If you are in a hurry and just want our top pick for best postpartum girdle, we recommend the SRC Recovery Shorts.
After I delivered my babies, my core was a limp noodle.
It makes sense. As your baby grows, your abdominal muscles separate and weaken.
Once the baby arrives, you have core muscles that aren’t able to hold you upright.
But you don’t have to feel like Raggedy Ann.
There are many fantastic postpartum girdles available to support your postpartum core.
They can also help you rehabilitate your core muscles and reduce diastasis recti.
We’ve rounded up the best postpartum girdles on the market and include our top pick.
What is a Postpartum Girdle?
A postpartum girdle is a medical-grade elastic wrap that goes around your abdomen. It is also called an abdominal splint or belly binder. It supports the core and helps bring the two sides of the abdominal muscles together.
Postpartum girdles have many benefits. They can:
- Help heal abdominal separation (diastasis recti) by bringing the two sides of the abdominals closer together.
- Help you feel more supported physically. This is particularly helpful when you are getting up every two hours to tend to a newborn!
- Improve the brain/body connection to your core muscles so that you are better able to engage your core.
- Reduce back pain.
**For best results, a postpartum girdle should be used along with a core rehabilitation program like the Heal Your Core With Yoga program.
Who Needs A Postpartum Girdle?
I recommend postpartum girdles for the following situations
- The first few weeks postpartum
- While healing an abdominal separation (diastasis recti)
First Few Weeks Postpartum
In the first few weeks postpartum, almost all women should wear a postpartum girdle.
While Healing An Abdominal Separation (Diastasis Recti)
Many people can heal an abdominal separation without using a postpartum girdle. But some women will find a postpartum girdle very helpful.
A postpartum girdle can benefit you while you are rehabilitating your core if you are:
- Struggling to engage your core muscles
- Feel like your brain isn’t connecting to your body when you tell it to engage the core.
I have more information on who can benefit from a postpartum girdle in this blog post.
How To Wear A Postpartum Girdle
Postpartum girdles should be a short-term solution while you rebuild your core strength. The goal is to wean yourself off the girdle after a few weeks.
Your girdle should fit you very snug, like a strong hug.
You want a flexible girdle that allows you to take full breaths and engage your deepest core muscles (the transverse abdominis). You also want something that allows you to move because movement is key to healing!
A splint will never be super comfortable but, remember, it’s only short term!
Postpartum Girdle Styles
There are two styles of postpartum girdles available: Belly Only & Full Torso
The Belly Only Girdle is just that. It wraps around your belly and should cover you from pubic bone to lower ribs. Most velcro in the front.
The Full Torso styles provide more coverage. They cover the entire torso and also the crotch/pelvic floor area. Some of these are slip-on shorts styles. Others are more of a corset style with zipper or hook closures.
How Long To Wear A Splint
Immediately Postpartum
For the first 6-8 weeks postpartum, you can wear your splint all day and, if comfortable, at night. Then you will want to wean yourself off the splint.
While Rehabilitating Your Core
If you are using your splint to heal your abdominal muscles, you will wear it while completing a core rehabilitation program (like Heal Your Core With Yoga).
In general, I recommend you wear the splint for about 6 weeks.
- For the first 2 weeks, wear it for most of your waking hours
- Week 3: Wear it for about 75% of the day
- Week 4: 50% of the day
- Week 5: 25% of the day
- Week 6: 10% of thee day
- Week 7: Do not wear the splint
You will wear it whenever you are doing your core strengthening activities.
While weaning yourself off the girdle, continue to wear it when doing demanding activities, like yardwork.
Special Considerations For C-Sections
Always check with your surgeon before using a postpartum girdle. In most cases, girdles are safe to use immediately post c-section.
Many women find that the pressure of a splint on the surgical area feels good and reduces pain.
If you find that the splint is irritating your scar area, you can wear a thin shirt beneath it.
Is a Postpartum Girdle The Same as Spanx, Shapewear, or a Waist Trainer?
No! A postpartum girdle is designed to help you recover from childbirth or surgery.
Products like Spanx and shapewear are not designed for the postpartum body.
In fact, these products may even slow healing. They can prevent you from breathing properly and engaging your core properly.
And some may cause you to push pressure down into your pelvic floor, which can cause prolapse.
Important Factors to Consider When Choosing A Splint
Not all postpartum girdles are created equally!
It’s very important you consider the following when choosing a postpartum girdle.
Torso Size
If you have a particularly long or short torso, you should be aware that not all splints will fit you! Improper fit will result in poor results from the girdle.
If the splint is too long for your torso, it will likely roll or fold and be uncomfortable.
If the splint is too short your entire abdomen will not be supported. You will have to choose whether your lower or upper abdomen is not covered. Neither is ideal for core healing.
If you know your torso is particularly short or long, I recommend the Tummy Team splint which comes in multiple torso lengths.
Pelvic Floor Support
As mentioned, girdles come in two designs.
- Belly Only – with no support for the pelvic floor area, and
- Full Torso – which includes support for both the belly and pelvic floor area.
Many women find that the full torso style is more supportive for their pelvic floor. This is especially true for
- Women who have prolapse or a feeling of heaviness in their pelvic floor.
