This post is sponsored by Momcozy. We were compensated to write this post and received free products in exchange for our honest review. All opinions are our own.
As a midwife and a former labor and delivery nurse, two questions I get often are: what do I need to buy to prepare for birth and what can I do about this back pain??? Two of my favorite items to recommend are belly bands and birth balls. Not everyone needs a belly band, but for some, it can be a game changer when it comes to alleviating back pain. Now, a true GAME CHANGER for birth prep, labor support, AND postpartum support is a birth ball! You can never go wrong with grabbing a birth ball as a tool because you will very likely get your money’s worth out of it! Not just this specific ball from Momcozy I discuss here, but truly any birth ball will do the trick.
Why do you need a belly band??
First, let’s start with discussing a belly band!
A belly band can help stabilize the pelvis and support the abdomen and pelvic floor (which work hard during pregnancy as the baby grows).
Now, I love recommending a good belly band someone can wear comfortably throughout the day to help minimize the discomfort they’re experiencing by the end of the day. Surprisingly, many women are hesitant to grab one! They feel they “don’t need it” or that they may be perceived as weak for using one. When in actuality, a good belly band can provide enough support to keep you comfortable, so you can actually exercise and stay active during your pregnancy. Keeping active and getting regular exercise during pregnancy can help alleviate common aches and discomforts and help keep you comfortable!
How do you choose the right one?
When discussing a belly band with my patients, because there are so many on the market, I look for some key features to ensure they find the perfect one for them that I trust will actually work for them.
The things I look for are:
- Is it too tight and uncomfortable, and does it lead to pelvic floor symptoms? Usually looking for one that lifts the belly up and off the pelvic floor to provide relief
- Does it provide stabilization of the pelvic joints and lower back
- What is the breathability of the fabric, especially for warmer climates
- How easy is it to put on and take off, and will it grow with you as your baby grows
- Is it only available online or in person? Through insurance?
If a belly band hits all or most of these points, then it will likely be a great belly band for someone!
Momcozy Belly Band Review
Momcozy sent me their Ergonest Belly Band to review based on what I am looking to recommend to my patients
Is it too tight and uncomfortable, and does it lead to pelvic floor symptoms?
- Sizing of the bellyband depends on your under bust and lower abdominal circumference. Having you measure yourself before picking your size helps it fit properly, neither too tight nor too loose! They recommend sizing up if you are between sizes for optimal comfort as the belly grows.
I personally opted for the smaller of the two sizes I was in. This felt appropriate for my situation, trying it out with my postpartum belly while wearing a fake pregnancy belly. I was able to easily adjust the belly band’s tightness, which helped me avoid it being too tight. The band at the bottom helps go underneath the belly, lift it off the pelvic floor, and provide additional support for the lower back! This helps to prevent downward pressure while providing abdominal support.
Does it provide stabilization of the pelvic joints and lower back?
- Claims to provide support for the lower back with their patented O-Shaped comfort support structure to help alleviate back pain, hip pain, pelvic pressure/pain, and sciatic pain. I could still feel this support in my own body, even with a smaller belly! It provided gentle support that I could easily adjust. Having the band go above AND below the belly rather than just below adds extra support and comfort for the lower back and enhances the band’s lifting ability.
What is the breathability of the fabric?
- Fabric is very breathable, with reviews on both their website and Amazon agreeing that the fabric is lightweight, soft, and breathable – especially for those of us in the south! When I tried it on and wore it throughout the HOT days in August, I agreed that the fabric is very high-quality and breathable. While I still noticed I was wearing it (it’s not magic), it was much more breathable than other belly bands I’ve used. I didn’t feel sweaty or gross underneath it because the fabric’s design allowed some airflow, keeping my skin irritation-free and reducing heat buildup. It can be discreetly worn under your clothes, adding versatility for both casual and fancier settings!
I could possibly see issues with different torso sizes and lengths, where there may not be enough support or the fit may be odd. Some reviews also agreed with this thought. I did not experience this issue though, and I do feel my torso is longer than average.
How easy is it to put on and take off? Will it easily grow with baby?
- In my experience, it was incredibly easy to put on and take off. Some of the belly bands out there can be very complex to get them on the right way. This one has one piece that attaches above the belly, and the second piece attaches at the bottom to lift the belly upward, with Velcro at both spots for attachment purposes. I was also able to easily adjust it throughout the day. Having the option to wear it under clothes could pose an issue for some, depending on how easily you can adjust it. I mostly wear tops and bottoms, so I did not encounter this issue. If you wear dresses or one-pieces like jumpsuits or rompers, this could be harder to adjust, and it may be easier to wear on top of your clothing or to find a different band designed to be worn over clothing.
Because of the wide range of sizing in the band, I feel this could easily adjust and grow with someone throughout their pregnancy, without most of us needing to size up!
Is it only available online or in person? Through insurance?
- Momcozy is mostly sold online, but shipping through Amazon makes it easily accessible! I could not find whether it was covered by insurance through a DME provider, but HSA/FSA funds could likely be used to purchase this! It is $60, so on the higher end of cost for a belly band.
