Belly Supports

[Visitor6]

My beloved (sorry, the abbreviation game does my head in) is on her feet all day as a hairdresser and now has quite a tummy at 20 weeks, so being a slight frame is plays havoc.

So I've searched the forums and the web needing some recommendations.

1. Useful tummy/back supports. We've looked at Saunders Stork Pregnancy Support and the Oppo supports.

2. With all that we've spent on support products for bed etc even physio and osteo visit regularly we really want to avoid an online purchase in case it doesn't work. So does anyone know of shopfronts here in Melbourne where such aids could be tried on?

Thanks in advance!

[Smoke Jaguar]

I don't know where you could try things on in person, though the hospy physios I saw during my first pg sold belts, as well at tubigrip (fantastic that! just make sure you hem it with an overlocker or it will fray).
I'd urge you also to have a look at the Pelvic Instability Association (Australian) website that you can google to see if she has any of these symptoms (in which case it's not about the size of the belly at all, because mine is a poor excuse for 34 weeks and I've had SPD for 3.5 years since my first pg and it's back with a vengeance ).
For the pain, I would highly recommend (as well as wearing a brace/band) acupuncture to complement the osteo.
I would also recommend the purchase of one or two Belly Bras (made by FertileMind) - available on Mothers Direct if MelanieK (google these, too), a shop in Melbourne with an online store as well, doesn't have any in stock (Mothers Direct has them for $69, or less if you are a subscriber to ABA, and MelanieK has them for $20 for a limited time and I'm not sure when this price offer will end). Wearing it gives you a bit of a muffin top (around the sides only, it goes all the way down the belly to lift it off the pelvis), but hell, it's pregnancy and the aesthetic-police can bite me! It means I don't have to wear the tubigrip to get relief and the sacro-iliac belt I've borrowed only has to be used occasionally (mainly to take DS to Kindergym!) with it. Can't recommend this simple product enough - I'd have paid the $69 for it happily! I was even considering buying another belly belt thingy for about $90 before I received my BellyBra because of the hope for relief, just didn't need to in the end.
Anyhow, hopefully it's not SPD because that would be awful. Definitely the BellyBra, and the Mothers Direct retail outlet is in Malvern East if she needs to try one on before buying.
And don't forget acupuncture

[Taurean]

I got a sacro lumbar support belt from my physio for about $30. It's just a stretchy belt with velcro to keep it in place. I just wear it under my belly for extra support. It really does help when I'm doing the housework (which had caused me so much grief prior to getting the belt).

[Visitor6]

Cheers Maya,

Thankfully thus far the Physio notes she has quite a stable pelvis! Having been a tubigrip user for 20 years, I was surprised it didn't help much, was more like a boob tube gone wrong and a bit constrictive. Pilates is a Godsend.

Had a look ad SPD site; thankfully too none of the symptoms. Normal stretching and lower back pains though are another thing......she actually sleeps sometimes at night now, with a little panadeine!

Acupuncture has been useful, but now my myotherapist has done wonders to complement the osteo.

The drama is that the couple of fibroids makes her look like twins are on the way so quite a bit of overhang that doesn't help normal spinal curvature.


Taurean, I think to the SI Support is certainly the way to go like Maya did. Will have to track one of them down too!
Appreciate the advice!

[NaeNae]

1. Useful tummy/back supports. We've looked at Saunders Stork Pregnancy Support and the Oppo supports.

I have one of these it was the $90 one if you check their website they have different types of ones.
TBH I rarely use mine and I think of all the things I have brought so far this is my first big waste of money. In order for it to properly support me it needs to be firm and I find that really uncomfortable and look forward to taking it off (like unbuttoning super tight pants or belt after a huge meal)

I guess the difference is I SIT most of the time for my job so maybe she will benefit from it better than I have. Because of the shape, when I am sitting it tends to creep into my c-sec scar area and rub.

How big is she size wise pre pregnancy? when (if) you order one you get the size in your pre pregnancy size - they are fairly generous and you can adjust everything easily as its all strong velcro.

Best of luck

Nae x