Photo Credit: Canagoza
Alice Maternal Belly Band
Alice Maternal Belly Bands: Comprehensive Analysis
A belly band is a large band of elastic fabric that goes around an expectant woman’s belly.
Belly bands have become quite popular in recent years. Some have Velcro fasteners that make them adjustable -- and others come in sizes, just like a t-shirt or a blouse.
(1) Alice Maternal Belly Bands are soft and stretchy. They are made of super-soft, stretchable material. The material wraps around you in order to secure in place with Velcro.
(2) Cool and comfortable: They encourage and permit airflow and keep you and comfortable (Whitmore, 2015).
(3) Belly bands offer gentle compression during activities. The gentle compression of a belly band can assist support the uterus and decrease discomfort from movement throughout physical activity.
(4) Belly bands assist to reduce pain. A study was published in Spine Journal in 2012. It investigated the prevalence of back and pelvic pain during pregnancy (Freutel, 2018).
The study established that 71 percent of women report low back pain. At the same time, 65 percent report pelvic girdle pain (Freutel, 2018).
Belly bands can help give you added back support. As your baby grows, you will be carrying more weight in your abdomen, and that will certainly put more strain on your lower back.
As your core muscles that support the spine weaken, you will be more prone to extending your lower back. The extending can occur during your ordinary daily routine with activities, such as working, walking, or sitting (Freutel, 2018).
Belly bands help distribute the weight of the baby across the back and abdomen. Wearing a belly band can assist support lower back and baby bump throughout the activities, which can assist relieve the pressure on the round ligaments, which can lead to reduced pain overall (Freutel, 2018).
(5) Belly bands have the potential to assist you maintain proper posture, especially during the third trimester when your lower back and spine fall under increased weight. By supporting the lower back and torso, belly bands encourage correct posture and prevent overextension of the lower back (Abarfield, n.d.; Freutel, 2018).
(6) Belly bands may make you more comfortable with your appearance. They can add a smoothing layer to your outfit that may help minimize your stomach's appearance.
Moreover, they help you get more use out of your pre-pregnancy clothes. For example, one day your favorite pair of comfy jeans fit and the next day they do not. You do not, however, have to panic and throw them out. You can use your belly band to bridge the gap between your shirt and pant (trouser or jean) (Whitmore, 2015);
(7) Postpartum healing: Do not put your belly band away after giving birth. It can help with postpartum healing as your muscles and ligaments that stretch during birth need time to heal (Abarfield, n.d.).
Strains and weakness can make it difficult to care for your newborn. The support provided by your belly band can decrease discomfort (Abarfield, n.d.).
How to Use Alice Maternal Belly Band
(1) First, please check with your doctor to chat about using a belly band. Always consult your doctor before using any compression garments, such as belly bands (Freutel, 2018).
The compression garments are not suited for women with hypertension or compromised blood circulation. Such women could be advised not to use a belly band (Freutel, 2018).
(2) Alice Maternal Belly bands have Velcro fastener. Place the widest point under your stomach to support it and fasten the Velcro straps.
Photo Credit: Abarfield (n.d.).
Alice Maternal Belly Band
(3) You want to feel gentle compression. In case your belly band is too tight, it might cause indigestion and heartburn. At the same time, it can impact your blood circulation and blood pressure (Abarfield, n.d.)
(4) Only wear your maternity support band for two (2) to three (3) hours at a time.
(5) Belly bands should be paired with daily exercise to shed extra pounds and buildup strength.
(6) In case your maternity support band does not relieve pain or you find daily activities to be painful, speak with your doctor to address any underlying conditions. You might be recommended to a physical therapist (Abarfield, n.d.).
Cleaning Alice Maternal Belly Bands
Close the Velcro parts together before washing to lengthen the life of your Alice Maternal Belly Band(s). Please hand-wash your Alice Maternal Belly Band in cool water using a mild (gentle) detergent that does not contain softeners, perfumes, and other additives, as the additives can cause skin sensitivities and other issues. Do not also bleach.
Please resist the urge to twist or wring it. Twisting can affect the elasticity and compressive strength of your Alice Maternal Belly Band. Rinse well.
Do not dry in a machine. Instead, dry the belly band flat in the sun or air-dry.
References
Please click on (or tap on) the following link to access/view the "References": References -- Alice Maternal Belly Bands