3 More Ways to Use A Maternity Belly Band

Natural Moms Talk Radio

How in the world did I live without maternity belly bands? You know what I’m talking about, right?

Belly bands (like the Bella Band, BeBand, Baby Be Mine, and others) are stretchy, soft, spandex-y tubes that fit around your belly and/or hips. (They aren’t used for belly support.) Typically they’re used to extend clothing options in your first trimester. You can use them to keep unbuttoned pants up when you’re too small for maternity pants but busting out of your regular ones. Or to help prevent a large, late pregnancy belly from pushing pants down your backside.

Only.

These things are useful for much more, I’ve found. In fact they make the whole challenge that is the pregnancy/postpartum continuum much easier to navigate. I don’t remember seeing these in stores until after my 4th child was born, and I didn’t own one until my 5th. I don’t know how I lived without them before!

Shown: Baby Be Mine Maternity Belly Band courtesy of Amazon.com (affiliate link)

More Uses For Your Maternity Belly Band:

• Strapless Bra. Yep, that’s right. I found wearing a bra to be quite painful in my pregnancies. My rib cage felt as if I had a vice grip around it. Also, for some reason many of my favorite maternity dresses seemed very low cut and immodest. I found that I could use a maternity belly band instead of a bra. It was far more comfortable. And, strapless. And since it looks like a layering piece, not a bra, and comes up higher, it provides extra coverage.

  [Tip: if your belly band has a thicker band or a ring of silicone at the bottom (designed to help it stay flat), flip the whole apparatus so that the thicker part is under your breasts. It won't roll as much and you can fold the thinner top part down if you need to.]

• Layering Piece for Modest Nursing. Unless you’re wearing super baggy tops, lifting your shirt to nurse means your side and part of your belly are uncovered. This is fine if you’re at home (or are skilled in the use of nursing with baby in a sling), but if you’re out and about and need more coverage, try using your belly band. Wear it higher up, from just under your bra to the top of your pants. Belly coverage! Great for cooler weather especially.
• Postpartum Belly Smoother. I’m wearing my BeBand (available at Target) right now at 4 weeks postpartum to smooth things out so that my clothes fit better. If you’re using a Belly Bandit or other postpartum belly binder, you can wear your belly band under it for a better and more comfortable fit. I love my Belly Bandit, but the Original style can be itchy and pinchy. Not so with a belly band underneath!

Have you found any other ways to use a maternity belly band?   

Natural Moms Talk Radio