our frequently asked questions
Sizing & Fit Questions |
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| How exactly do I size myself for the Belly Bandit®? | ||
| If you are purchasing a Belly Bandit early on in your pregnancy, your best bet is to go up 1 to 2 band sizes from your pre-pregnancy belly size. In the eighth month many women will be the same size as they will be post-delivery. Simply measure the part of your tummy that is the biggest all the way around your abdomen, which is usually at the belly button. Choose the corresponding band for your size. Just prior to delivery simply subtract 3 to 5 inches from your belly measurement. Select the corresponding band for that size. If you purchase your Belly Bandit after you give birth, simply choose the corresponding band for belly size. The Belly Bandit is designed with five inches of adjustability to stay tight as you shrink. Starting at your belly button measure all the way around to find the correct measurement. Sizing instructions are located on the packaging as well as on our website. To get the best and tightest fit we suggest you lay the Belly Bandit® flat on your bed, lay on top of it and wrap from there! Much like you would get into a tight pair of jeans (you all know what we mean ladies!) | ||
| Is there a correct place to adhere the Velcro closure? | ||
| We prefer a side closure, because we find it's the most inconspicuous and you get the best grip for a tight closure. The initial post-partum belly shape is very different than the pregnant belly shape you know so well. The closure off to the side helps flatten and smooth out this belly look. But if you prefer go for the center closure, whatever you feel works for you! If you are having trouble closing your Belly Bandit®, put it on while laying down for an even tighter closure (again just like you would a tight pair of jeans as referred to above). The best fit is when the Velcro is barely touching. | ||
| I am having twins, do I measure differently? | ||
| Everybody's body is different and there are many factors that will help determine your size post pregnancy, such as if you are going to breast feed or not, levels of physical activity, whether you are having a vaginal birth or a C-section (if a C-section then you may need a larger size right away due to possible swelling). All of our testing and our doctors tell us that in a woman's eighth month, which we gauge as 31-35 weeks is the best time to measure to get the proper size for after delivery. If you wait to measure until your ninth month (36-40 weeks) you would want to subtract 3-5 inches based on how much you think you've grown in the last couple weeks to get the most appropriate size. Please our specials often times we do a bundle is 2 Belly Bandits® at a discount;, a free tote bag, and free shipping! Our measurement technique is not an exact science as we are trying to predict the future. For additional questions not answered please contact our corporate offices. | ||
| My Belly Bandit® feels too tight! What can I do? | ||
| Please watch our sizing video to verify you sized yourself correctly! It is a compression wrap so it should fit extremely snug in order to do the job, however we don't want it to be so uncomfortable that it cannot be worn without ease. PS – you’d rather it too tight than too loose! If the band is approximately 1-2” shy of closing do not exchange it, it will fit within a day or so. First lay flat on your bed with the Belly Bandit® underneath you and try adhering that way. The optimal fit is just barely touching end to end! | ||
| It is uncomfortable to sit in my Belly Bandit®? | ||
| You may want try pulling it further down a little lower over your hips when you sit down. Remember you can wear your pants over the Belly Bandit®. | ||
| I'm short waisted, will this fit me? | ||
| Good things come in short ... we mean small packages! If you're short waisted, consider wearing the Belly Bandit® lower on your hips. Personal preference among women varies on how the Belly Bandit® is worn but we highly suggest the BFF for you. | ||
When to wear, how long to wear & results: |
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| When should I start wearing my Belly Bandit®? | ||
| You can start wearing it immediately after you deliver. As always please check with you’re your physician prior to use, especially when you’ve had a C-section. Wearing the Belly Bandit® after a c section may help to decrease post-op recovery time by minimizing associated incision pain, which allows greater mobility post-surgery! It should be worn for a minimum of 6-8 weeks. Many women wear it longer for additional benefits. | ||
| Can I wear this while I'm pregnant? | ||
| NOOOOO… This is a post pregnant item only The Upsie Belly is made to wear during pregnancy |
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| Can I sleep in my Belly Bandit®? | ||
| Absolutely and it is advised that the longer you wear the greater the benefits! You may want to sleep in the Bamboo style. This is very soft and luxuriously soft next to your skin. | ||
| Had your baby a while ago, maybe 3, 4, 5 months, a year, maybe more? | ||
