What is a Maternity Belt?

Carrying a baby inside a body can be tough work, and any woman who has experienced pregnancy can attest to this fact. As the baby’s weight grows, it can cause more pressure on the bladder, create varicose veins, and result in chronic low back pain. For these reasons, some women turn to support garments or devices that can create some extra support of the belly. One of these is the maternity belt.

The simplest maternity belt type is made of elastic material and usually can adjust to fit different size bellies, although some may need to be purchased in average dress sizes or weight/height sizes. Basic belts are worn around the back and underneath the stomach. The compression can help reduce lower bank pain, and it may increase blood flow to the pelvis. The extra support can also make it easier on the bladder and relieve pressure on it.

Other types of maternity belts may provide more support and cover more of the lower back. Some feature a strap that goes under the belly and one that fits above it. There are additional types of support garments that fit like camisoles over the whole body, and some belts have straps that go over the shoulders for greater support. These can slightly redistribute the way the body is carrying the extra weight of a growing baby.

When discomfort from pregnancy is great, it’s recommended that people speak to their obstetricians before buying a maternity belt. Pre-term contractions, for instance, may be felt in the back, and women should definitely make sure to determine cause of discomfort before trying to resolve it. Another reason to speak to the obstetrician about a maternity belt is because some insurance plans will cover the cost of one or other support garments. These are usually called durable medical equipment and health insurance may pay for all or part of them.

Even if this not the case and insurance doesn’t cover the cost, simple maternity belts aren’t greatly expensive. Many are less than $100 US Dollars (USD), and the very basic ones may be about a quarter of that price. Prices can vary depending upon individual sellers and manufacturers.

Some women will wear the maternity belt during the daytime hours, and others only use one on days when they must be standing or walking a lot. Exercise can sometimes feel more supported if a belt is worn, and may be the only time a woman feels she needs one. Women carrying multiple babies often get recommendations to purchase a maternity belt because of the added stress on the body from carrying more than one child. Others progress through a pregnancy without ever requiring a belt or feeling uncomfortable enough to need one.