While pregnancy is supposed to be a wonderful time of your life, the reality is that there are some not so wonderful aspects of pregnancy. Back pain, pelvic pain, varicose veins and swelling are just a few of them.
Many women just think it is something they have to put up with but that's not always the case. There are products out there that can give some relief but it can be daunting trying to navigate your way through all these products. There are support tubes, support belts, support underwear, support shorts and compression hoisery. Furthermore there are diffferent shaped belts, different quality tubes and different levels of compression within the above categories. So what is right for you?
It is best if you can get into a store that stocks a variety of the items available so you can try different ones on. What works for one person may not work for you as it really depends on what's causing the pain in the first place. If you can't get out to a store then find someone like
Maternity Revolution that will post out a few different options without charging you for them. This way you can try, compare and return whatever doesn't work and you just pay for what you keep if anything.
I'll give you a bit of a run down on the different options.
Compression Maternity Pantyhose
Compression Maternity Hoisery is for ladies that have varicose veins in their legs, swelling in their legs, or are experiencing aches in their legs from standing all day etc. They can also be used a preventative measure against varicose veins. Often ladies experience varicose veins during pregnancy when they haven't had them previously.
Compression Hoisery is available in different levels of compression known as Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 with the lowest compression being in the Class 1 (15-20 mmHg), Class 2 (20-30mmHg) and the firmest being Class 3 at (30-40mmHg). mmHg stands for millimeters of Mercury which is the measurement system used to measure compression. Be aware that much like clothes sizing, the compression rating of stockings can vary between countries so a Class 1 in USA may be different to a Class 1 in Europe. Best to check the mmHg level so you know what you are comparing to.
It is best to check with your Doctor as to what the best compression is for you. Unfortunately I have many customers whose doctors seem not to be very helpful in this area so as a general rule, Class 1 is a good compression for preventative use and mild vein problems. Class 2 are for moderate complaints and Class 3 are for more severe complaints.
At
Maternity Revolution we have found Class 1 to be the most popular and many ladies will start with this compression and if they don't find it gives enough relief from tired and aching legs and bulging veins they then move up to Class 2.
Class 1 pantyhose are around $54.95 while Class 2 are around $100. We don't have the Class 2 on our website but we can order them in if needed.
Other styles of
compression hoisery available are knee highs closed toe, knee high open toe, thigh highs closed toe, thigh highs open toe and non maternity pantyhose. Again, we can order any of these in for you at
Maternity Revolution.
The style you choose is usually based on where your problem areas are. If you only have vein problems in your calves them perhaps a knee high might suit. If the problem is up your entire leg then you might need a thigh high or a pantyhose. I'm not a big fan thigh highs in females because often our thighs are quite large and in order to get a stocking to fit our thigh it becomes to loose around the ankle to give adequate compression.
The tricky thing about buying
compression hoisery is that you can't try them on. So you really have to choose carefully and read the size chart accurately. For
Class one pantyhose the size is usually based on pre-pregnancy weight and your height. For Class 2 pantyhose or for any of the thigh high and knee high products you will need to take measurements that include you ankle, calf, thigh and the length of your legs.
Just because they are an expensive product doesn't mean they are all that more durable than a normal pantyhose. They will still run if snagged and you are going to need several pairs but start with one pair to make sure you get the size right and make sure they help relieve your pain.
For those of you worried about the heat, the brand we stock at
Maternity Revolution is called
Therafirm and they are made with a special process that allows moisture to evaporate quickly to keep you cool.
SRC Pregnancy Short and Leggins

Those of you that have read my blog on the SRC Recovery Shorts will know I am a big fan of their products but the pregnancy short and leggins are not useful for everyone. For those ladies that have varicosities in the groin area they are an absolute godsend. Before
SRC there was nothing around that could help relieve this sort of pain so I can't tell you how wonderful it is to now have these available. They also offer mild compression (approx 9 -12 mmHG in the lower leg of the leggin) for ladies that have vein problems in their legs. While this compression may not be as strong as that in a Class 1 pantyhose, you do need to take into consideration the cumulative effect of wearing the
SRC pregnancy shorts and leggins over time. You are likely to wear the shorts all day and even sleep in them whereas as the pantyhose are something you would only wear during the day and maybe only while at work.
Another advantage of the
SRC Pregnancy Shorts and Leggins is that they offer gentle back and pelvic support but this support is not firm enough for ladies that suffer from severe pain and if a customer had no vein problems or swelling issues and only back/pelvic pain then I would probably suggest looking at a pregnancy support tube or pregnancy support belt.
Again, the fabric in the
SRC is designed to breathe so they are comfortable to wear year round.
Pregnancy Support Belts and Tubes



There are a myriad of these available on the market and it really comes down to you and your individual requirements as to which works best.
A
pregnancy support tube is a comfy stretchy tube that you wear under your clothes. It gives a lot more support than you would think to look at it but perhaps not as much as a belt. The downside is that if you are up and down a lot during the day, it tends to roll up a bit which can be annoying and to solve this problem the
pregnancy support briefs offer the same support without the roll but you would have to buy several pairs of the briefs whereas you would only require one tube.
A
pregnancy support belt is a wide piece of elastic that is secured with velcro. There are different shapes for different problems but the 2 main ones are the
Upsie Belly and the
New Beginnings back support belt. The
Upsie Belly has a wide piece of elastic that sits against your lower back and then it get narrower in the front where it sits comfortably under your belly and can tightened or loosened to suit. It has a soft bamboo cover and comes with an ice/heat pack that sits in a pocket against your spine. This type of belt tends to help hold the belly up while taking some weight off your back.
The
New Beginnings back support belt is the same width elastic right the way around. It sits around your hips and can be tightened quite firmly so it's perfect for those who have pelvic separation but it doesn't offer a lot of support to the belly itself.
All the belts are easy to get on and off but it can be hard to wear them discreetly and if you are sitting down for long periods they are quite rigid and can start to dig in. Also a problem for those up and down a lot such as nurses and childcare workers.
Well I hope this helps but don't hesitate to email me at
lisa@maternityrevolution.com.au or phone me on 07 32051818 to ask any questions you may have. We hope to see you soon instore at
Maternity Revolution 1/124 South Pine Rd, Brendale, QLD, 4500 or visit us online at
www.maternityrevolution.com.au