Support Garment Features

 

Your body has under gone a number of changes and was in an altered state during your entire pregnancy, a support garment is needed to assist your body as you regain your pre-pregnancy state while caring for your child. But not just any garment, a garment that is specifically designed to be worn after the birth of a child is needed. 

 

Some of the essential features unique to Design Veronique post partum garments:

  • Fabric- the powernet fabric used in all garments in strong, soft, lightweight and breathable. In addition, it provides support from all angles, many garments are made from material that only provides support from one angle
  • Designs- these garments are designed specifically for post partum wear and to provide the correct level of support and contouring to the area of the body that needs it. 
  • Inner panels- each garment features a unique inner panel system to support the abdomen and even specific inner panels to support the cesarean section incision
  • Position of seams- seams are flat and non-marking, they are positioned to avoid irritation during long periods of wear. 
  • Comfort- designed for long term wear and comfort with cotton lined crotch, fully adjustable and detachable shoulder straps and soft, breathable fabric. 

 

The following garment features are essential for aiding healing after a cesarean section delivery:

The correct amount of support at the incision site and to the entire abdominal area- you need support for stability and to assist with healing, but too much support (compression) can inhibit healing as it might reduce the blood flow to the incision and the area around the incision. The ideal level of support will stabilize the incision and entire abdominal area without constricting blood flow or feeling “tight”. This can be achieved by using the correct garment design that features anatomically correct layers of fabric in the abdominal and incision site areas, a fabric that is not too strong and garment designs that ensure targeted support to the incision area. 

 

Ease of application- you will be very sore with limited range of motion during the initial post partum healing, the incision site will be tender; you do not want to have to “step in” and pull on a garment over the incision immediately post partum. The ideal garment will have a side zipper that allows the garment to be taken on and off easily, quickly and without a struggle or irritating the incision site. 

 

Made from a fabric that provides the correct support, strong and lightweight- the fabric must be supportive and not compressive, it must be strong enough to retain supportive properties and shape and should be lightweight. It is essential the fabric provide support from all directions, both vertically and horizontally, as the incision and tissue must be supported from all directions. 

 

Antimicrobial and moisture management properties- the garment will be worn for extended periods of time, the garment will be in direct contact with the incision site, the fabric must have a moisture management component (wicking) to keep you dry and comfortable and must have antimicrobial properties to prevent the garment from facilitating the growth of microbes or bacteria at the incision site. 

 

Comfort- this appears obvious but it is key, if the garment is not comfortable you cannot wear it for extended periods of time. A few basic keys to garment comfort include- a material that feels soft, seams that do not rub or irritate, zippers that do not rub or irritate and no abrasive chemicals used in the fabrics.