We asked ob-gyn and physical therapy experts break down what postpartum belly bands and wrap products can—and can't—do for you after giving birth.
They’re all over Instagram, TikTok, and Amazon—so if you’re pregnant, the algorithm has surely put postpartum belly bands on your radar. These products—sometimes called postpartum belly wraps or abdominal binders—definitely aren’t new, though: Belly binding has been practiced for centuries in Thailand, Mexico, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and elsewhere to support a new mother’s healing.
But the sheer number of products available these days means you have more options than ever if you’re interested in using a postpartum belly wrap. “I think it’s becoming more popular than it was 15 years ago,” Christie Cobb, MD, FACOG, a board-certified ob-gyn in Little Rock, Arkansas, tells SELF. In an observational study published in 2021, 82% of moms-to-be preparing to have vaginal births at one hospital said they planned to use a belly band after giving birth. Does postpartum belly binding actually do anything, though? Read on for more about what these products can and can’t do, including how to choose the right one and how to use them safely. What is a postpartum belly band, exactly? First, a quick definition on what we mean by “postpartum belly bands”: There’s some variation in the market, but the products we’re talking about here are either fabric, elastic-based wraps that usually have a Velcro closure; or long, bandage-like cloth strips designed to be wrapped around your stomach. These products are different from maternity belts, which look more like a girdle and are meant to be worn during pregnancy to take some weight off your bump. They also definitely shouldn’t be confused with “waist trainers”—corset-like shapewear that claims to tighten your tummy and help you lose weight, but doesn't actually work. Waist trainers are “not something that I would recommend during pregnancy or postpartum,” says Dr. Cobb. No, they’re probably not going to help your body “get back to normal” any faster. Before we get into the actual, evidence-based reasons to consider a postpartum belly band, it’s important to acknowledge that many new moms do buy them hoping they’ll help with core recovery. In that same 2021 observational study, a “desire to return to prior body shape” was one of the top reasons participants gave for wanting to use these kinds of products. It’s no secret that moms are literally bombarded with toxic “bounce back” messaging from, well, basically everywhere. And some manufacturers take advantage of this by marketing their postpartum bands as being slimming: One product description for a wrap sold online says it “may help reduce waist size over time with consistent use”; another claims to “help to put your organs fat back in place.” There’s certainly nothing wrong with wanting to look and feel like “yourself” again after nine months of pregnancy. And some new moms do say that wearing a belly band creates the sensation of a tighter, firmer midsection under clothes, which can feel good when you’re adapting to your new postpartum body. But the experts we spoke to stressed that there’s just no evidence to back up claims that these products will change your appearance. “I don’t have any studies that will make you lose weight, help you get in shape faster, or make your uterus get smaller,” says Dr. Cobb. “None of that is proven.” And, actually, relying *too* much on a postpartum wrap might mess with your core re-strengthening process, Erin Weber, PT, DPT, a pelvic floor physical therapist at Flow Physio in Brooklyn, tells SELF. That’s because, while these products give a nice feeling of support , they can also make it harder to inhale deeply, especially if they’re fastened super tight—and those deep breaths help re-establish a connection to your pelvic floor, a key part of your postpartum core recovery, she explains. “If you’re using a binder all day long, your core is not really going to start firing away.” There are some very legit reasons to wear a postpartum belly band or wrap, though. OK, so they’re probably not going to do anything dramatic to your core. But postpartum belly wraps can still be a useful recovery tool. Here are some expert-backed reasons to consider wearing one in the first few days and weeks after you’ve given birth. 1. They can help you feel supported. It can be a strange feeling to suddenly walk around with an empty belly after months of hosting a growing fetus in there. Your body has gone through a massive change, and it’s normal for your skin to be looser and core muscles stretched out; many new moms say their stomachs feel squishy and Jello-like in those early days. Slipping on a postpartum belly wrap can help “provide support and control,” Sherry Ross, MD, ob-gyn and author of She-ology, tells SELF. More support means you simply might feel better whenever you’re wearing these products. “I would compare it to holding a pillow against your abdomen when you want to walk or sit up,” says Dr. Cobb. “It gives you the same feeling of support.” If you’re actually comfortable enough to get up and move around, you might also become more active as the days go on. This extra movement “makes people feel better, too,” Dr. Cobb adds. 2. They may improve your posture—and possibly help you breastfeed. Lack of core strength often makes it tricky for new moms to sit up straight, which you’ll inevitably be doing a lot of in the postpartum period. But if you’re wearing a postpartum belly wrap, you don’t have to rely quite so much on those weakened abdominal muscles to sit up properly, so “you’ll potentially have better posture, because it keeps you aligned better,” Dr. Cobb points out. By not slouching, you might also prevent the kind of secondary back pain that can develop “from getting in a weird position,” she adds. And, if you’ve decided to breastfeed, it’s possible all this may help you nurse your baby more comfortably. In a 2025 randomized controlled trial, researchers observed significantly higher rates of breastfeeding success among new moms who used an abdominal binder in the first 48 hours after their C-section delivery. 