Reddit mentions: The best shapewear for women

I had a major myomectomy about 7 months ago and it took me about a full month to feel like myself again. Of course, all our recoveries are different. I know I wrote a lot here, but just wanted to be as helpful as possible. Good luck!

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1. The first week you will have a very hard time getting around. Make sure you are recovering somewhere where you don't have to walk up and down stairs. If you do have to walk up and down stairs, make sure you have a friend or family member that can spot you for the first few days.
   
2. If you're able to have a friend or family member stay with you the first few nights, this would be really helpful, especially if there are any emergencies.
   
3. You're going to get super constipated. Make sure you're eating prunes or anything else to help in that department!
   
4. Because my constipation was really bad, I weaned myself off pain pills and took a high dose of CBD oil in its place (of course, if you feel comfortable doing this). Charlotte's Web has really high quality CBD oil.
   
5. High-waist panties are really helpful at keeping all your bandages in place. I really like these ones.
   
6. It's really important that the wounds don't get infected. I took Dr Christopher's INF formula and Wild Oregano oil every day after I weaned myself off the pain killers. Of course, you don't have to do this, but I was really paranoid about having to go back to the doctor so soon after my surgery. I do believe this helped deter infections.
   
7. The first few weeks I had a hard time getting in and out of bed. What helped me was to pack my sheets really well under the bed, and I'd use my upper body strength to pull on the sheets in order for me to sit upright. Or if you're able to make some kind of "pulley system" on your chairs/beds, this might be helpful too. You want to focus on not using your stomach muscles during recovery and focus on your upper body strength. Of course, having a solid core will help, but you'll be in a lot of pain if you're using your stomach muscles to get in and out of chairs/beds.
   
8. Move around once or a few times a day. Just "baby steps" around your house. I would just walk in an out of rooms for a few minutes. Don't overdo it! Sometimes you'll feel like your pain is gone and you'll walk a little faster and then pay for it later on. Take your time :)
   
9. If you have animals, I highly suggest getting something like this to help deter them from getting near your belly. It's also nice to have to catch up on work and emails.
   
10. I wasn't really able to wear jeans for a few weeks. If you're a leg shaver, you'll have a hard time shaving your legs for a few weeks. While I normally wouldn't care about something like this, I do have to see clients at my job, so I invested in maxi dresses. They have super cute and inexpensive stretchy ones on Amazon. I also invested in some biker shorts to wear under the dress, which helped my belly stay in place, in addition to my high waist undies. Make sure nothing is TOO tight!
    
11. I didn't have an appetite for several days after the surgery. Certain food smells made me ill, but you really need to take food with your medication. Get some saltines or Ritz crackers for emergencies.
    
12. Don't lift anything heavy. If you think it might be too heavy, it probably is. Ask someone for help.

You will never have the perfect garb at your first event, but you can have some pretty cool garb.

I recommend contacts, black out contacts if you can afford them. They can give you some big wow points

Practice makeup the weeks before. A lot of the characters personality will come from the face. YouTube tutorials. I liked this one: https://youtu.be/Xzm9nzAQe4U, but if it's an outdoor or combat larp it may not be appropriate.

Next I will recommend a corset. Corsets are easy to buy, comfortable, and sexy as hell no matter your shape. Here's an example of what I would look into getting: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ESYASXM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_k-xJxb81BDKWY

Last depends on the character's personality. You can either do a skirt or pants. I'd do a pair of pleather pants because that's the type of character I play. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U83KYIM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_uiyJxbMK49XWC

Something else you could look into is hair. I'd dye my hair black and spike it, but my hair is short. You could also look into getting a wig. Sometimes you can get the look you want without a wig which is what I'd recommend if you can. Long and straight is a classic, but high ponytail is dominatrixy.

Tit-bits here and there can really make a character shine. Pop into your local thrift store to check out belts, jewelry, and non costume props like a goblet or black leather boots.

Head jewelry is a must for any princess. Something like this maybe: https://www.etsy.com/listing/202284704/gold-headdress-gold-head-chain-boho

Add some sculpy horns. There are so many tutorials on this. If you're budget is a little more fluffy buy some horns like: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JH8T9A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_0uyJxb2CTFW3A I'd spray paint them to look like bone and reenforce the horns with clips and better elastic for active wear.

Fangs might be a good idea too. I normally use scarecrow brand for those. They're inexpensive and look good. It's a good bang for your buck

Really what it comes down to is the characters purpose and personality. I'd do a combat succubus because that's what I would enjoy playing (lust and wrath are easy for me). You could also do an extremely useful vain daemon and be painfully georgeous, you could never do combat and get away with a lot better costuming. I don't know what your budget is either. I normally drop $100 on any character I start, but you could be rich. I don't know.

It goes under your boobs. Tbh the cut of some brands are more flattering than others. I’ve found that Diane von Furstenberg, Maggy London and Calvin Klein are the best for me but I’ve also found random ones that are great. If you go to Nordstrom Rack they have a great selection and I usually just load up and try on a bunch and see what looks best. Also I wear these shaping rompers with everything:

shaping rompers

The rompers are super comfortable, lightweight, breathe well (even in the swamp town that DC is during the summer), have no panty lines and a hook and eye gusset so you can go to the bathroom easily. They aren’t like spanx, which I feel smush your body into a shapeless sausage and are extremely uncomfortable to wear.

