Is it Safe to Wear a Waist Trainer While Pregnant?
Shapewear for pregnant mothers has been around for quite a while, almost as long as regular shapewear. Pregnant women may have some negative feelings about their changing bodies, and they may be looking for ways to feel and look their best.
Shapewear comes in many different types, waist trainers being one. But is it safe to wear a waist trainer while pregnant?
No, you never want to wear a waist trainer while pregnant. You never want your organs and muscles compressed together.
Read on to find out more. Especially if you are a pregnant woman as it’s very important to know the dos and don’ts of shapewear.
Why Shapewear?
I think it’s safe to say that most of us who are or have been pregnant can feel a little self-conscious about our bodies. Perhaps we aren’t used to a growing belly or extra jiggle going on. But the safety of wearing shapewear has been debated among physicians.
Can I Wear Any Kind of Shapewear During Pregnancy?
Yes, you can wear shapewear during pregnancy with some exceptions. When your belly expands, most of it is from baby’s growth, and you do not want to cause any harm to her.
But most of us have some extra skin or fat lying around that we would rather do without. And shapewear is good for hiding those parts of your body.
Since your baby is well protected by amniotic fluid, it is safe to wear shapewear as long as it’s not too tight or compressing. You also want to be comfortable when you move around.
Anything with high levels of compression is not going to be comfortable, especially as the baby grows and the size and shape of your belly change.
Some women are adamant about keeping their pre-pregnancy body, but you’ll soon realize that comfort is more important.
Look for shapewear with light or medium control that offers a sleeker look without making you miserable.
What About Waist Trainers?
Wearing waist trainers during pregnancy is a huge no. Any maternity shapewear you sport should never compress your internal organs, muscles, or ribs, which is exactly what waist trainers do.
This can be detrimental not only to you but your growing baby.
What Exactly is a Waist Trainer?
A waist trainer is a product for women who want to make their waists smaller. Some brands of waist trainers promise to help you lose weight while shrinking your waist at the same time.
Waist trainers are typically made of tough fabric with metal boning that supports your torso. Most use a lacing system with hook and eye clasps or fasteners. The boning material keeps the fabric of the garment from getting bunched up near your waist.
The claim behind waist trainers is that over time, they form your hips and waist into a more desirable hourglass look. Many companies claim you can trim inches off your waistline while losing weight if you wear a waist trainer.
A Short History of the Waist Trainer
Most of us know them as corsets, a supporting undergarment for women that has been around since the 16th century. From Tudor women to Victorian women, the corset was an extremely popular article of clothing.
While fashion trends have changed from one century to the next, the corset has remained a part of woman’s dressing routines. The corset was also called “stays” or a “stomacher,” particularly in the 16th century, and it was made of linens that were stiffed with starches. Whalebone was also commonly used to keep the shape of the garment.
Can I Wear a Waist Trainer During Pregnancy?
Wearing a waist trainer during pregnancy should never be done under any circumstances. They compress your spleen, liver, intestines, muscles, and ribs. They can also crack your ribs, making your lungs unable to expand. This restricts your breathing which is life threatening not only to you but to your unborn baby.
Even shapewear, in general should be worn with caution. No shapewear should be overly compressed to the point where you feel like your organs, ribs, and muscles are being squeezed. When you wear shapewear during pregnancy, it often gets pushed up too high, putting pressure on other parts of the body as well.
Women in history who wore corsets during pregnancy were putting their unborn babies at great risk. Pregnancies often ended in miscarriage due to the tight lacing and pressure on the uterus. Especially in Victorian England and America, pregnancy was looked at as burdensome, and the corset was worn to constrict the changes to a woman’s body.
Other Risk Factors for Wearing Waist Trainers
Waist trainers are not only a risk during pregnancy but can be a risk to your overall health. Aside from reducing circulation, and causing heartburn and yeast infections, here are some other risk factors for wearing a waist trainer
Internal Damage
When you wear a waist trainer, you force your internal organs into an unnatural position. If they stay under this undo pressure, it can affect how they work and possibly cause damage.
Weakens Core Strength
It’s true that waist trainers keep your core compressed, but overtime, they actually weaken core strength. When a waist trainer is doing most of the work holding you upright, your core has to do less work. Aside from experiencing discomfort, the extended use of a waist trainer makes it harder for your core muscles to adjust to normalcy.
Suffocation
Did you know that by wearing a waist trainer, you are cutting your lung capacity by as much as 60%? This is extremely dangerous, and if you use a waist trainer during exercise, you are putting yourself at considerable risk of suffocation. The lack of oxygen lowers your energy, and any inflammation will last even after you remove the waist trainer.
They Are a Waste of Money
The temporary results of wearing a waist trainer just aren’t worth the investment, especially when you put your health at risk.
Why Not Embrace Your Pregnancy?
A pregnant woman is beautiful and a glowing example of how amazing her body is. Even with all the unwanted bumps and lumps, added weight, and everything else, pregnant women do not need shapewear of any kind.
Why not embrace your pregnant body and know that by not wearing anything constricting, you are keeping not only yourself safe but your baby as well?
