Carrying a child is a responsible period for a woman. Pregnancy is associated with loads on the spine, legs, which causes pain in the back and poor posture. The effect of additional body weight should be neutralized by fixing the outer wall of the abdomen and back. The use of special devices in the form of elastic belts, bandages, panties with reinforcing bands will help. The expectant mother should master the skills that will tell her how to properly wear a maternity bandage to fully support her growing belly. This is a very important moment for the intrauterine development of the child, for the mother - an opportunity to avoid the appearance of stretch marks on the stomach.
Purpose and types of product
The universal elastic bandage is a cotton and elastane belt with Velcro fasteners located under the belly. The device is worn during pregnancy and in the postpartum period to restore elasticity to the abdominal muscles.
The main task of the bandaging devices is to reduce the load on the spine and normalize blood circulation. As a result of wearing such a device, the risks of the following are minimized in pregnant women:
- development of varicose veins;
- formation of congestion in the pelvic organs;
- the occurrence of tension in the lumbar region, which can provoke uterine tone;
- pinched nerve endings, leading to noticeable pain;
- manifestations of flabbiness of the abdominal muscles.
Pregnancy is an important period not only for the baby, but also for the mother. She should understand the different types of bandages to choose the right one for her in terms of size, degree of fixation, and compliance with hygiene requirements. When choosing special support clothing, a pregnant woman is recommended to consult a doctor. The doctor will tell you which bandage to wear before giving birth, which one is needed after, and whether it makes sense to look for two devices or whether a universal bandage will do, which can be used by everyone who does not have any pathologies during pregnancy.
Maternity support belt - how to wear it correctly depends on the model. All information can be found on the product packaging. The elastic belt should be put on over panties, securing it with Velcro under the protruding belly. The side fasteners are designed to adjust the bandage to size. The device has a simple design, is made of environmentally friendly materials, and is suitable for large and small bellies. The disadvantage is that the Velcro can tear tights and make snags in underwear.
Bandage panties are also easy to use, they have a high front wall and an elastic band insert. The product supports the belly well in the early stages, does not spoil tights. The downside is that they need to be washed every day or have several pieces. In the later stages, this clothing brings more trouble than convenience to the pregnant woman. Putting on bandage panties on a large belly becomes difficult. If the model does not have a gusset valve, then the product has to be removed every time you go to the toilet.
A maternity corset is more difficult to put on than a belt and panties. It needs to be laced up in the front, which is difficult to do on your own. The advantage of the device is that it adjusts to any abdominal circumference. The disadvantage is that the lacing sticks out through thin clothing.
Wearing Rules
How to properly put on a maternity bandage of a particular design can be found in detail in the instructions for the device. General requirements include product safety, selection of the appropriate size, and indications for use.
- Safety criteria include the quality of the material from which the bandage and the Velcro are made. It is recommended to use a cotton maternity belt with reliable fixing elements.
- The product should not squeeze the stomach, this can harm the baby. It is important for a woman to maintain freedom of movement, so tight fixation should not be done.
- If your belly is growing rapidly, you need to ensure that you change the size of the bandage in a timely manner.
- You should start wearing a prenatal bandage after consulting with a gynecologist. If your belly is small, you should not wear the device until about 23 weeks.
- Up to 38 weeks, the time of wearing the bandage is limited, no more than 4 hours a day. It is necessary to wear it during active body movement - on a walk, during physical education, during physical work.
- From the 39th week, wearing the device ensures the correct position of the fetus, so it should only be removed at night.
By following the rules for using the product, expectant mothers make pregnancy easier, and the baby gets the opportunity to be in a comfortable position. With active movement, the bandage should be removed so as not to limit the baby's movements.
How to choose the size
There is a size chart for choosing bandage belts. Before purchasing the product, you need to measure the line running along the hips and lower abdomen with a centimeter. When choosing, you should focus on the values obtained.
The mistake women make is that they rely on the growth of the belly and take a large size. It is worth noting that in such cases the bandage will provide little support, this will create discomfort, in some cases chafing.
When choosing, it is recommended to be guided by the data provided in the size chart.
| Size | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 |
| Waist, cm | 58-62 | 62-67 | 67-72 | 72-77 | 77-82 | 82-87 | 87-92 |
| Hips, cm | 84-88 | 88-93 | 93-97 | 97-101 | 101-105 | 105-109 | 109-113 |
The bandage panties are selected one size larger than the woman wore before pregnancy. As the belly grows, the size is increased by purchasing a new product based on your own comfort.
Can it be worn on bare skin?
Recommendations for pregnant women on how to put on a bandage include step-by-step instructions and advice on what underwear to use under the elastic belt. There is no categorical ban on wearing the product on the naked body, but every woman understands that orthopedic inserts and Velcro can cause discomfort when in contact with the skin. They press, rub, and cause irritation.
Elastic belts and corsets are worn over underwear. It should be made of cotton - breathable and absorbent. You should choose thin panties and T-shirts - this will not allow you to level out the supporting effect. Wearing over sweaters and thick tights reduces the beneficial effect to a minimum and restricts the movements of the expectant mother.
The ban does not apply to bandage panties. This is a type of special corrective underwear made of breathable hypoallergenic material. They can be worn on the naked body.
How to put on and take off
You can find out how to wear a bandage device of a certain model:
- from the instructions for use;
- from a gynecologist;
- from a pharmacy specialist, store consultant.
Before putting on the bandage, you need to lie down on the bed. This will allow the pelvic organs to take their anatomical places and the baby to relax in the mother’s womb.
- You need to lie on your back, relax, inhale and exhale several times.
- Raise your pelvis and place a small pillow under your lower back.
- Place an elastic belt under the lumbar region and straighten it along the spinal column.
- Fasten the Velcro tape above the pubis and stand up carefully.
The universal bandage for prenatal use is pressed against the back with the wide part, and the narrow part is placed under the tummy. The compression bandage device for postnatal use is worn on the stomach with the wide part, and on the back with the narrow part.
Support panties are put on while lying on your back. Then you turn to the side, move, checking the comfort of your movements, the reliability of the fixation. Only then do you get out of bed.
To check if everything is done correctly, you need to listen carefully to your feelings. There should be no pressure on the stomach, no restriction of movement. The product should be securely fastened, not move on the body. The gap between the skin and the belt should be equal to the thickness of the little finger.
How to wear a support bandage for pregnant women is also determined by how a woman feels. The stomach should lie on it, the orthopedic inserts should fit tightly to the back and sides. The expectant mother should feel relief from the reduced load on the spinal column.
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