Postpartum Belts?

[grace's voice]

I'm looking for recommendations for a good (as comfortable as possible) postpartum belt.  I tried the Medela one with the last 2 babies but it was unbearably uncomfortable.  I used cheesecloth with my 1st, which was cozy, but very difficult to get tight enough, even with help, and needed to be rewrapped every few hours.  I'm making myself crazy reading reviews and not finding anything that seems to be effective and wearable.  Help please!  

[expat-mama]

 mee tooooooooooo!!!

Especially would to hear about binders that work well for short-waisted mamas and those that are ok in hot weather.

Let's hope we get some good info! Thanks for starting this thread...

[grace's voice]

Yes!  Hot weather will be an issue... it will be our 1st summer living in Phoenix and I've got to wear this thing all the time! lol

[eloise24]

Another one hoping someone will pop in with great advice, esp. for 1. hot weather, 2. short moms!

[Chloe'sMama]

Cant give advice about summer wear, but I am using the Belly Bandit BFF and I LOVE it.  I had one I got from Motherhood maternity last time and wore it for about 20 minutes before giving up.  The Belly Bandit is so so so so much more comfortable.  I have been using it for 5 days and my belly is smaller and I am amazed at how much less painful my afterpains have been.  The bleeding is so much less significant too, but I don't know how the binder could help that?????  It does not lay flat under clothes, so it is notacable, but I don't really mind that.  Anyways, it is really very nice.

[gcgirl]

An alternative is a pair of "body shaping" underwear - I wore medium strength panel underwear the week after DS2, and it really helped. I felt like things went back into place faster.

[grace's voice]

Just an update... after much research and deliberation I ended up purchasing an Isoband.  I think it will work really great for me considering the options available.  We'll see in about 12 weeks!  It was recommended to a friend of mine by her physical therapist who figured out that her back pain and pouchy tummy, despite weightloss (she's a size 4), were due to the fact that her abdominal muscles never binded back together after her pregnancies.  She recommends something that is a little stretchy, but not with a lot of give, snugly bound, worn daily for 6 months to 1 year after birth.  I believe that I have the same issue possibly due to the same cause as I had a pregnant looking tummy even at a size 2, and have had a lot of back and neck pain and weak core muscles despite working out.   

[thezoolife]

Thank you for sharing.

[expat-mama]

I couldn't really decide what to get- all the reviews I've read online are so varied and subjective. I didn't want to spend a lot on something I couldn't return so I just ordered a belly binder by Underworks. If it works it works, if not whatever. If I really feel like it's not working and I want to try something else I guess I will. Only 3 weeks left to go for me!