Hospital binder vs. the Belly Bandit
Bethany:
My vanity wanted to put this post off till twelve weeks postpartum or at the very least six weeks, when hopefully I would have stunning results to showcase, but since I have so many friends due in the next month or two, I guess a post now would probably be more useful.
I’m one of those people who went into pregnancy having no idea whatsoever what “postpartum” entailed. Hormone swings? Stretch marks? After pains? Constant bleeding? Incisions or degrees of tearing? You name it, I’d never or only vaguely heard of it. Like many pregnant women, I happily dove into research once such topics were more relevant to me, but it was not until my husband and I attended birth classes that I first heard about abdominal binding.
My vanity wanted to put this post off till twelve weeks postpartum or at the very least six weeks, when hopefully I would have stunning results to showcase, but since I have so many friends due in the next month or two, I guess a post now would probably be more useful.
I’m one of those people who went into pregnancy having no idea whatsoever what “postpartum” entailed. Hormone swings? Stretch marks? After pains? Constant bleeding? Incisions or degrees of tearing? You name it, I’d never or only vaguely heard of it. Like many pregnant women, I happily dove into research once such topics were more relevant to me, but it was not until my husband and I attended birth classes that I first heard about abdominal binding.
(What do you mean, I'll have the baby and still look pregnant??)
The name is somewhat self-explanatory, but basically what I’m talking about here is less Spanx and more medical grade.
This is mainly a comparison review of different binders for anyone who has wondered about Belly Bandit vs. Squeem, etc, so I’m not going to delve deeply into all the reasons for this practice, but I’ll make a simple list of the basic top reasons for postpartum belly binding.
- Healing
- Support
- Comfort
- Vanity
History:
Our birth class instructor considered it a must-have, and her descriptions of how much it helped with postpartum healing made us bump it up to the top of our list of essentials. Since we were nearing both forty weeks and the outer limits of our interest in researching more products, we just went with the brand she mentioned so as to not have to go on a full fledged search for something that met all the criteria she listed.
That’s how we ended up with the Belly Bandit for after Jack’s birth.
Preparing for Dominic’s birth, I wanted to try something new, so I bought a Le Leche League binder. Then of course I had a prolapsed cord and emergency c-section, so I ended up being given and using a hospital binder.
After comparing the various problems of all of the above, I decided I wanted to try the generally very highly rated Squeem compression vest and lucked into a flash sale on one.
For kicks and giggles, I also tried out the authentic corset I have for costumes. Isn't that supposed to squash everything in?
Authentic corset vs. Squeem
The Good
Just having a binder in general, any kind, helps in terms of comfort and support so, so much. I personally would wear one all the time if it were possible, because it makes that much of a difference in terms of how I feel. And I’m not talking about it making me feel skinnier, because at least in my experience they definitely are bulky under clothing. Just having a loose belly jiggling around in the wind tends to make me feel tentative, like every movement is going to mean that I’m going one direction, my deflated belly is going another direction, and my poor innards have to choose which to side with. That’s even more painful after a c-section when every extra waggle tugs at the incision. There were times in the first few weeks I could barely sit up without the supportive compression of my binder. It pulls everything in so that I feel functional much faster than without it. That being said, each binder had different pros.
Belly Bandit - This thing does whip the belly into shape. It is a thick, very solid one piece contraption that puts constant pressure particularly on the belly. The support is amazing. I would probably (in my uneducated opinion) choose this one as best for healing. Putting it on makes me go instantly from feeling very postpartum to feeling almost normal.
Le Leche League binder - I did not end up even trying this on, but I bought it because it was longer (12”) and contoured to fit closer over various widths of the body. It is made of a thin soft fabric, which probably wouldn’t show as much under clothing and would probably be very comfortable.
Hospital binder - Much stretchier and softer than the Belly Bandit but far sturdier than the LLL binder, this is a dream to wear. It is soft, super comfy, super adjustable (it's impossible to shrink out of it, as the velcro will attach anywhere onto it), and super affordable (even if you didn’t get it for free; it's only about $20 from a medical supply store). The support is great, and it trims the waist like a miracle. At two weeks postpartum, my natural waist measured the same as it did pre-pregnancy. I’d definitely choose this one for comfort.
