If you've had a baby, chances are someone has told you to get some compression. A belly band, a corset, a support brief. The advice comes thick and fast, but what's actually right for your body in those early weeks?
We asked pelvic floor physiotherapist Chloe Peters, and her answer might surprise you. Compression can be genuinely helpful. But the type of compression matters just as much as the compression itself.
Chloe confirms that the research supports using abdominal compression in conjunction with abdominal rehabilitation.
That ‘alongside’ is important. Compression isn't a standalone fix or a shortcut. It's one layer of support within a broader recovery plan, ideally guided by a health professional.
Did you know you can have abdominal compression and still be comfortable? That's exactly where the right garment makes the difference.
Why the early postpartum weeks need a practical approach
Here's the part nobody mentions. Even when compression is recommended, Chloe advises against anything overly rigid or hard to remove straight after birth.
Because real life in the early weeks looks like:
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Frequent breastfeeding or pumping, often around the clock
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Regular (and sometimes urgent) bathroom trips
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A healing body that doesn't need a wrestling match with tight clothing
If a garment is a struggle to get on and off, it's not supporting your recovery. It's adding to the load.
What to look for in postpartum compression wear
Chloe's advice is simple. Look for garments that are:
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Soft, gentle against healing skin
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Stretchy, so it moves with you through the day
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Easy to use, simple to put on, take off and manage around feeds and bathroom visits
Comfort isn't indulgent. It's what makes support something you'll actually wear.
Why rigid, corset-style garments may not be the best choice
Chloe cautions against rigid, corset-style garments, which can change how pressure is managed through your abdomen and pelvic floor. This is especially worth knowing if you're experiencing vaginal heaviness, a sensation many postpartum women describe. If that sounds familiar, it's worth speaking with a pelvic health physio before choosing compression.
Myth vs fact
Myth: The tighter the garment, the better the support.
Fact: Chloe advises caution with rigid, corset-style garments, as they can change how pressure is managed in the abdomen and pelvic floor.
Myth: Compression on its own will rehab your abdomen.
Fact: The research supports compression alongside abdominal rehabilitation, not instead of it.
Myth: You should push through a tight garment, even if it's a struggle.
Fact: With frequent feeds and bathroom trips, a garment that's hard to get on and off isn't practical in the early days.
Myth: All postpartum compression is the same.
Fact: Design matters. Soft, stretchy and easy to use is what to look for.
Chloe's advice comes down to this: compression that's soft, stretchy and easy to live in. Garments like the Bare Mum Postpartum Brief, which she mentions in her reel, are designed with those qualities in mind.
Supporting recovery in the real world
Recovery doesn't require perfection. It takes layers of support:
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Medical care when something doesn't feel right
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Pelvic health support when you need it
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Rest wherever you can get it
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Everyday products that reduce friction rather than add to it
What you wear matters when you're healing. If you're still working out where you are on the recovery timeline, our guide to how long postpartum recovery really takes is a good place to start.