Pregnancy can be one of the best experiences for a person to experience in their lifetime, but it is not without its faults. While you’re waiting to meet your baby, you might suffer through all sorts of aches and pains - most notably in the lower back.
Lower back pain in pregnancy comes from the hormonal changes allowing the ligaments to relax and loosen as you progress nearer to the due date.
As your bump gets bigger and your movement gets slower, you are also having to manage back pain every time you walk.
Without a solution, the ever-increasing weight of your baby tugs further on your back and accentuates the pain even more. Some people find the pain too much to even stand or walk with it, making them very uncomfortable and unable to do things that they enjoy.
Your body goes through so much in pregnancy, you shouldn’t have to suffer through back pain too. Luckily, maternity belts are becoming ever more popular and saving pregnant women from back pain everywhere.
These belts support the bump throughout all stages of pregnancy and grow with your baby so that the pain is lessened. The maternity belt will take some of the weight off you to avoid straining your back ligaments.
Let’s take a look at the top five maternity belts on the market, shall we?
OUR TOP PICK
First up is the maternity belt from NeoTech Care, which comes in five different sizes to accommodate every woman and their bump.
You can also choose between three colors - black, beige, and white - depending on what you’re going to be wearing the belt under.
Beige and white might be good for the summer months where you want to wear white and lighter colors without being able to see a large black maternity belt underneath!
We love the fact that this belt gives ample support underneath the stomach. The band is thick to keep the belly in a flattering position for you and to remove a lot of pressure from your back.
Not only that, but there is also a strap to fit around the top of your stomach as well so that the band won’t fall throughout the day.
There’s nothing worse than constantly having to adjust your clothes when you’re trying to get on with your day, so this is a big plus.
The velcro clasps are easy to adjust and secure to stay in place throughout the day, and there are breathable gaps along the side of the belt to keep a constant flow of air cooling your bump.
Pros
- Excellent quality: Thousands of happy customers have expressed their gratitude for how well this belt works to alleviate pressure from their backs.
- Wireless backpiece: Multi-layered laminate fabric is used for the belt rather than an underwire, keeping the wearer comfortable throughout the day.
- Durable clasps: The velcro clasps are extremely robust and will ensure that you can use the belt throughout your entire pregnancy.
Cons
- A lot of fabric: Some women didn’t like the thickness of the belts.
EDITORS CHOICE
The AZMED maternity belt provides gentle compression to your bump, alleviating pain in your lower and upper back.
The fabric is lightweight and soft to keep you and your baby comfortable, even in the hottest months.
Not only does the belt reduce pain in your back, hips, and pelvis, but it also works to correct your posture which can also help reduce back pain.
The lifting of your bump can lessen the pressure on your spine and even your bladder, which is a big plus for pregnant women!
This maternity belt wraps around the lower part of your belly and is made of textured material to keep your stomach cool throughout the entire day.
The velcro clasp is firm and sturdy to ensure that the band won’t come loose while you’re busy.
AZMED has sold over 1.3 million of their maternity belts across the world, so there must be a reason why they’re so popular!
The material is latex-free and quality tested to ensure that you’re only getting the best.
Pros
- As good as market leaders: Previous customers have compared it to market-leading maternity belts and even said that it was better.
- Can help round ligament pain: Reduces pain across your lower stomach created from your uterus expanding.
- Fast-acting relief: One mom-to-be said that her pain melted away within two minutes of putting the belt on.
Cons
- One size available: While some customers found the size good for plus-size bumps, others thought it was too small.
BEST VALUE
Another under the belly maternity belt, this model from SKYWEE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS is soft, breathable, and comfortable for all expectant mothers.
The material is made from polyamide and elastane, giving it the ideal mixture between comfort and stretch.
The mesh material is great for keeping you cool during your walks without getting a clammy stomach.
You can use this belt for daily activities, but also running and exercising if you felt up to it. The additional support allows you to forget about pregnancy as you release those endorphins.
