The incision and stitches from a cesarean delivery can make simple things like laughing, coughing, and getting up from bed feel either awkward or irritating.
But the best shapewear for c section pooch will hold the cut and sutures together so that such reflex actions and mobility don’t feel burdensome. And you’ll recover faster.
It doesn’t end there.
C-section shapewear sucks your saggy stomach in, making you look good and feel confident as the skin tissue gradually heels and gets back in shape.
You don’t have to buy a dozen brands of body shapers as you struggle to find out which one will work for you.
We’ve done the comparing and contrasting, spoken with medical experts such as Dr. Steven Teitelbaum, M.D, a top plastic surgeon, and interviewed real post-c-section users of shapewear.
Go through our list of the best shapewear for C-section pooch and you’ll surely get an amazing deal.
Best Shapewear for C-Section Pooch in 2023
Editor’s Choice
Image | Name | Editor's Remark | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1.  | Doctor recommended | ||
2.  | Triple layered PowerSlim + DuraFit fabric technology, best for comfort | ||
3.  | It has no waistband binding, hooks, zipper or Velcro that can irritate your C-section scar. |
Here is the Table of Contents
1. Bellefit Girdle with Side Zipper, Women’s Postpartum Compression Garment
Shapewear should not only make you look shapely after giving birth. As the uterus contracts to return to its pre-pregnancy size, you may have to endure cramping pain and discomfort. Bellefit C-section shapewear is a doctor-recommended girdle that firmly supports your post C-section lower abdomen so that you can carry out your normal chores and breastfeed without feeling the after-pains.
The postpartum shapewear gives your core 360-degree support and it’s truly great even for recovering from vaginal delivery.
Some great reviews on Amazon drew me to try it out and I wasn’t disappointed.
What I like the most about Bellefit is the fact that it’s triple-layered with front and back panels that give you support exactly where you need it. The fabric is also microporous, hypoallergenic, and breathable and so you don’t have to worry about feeling stuffy or itchy in it.
Its side zipper closure stands out from the conventional front hook and eye closures and it feels uniquely comfortable whether you are standing, sitting, or bending. The best shapewear for c-section pooch is made of Bellefitflex technology which ensures that it holds in place without rolling.
It’s also one of the best shapewear for posture and relieving back pain.
- Unique side zipper closure
- Convenient for bathroom use
- Helps to manage cramping c-section pains
- Firm front and back support
- Relatively pricey
2. Leonisa High-Waist Slimming C-Section Postpartum Recovery Panty
- High waisted for full torso compression
- Best for sensitive skin
- Contoured design to realize a petite shape
- Seamless and invisible under clothes
- Some users have found it to be not as firm as a Belly Bandit Postpartum Wrap
3. Bellefit Girdle Corset C Section Recovery Belt Best Shapewear for Postpartum Compression
According to Dr. Steven Teitelbaum, M.D., a top plastic surgeon, very few women are lucky to come out scar-free from a cesarean operation, and many end up with a reddish and rigid scar, often accompanied by loose and overhanging skin tissue.
This is the c-section pooch and Bellefit shapewear is one of the best ways to manage the improperly healed tummy until it heals and flattens.
You are assured of firm front and back support from its triple-layered fabric and a 3-row hook-and-eye front closure. Not forgetting 360-degree support for your core, which helps relieve back pain, improve your posture, and regain mobility. And just like with other Bellefit girdles and corsets, the c section recovery garment is made of Bellefitflex, which is a flexible lateral spring boning designed to prevent the shapewear from rolling down.
The best c-section shapewear has an adjustable crotch flap to allow for heavy flow pads. Bathroom calls have never been this easy.
