I'm all for fajas and shapewear, but I'm not too sure how I feel about the new Power Mama Spanx. It's a specially designed faja JUST for pregnant women. This new control underwear supposedly works to comfortably slim your butt, thighs, and hips and contains a stretchy material in the front to support your growing belly too. Sales for this pregnancy shapewear have soared like crazy, but is it even safe for a pregnant woman to be squeezing herself into a faja?
Read more ¿Qué más?: How to pick the right faja for your body
Once upon time, women fully embraced their pregnancy curves, but these days moms-to-be are pressuring themselves into showing off a sleek silhouette even while they're expecting. And believe me, celebrities don't help. Remember how obsessed Kim Kardashian was with her weight while preggos? And it's because of this very mentality that the Power Mama Spanx even exists.
Well what about comfort? According to Spanx founder Sara Blakely, the Power Mama Spanx is designed to keep pregnant women comfy. "The fact they make your bottom and thighs look less jiggly and more toned is a side benefit," she claims. That's a little hard to believe considering how incredibly squeezed the headless model in the ad looks. How is this safe for the baby?
National Childbirth Trust policy adviser Elizabeth Duff says it's not. "It is important not to restrict blood flow anywhere in the body during pregnancy, as the growing baby needs the oxygen that is supplied through the increased blood volume in expectant women," she said to the U.K.'s Daily Mail. "Any woman considering wearing tighter clothes for support is advised to talk to her midwife before investing in this kid of shapewear." Gal Johnson, a midwife and education adviser at the Royal College of Midwives claims that difficulty removing shapewear could bring on even more problems.
"Anything that encourages pregnant women not to go to the toilet when they need is likely to cause problems and increase the risk of urinary tract infection," she says. Experts also find that it can cause overheating, weaken muscles, and even make it more likely for the mom to experience injuries after child birth.
There's nothing natural about wearing a faja while you're pregnant. Women should feel free and proud to embrace their pregnant curves rather than try to constrict and perfect them. I don't know about you, but I refuse to allow anyone to make me feel insecure about my body during those nine wonderful months!
Image via Spanx.com