Squeem compression vest - This definitely is a tight squeeze all over. Its heavy material and contoured fit mean that it gets both the belly and the waist. The vest style means that there won’t be a problem of back fat bulge over the top, and the shaping makes for far less bulk under clothing. I’d probably choose this one for overall support and vanity.
Not all binders are created equal though. Although perhaps something is better than nothing, it's kind of hard to know where to throw your money, especially when shopping online.
Belly Bandit - Since this is made of a solid piece, it holds the belly in beautifully, but if you have any sorts of curves, it’s only going to really compress your widest part. For me, that meant my natural waist was not supported, and there was no way to prevent the thick material from buckling and rolling, which was not exactly smooth under clothes or comfortable at the end of the day.
Hospital binder - Although this is pretty much my favorite of all the things I tried, its biggest downside comes from how incredibly comfy it is. The material is just not quite as heavy duty as the Belly Bandit or Squeem, so after a few weeks I noticed that my belly wasn’t quite going down in size like it had the first time. Of course, there could be many other reasons for that, but I think the fact that the binder is stretchier and more accommodating accounts for at least some of that. Even with a little contouring, this binder does roll on shortwaisted people like me, which is annoying but not as constricting as with the others.
My conclusion is that there really is no perfectly fitting binder that won’t crease or ride up at all on a curvy, shortwaisted person like me. It’s just.... gravity or something.
My ideal binder would be the material of the Belly Bandit with the fit of the Squeem with the soft adjustable velcro of the hospital binder and the aesthetics of the corset.... at the cost of the Le Leche League binder. Hey, a girl can dream, right?
In Conclusion:
Apparently there is a new Belly Bandit option called the BFF that incorporates some of the elements of my ideal binder, and I am looking forward to hearing more about it and maybe trying it next go round. In the meantime, I’m generally compensating by wearing two at a time when I can and enjoying the comfort of being postpartum and having a sweet little baby but still feeling semi normal and functional.
September 27, 2011 at 6:43 PM
Sooo excited about using my BFF...especially after your conclusion comment. :)
BTW, you look AMAZING!!! :)
September 29, 2011 at 10:33 AM
I never had heard of these "belly bandings" before. I wish I knew all this when my son was born! :) Now I know for next time. Thanks for the great post!
February 18, 2014 at 10:17 PM
All the information are really nice this is very valuable information for all. Thanks for sharing such amazing post.
August 28, 2014 at 10:40 PM
Nice information!
Want to know how to choose best abdominal binders and support belts?
Read this post: http://gpcmedical.blogspot.in/2014/07/how-to-choose-best-abdominal-binders.html
October 16, 2014 at 3:20 AM
high value abdominal binder after pregnancy
http://xbinderx.blogspot.com/2014/10/postpartum-girdle-corset-c-section.html
August 20, 2017 at 11:54 PM
Shapewear should choose wisely for dresses. Every woman wants to look beautiful and this can be done with the types of cloth she wears. All the information is really nice this is very valuable information for all. Thanks for sharing such an amazing post.
August 31, 2017 at 7:11 AM
Thanks for your valuable information, you are so creative and your services are so good but I think you need some Changes of your girdle. See our product Best Postpartum Girdle is more comfortable and effect able for women, we are provide so many types of girdles and also pregnancy support belt our all girdle quality is best and it checked by our Expert teams.
May 16, 2019 at 2:17 AM
Great Article! The information provided here is amazing.A post maternity belt is such an amazing option to choose if the mother is wanting to get back in shape.
July 26, 2019 at 12:25 AM
Hi, I am a blogger I love writing about products review. I am a technical graduate student. music is my passion. a cup of coffee and my favorite novel is my awesome time-pass
Havells geyser
September 18, 2021 at 1:57 AM
Thanks for posting this article. Its Very Unique!!
personalised dummy clips uk
Thermometer Stickers
October 17, 2024 at 2:36 AM
Great insights on postpartum binding! It’s amazing how a supportive binder can aid in recovery and improve posture. Thanks for sharing the pros and cons—really helpful for new moms considering this option!
Post a Comment