Anyone using a maternity support belt?

[GuavaGirl]

I really want one and I'm having THE HARDEST time deciding on which one to get. There are several different designs and I need one that will work for a big belly sticking straight out! I've read all of the reviews on Amazon...but when I read a couple bad ones out of 20 good ones, I get all confused. I hope someone on here has some good suggestions.

[Rikki Jean]

I've been thinking about it, as I have pretty severe round ligament pain a lot of the time. This baby has just been soooooooooooooo low for a long time!

[Lan84]

I am. I have a pretty severe case of SPD (thankfully it's been significantly better since he dropped!) and needed to wear my belt from the moment I got out of bed til the moment I got back in or the pain would be excruciating. Now I can get away with only wearing it if I'm gonna be up and about for more than 30 mins - 1 hour.

I have http://www.motherhood.com/Product.as...tegory_Id=MC32 and I can't even begin to tell you how much it helped me. It has a lot more support than any of the other ones that I've tried on. It fits easily under my clothes and I've managed to not have to take it off when I go potty (which is really helpful when you're out in public!).

I won't say that it's the most comfortable contraption in the world, but it's better than the other ones I've tried. I found that the other ones put a lot of pressure on my bladder and made me have to pee allllllll the time. This one didn't do that. The pressure and support was much more evenly spread out.

Good luck. I hope you find something you like!

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

I use a Medela support belt (that could be what's in the Motherhood link; it tells me I'm in Canada and just redirects me to the main Canada page).

Not pretty, but if I'm going to be on my feet for any length of time, it definitely keeps my belly more comfortable, and yes, I'm sticking out all in front.

[NicoleS]

I have the same one as Lan, and if I remember I put it on if I'm going to be on my feet for awhile walking around. It isn't very comfortable to wear while sitting.

[GuavaGirl]

Lan84: What are the other kinds that you've tried?

[NicoleS]

Originally Posted by GuavaGirl

Lan84: What are the other kinds that you've tried?

I'm not Lan, but I've also tried this style and didn't find it to be nearly as effective as the one I have now and that Lan posted previously.

[gini1313]

I am not wearing a maternity support belt, but I am wearing an SI support belt. My doc sent me to a prosthetic supply place (or something like that) and wrote a prescription for it. My insurance covered 80% of it (so I only had to pay $17), and they fitted me for it to make sure I got the right thing. They also had a maternity support belt they had me try on, but it wasn't right for the pain I was having.

I have a friend who wears a maternity support belt from babies r us and it is really stretchy and she says it is pretty comfortable. She wears it low enough that it helps her SI pain, but it is wide enough it also supports her belly. Mine isn't that wide, so I don't think it would help her. I hate having constricting things on, so that wide belt would drive me insane!!!

[Lan84]

Originally Posted by GuavaGirl

Lan84: What are the other kinds that you've tried?

I don't recall the brands of all of the ones that I've tried. I would try them on in store and walk around for 15 mins or so to see how they felt. Sit down, stand up, etc to get a good feel.

Most of the other ones that I've tried have been similar to (and including) the one that NicoleS posted. They're very thin and I don't find it gives any support. With how thin it was, it smushed up under my belly and pushed hard into my bladder.

I find the one that I use helps more because it's wider, has a much more spready back support, and the band that goes over the belly really helps to redirect the pressure and relieve it from my pelvic area. It's also sturdier than the thinner belt ones.

There are other brands that make similar belts. Amazon has a bunch and some are cheaper than the one sold by Motherhood. Everyone will have a different taste depending on how they're carrying and their body shape though. I know some women who swear by the thinner belts and find the one I prefer to be less comfortable. I'm carrying VERY low, so for me it works well.