A pregnancy support belt, or maternity belly bands as they are often referred to, will be recommended to women by their health care specialists when they are experiencing pain and discomfort or other medical conditions during pregnancy.
Wearing a pregnancy support band will not cure any underling medical condition but are used as a tool to relieve pressure from certain areas such as your pelvis, lower back and hips and can prevent abdominal muscles from overstretching as your baby bump continues to grow.
All pregnancies are different, so too are the symptoms women experience, however one of the most common reason for pain during pregnancy is associated with a condition known as SYMPHYSIS PUBIC DYSFUNCTION.
Around 1 in 4 pregnant women will experience SYMPHYSIS PUBIC DYSFUNCTION during this period and symptoms include pain and discomfort in the pelvis, lower back and hips and legs.
This condition is associated with the hormones Progesterone and Relaxin that are released during pregnancy, their role is to relax the ligaments in the pelvis and softens and widens the cervix in preparation for childbirth so baby can make its way easily into the world.
However sometimes the hormones work to well and loosen the ligaments around the pelvic area to soon during pregnancy, this causes instability in the pelvic joints and the reason women experience pain and discomfort.
Generally women will experience SYMPHYSIS PUBIC DYSFUNCTION symptoms in the later part of their pregnancy however it can also occur as early as 8 weeks.
The levels of pain or discomfort a women may experience can range between an annoying niggle to chronic pain that affects every small task such as getting in and out of bed, sitting, walking and even driving. This can make life rather unbearable and take away from the joyous time of pregnancy and make daily tasks or work commitments difficult.
The good news is that wearing a pregnancy support belt can greatly reduce the pain and discomfort by stabilizing the ligaments and keeping the pelvic bones in place during this time, allowing you to carry on with daily tasks and get back to enjoy being pregnant.
The other good news is that once baby is born everything should return to normal and the pain gone. Only 7% of women will experience symptoms post birth and wearing a post- pregnancy support belt will help reduce any pain.
Your specialist may recommend an Abdomend pregnancy support band if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
- Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) or Pelvic Girdle Pain
- Sciatica
- Lower Back Pain
- Hip Discomfort
- Abdominal Muscle Separation – Diastasis Recti
Other reasons women may be recommend to wear a Pregnancy Support Band are:
- Twins or multiple pregnancy
- Abdominal Hernia associated with pregnancy
- Preventing sever stretching of the skin (stretch marks)
- Women that are working all day or on their feet all day during pregnancy
- Keeping good posture
Ask the staff at Back to Basics about using the Abdomend range of Pregnancy Support Bands to ease pain and discomfort.
