Okay Moms, I am expecting # 3 in July and my doctor has recommended the use of a maternity support belt to relieve some of my discomfort and prevent different discomforts. The problem that I am facing is that I was already a heavy girl prior to becoming pregnant and have a big lower belly anyway; how do you find one of the belts designed for someone shaped like me? It seems like the belt would just wanna roll underneath the skin fold that's already there and be terribly uncomfortable. I am a nurse and work 12 hour shifts, so I do think it's important to find some way to help support my belly and keep me more comfortable!! Please help! Thanks in advance!!
A friend of mine actually designed one that works as a support band for maternity in general and runners who are pregnant. I don't run, but I was one of her test subjects for wearing it and it was fabulous! It's adjustable so it can fit any size, is breathable so you don't get all sweaty and it works as postnatally too!
http://www.mombodfitness.com/fitsplint-maternity.html
You can try the support panty hose and get one size smaller than you are and it will do the same thing and be less expensive.
( that was the advice my dr gave me)
Good luck I hope you find something that works for you!
I had to wear a thing that sort of looked like a girdle for awhile during my last pregnancy because my hips were very close to becoming dislocated (? who knew?). I was in SO much pain before I wore it...two weeks with it, and I felt SO much better I was able to quit wearing it. It was soft and comfortable, and completely adjustable...I'm not very big, but I imagine it could've fit around someone larger than I. You might ask the PT department for something like that...that's where I got mine.
Thanks for the input everyone!! After doing a little more research into it, I found a site with a product that looks like it will work well; babybellyband.com. It has a wider support belt with suspender type straps. It even said the belt could be used in general for "obesity support" and not just pregnancy, so you know it's designed to fit a big girl better! I ordered one and it should be here by Tuesday to try out. For those interested, you can get 20 % off at checkout with the code BBB20. I'll let you know how it works!
I was going to get one this week :) I get really bad vulvar (sp?) varicose veins...and my midwife recommended a support belt. I was going to just get one off amazon.com...but I'll wait and see if anybody has any other good recommendations :)
I don't think you'd have a problem since the bands are super wide and cover most of the tummy. I had one that wasn't just around the waist, it had suspender-like straps that went over my shoulders to keep it in place, though no weight was on my shoulders. When I first saw it, I thought it was a medieval torture device, but once I figured how to get it on, it was great and helped a ton!
I was also a heavy girl when I became pregnant. The belts didn't roll underneath for me. It just helped left the tummy to support it. It helped so much. I was much more comfortable with it. I wouldn't ever go though another pregnancy without one! I just went to a local maternity store. You can try them on that way and see which work best for you.
I found one online at a medical supply store it looked almost like a scoliosis brace, and it worked pretty well. But, by the time I found it, waited for it to come, and put it on, it was too big and I was only a couple of weeks from delivery so I saved the big bucks and sent it back.
This is the link to the one I bought. I am also a large girl, so it did work, but you're gonna need help getting in it!
http://www.allegromedical.com/maternity-care-c527/baby-hu...
