4 Best Postpartum Shapewear

#1 Post-Surgical Full Body Long First Stage Shaper

One-third of women in the United States prefer C-section for different reasons. This can be due to obligation, or it can be merely optional. Right after the C-section delivery, there are vital elements that your shapewear needs to have. Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory undergarments are one of the things that medical experts suggest. So, this product is the one that I like the most as it brings a good-look, health, and comfort all together.

The first stage after the childbirth means the first month or 45 days. That’s the stage your skin is still weak, requires certain nutrients, and inflammation may occur. In fact, if you wear normal clothes directly over your skin, it can cause fungi, bacterial diseases, and inflammation.

Main Specifications

• Lace detail on the legs
• Fiber preventing the proliferation of fungi
• Elongated straps
• Silicone dots to halt roll-up
• Open crotch

Features

Comfort Properties

I like this one as it provides the comfort that a new mom would need. I think the designers have spent time thinking and surveying about the possible problems and solved them. As it is right after the operation, women do not enjoy the firmest level of compression, as it squeezes the fresh wound. Otherwise it would be slimming even more, but it’s not suitable for postpartum cases.

Another thing is that it lifts the hip and supports your back properly. If you were a regular gym-goer pre-pregnancy; chances are that you've lost the muscular look of your hip and they became droopy. So, this lifts the buttocks back and gives a better appearance. Additionally, the back support prevents bulges and pinches as well as fixing the posture.

The last feature I like about its comfort is that it’s very easy to wear. There are three front lines of hooks which makes it simple to put on and do up. Moreover, for those who will want to wear it all day long, there is an opening on the crotch part so you won’t have to remove everything once you use the restroom.

If there is one thing to complain about comfort, it must be the straps. Just because the size chart for shapewear is quite different, people tend to think that their regular tee size will perfectly fit. If you are L and buy L-size shapewear, you will most likely think that the straps are too tight. I thought the same as well.

Health Properties

If you just delivered your baby with C-section, the lanced skin is still fresh and vulnerable to any bacteria and fungi. So, the fabric that you are putting on needs to be free from any bacteria or microbes. That’s why I like the special fabric designed for puerperal women.

Similarly, you can use these if you just had a tummy tuck or liposuction operation. Identically, you would need anti-bacterial fabric. Apart from the delicate skin, vaginal infections are also common among new mothers. The puerperal infection is mostly due to bacteria infecting the vagina. The extra-delicate texture on the vaginal part is for people who want to take additional care on the delicate parts.

Conclusion

Finally, The Post-Surgical Full-Body Long First Stage Shaper might be good if you expect a better healing process while looking as slim as before. It can be a good assistant while you rebound from the effects of surgery.

#2 Post-Surgical Full Body Long Second Stage Shaper

After your first month after the C-section, your skin isn’t under the threat of getting infected and inflamed. However, it usually doesn’t mean that you will be able to back to wearing regular shapers. Quite the contrary, your skin needs to gain its strength back.

For this reason, the second-stage shaper might be a good choice if you want to nurture your body with different nutrients. You can use ointments or instead, you can let your shapewear do it on behalf of you. If you were a jock before pregnancy, your skin might endure the deteriorating effects of pregnancy such as sagging, rash, or other physical problems. If you weren’t, seaweed and aloe vera ointments might save the day.

Main Specifications

• Trim Shape microcapsules
• Adjustable straps
• Lace detail on the legs
• No roll-up

Features

Comfort Properties

By design, it is identical shapewear to the first one. However, if it’s your second month after delivering the baby, you won’t need to use it in medium compression and that’s where the hooks kick in. I didn’t go into the details of the hooks on purpose as using it in low or medium compression would be healthier. Yet, now that you don’t suffer from fresh wounds, you can use it even in the firmest compression level. It gives you the long-lost feminine silhouette as well as controlling your tummy better.

Another thing about comfort is its bust-free design. I have a piece of bust-free shapewear that I use in the gym. It comes quite handy as I can combine it with my favorite sports bra. Yet, here easier breastfeeding is the primary reason why there is such a comfort detail. The breasts are independent of the shaper itself; thus, it doesn’t strain or squeeze and cause pain.

Lastly, I like the feature that it flaunts curves and lifts buttocks. For a long time during my pregnancy, I have lived on the edges. One time I was feeling so womanly as I was carrying my baby, the other time I felt as if I was the furthest from a woman. After months, this was the first time I felt feminine for the first time both mentally and physically. If you want your curves back, wait till your second month after the operation and have it.

One thing I didn’t like

On the other hand, a friend of mine who also used this product complained that her skin under armpit got irritated, though. Looking for a reason why I didn’t have it and she’s got it, we come up with an idea. It has probably happened as she was wearing it for long hours and washing it before sleep and wearing it again in the morning. I had two of them and didn’t face any problem. I guess that was the reason. To be on the safer and healthier side, you might think of getting two pieces.

Health Properties

The second month after the childbirth and having no pain doesn’t imply that you’ll be back to your normal life. Your tummy still needs to be handled carefully. I started using aloe vera oil even before the second month.

I like the content of microcapsules placed inside that incorporate vitamin E, seaweed, Ginkgo biloba, and Cosmacol Emi. Vitamin E is the agent that prevents damage to the skin and moisturizes it. Seaweed, on the other hand, speeds up the healing process. Ginkgo Biloba has been in use for a long time for its anti-aging benefits. Lastly, the Cosmacol Emi is there for softening and moisturizing the skin.

