Top 5 Benefits of Wearing a Maternity Belt

Even in the perfect-scenario, pregnancy is a wonderful, but challenging, 9 months. In high-risk pregnancies, or pregnancy with complications, these pains are sometimes debilitating. It can be so scary and lonely. I want you to know you are not alone.

For more information, please visit Pelvic Brace For Pregnancy.

Hey there, beautiful, and congratulations on your pregnancy!  This is such an amazing time for you!  As someone who has been in your shoes, and had questions about what was normal to feel during pregnancy, & as a Doctor of Physical Therapy who has helped thousands of women enjoy active pregnancies in my 15+ year career, I wanted to share with you how using a maternity belt can help you stay active, and control any pregnancy-related pains, as your beautiful bundle grows inside you!

Even in the perfect-scenario, pregnancy is a wonderful, but challenging, 9 months. In high-risk pregnancies, or pregnancy with complications, these pains are sometimes debilitating.  It can be so scary and lonely.  I want you to know you are not alone.  

Pelvic Floor PTs are one amazing resource for you, but so are maternity belts. And since a maternity belt might be easier, and quicker, for you to come by than a Pelvic PT, I want to share with you the top 5 benefits of wearing a maternity belt, as well as a plug for one of my personal favorites, the KeaBabies Maternity Support Belt.   

The Top 5 Benefits of Wearing a Maternity Belt

1. Maternity Belts Reduce Pain. By offering circumferential support to your pelvic ring (translation: giving your pelvis a gentle hug), the belt assists in supporting your growing bundle of joy, thereby reducing pain. 

2. Stay Active While Pregnant. By providing this pelvic ring support, a maternity belt allows you to do things you might not otherwise have been able to do, from a comfort perspective.  This is especially true in cases of complex pregnancy, where pain may have caused inhibition of your core muscles, which can lead to more pain, which is a vicious cycle.  A maternity belt can interrupt that cycle and help you stay (or become) more active. 

3. Work Smarter. Not Harder. Maternity belts complement the work of your own amazing core muscles.  By doing a bit of the work to stabilize your pelvic ring, the belt frees up the abs, glutes and pelvic floor, to do other work that the belt cannot do.  This makes it easier to maintain good posture and perform daily tasks.  

4. Specifically Designed for YOUR changing body. General &#;SI Belts&#; can be good, too, but maternity belts were designed with a Pregnant Body in mind. They are lightweight, breathable, and have SPECIAL MATERIAL by your belly to avoid chaffing. If you&#;ve used a general SI belt in the past for pre-pregnancy woes, you owe it to yourself (& your belly skin) to purchase a special one for maternity use. 

5. Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby. Do it for your baby. Numerous studies have shown that active mamas have healthier babies, better mental health and greater fitness for delivery, than moms who were sedentary. Wearing a belt can help control your pain and get you (or keep you) active. 

So those are my Top 5 Reasons for Wearing a Maternity Belt.  Remember to put them on with GENTLE compression, low around your hip bones.  It should go UNDER your under-garments, so that you don&#;t have to move it on and off when you use the bathroom.  

Why do I love the KeaBabies belt?

Because of its construction.  I find it to be high quality, easy to put on (out of box, velco towards you, wrap around and Viola!), and it has held its quality through many (hand) washings (please secure Velcro first and dry flat, not in machine).  I also like their eco-conscious packaging and the company&#;s care for the whole mama, in general.  

I hope you found these tips helpful. Please check out the KeaBabies Blog, Pelvic Floored Blog, and follow me on Instagram for more great tips!  Remember, you&#;re not alone in this journey.  

Meet Our Guest Writer, Dr. Kelly Sadauckas, DPT, OCS, ITPT

Dr. Kelly P Sadauckas (sad-ow-skiss) is Doctor of Physical Therapy who has specialized in treating pelvic health conditions for individuals of all sexes and ages, for nearly two decades.  She is a Board Certified Specialist, and has a goal of reducing geographic, financial and psychosocial barriers to accessing high quality pelvic health care, throughout the world.  She has a special place in her heart for new, and forever, mamas.  Follow her on social media for awesome, free, tips on how to live your best life during pregnancy, and beyond! 

Approximate Reading Time 2 Minutes

Low back pain? Pelvic girdle pain?

Finding it difficult to enjoy your pregnancy? Relief can be found in the form of:

• pregnancy belts or belly bands as they are commonly referred to

• specialised compression garments

• physiotherapy or some combination of these.

6 Reasons you need to be careful with a Pregnancy Belly Band and why it may not be the best solution for painful pelvic and back joints:

1. Maternity support belt / pregnancy support belt may impair blood circulation, and negatively impact your pelvic floor and bowel function if worn too tightly or for too long.

2. You are relying on your &#;feel&#; to get the right level of compression, potentially risking muscle deactivation by having a potentially dangerous level of compression.

3. Pregnancy support belts should only be worn for short periods, 2-3 hours to prevent dependency and deactivation of your muscles in your bottom, abdominals, and lower back, leaving you unsupported for most of the day.

4. Most pregnancy belly belts/bands do not move with your body, can feel restrictive and need constant readjustment when sitting down or getting up.

5. Pregnancy belts are not the most comfortable or flattering especially if you are wearing them under anything that is fitted.

6. Many pregnancy belly bands / belly belts have hooks, loops, or Velcro so there is a chance of snagging your clothes. 

SRC Pregnancy Leggings and Shorts are a specialised compression garment, recommended by women's healthcare professionals around the world.

Are you interested in learning more about Far Infrared Therapy Products? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Designed in consultation with an obstetrician for the ultimate in comfort and functionality, they utilise patented Anatomical Support Panels that deliver targeted compression, ideal for treating multiple conditions to help you enjoy your pregnancy and assist with:

• Low back pain

• Sciatic nerve pain

• Pelvic Girdle Pain (SIJ & SPD)

• Vulval and Varicose veins.

The multi-layered support panels called True Cross Compression, provide consistent and anatomically targeted compression during movement so compression is lost during movement. SRC pregnancy compression garments are an effective, evidence1 based choice for prevention and management of pain during pregnancy:

• 82% of women who wore SRC Pregnancy Shorts or Leggings experienced a reduction in their discomfort2.

• Backed by 100% Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee.

• Endorsed by Australian Physiotherapy Association & Australian College of Midwives.

They have all the benefits of belly bands and belly belts with none of the 6 disadvantages above.

Unlike belly bands, SRC Pregnancy Leggings and Shorts can treat various conditions, are more comfortable and convenient to wear and are therefore more likely to be worn for longer periods which increases their efficacy.

4 Reasons to wear Pregnancy Belly Bands / Belly Belts

Usually prescribed for extra postural support for severe symptoms of Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) and Pelvic Instability, there are good reasons to wear pregnancy belts / belly bands during your pregnancy, with the key here being SEVERE symptoms:

1. Relieving pain in joints, muscles and lower back

2. Assisting with the sacroiliac joint pain and hip joint pain

3. Decrease the discomfort and provide support to the pelvic area during various activities by stabilising the pelvis and relieving pressure from the lower back.

4. Help improve your posture

Some women combine both a pregnancy belly belt / belly band and the SRC Pregnancy Compression Shorts or Leggings. The benefit for women with severe pain is that they can wear their SRC Pregnancy Shorts/Leggings 24 hours per day without causing muscle atrophy due to prolonged muscle deactivation. During periods where they need to be on their feet for an extended time, they can combine both products by adding the pregnancy belly band over the top for additional support.

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