Bonus Gift with Belly Band
One small thing many others also reported, based on the reviews I read, is that it comes with a laundry bag to make washing it easier, which I thought was a nice little touch. You won’t have to search through the laundry for the band, and it protects the band so it can be worn over the long term!
Do I recommend it?
I will be adding the Momcozy ErgoNest Belly band to my list of recommendations for my patients because it really stacks up well against my other items, and I liked how it provided support for me during my trial! Grab your own belly band here
Birth Ball: Why do I need one???
A birth ball is versatile during pregnancy because it can be used for SO much at every stage. It can be used at ANY point in pregnancy, but it is often not purchased until the 2nd trimester. For me, I used it in my first trimester for sitting comfort, as my belly grew faster with each baby.
Pregnancy for comfort in movement with exercise or when sitting at a desk. I loved sitting on one for all my computer work during each of my pregnancies, because it was so much more comfortable than sitting on a chair. For my first pregnancy, we had a whole chair that the ball went into, which made it more comfortable because I also needed to use my abdominals to support the ball from moving, but it also provided stability. It can also be used for exercise during pregnancy to prepare our bodies for birth, as an added benefit! So versatile!
During labor is likely the use most people think of when they think of a birth ball. It is an amazing tool for various laboring positions in many ways. We go over many different labor positions in the video below.
Postpartum use of a birth ball is often the phase of life that is often overlooked. But I found it so helpful for soothing my babies (and toddlers) when they need to be bounced and rocked to sleep. Because it was in a supportive position for the pelvic floor and body, it made it a more sustainable option for me. It is, of course, useful for postpartum return to fitness exercises as well.
How do you pick the right size birth ball??
When it comes to the sizing of a birth ball, there are STRONG opinions on where your knees should be in relation to your hips. While we suggest that, for most of us, having your hips above your knees and thinking of your feet fully planted on the ground in a supportive way is more comfortable, it is truly whatever feels best FOR YOU!
If you are looking for a general guide based on your height for finding a birth ball that will most likely be the most comfortable, this is our general guidance:
- 55 cm: Best for individuals 5’3″ and under (fits ball size 48–55 cm range).
- 65 cm: Best for individuals 5’4″ to 5’9″ (fits ball size 58–65 cm range)***
- 75 cm: Best for individuals 5’10” and taller (fits ball size 68–75 cm range).
But we also want to take into account our torso or leg length, so we may need to size up or down depending on those ratios!
Momcozy's Birth Ball: My review
Now onto the Momcozy BirthEase Pregnancy Ball Set!
This is a two-for-one deal, as it also comes with an online platform featuring different videos to use with the ball!
This is truly what sets this ball apart: it comes with app access to stage-based video courses and exercise videos to support you from preconception to postpartum! This is a great pair with the childbirth education you may find in a birth-specific class, as well as with any birth-prep fitness programs. It is easy to download onto your phone and then the ball comes with a redemption code to gain access to the app! Watch the video below for how to access the app and some things it offers! It’s important to note that there are terms that specify that if you redeem the code for the birth ball your order is now nonrefundable.
Safety in Mind
This ball comes in one size, 65cm, which is ideal for people 5’4” to 5’9”, but again, thinking about your ratios of torso to leg, this may be an ideal size even for someone outside of that range, and also, you can inflate it with less air to accommodate a shorter height.
It is made with BPA-free PVC and has a really cool anti-burst technology that keeps safety at the forefront: if it is punctured, it will SLOWLY deflate instead of a big pop like a balloon or other birth balls. This helps those of us who are pregnant or postpartum decrease the risk of fall injuries! It also has an anti-slip surface and supports up to 330lbs.
It comes with a foot pump, which took me 646 pumps to fill the ball…Yes, I counted. It also comes with a base to place the ball into that also inflates (took me 56 pumps). I like this for when I am storing it, it is not rolling around my room, but also if I am sitting on it, I don’t need to utilize as much core strength to sit on it for long periods of time.
I am 5’6” and have found this is the perfect size for me, and I was able to sit on it very comfortably for a few hours while doing my computer work (to include writing this blog), and the beautiful pink color is so fun. I switched out my desk chair for this ball even now at 8 months postpartum!
This would be a great ball to add to your pregnancy tool kit. While you may not need to bring it to the hospital, since many hospitals have birth balls, it can also be used at home during labor, throughout pregnancy, and the postpartum period!
This birth ball’s price is definitely on the higher end, but it’s due to the features and app access, which make it more of a 2 for 1item.
The Verdict - We Like Them Both!
Both of these tools from Momcozy can help support you in having a pain-free and empowering pregnancy! Together, they can provide support for your body and help you control numerous pregnancy discomforts. If you want to grab one or both of these tools, check them out here: Birth Ball & Belly Band
This is a paid partnership and affiliate link with Momcozy. I was sent these products for free to review and use myself, but this is entirely my own experience with them.
Additional Birth Ball Resources
Check out these videos to see how you can use a birth ball to support your pregnancy:
Pelvic Floor Release Mobility Flow with Birth Ball | MamasteFit
Effective Birth Prep: Stability Ball Workouts for a Strong Pelvic Floor
Birth Prep Workout with Birth Ball
Countdown to a Christmas Baby! Day 4: Birth Ball Prep