Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Band FAQs

Our pregnancy and postpartum support bands have sparked a lot of interest and questions from our customers. To provide you with the answers you need, we've put together a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions. Curious about how our postpartum band can support your body after delivery? Or wondering about the recommended duration for wearing our pregnancy belt? Look no further for the answers you seek!

Lola&Lykke Core Relief Pregnancy Support Belt

Does the Pregnancy Support Belt help?

A support band during pregnancy helps alleviate lower back pain by supporting the lumbar and abdominal regions. Your body releases a hormone called relaxin during pregnancy, which helps loosen your ligaments and joints. Your body needs to make room for baby. This increase in relaxin does not discriminate certain areas, and your whole body is affected: for example, the Sacroiliac (SI) joint which normally helps to stabilise your pelvis loosens up. This can result in lower back, nerve, and pelvic girdle pain. A pregnancy support belt lifts and redistributes the weight of the growing belly, helping to stabilise your midsection and giving it a bit of a rest. The gentle lifting compression is a natural, helpful addition to exercise, maternity massage and stretching, on your road through motherhood pains and aches.

What size Pregnancy Support Belt should I get?

This one depends too, but you’ll need a tape measure here! The Pregnancy Belt runs a bit snug, so if you find yourself struggling in-between sizes after measuring yourself, go for the bigger one. If you are around 28 to 35 weeks pregnant, you’ll definitely need that tape measurement but if you’re earlier along than that, you’ll need to have a little think too. We’re always delighted to help you find the best size for you so get in touch!

When to wear a maternity support belt?

You don’t want to wear the maternity support belt for too long a period of time so that it replaces the work your core muscles do. You want to reinforce and support those muscles instead. You can start wearing a support band once your growing belly starts giving you pain in your back, pelvis, or nerve pains and aches. Wearing the band while exercising can be helpful if the impact from walking for example sends jolts through your body.

The belt will help with your posture which in turn will help alleviate pains. Usually women start thinking about getting a pregnancy support belt at around 20 weeks, but every pregnancy and every belly is different so you may not need one at all, or perhaps you would get relief from even earlier use. Please note that our Pregnancy Core Relief Belt is designed for a round belly, so if you haven’t started to show much yet, it might not be the best option for you.

Learn more: 3 Reasons Why You Should Wear a Pregnancy Support Band During a Workout

How many hours a day can I wear one? Is it comfortable to sit in?

You can wear a support belly band as much as you need to. Keep in mind though, that it is an external tool and not something you should use all day every day: you need to activate those core muscles and more than that, you also need rest. Try wearing it when you exercise or have errands to run. See if you can tidy up around the house without it. Think on your posture and consider doing some gentle core strengthening exercises without the band too.

It's comfortable to sit in for a short period of time, but if you're sitting down for longer, lounging in front of Netflix for example, leave the support band aside. It's a good rest for your belly, and moving without it will also do good for your core.

Can I wear this discreetly under my clothes?

Our pregnancy support band isn’t a ‘slimmer’, so it isn’t invisible under your clothes nor is it meant to be so. However, it is discreet enough to be worn with dark clothes and if you have looser hanging blouses or jumpers, you may get it even to look invisible.  

When should I start wearing a Pregnancy Support Belt?

This depends on your pregnancy, your body, and your baby. Mums who usually get in touch are around 25 weeks in their pregnancy, some need acute support only near childbirth and others have a hard time and require it from early on – there’s no should or shouldn’t here, just how you feel.

How and where do I heat up the gel packet? What about cooling it down?

For cooling the gel packet down, please put it in a freezer for minimum 2 hours to reach maximum benefit.

• For using the gel packet hot, you have two options to warm it up: Boil enough water to cover the whole packet. Take boiling water off of heat, pour it in a heat-safe container so that it completely covers the gel packet. Let sit for 5 minutes, or 10 if the packet was frozen initially. Please remove the gel with tongs and insert into the slot in the belt.
• You can use the microwave to heat the gel packet. Please use medium heat for 30 seconds and allow to cool for 30 seconds. If not hot enough, use 10s intervals until the gel packet is at desired temperature. Remove from the microwave with tongs or thick cloth, as packet will be hot.