| Although we recommend wearing your Belly Bandit® right after you deliver for a minimum of 6-8 weeks, there is no reason why you shouldn't wear it whenever you can or want to. In other cultures women bind for up to a year! This is a great question and we can't answer it for you as it is not an exact science and each woman’s body is slightly different on how it reacts to the product as well as how long the hormone Relaxin stays in the body. Some additional benefits of the product are extra back support and improved posture. We all know that when you feel better, you tend to be more active. This may lead the way to more movement and in turn may help with exercise (and you can wear while working out). Don't forget that when you are using your core muscles you engage the important focal point and it's here the work out truly begins. Ask any trainer, it's all about using your core muscles to build strength and tone. This is like wearing a rubber band around your wrist "aka" a reminder to be aware of your core and engage! Now the good part....you look slimmer in clothing and feel better wearing those shirts that you stuffed away in the closet because you didn't like those "extra rolls" or you promised to put it back on after you lost the "spare tire" around your waist. So even if you didn't just have your little bundle of joy last week or event last month...we know, every little bit helps. We've been there. We suggest if you have any doubts about wearing the Belly Bandit® because you feel you are "too late" that you try something from our line of Mother Tucker™ compression tank tops. This is a compression tank top that is highly recommended to mommies after they use the Belly Bandit®. Although it's not as tight as wearing the Belly Bandit® it still gives you intense tummy compression! http://www.bellybandit.com/CompressionTanks.aspx | ||
| I didn't recently give birth, but I do want to lose some weight. Is the Belly Bandit® for me? Never had a baby? | ||
| Okay, girls, we not going to sugar-coat it here. The Belly Bandit® was not designed as a weight loss product for those who have not recently given birth and would like to lose extra body weight. If that was the case, all of us here at Belly Bandit® would be a size two while eating pizza and ice cream all day! Now that being said, there is no reason why you shouldn't wear it whenever you can or want to, especially if it makes you feel good. After all, some additional benefits of the product are extra back support and improved posture. And we all know that the better you feel the more active you are. This may lead the way to more movement and in turn may help with exercise (don't be afraid to wear your Belly Bandit® while working out). Don't forget that when you are using your core muscles you engage the important focal point which is where the work out truly begins. Ask any trainer, it's all about using your core muscles to build strength and tighten the body. Just like wearing a rubber band around your wrist as a "reminder," your Belly Bandit® will remind you to be aware of your core and engage! Now for the best part….you'll look slimmer in clothing and feel better wearing those shirts that you stuffed away in the closet because you didn't like those "extra rolls." Or the ones you promised to put it back on after you lost the "spare tire". So even if you don't have kids, every little bit helps. Also, be sure to check out our Mother Tucker, the ultimate tummy sucker, to help shrink, tighten and control your belly, waist and hips! | ||
| How long do I wear the Belly Bandit®? Is 4 weeks enough? 8 weeks? Is 12 weeks too long? | ||
| Anything worth doing, is worth doing well, right? That being said... We recommend wearing it for a minimum of 6-8 weeks as directed. For maximum results wear your Belly Bandit® snuggly around your waist day and night, (if discomfort occurs remove and consult with your doctor). Just take it off to shower...then wrap yourself right back up again! The Belly Bandit® should fit snug with constant pressure on the belly, but without any impact on breathing, circulation or discomfort in your ribs. As always diet and exercise play an integral part when trying to reach your pre-pregnancy size. | ||
Should the Belly Bandit Go over my hips? |
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| Will the Belly Bandit® shrink my hips too? | ||
Yes, please make sure you position it over your hips for maximum hip shrinkage! |
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| Will this show through clothes, will people see I’m wearing a Belly Bandit®? | ||
| The Belly Bandit® provides strong support to relieve discomfort and give you the extra confidence you deserve post-partum. Our smooth lightweight construction is designed for you to wear comfortably under all of your clothes and some versions over your clothing. Let’s be realistic here, if you are wearing a tighter or form fitting shirt, yes this may show slightly under those pieces. You may want to try our Mother Tucker® Corset when you want to wear that fancy little number out at night! It’s sleeker and sexier! | ||
When will I see results? |
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| How long before I see results if I’m wearing as directed? | ||
| A job worth doing is worth doing well Mama! Most women will see huge results in the first 5 days when worn as directed and others within the first 2-3 weeks! Please know other factors affecting outcome like diet and breastfeeding should be taken in to consideration as well. | ||
C-section questions: |
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| Is the Belly Bandit® good for mom's who had C-sections? Which Belly Bandit® is best? | ||
| Above and beyond...the Bamboo!!!!! This is plain and simply for its amazing anti-microbial and anti-bacterial qualities. It is also moisture wicking by nature so that helps during this time when the hormones are just transitioning back to normal. Fun fun fun! As always please check with your physician as to when you can start wearing your Belly Bandit® – they will be able to advise you on this based on your individual delivery. We advise purchasing a Belly Shield (Coming Soon!) for that added “C-section protection”. You can lube up with scar lotions or stretch mark creams and lay the Belly Shield over prior to placing the Belly Bandit on your body. Don't forget to make sure the Belly Bandit goes over your incision so it doesn't irritate but keeps it all nice and safely compressed. | ||
