You should wear a belly band for a few hours daily initially (4-6 hrs), gradually increasing to 8-12 hours as you feel comfortable, for 2-12 weeks postpartum, but always take breaks, wear it only when active (not sleeping), and ensure it's snug but not too tight to support healing without hindering core muscles or breathing, listening to your body and your doctor's advice is key.
An abdominal binder may help you get the support and comfort you need for healing. The healing time for a c-section takes a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks. Therefore, wearing an abdominal binder for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks is suggested. However, many women find it helpful to wear it months after.
We recommend wearing it 24/7 (except for bathing) for 6-10 weeks, although many women choose to wear it longer for additional benefits, such as encouraging proper posture – and helping prevent back pain – during breastfeeding.
Postpartum wraps are your sidekick, especially during those first few weeks. It's recommended that belly bands are worn between 2-12 weeks postpartum for the best possible results. Check-in with your body and take its cues to guide how long you wear your belly band in those first few months.
To help with healing:
Avoid wearing the binder for extended hours continuously, especially during sleep at night. Gradually increase the time you wear the binder to allow your body to adapt. For example: 1 hour/day after 20 days postpartum; 2 hours/day after 3 months; and 4–6 hours/day after 6 months.
Well, let me tell you, a study discovered that women who delivered by c-section that wore a recovery belt, experienced less pain, bleeding and discomfort than those who didn't wear a belt. Wearing a c section recovery belt can not only ensure that your incision heals properly, but protect your incision too.
Use it or lose it - you can become overly dependent on the belly band which can deactivate your muscles rather activate them. This means you shouldn't be wearing the belly band all day long every day. 2 to 3 hours is best.
How Tight Should a Belly Binder Feel? Any belly wrap or belly binder you use should feel like a gentle hug around your abdomen and should not be as tight as shapewear. You should feel gentle compression and extra support for your back and abdomen.
You may remove your wound dressing and take showers if stitches, staples, or glue were used to close your skin. Do not soak in a bathtub or hot tub, or go swimming, until your provider tells you it is OK. In most cases, this is not until 3 weeks after surgery.
Sleeping On Your Back After C-Section
In most cases, sleeping on your back may be the best option to relieve any pressure on your incision. Try placing a pillow under your knees or sometimes a smaller pillow for your neck to find a balance that works for you.
Ignoring your surgeon's advice and sleeping without your garment prematurely can lead to: Increased Swelling: Lack of support may cause excessive swelling, prolonging the recovery period. Uneven Healing: Without proper compression, the tissues may settle improperly, resulting in an uneven or lumpy appearance.
While belly supports can help relieve discomfort, limit their use to 2–3 hours at a time. This helps maintain your core strength. Take breaks between sessions and focus on wearing the support during activities or when discomfort is more noticeable. Adjust as needed to stay comfortable as your body changes.
Specifically designed with C-section recovery in mind, the Frida Mom binder is the top choice for women who need reliable support around their surgical site. This postpartum belly wrap provides targeted compression that helps stabilize your incision area while you move around and care for your baby.
The biggest risk to using a belly binder is putting too much pressure on your abdomen as it heals. You'll want to have your postpartum pelvic therapist fit your binder to your body so that you're not doing more harm than good. Wrapped downward. It's important to wrap up, not down.
For those who've had a C-section, belly bands can be especially useful to provide support as their incision heals. “They can also help with discomfort,” Dr. Newlin says.
YES, you can as the tightness is adjustable. As long as you're not feeling uncomfortable, you can wear this belly band for long hours including to sleep!
Keep an eye on your scar.
Once you can visualize the incision, you can start keeping an eye on how it's healing. The coloration of the c-section scar should start to fade from red to pink, and it should look pretty uniform. The c-section scar should become less tender to the touch as this happens.
If your postnatal bleeding (lochia) gets heavier or changes colour (becomes pink or red) after activity, you could be overdoing it. You're also likely to feel very tired. Listen to your body. Pace yourself and make sure you get plenty of rest too.
Here are some tips for making movement easier in those first few hours after giving birth. Avoid sitting straight up in bed, as this strains your recovering abdominal muscles. Instead, roll to one side and let your legs dangle off the side of the bed. Use your arms to push yourself up into a sitting position.
Sleep is a vital component of post-surgery recovery. It plays a significant role in tissue repair, pain management, immune system support, inflammation reduction, and emotional wellbeing. Patients must prioritize sleep as part of their healing process.
You will need to wear a compression garment or Spanx for six weeks following your tummy tuck surgery. This helps to support your incision and minimize swelling. Be sure to wear the garment as directed by your surgeon.
Some compression garments can be worn all day and night, and some for a few hours a day. It will all depend on your circumstance. Our compression garments are made to be as supportive and comfortable as possible, which is important so you can wear them as long and as often as needed.