- Convenient for bathroom use
- Helps to manage cramping c-section pains
- Firm front and back support
- Made of nonslip fabric
- Relatively pricey
4. UpSpring Baby C-Panty C-Section Support, Recovery & Slimming High Waist Panty
Material: 92% Nylon/ 8% Spandex
- Has a silicone pad to protect the c-section incision
- No bands, hooks, or zipper closure
- Fits invisibly under clothes
- If you have a lot of back fat, it will show between your bra and the shapewear
5. MOVWIN Postpartum Belly Wrap C-Section Postnatal Tummy Control Shapewear Shorts
Material: 55% Nylon/ 45% Spandex
- Best construction for compression, support, and posture
- Best shapewear for hourglass shape
- Best for shapewear sensitive skin
- The right fit doesn’t roll down
- The waistline boning may be visible under a bodycon dress
6. YERKOAD Shapewear for Women Hi-Waist Short Stomach Body Shaper
- It’s a versatile shapewear
- It fits all types of pants, jeans, dresses, and skirts
- It helps in hiding back fat
- Seamless and invisible under clothes
- Not the best for long torsos
FAQs: Best Shapewear for After C Section
Why do I have a belly after a c-section?
According to Dr. Steven Teitelbaum, M.D, a top plastic surgeon, cesarean surgery involves cutting through the outer layer of the skin (also called the epidermis), the next layer called the dermis, then the subcutaneous tissue also called the hypodermis, and finally the fascia, which a sheet of connective tissue which holds internal organs such as blood vessels, nerves, and muscles together.
Once the baby is out, the layers of skin are stitched back in position but the fascia is left to heal on its own. The tissue takes time to heal, and before it gets back into form, it can create skin folds or a hanging belly pooch. Abdominal muscles also deflate during pregnancy and this contributes to loose skin and a saggy belly.
Since the c-section belly is caused by loose internal tissue, diet and exercise can do very little to eliminate it and it has to take time to heal. That’s why you need the best shapewear for C section pooch to support your belly as it heels. Here are other outfits that can help you hide a C-section overhang.
When can I wear a body shaper after C-section?
After pregnancy, your entire body will take time to heal and recover its pre-pregnancy weight. Your uterus will take about 6 weeks to shrink back to its original size and you can take between 6 and 12 months to regain your prenatal weight. What is more, your body needs about 500 calories above the norm in order to enable breastfeeding and so you shouldn’t rush into dieting and skipping meals before the first 2 months after delivery. You should also not engage in strenuous exercise or wear tight undergarments such as waist trainers and corsets. However, according to Liesel Teen, a labor and delivery nurse, it’s safe to wear lightweight, breathable, and comfortable shapewear to aid the healing of the wound after a C-section delivery.
How long does it take for C-section pooch to go away?
Cesarean delivery is likely to leave you with scars and a C-section belly that bulges underneath your clothes. According to Dr. Shruti Tannan, a plastic surgeon in Raleigh, North Carolina, you can lose your C-section belly pooch in 6 to 12 months through workout and a proper diet. However, for most women, the scar and belly never go away completely, and they may need a tummy tuck.
How soon after c section can I wear a girdle?
Unlike corsets, girdles are made of stretchy fabric that adjusts to fit your body shape and health experts advise that you can wear a girdle or postpartum wrap any time after Cesarean delivery. The girdle should not have a front hook-and-eye closure, zipper, front boning, or any other fitting that would hurt your incision. It also works well for most women to start by wearing the body shaper for 1 or 2 hours only and gradually increase the duration as you get used.
A postpartum girdle or belly band can help relieve pain, support your posture and get you moving, and improve blood flow. They also support your abdominal organs and muscles helping them move back to their pre-pregnancy position.
Parting Shot
C-section shapewear will save you from any discomfort, irritation, or pain from the stitches on your tummy. Besides this, it hugs your sagging stomach in, making you look good and feel confident as the incision gradually heels and the skin tissue gets back in shape.
As we have seen in most of our choices, this type of shapewear doesn’t have a waistband binding, hooks and eyes, a zipper, or Velcro that would hurt irritate or hurt the incision wound. The few that have a front closure such as Bellefit Girdle Corset C Section Recovery Belt Shapewear are double or triple layered to ensure that your C-section wound is safe from the closing mechanism.
Your shapewear should also firmly support your lower back so that you can walk or sit upright and relax. You’re good to go with one of the best shapewear for C-section belly pooch reviewed in our list.
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