- Women who had tearing during delivery or stitches post-delivery
If you know you need both core and pelvic floor support, I recommend the SRC Recovery Short.
C-Section
As I mentioned, postpartum girdles can reduce pain at the c-section incision. However, many women experience sensitivity in that area.
For women with a c-section, it is important to make sure the bottom of the girdle doesn’t hit at the c-section scar.
In general, I find that women who’ve had a c-section will be happiest with a full torso style, like the SRC Recovery Short.
Fabric Elasticity and Stretch (You will change shape)
If one thing is certain, it’s that your body will change size and shape over the first few weeks postpartum.
It’s important that your girdle can stretch and still keep its size and shape.
Fit
Fit is very important to proper functioning of the girdle. Please use the sizing guide for the particular girdle you want to buy.
In general, you want to make sure that the girdle covers your entire core – from the lower ribs to the top of the pubic bone.
It’s also very important that it feels tight but does not constrict your breathing or movement. You should be able to sit and stand comfortably.
Precautions to Take When Using a Postpartum Girdle
A girdle that is too tight can prevent your muscles and breath system from working properly. This can lead to more weakness.
Make sure that you can take full breaths and move when wearing your girdle.
If you feel pressure on your pelvic floor choose a different girdle or adjust the fit of your girdle.
Our Picks For Best Postpartum Girdle
We’ve reviewed many of the top postpartum girdles on the market.
Take a look through the postpartum girdle reviews below to find the girdle that is right for you.
SRC Recovery Short
Best Overall & Best For Pelvic Floor Issues & C-Sections
The SRC Recovery Short is a high waisted bike short style with medical-grade compression.
The short provides support for both the core and the pelvic floor area. It has a specially designed front panel to provide compression to c-section incisions.
Pros:
- Patented Compression Technology Fabric designed to provide medical-grade compression without feeling restrictive.
- Each layer of fabric is cut on a different plane so that compression is maintained no matter how you move your body.
- Their fabric has been tested to maintain shape and elasticity for up to 100 washes (No other girdle has done this!)
- Wicking fabric designed to be cooler than most girdles.
- Pull-on short style means there is no velcro or zippers to mess with when putting on and off.
- Patented support panels give targeted compression to key areas like c-section wounds, and perineal area.
- Most users report that the short is comfortable and easy to get on and off and provides a sense of relief and support for their postpartum body.
Cons:
- The primary downside of this short is that it must be pulled down to use the bathroom, which some users found bothersome.
- Some users reported it hard to get the short on and off, but this was not a commonly mentioned issue.
Tummy Team 2, 3, or 4 Panel Splint
Best for Long & Short Torsos, Best Option For Those on A Budget
The Tummy Team custom-designed their abdominal splints for use during core rehabilitation. Their girdles wrap around the torso and close via velcro at the front.
The availability of 2, 3 & 4-panel options ensures that you can find the right fit for your torso length.
Pros:
- Custom sizing and multiple panel options available so that you get the right size for your body.
- Reinforced fabric and velcro support longer-term use.
- Easy to put on and take off.
- Most affordable of the girdles reviewed (at the time of this writing)
Cons:
- The Tummy Team recommends wearing a camisole underneath the girdle for maximum comfort.
- Some users find that it folds at the hips or ribs or rides up.
- No support for the pelvic floor area.
- Not available on amazon.com
Bellefit is a popular postpartum girdle brand. Their corset girdle is a full torso style that supports the abdomen and pelvic floor.
It includes some boning for support and has adjustable hook closures (like a bra) along the front and at the crotch area.
Pros:
- 3 Front row closures allow it to adjust slightly in size as you change size
- Hook closures at the crotch allow for easy use of bathroom while wearing the girdle
- Made of a triple layer of MEDICALTEX proprietary fabric designed to be hypoallergenic and breathable.
- Provides a feeling of support and gives gentle compression to C-section scar areas.
Cons:
- Not ideal for a very short or very long torso
- Some users reported that the boning/wires dug into their skin or poked their ribs
- Over time it can stretch and become less supportive.
- These fit over the butt like underwear and some found the appearance unflattering (like bad panty lines)
The Belly Bandit wrap covers the torso only (no pelvic floor support) and closes in the front via a strip of strong elastic.
Pros:
- Latex-free Power Compress Core provides good compressioon
- Can be adjusted smaller or larger by 9″ so you can continue to tighten the wrap as your shape changes postpartum
- Velcro closure makes it easy to put on and take off
- Many users reported feeling very supported by the product.
Cons:
- No support for the pelvic floor area and could irritate c-section incision area
- Not ideal for very short or very long torsos
- Some users found it hot and bulky and others reported being annoyed by hearing the velcro while using it.
- Some users found it riding up over the course of the day.
- Hand wash only.
– Click here to Check Current Price On Amazon –
Our Choice For Best Postpartum Girdle
When it comes to postpartum girdles, there are many options to choose from.
The SRC recovery shorts are our choice for best postpartum girdle for most people.
The comfortable bike short style provides support for your core & pelvic floor area. It is supportive for c-section and vaginal births. And is designed to maintain its elasticity through many washings.
Although it is not the cheapest option available, it is made to last and could support you through multiple pregnancies.
Looking for more guidance on how to rehabilitate your post-baby core?
Join me in my free masterclass!
