The 8 Best Pregnancy Belly Bands to Support Your Growing Bump and Relieve Back Pain

No pregnancy belly band gets name-dropped in the What to Expect community quite as often as the Azmed Maternity Belly Band. This is a classic wraparound belly band (available in both beige and black) from medical supplier Azmed, and moms-to-be say it offers superior comfort and support for lower back and hip pain.

I used this belly band during my own pregnancy, and like many other moms-to-be, I loved how easy it was to get on and off. There’s just one closure, and the Velcro straps fasten at your lower back — not the belly, which some moms appreciate since it means less fabric against your more sensitive bump. 

Christine Mattheis, Group VP of Content & Brand Solutions at What to Expect, is also a major proponent of wearing this band, especially when you're going to be on your feet for a while. "It provided instant relief — it’s actually kind of amazing how well it works," she says.

The truth is that even the best pregnancy belly bands aren’t super comfortable to wear when you’re sitting down, and many moms (myself included) remove them when sitting. This means that many people reserve pregnancy belly bands for times when they’ll be on their feet for a while, such as when going on a walk. But because the Azmed belt is so uncomplicated to get on and off, it’s excellent for daily use. If you take it off to sit down, you won’t be overly annoyed to have to put it back on again later.

Many reviewers also appreciate the fabric itself, which is made from soft, breathable elastic and surprisingly lightweight. And it’s a little less bulky under clothing than some other belly bands.

The beauty of the Azmed belt is how easy it is to use, but if you’re after extra support in the back or abdominal area, you may prefer one of the styles on this list with a higher back panel and/or an above-belly strap. 

You may not feel like working out when you’re in your second or third trimester of pregnancy. But the Gabrialla belly band might help change your mind, or at the very least offer support for walks. Designed specifically for active moms-to-be, this maternity belt sits securely around your hips and lower back to cradle your growing bump. Many What to Expect moms say it’s a game changer, especially if you’re still running or doing cardio-based workouts during pregnancy, as it offers superior support to ease pressure.

There’s a higher-than-average back panel (6 inches) and two bands that can be adjusted to regulate the amount of tension. What to Expect moms also appreciate that it features a pocket that can hold a hot/cold gel pack — ideal for soothing back pain.

This belly band is available in sizes small to XXL, but make sure to measure yourself and reference Gabrialla’s sizing chart: The brand notes that your pre-pregnancy size doesn’t always correspond exactly.

What to Expect’s Plus-Size Moms and Moms-to-Be group frequently recommends the Belevation Maternity Band for a little extra support. Not only does this pregnancy belly band offer a better size range than most on the market (from small to XXL, up to size 26), but the stretchy fabric and pull-up design means it also offers more coverage, so it’s less likely to pinch in an uncomfortable place. Moms-to-be describe the support as gentle to medium, and say it helps to relieve abdominal, lower back and hip pressure all at once.

And unlike wrap-around styles, which tend to have overlapping straps and Velcro, the Belevation band delivers a smooth look under clothes, which many moms appreciate. The fabric is a seamless, breathable mesh to help you stay cool.

The downside to this style is that you don’t have as many adjustability options. If you’d prefer an adjustable belly band, the Gabrialla and NeoTech belts are also both solid options for plus-size moms-to-be (and were close runner-ups for this title).

Don’t underestimate this basic-looking pregnancy belly band: Many moms-to-be say they were surprised and impressed by how supportive the Bracoo Maternity Belt is. Made of a polyester, elastic and nylon blend, it wraps around the lower part of your belly to gently cradle your bump. It’s available in one size and has two belts (an interior band and outer side panels) that attach with Velcro to help ensure a comfortable fit. 

It’s worth mentioning that at 4 inches high, the Bracoo belly band doesn’t offer nearly as much back support as some other options on this list. That may be fine if you’re someone who prefers a more minimalist style that wears like a belt, but other moms-to-be might want a little extra coverage. 

