Oh the joys of pregnancy! The most common complaint I hear from fellow pregnant moms and myself is “my back hurts!” When I was pregnant with Nathan and during my pregnancy now, this is my #1 trouble. I’ve had a couple prenatal massages and use essential oils daily to relieve it, but as I get bigger and heavier there’s really not much I can do to make the pain go away. Can we just talk about the pain from pubic symphysis disorder for a minute? I’m guessing that’s where the term fire crotch comes from, cause it is pretty darn uncomfortable! The pressure from both my pelvis and my back is making a cranky preggo lady and I needed to search for something to alleviate it.
Luckily there are products that support some relief as the bump grows. I’ve been using two different maternity bands by Belly Bandit for bump and back support. The Belly Bandit Upsie Belly and the 2-in-1 Bandit. Both bands have a similar purpose, but are very different many ways.
The cost-saver out of the two is the 2-in-1 Bandit. I first chose this band because you can wear it during and after pregnancy. It provides maternity support during pregnancy and comes with 2 bands that can either provide light support or ultra support for your back. I liked how I could customize how light or tight I want the belt and felt that after I give birth I can make it very tight to shrink my hips back. However, since the velcro material is very thick and very durable it wasn’t always easy to take off. Which is also a good thing, because it really stays in place. However, having to run to the ladies room every hour, it was a little bit of nuisance to strap on the long belt and then add on the short belt to make it a little tighter. You can wear the long belt alone and shelf the short belt, but I like the short belt for maximum compression. The 2-in-1 Bandit helped relieve some back pain discomfort, but it was a little bit of too much work to wear throughout the day.
(35 week bump)
Then I got the Upsie Belly, which helped with both back support and alleviated the pressure on my pelvis . The Upsie Belly has only one band, so it’s easier to put on and take off several times a day. In addition, the material is so much softer than the 2-in-1 Bandit. I also like that it comes with a pocket to insert a heat/ice pack! I like how it also contours with my belly to really help lift it up. The velcro doesn’t feel prickly against my skin and is comfortable to wear throughout the day.
I really like both belts, but between the two, I like the Upsie Belly for pregnancy, and will use the 2-in-1 Bandit for post-partum. Though the 2-in-1 Bandit is more cost-efficient, the Upsie Belly has better quality material; easier and more flexible to wear throughout the day; and provided more relief for my back and pelvic pain. Both bands come in nude or black. I chose black so it blends in with my outfits.
Mamas, comment below of your favorite maternity belts and how it has helped you!
The Memoirs of a mommy 