The gel inside is non-toxic, but non-edible. If the contents leak onto your skin, please rinse affected area immediately.

Note: Do not use on bare skin hot or cold

Will my insurance cover the Pregnancy Support Belt?

This will depend on your insurance. Check with them, and if it is covered, we’re happy to provide you with a copy of the invoice if needed.

I’m having terrible pains early on in my pregnancy – the Pregnancy Belt is still too big as my belly is still small. Can I wear this band instead for the time being?

Please don’t! Early pregnancy pains and nausea are a terrible thing, but the compression of the Postpartum Band can be dangerous for your baby at this stage. Consult a doctor and consider some looser supporting garments that won’t harm your pregnancy.

Lola&Lykke Core Restore Postpartum Belly Band

How would I benefit from a Postpartum Core Support Band?

Many women find that wearing a postpartum compression garment is the perfect way to support their recovering body after pregnancy and delivery.

A compression assists with postpartum recovery by helping your abdominal muscles to return together, relieving swelling and soreness in your back and pelvic floor, reducing C-section scar pain (and healing as compression promotes blood-flow) and potential bleeding, improving your mobility and allowing your organs to settle back to their own places. Most importantly, the Postpartum Band will help your recovery by hugging you gently around the midsection that has had a hard time during pregnancy no matter if those were the best or worst months of your life. Returning to normalcy is much easier when you have that additional support ensuring your core won’t give up on you as you get up. And postpartum contractions are real. And twinges and awkward feelings as everything returns to their place. Rest, and give yourself time to heal!

Learn more: Managing Back Pain after a C-Section: Tips and Relief

Keep in mind that every body is different, and this band might fit a bit differently on your body if you have a long or shorter torso. Usually we’re able to size you well to minimise this, but sometimes compression can just make you feel worse, or it bunges up when you move or just doesn’t feel comfortable in some way. Get in touch with us as we’re happy to help you with all these issues!

How soon after birth can I wear the postpartum belt?

It’s a good idea to have the postpartum belly band on hand when your birth approaches. How soon, if at all, you can wear the band depends entirely on your birth experience! Many mums leave the hospital wearing the postpartum band, and others are told to wait a few weeks – and some are told the damage their body has taken would heal better without using a compression support at all. So it depends!

Talk with your midwife, doctor, or whoever has been your attending expert, and decide based on that. And if you have issues, let us know.

Learn more: Exercising Safely Postpartum

What size Core Restore Band?

Compared to the Pregnancy Support Belt, the Postpartum Belly Band runs a bit looser, so consider sizing this one down if you’re in-between sizes. Sizing for postpartum garment can be a bit of a nightmare, and there really isn’t a one-way-fits-all way to ensure you get the right size. Many mums have heard my wish to get a crystal ball to help them with this, but alas, still I lack one. In general, this one is more based on your pre-pregnancy size, but how your body has been affected by pregnancy has much to do with how the Postpartum Core Band will fit on you. Send us an email to info@lolalykke.com or get in touch through the chat so we’ll get you the best possible size. And, like always, get in touch if there’s anything bothering you.

How do I put on the Postpartum Belly Wrap over my C-section incision?

Your incision will be sore and may hurt from time to time, especially when you cough or laugh or feed your baby. Wearing postnatal belt will protect the incision site during these times and make you feel more at ease as you get back to your daily activities.

You put on the core restore like normal, but be mindful of the wound. First check that the L&L tag is on the lower right side of your body. Then pull the Velcro closed on the lower wings covering your wound site carefully. Be mindful about the pressure here, it the scar is very inflamed and red still, it might be a good idea to let that heal for a few days first. After you’ve closed the lower wings, grab the upper wings and close them around your upper tummy, slightly overlapping the lower wings around your belly button.

It’s a good idea to go over putting this on at the hospital or with your midwife at home to make sure it isn’t too tight (if you need a second pair of hands to tighten it, you’ll need a bigger size) and that it does not irritate the wound nor any other part of your body.