One thing we love about this maternity belt is that it can be worn two ways - either during pregnancy or after labor.
As your hormones still relax all of your ligaments after birth, this belt can aid back pain both before and after labor.
The lower price is another benefit to us, as well as the guarantee of excellent service from the manufacturer. If you’re not completely satisfied with the product, you can get a refund with no questions asked.
Pros
- Wear while exercising: Excellent support allows you to run while heavily pregnant.
- Easy to clean: You can machine wash this maternity belt.
- Money-back guarantee: The brand will give you a refund with zero questions asked if you’re not happy with the product.
Cons
- Clasps are not the best: Metal clasps are not as beneficial as velcro in many people’s opinion.
RUNNER UP
The Nu Momz maternity belt reaches all the way from your lower stomach to your belly button.
However, we like the fact that there is a dent to prevent your navel from being trapped underneath the fabric so that it doesn’t rub and cause issues for you.
The comfortable soft liner is made from cotton and not only provides support to your stomach but also protects your skin from rubbing or chafing. This is ideal for women with sensitive skin. The liner will also wick away sweat to keep you cool and comfortable.
The clasp is an incredibly large patch of velcro that will offer ample support without the band coming loose or misplaced during the day. This band is ideal for women of all sizes thanks to the great adjustability.
You can also use the pregnancy belt through postpartum as well to help your muscles heal after how much your body went through!
Pros
- Wearable for postpartum: You can wear this maternity belt all the way through the pregnancy and during postpartum as well to aid your recovery.
- Easily washable: machine washable for your convenience.
- Relieves pain all over the body: Alleviates pain from your back, hips, pelvis, and even public bone.
Cons
- Not suitable for sitting: Some prior customers found it uncomfortable to sit with the band on.
RUNNER UP
Last but not least we have the maternity belt from Comfy Mom. We enjoy the fact that this comes in four different sizes so that you don’t have to worry about one size fitting all.
There are also six colors for you to choose from so that you can feel confident no matter what you’re wearing.
This is another maternity belt that has both a strap for underneath the bump and over the bump, ensuring that it will not fall down as you’re walking or exercising.
The velcro clasps are easily adjustable and strong enough to remain in place.
No matter which size you opt for, the band allows 10 extra inches of fabric for your bump to grow. This ensures that you can wear the belt from whatever stage of pregnancy you are at currently all the way through to full term.
Pros
- Excellent quality: Made after a testing period that used 17,000 moms to determine what was most important to them.
- Can be worn to sleep: Previous customers have worn it through the night to make their sleep more comfortable.
- Can be worn after labor: Works for both a maternity belt and a postpartum belt.
Cons
- Sizing is a little tricky to work out: Comfy Mom offers a sizing guide but a few customers have still found it difficult to purchase the correct size.
Best Maternity Belt For Back Pain Buying Guide
Now that you have an idea of what the market has to offer, let’s look into the features that you should look for to find the best maternity belt for you and your little one.
Firstly, we are going to look into what maternity belts are and why you might be confusing them with another popular product.
Maternity Belts vs. Belly Bands
Both belly bands and maternity belts can both be used by pregnant women to make them feel more comfortable.
However, a maternity belt can often be described as more heavy-duty with more support offered to the woman. They won’t cover the entire bump to ensure that clothes can still be worn comfortably.
Maternity belts sit below the bump and look like they are cradling it. The materials will be thick but still comfortable, and able to be adjusted to grow with your belly.
On the other hand, belly bands are more about comfort than support. The band will cover the entire midsection and be much stretchier than a maternity belt. Belly bands are often worn to allow the pregnant woman to wear normal pants without having to purchase maternity pants.
Belly bands will offer a little support, but they are more concerned with keeping the bump covered and comfortable. If support is what you want to ease that back pain, a maternity belt is a great way to go.
Support
Maternity belts are structured to lift your bump up slightly so that not all of the weight is pulling on your ligaments and causing back pain. They are designed to be used whenever you need to support the most, such as exercising, walking, or even sleeping.
