea and even fainting. Waist trainers are non-medical, and high compression, making them very dangerous to use after pregnancy.

Corsets

Corsets are also not a medical compression garment, and are used under or over clothing to make the waist appear slimmer. They are tightened using strings or clasps in the back and are high compression. They are also not recommended as post-pregnancy garments.

Belly Wraps

Belly wraps or belly bands are used during a woman’s pregnancy. They are used to relieve back pain and tailbone pain off of a woman’s abdomen while she is pregnant.

Postpartum Binders

Postpartum binders are compression garments that are used once the woman has given birth. They are used to provide support and light compression to the abdomen while the woman is recovering. It is typically worn under clothing and has clasps or velcro in the front that can be adjusted.

Postpartum Shapewear

Postpartum shapewear is a light compression garment that is used to slim the body, while also providing support. It is specifically designed to help women recover from giving birth, while also helping her look/feel her best.

Does Postpartum Shapewear Really Work?

Well I guess that depends on what you mean by “work.” Postpartum shapewear by itself will not cause you to lose weight. The only way to get back to your pre-pregnancy body is to exercise your muscles and get them strong again. It can be very difficult to do that right after you have given birth. Everything hurts and you don’t want to move or do anything – not to mention you have a newborn to take care of. Your body will lose weight naturally after giving birth.

However, postpartum shapewear can help you get back to feeling better faster. According to one study, published in Physiotherapy, people wearing abdominal support were able to walk farther and experience less pain than others without it. So while postpartum shapewear will not make you lose weight, it will help you feel better. And when you feel better you are more willing to exercise and do the work to lose weight.

Benefits of Postpartum Shapewear

Stabilizes Abdomen

Postpartum shapewear can help your body heal properly. Think of it this way – when you get a cut on your finger it will heal eventually. It may take a while, and you may have a small scar when it does. If you put a bandaid on it, your cut won’t be exposed to bad bacteria that could infect it, and it pulls the edges of your skin together. When it does finally heal, with the bandaid, you probably won’t have a scar and it will heal a little faster because it wasn’t fighting gross particles.

That is kind of how postpartum shapewear works. It makes it easier to walk around and exercise your muscles without pain, and it holds your stomach in place so it can heal properly.

Provides Compression

Postpartum shapewear provides light compression that aids your uterus in shrinking back down to its normal size. This compression is also helpful with providing support to your abdomen and other areas.

Supports Lower Back

In addition to supporting your abdomen, postpartum shapewear also supports your lower back. This lower back support works to relieve pain in the area and benefits your posture. This also prevents you from making any moves that could potentially cause more harm to your abdomen, such as twisting or stretching too far.

Prevents Diastasis Recti

Another great benefit or postpartum shapewear is its ability to prevent diastisis recti. You can ready more about diastasis recti on our website. It is a pretty common problem that many women face, and using postpartum shapewear can help prevent it, or make the recovery process faster.

Aids C-Section Recovery

Finally, postpartum shapewear can aid c-section recovery. If you have had a c-section not only are your muscles healing, but your skin and tissue are too. This can cause a lot of pain and can make the healing process longer. Using a postpartum compression garment helps reduce the pressure on your incision, and prevents your stitches from snagging on clothing. According to one study in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, some women even had less pain while using a postpartum compression garment in regards to their c-section incision.

Choosing the Shapewear Right for You

Now that you know a little bit about all the different types of postpartum compression garments, you may be wondering which one is best for you. To make sure you are getting the best postpartum shapewear for you, make sure you consider the following things:

• Color of Fabric
  • Many women prefer darker fabrics so that any staining is not as noticeable.
• Type of Fabric
  • In addition many women prefer lightweight fabric so that they don’t get hot and sweaty.
• Closures in Crotch
  • You want to be able to use the restroom easily without having to take on and off the whole garment.
• What type of support you want
  • Do you want a little additional support in the butt and leg area, or is just the abdomen ok?

Best Postpartum Shapewear

At Bellefit, we have multiple types of shapewear and other compression garments so you can be supported in whatever way is right for you.

If you are looking for a full-body support shapewear try out our new Bellefit Power Shaping Bodysuit.

Or if you are just looking for a little bit of abdomen support, try the Seamless High Waist Control Thong.

Not only do we have shapewear, but we have postpartum binders as well. Check out our Bellefit Dual-Closure Girdle.

We hope that this has been a helpful guide.

Sources

1. https://misuse.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/error/abuse.shtml
2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314102718_Randomized_controlled_trial_of_abdominal_binders_for_postoperative_pain_distress_and_blood_loss_after_cesarean_delivery