Conclusion

Lastly, the Post-surgical Full-Body Long Second-Stage Shaper is a product for those who want an extra helping hand in their recovery process. It nicely moisturizes skin, heals it faster while giving you the contoured and slim silhouette.

#3 Post-Surgical AB Board

This is not exactly shapewear but a board that you can use right after your C-section even if the name doesn’t suggest it’s for the first stage. The foam board has multiple health advantages as well as its aesthetically pleasing look.

This could be one of the few accessories that solve post-natal problems while providing a flat stomach. Yet, even though it’s quite handy, some moms raise their doubts about having it or not.

Main Specifications

• Foam outside
• Firm inside
• Lined with Trim Shape Fabric

Features

Comfort Properties

Since it’s a relatively small accessory, comfort is a piece of cake. However, you need to combine it with shapewear or a slimming girdle of your own. Whichever you use it with, it is pretty easy to wear it and leave it.

The outer layer is completely foam which I like it a lot as it won’t press too much on your stomach, resulting in pain. It gently hugs your tummy, making it look flat. Apart from its firm core that primarily molds your waist, the foam is extremely soft.

Another thing I like about it is that it never smells bad due to fluid retention. The foamy part absorbs the liquid quite well and keeps your stomach dry. If you combine it with medium-compression shapewear, I think fluid retention will be as rare as possible and you won’t compromise from a better-looking stomach.

The last thing is that it would be an easy solution to correct the posture problems for those who have got used to leaning backward during pregnancy. Some of my friends mentioned that I still stand as if I was still pregnant even some months after my baby had been born. I put an effort to correct my posture.

On the other hand, the fact that you need shapewear to make it work annoys me a bit. If you don’t have such an undergarment of your own, it won’t be effective. In addition to that, you might need to have the perfect fit.

Health Properties

I had C-section as my gynecologist thought it was a better idea. Yet, the real test began after the operation since I haven’t seen liquid oozing from my body this often. I had specific postpartum shapewear at the time but I was still trying to keep it clean at each top of the hour.

Yet, the AB board does it automatically. I like the idea that it cancels out the possibility of proliferation of bacteria, fungi, or other organisms by absorbing the liquid from the stitches. On top of that, as it is easy to wear it and remove it, you can let some fresh air over your tummy whenever you want.

To keep it bacteria-free, you had better wash it every day. If you want to keep it for longer, wash it by hand with warm water and dry it with no direct sunlight.

Conclusion

To sum up, I like this product as it is comfortable and neat in general. Small as it is but effective. I wasn’t aware of such a product when I was postpartum but that could’ve been of great help. If you want something that is snuggly and anchoring to your belly, this might be the product you’ve wanted.

#4 Post-Surgical Full-Body Short Second-Stage Shaper

This product is very similar to the one on my second spot but with a little twist. It is a better option for different body shapes. For example; the long one is suitable for those who have problematic thighs that need controlling. The short one, on the other hand, is better if you have an apple and diamond shape.

Let’s say if you have a diamond shape of the body and you still wear long body shapers, you will equally look disproportionate. It’s because you apply pressure on different parts of your body at the same time. Yet, you don’t need to have it on your thighs but merely on your torso.

Main Specifications

• Lace detail on the legs
• No roll-up
• Buttocks, waist, abdomen and back shaper
• Adjustable straps
• Bust-free

Features

Comfort Properties

As I said, it is quite similar to its long variant but for different body shapes. So, you can consider all the features are the same. However, I would like to give brief details about the usage.

First off, comfort is crucial in such specific shapewear as wearing it for 16 hours is an every-day practice. Once I remember falling asleep in it and getting surprised to see it upon waking up. Thus, doing the daily routine shouldn’t take more time than it normally requires. That’s why I see the open crotch as a great relief. "Taking off everything when nature calls" isn’t very practical.

The second feature I like is its natural medium-high control. Too soft control and you will experience friction and irritation in the end. Too firm control and it will smother up your tummy. When it’s this medium-high control on the stomach, you feel the decreasing pain. In addition to that, you can adjust the control level to some extent. Therefore, if you think you are nearing the end of your recovery, you can have it firmer.

The lace detail sounds like a pretty touch to me. If you are living in a hot and humid area like me (speaking from NOLA), summer means short and spacious dresses for me. So, if you want, you can let the lace pattern slightly peek out.

Yet again, I will have to recommend you check the size chart properly. When I bought a postpartum shaper for the first time (also my first shapewear), I ordered an L size which was too tight. So, unless you have money to burn or spend money lavishly, one size up would be the wittiest choice.

Health Properties

In a similar fashion to the other second-stage shaper, this one also has Trim Shaper microcapsules with the same contents: vitamin E, seaweed, Ginkgo biloba, and Cosmacola Emi. Refer to my paragraph above to find out their remedies.

In my experience, I have a relatively smaller scar compared to my friends who had had C-section. I would like to think that I have got good genetics and never have a scar but I must admit that it’s probably due to the ointments and these microcapsules.

Conclusion

Finally, the Post-Surgical Short Shaper for the second stage is a good sidekick healer for those with diamond or apple body shapes. If you are one of them, I think it’s better to ignore the second pick and go for this one.