At $17, this is the most affordable pregnancy belly band on our list. Some moms do note that with heavy use, the fabric starts to warp over time. If you’re in the third trimester or don’t envision yourself wearing a belly band daily, this probably wouldn’t be a problem. However, if you’re looking for a belly band that will hold up to daily wear and tear and can also be worn postpartum, you may want to consider investing in one of the other options.

A close contender for the overall best belly band for pregnancy, Belly Bandit Upsie is another very popular option among What to Expect moms, who rave about its supportive fit. Although pricier than many maternity belts on this list, many moms-to-be find the higher cost worth it for the high-quality materials (it’s made from super soft bamboo viscose with a little Spandex for stretch). 

Although belly bands aren’t exactly the most fashionable outfit accessory, Belly Bandit Upsie is better looking (and more discreet) than most other options, especially when worn under clothing. Many moms appreciate that it’s also available in both black and cream.

This band, another wraparound style that attaches with Velcro, molds to your body without digging into your skin and can be adjusted up to 12 inches. The back fabric is slightly higher than some other maternity belts, too, making it a good pick for anyone seeking extra lower back support. Bonus: It also comes with a hot/cold pack that you can slip into the band’s back pocket for extra relief.

“It didn’t catch on anything or scratch me, the fabric was very soft actually,” says Alexandra Bisonó, Senior Art Director at What to Expect who wore the Upsie while pregnant. “It was really easy to use, put on and take off.”

Sizes range from small to extra-large, but some moms say it runs a little small, so it may be worth sizing up if you’re unsure. Measuring across your belly, the largest size fits up to 57 inches.

Moms-to-be love the NeoTech Care Maternity Belt, and it’s easy to see why. The customizable abdominal pad attaches to a lower back support band, which helps ease strain on your lower back. Because this style wraps around the belly and waist, it’s a great choice for anyone suffering from both lower back and abdominal pressure, as the design helps to gently redistribute weight.

The band can accommodate bumps up to 60.5 inches, which is more than many of the other products on the market, making this another great option for plus-size moms-to-be. Bonus points go to the super-stretchy fabric (a polyester, elastodiene and nylon blend), which hugs your body with just the right amount of compression.

While many moms-to-be are thrilled with the additional abdominal support the NeoTech belt offers, this style isn’t for everyone. If you don’t love the feeling of lots of fabric and straps on your bump, this may not be the best pregnancy belly band for you.

Pregnancy belly bands are the most popular option, but some moms prefer to use kinesiology tape to gently lift and support their bumps. This method involves applying “K tape,” as it’s often called — flexible, water-resistant elastic bands — facing upward on your belly. (There are a number of tutorials on how to do this online, but always consult your practitioner for guidance.)

The benefit of using K tape instead of belly bands is that it offers endless adjustment options, it’s completely seamless under clothing and it’s blissfully lightweight (many moms-to-be note that K tape feels amazing in the summer, while even the most most minimalist belly bands can feel bulky and restricting under clothing on a hot day).

In a small 2017 study, researchers applied K tape to pregnant women and found that low back pain decreased significantly compared to placebo. While K tape tends to be pretty similar from brand to brand, the researchers in that study used Kinesio Taping Kinesiology Tape Tex Gold on study participants.

But while kinesiology tape can help ensure a perfect fit, it’s definitely not as intuitive to use as belly bands and requires some trial and error to get the hang of. Some moms note that it can be a little painful to remove the tape, too. And while one box of tape is relatively affordable at $15, you’re likely to go through quite a lot of it, so it may become more expensive than a pregnancy belly band over time.

Postpartum belly bands are similar to pregnancy belts, but they usually come up higher on your belly and offer a greater level of compression than would be safe or comfortable during pregnancy.

New moms love that the Belly Bandit B.F.F. Belly Wrap offers tons of versatility. It has six support panels — including two customizable compression panels — and the wrap hugs you with firm but gentle compression. It also has up to 9 inches of adjustable fabric so you can continue to adjust the fit as your body changes postpartum. Also good: It’s comfortable even if you’ve had a C-section, and won’t irritate your incision area.