3. They can support your C-section recovery. Speaking of C-sections: There’s some compelling research to suggest that postpartum wraps can be especially helpful post-op. Multiple studies have identified “significant” reductions in pain among new moms who used them after having a C-section, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends abdominal binders specifically for incision pain management. Research also suggests belly bands might reduce bleeding around your incision area and boost mobility, meaning you’re more likely to get up and move around in those early days. You might be given one of these products after your C-section, which is a good thing, since the nurses can teach you how to put it on correctly before you’re discharged. “After all C-sections, we give patients a belly band in the hospital so they can start learning how to wear it,” Leena Nathan, MD, an ob-gyn at UCLA Health in Westlake Village, California, tells SELF. “We encourage them to use for improved functionality, like being able to get up out of bed, walk to the bathroom, and feel more comfortable.” And, anecdotally, many new moms just enjoy wearing a postpartum wrap after a C-section due to the extra padding and protection it gives their incisions, Dr. Cobb says. “It’s like a layer between your skin and clothing,” she explains. “Some people really like that.” 4. They may ease diastasis recti discomfort. When you’re pregnant, that constantly growing baby pushes against your abdominal muscles, which can cause them to become weaker and eventually widen down the midline. The official name for this abdominal separation is diastasis recti, and it’s extremely common among new moms—something like 60% have it, according to some stats. A lot of postpartum belly wraps claim to help “close” this gap. Healing diastasis recti is possible—actually, most cases resolve on their own within a few months. If yours doesn’t, a physical therapist or ob-gyn can help guide you on strategies to bring those separated muscles back together. But the benefits of using postpartum belly wraps for diastasis recti are less clear. One small recent study, for example, found that using one for this purpose may not be any more effective than just letting the body heal naturally. “We really err on the side of caution with them,” Dr. Weber admits. “Typically for diastasis recti, only if it’s significant do we recommend the use of belly binders.” The exception, she says, is if you have diastasis recti and your symptoms tend to be worse at the end of the day. A belly binder could offer extra support in these situations, Dr. Weber says. Some moms also feel like their ab separation becomes aggravated when they use a baby carrier, so a soft belly band might help make baby-wearing more comfortable, too. If you choose to use a postpartum belly band, here’s how to wear it safely. Take a pass if you have any complications. Belly bands are safe for most new moms, Dr. Nathan says, but hold off if you’re experiencing any issues with your incision, such as a wound that hasn’t closed properly or is infected, or if you’ve been told you have a uterine infection. And, it goes without saying, but take that band off ASAP if you feel any kind of sharp pain while wearing it. Seriously, don’t make it too tight. Yes, a belly band’s job is to provide some gentle compression, but more definitely isn’t always better in this case. “Over-tightening a belly wrap can cause restricted movements, breathing and blood circulation, discomfort, and pain,” says Dr. Ross—all things you obviously want to avoid. If you aren’t given a belly band in the hospital, follow the manufacturer’s instructions when putting one on for the first time, and ask your ob-gyn or physical therapist for a tutorial if you’re unsure. Or, if you’re interested in Bengkung belly binding, you may be able to find a doula near you that offers this as part of their services. Look out for any red-flag symptoms. It might feel a little weird when you first fasten on a belly band, but it definitely shouldn’t be painful. Take it off if you experience discomfort , difficulty breathing, or any kind of pelvic pressure. This last one is really important, because there’s some concern that tightly fitting belly bands could put too much stress on your pelvic floor, which might theoretically worsen a case of pelvic organ prolapse. This condition, when any of the pelvic organs such as the vagina, uterus, or bladder drop down, can sometimes occur after childbirth—if you have any signs, like pelvic pain, pressure, or a visible bulge from your vagina, reach out to your ob-gyn right away. Also: Some belly bands contain latex, so check the label and choose one that’s latex-free if you have an allergy. Keep it clean. Like everything else you have on in those early postpartum days, belly bands can get surprisingly dirty, especially if you’re wearing one over your C-section incision or while feeding your baby—so do your best to wash it regularly, and maybe even have a backup so you can rotate them. “A lot of patients don’t want to wear a binder because it gets too messy while breastfeeding,” Dr. Cobb says. “It’s another layer of clothing to keep clean. So having more than one, ideally from the hospital, is what I usually recommend.” Continue those deep core exercises. Research suggests deep core exercises—workouts that target core muscles like the transverse abdominis, multifidus, and pelvic floor—support your postpartum core recovery and may help improve diastasis recti. Gently activating these muscles rebuilds your foundational core strength after giving birth, Dr. Weber says, and this can be as simple as paying attention to your breath. “You should be thinking about your deep breathing,” she says, “allowing your ribcage and your abdominal wall to expand as you inhale, and connecting to those core muscles on the exhale.” If your belly band prevents you from taking these big, deep breaths, give yourself a little break. Phase it out after a few weeks. Supporting your core, easing pain, encouraging you to sit up a little straighter—all of these benefits can make wearing a postpartum belly band feel really nice. But you should “think about it as a short-term tool,” says Dr. Weber. Leading expert groups like ACOG don’t give specific guidelines on when to stop using a postpartum belly band, but the experts we spoke to recommend cutting back as soon as you feel comfortable going without it—this could be as soon as a few days, if you’re feeling good, and ideally within a month or so. “After six to eight weeks, it’s probably not something to rely on for daily use,” says Dr. Cobb. “If you’re still having problems and feeling like you have to wear one, it’s time to see a physical therapist.” Related: I Had Postpartum Preeclampsia Like Meghan Markle. Here’s What It Was Like 6 Ways to Feel a Little Better During Your First Trimester 12 Comfy Shoes to Support Your Feet Through the Pains of Pregnancy Get more of SELF's great service journalism delivered right to your inbox.
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