How can the Belly Bandit® prevent stretch marks? |
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| How does this prevent stretch marks post-delivery? | ||
| Although everybody knows what can cause them i.e.: stomach growth and the stretching of skin, we really have never thought about the post period and what may be another factor. The excess skin that is pulled and stretched after birth may continue to cause unslightly markings by "hanging around". The more weight you gain, the more you have to lose. Greater support of this loose skin may actually decrease tension which in turn may decrease stretch marks in the post period. While you do the tough part (i.e.: working out, eating right etc.) we'll hold you in and help decrease the risk of getting stretch marks post-delivery. | ||
Body Shapers vs. Belly Bandits: |
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| Can I just wear a standard body shaper, won't that do the same thing? | ||
| The first few months after giving birth are extremely time sensitive in terms of reshaping your body; this is definitely not the time to use inferior products. We've tested and tried all similar garments, body shapers, girdles and so on and found that most of these will not provide the level of constant sustained compression and support required after a delivery. The Belly Bandit® was created with an Ob/Gyn for post pregnant women with medical grade material taking into consideration variables such as size & pressure needed to get the job done. Not all products are made equal! | ||
Is the Belly Bandit good for other uses? |
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| What are some other uses for a Belly Bandit? | ||
| We are glad you asked because there are a lot! Back pain; back surgery; all stomach surgeries including: gastric bypass; liposuction; tummy tucks; bowel resection; hysterectomies; and the list goes on! Our Belly Bandits® are adjustable and wear well under clothing, no complicated zippers or contraptions! Guess what? Men are huge fans of the Belly Bandit as well, we have a huge following for support belts | ||
| Will this help my diastaysis recti? | ||
| Binding yourself in the Belly Bandit® can help to treat diastasis recti, a common condition resulting from pregnancy. The purpose of the wearing it is to help pull together the two halves of the outermost abdominal muscle (recti), it also helps heal the weakened connective tissue. The Belly Bandit® can be worn under or even over your clothing helping to engage your core muscles while performing your day to day activities. Our customers get the best results in closing diastasis when they wear the band around the clock to help heal the connective tissue and bring the separated muscles together. As always we recommend consulting with your physician for any diagnosis and treatment plan. | ||
Caring for your Belly Bandit: |
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| I see creases and waves in my Belly Bandit® is this normal? Is it still working? | ||
| Yes, creases are normal. Much like a band-aid®, the Belly Bandit® forms to the bend of your body to wear more comfortably. Without any creasing it would be hard to do daily activities with ease. Creases do not affect the tensile strength of the Belly Bandit®. Creases will not stand in the way of the Belly Bandit's® results. Please continue to wear as usual. The appearance of the Original Belly Bandit® will change due to normal wear, much like a band-aid®, expect to see waviness on the edges and in the center of the band as it forms to the body, this is normal. Remember, this will not hinder the effectiveness. | ||
| How do I wash my Belly Bandit®? | ||
| Your Belly Bandit® should be hand washed. Yes....we said hand wash! Please make sure to wash it in cold water with mild soap and air or line-dry. Do not wring this in order to remove excess water as it may damage the strength of the piece. Please do not use any bleach or fabric softeners. Washing in hot water or drying with an electric or gas dryer may also damage the product and cause shrinkage. Drying process can take up to 12 hours. Due to the continuous periods of time you are advised to wear the Belly Bandit® it is recommended to purchase two. Having two will enable you to always have a freshly clean one available while the other is being washed. | ||
| I want to wash my Belly Bandit® but I don't want to leave it off that long... | ||
| Bada Bing….we have the solution for you, the Belly Shield! In addition to this amazing piece being a barrier so you don’t have to wash the actually Belly Bandit you can lather on all your lotions for c-section scar treatment or stretch marks! If you do decide to wash your Belly Bandit, it may take up to 12 hours to dry. Please do not throw it in the dryer as it may affect the tenacity and strength. | ||
Can I wear a used Belly Bandit® |
| We do not recommend buying or wearing a used Belly Bandit® for 2 simple reasons: Hygiene and effectiveness. It’s not hygienic to share this type of garment and once its worn its created to conform to your body shape and curves. Anytime is a band has been worn for an extended amount of time (and possibly washed) it will not have the same effectiveness as on your body. Depending on how it was cared for it may lose some elasticity. |