As the entire intent of a maternity belt is to support your bump in the later stages of pregnancy, it should be sturdy enough to keep your bump upwardly positioned at all times. If a belt is made of low-quality materials, it could stretch quickly leaving you with a useless piece of fabric.
Checking the customer reviews section would be the best way to see how much support a maternity belt gave previous customers and how long it was usable.
Size
Maternity belts can come with many different clasps, some of which are more accommodating than others. For example, metal clasps might only have three sizing options while a velcro clasp would be much more adjustable.
Women of all different sizes shouldn’t have to worry about their maternity belt not fitting their bumps due to the poor sizing that the manufacturer has left them with.
We much prefer velcro clasps as they are much more adjustable and suitable for women of all sizes. If the maternity belt comes in different size ranges, be sure to measure your bump accurately so that you can get the most support from your belt possible.
Comfort
Perhaps one of the most important considerations, your maternity belt needs to be comfortable! We’ve tried out too many different belts that cut into the belly too tightly in some places but too relaxed in the other, leaving us more uncomfortable than the back pain did.
The maternity belt should be made of soft but structured material, and it should be made with high-quality techniques to ensure that it is only aiding your life rather than hindering it.
This comes back to support again, as you’re only going to be comfortable if your maternity belt is sufficiently holding your bump and taking some of the strain away from the rest of your body.
Breathability
Following on from the previous factor, your maternity belt should be breathable if it’s going to keep you comfortable for the majority of your day. Some of the best maternity belts have breathable mesh down the sides to keep your skin cool underneath the fabric.
This is especially helpful in the later months of pregnancy when you’re beginning to get much hotter from doing simple tasks.
Back, pelvis, and joint pain or suffering through the day with a clammy belt tight to your stomach? With a low-quality maternity belt, you’d have to decide which of these two evils, but a high-quality belt should eliminate the issue altogether.
Cost
Any expectant parent knows how expensive pregnancy can be, so keep an eye on the price of your maternity band. A suitable one should not be the most expensive on the market, but also don’t opt for the cheapest you see either.
A good maternity belt to ease your back pain should fall somewhere in between these two extremes.
We know it might be tempting to opt for the most expensive option in the hopes that it will relieve more of your pain, but in reality, it probably won’t take much more strain off your body than a less expensive belt would.
Easy to clean
As we mentioned earlier, no one likes to wear something that they’ve been wearing for hours at a time, getting all hot and bothered in. So, making sure that the belt is easy to clean is essential so that you don’t have to worry about wearing dirty garments.
Machine washable is the most convenient method of washing your maternity belt, and being dryer-friendly is even better. The last thing you want to do is be bent over a basin hand washing your belt - that’s not going to do your back any favors!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours at a time should you wear a maternity support belt?
A maternity belt should be worn for no longer than two or three hours at a time to avoid overdependence.
This is where your back and pelvis can actually hurt more once the belt comes off as your body has gotten so used to the lessened weight.
How tight should the maternity belt be?
Your maternity belt should be tight enough that it holds up your belly sufficiently while keeping your pelvic bones close together.
However, it should not be too tight that it is uncomfortable to move or breathe.
Are all maternity belts safe for postpartum wear?
A maternity belt might aid you in the first few days postpartum as your uterus is slowly returning to its normal size, but the belt won’t do much beyond that.
If you’re looking for something to aid postpartum recovery, a postpartum belly wrap might be a better option.
Are all maternity belts designed for exercise?
No, as some maternity belts offer more support than others.
You might find that your belt is incredibly sturdy and therefore is suitable for exercise, but you might also find that it is not supportive for high-intensity exercise.
Can Maternity Belts Hurt My Baby?
No, maternity belts are designed to be worn by pregnant women through all stages of pregnancy.
As long as the belt is not worn for too long at one time and it is not too tight, it should not harm your baby whatsoever.