I also wear this bra:

Freya deco

I recommend a plunge style bra for wraps and the Freya Deco is hands down the best bra I’ve owned. I’m a 36F and have a hard time finding bras but Freya has an extensive size range. If I wear a different style, say a balconette or t-shirt, I feel like the shape of my boobs is completely flattened and makes me look a bit frumpy.

I didn't have a c-section, but I studied to be a nurse and spent time in post-surgical rehab, know a few friends who have had a c-section, and my mom's best friend had something like 30-35 abdominal surgeries because her intestines are awful, so maybe some of these secondhand tips will help...

I let my friend borrow some foldover-waist lounge pants for her recovery. I think they were George brand sold at Walmart for $12. Wouldn't be surprised if the exact pants are no longer sold, but look for something in a super stretchy fabric that doesn't compress whatsoever. These hug very very gently. Favorite pants on earth!! I'm on the lookout for another pair, if I find some, I'll try and find your post and tell you where I saw more.

Have little stations set up in at least two places you expect to spend a lot of time. You could get something like one of the carts from IKEA or set up book shelves with lots of baskets lined up. Find somewhere to stock diapers, wipes, diaper cream, new onesies, at least 10 burp cloths, batteries (or chargers) for remotes to whatever TV or entertainment consoles you'll be using to keep yourself occupied, swaddle blankets, a throw blanket for you, a gallon ziploc bag full of granola bars, fruit snacks, single-serving bags of crackers, trail mix, whatever you want to keep your energy up. If you plan to breastfeed, plan to be ravenously hungry. The last thing you want is to have to get out of bed and walk down or up a flight of stairs to be able to feed yourself. My husband has a 100oz mug that he fills with ice water. The bonus to those is it's literally more water than I could drink in an entire day. If you're breastfeeding, you will need a fuckton of water and the 32oz mug the hospital sends you home with will likely need refilled 3-4 times a day. Plan ahead and get at least a 64oz mug if you know you're going to be down for hours at a time. Or if room temperature bottled water works better for you, cool. We actually had a mini-fridge that I was gonna move from the office to our bedroom or the nursery, but it ended up being kinda noisy, and I wouldn't want it right next to my bed. You could always get a cooler and reusable ice packs, and have your spouse swap those out every morning and fill it with bottled water, Gatorade, or whatever else, so you do have a way to keep drinks cool. I just know I got real sick of room temperature drinks real fast, and the mug the hospital sent home didn't work for keeping my drinks cold for extended periods of time.

Have extra parts on hand for your breast pump, if you're going to use one. Have formula if that's what you're going to use. Have 5+ bottles on hand if you're going to pump or formula feed. Plan for spit-up and projectile barf. Clean sheets, a stack of clean shirts and extra pants or dresses to change into, when it happens. It will happen.

Have any pain medications split into two bottles, maybe just ask for an extra one or dump an old prescription and rip off the label, so you can split your pain meds to each of your survival stations. Few things suck like knowing it's going to hurt like a bitch to get up, but it's gonna hurt worse if you don't, because you left your meds in another room, and you're stuck in a lose-lose situation.

Words from another friend about her c-section recovery... "It wasn't fun. Can't lay down, can't stand, can't really walk. I had to be lifted off the couch, help sitting down, help up the stairs, help into bed." It took a solid week with lots of drugs before she could move without someone helping her. "What hurt the most, for me, was the jiggling. This new flabby belly bouncing around was was killed the most. And our house has 3 floors, so going up and down those damn stairs was very painful. I would hold onto the railing and drag myself up." We talked about belly bands: "3 in 1 Postpartum Support - Recovery Belly/waist/pelvis Belt Shapewear (Nude) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T2WBJJ8/ref=cm_sw_r_fm_apa_9LWuyb9FP3Q3K This is the one I got. Lifesaver. I still wear it. It is great back support as well. Instant relief when I put it on. Only complaint is that it can be hard to wear and sit down without it riding up."

Will your husband be able to take off 7-10 days from work to be home with you? Do you have a sibling or parent or other close friend that can assist you if your husband can't take time off? Ask in advance for help. And not just "hold the baby so I can shower" help, but someone willing to do two loads of laundry because your baby has projectile vomited after multiple meals, and you need your clothes, their clothes, and your sheets cleaned.

I would also recommend keeping some hygiene items in your survival station. Deodorant, hair ties to pull your hair up, and maybe a travel size mouthwash. Lotion if you have dry skin. I avoid chapstick since I know it cakes layers of dead skin to my lips... you can use lanolin (nipple cream) as a lip balm, as well as coconut oil.

Have several options for entertainment. Adult coloring books and colored pencils, a bunch of apps on your phone to keep you entertained, maybe a Gameboy with a game you haven't played in 15 years, find a new YouTube channel with cool videos to queue up (may I recommend scishow?)

Do anything you can to have things within reach. If things need to be a few feet away, get a grabber. No shame. So many movements require your abdominal muscles, and you just don't comprehend how much your core muscles affect your entire body until you can't use them to even twist or pull something closer to you. You just avoid all movement possible for several days, and even going to the bathroom is exhausting and painful. Stool softeners were also a must with surgery recovery, a lot of pain meds will completely shut down your ability to poop.

Browse around and find some c-section recovery posts, I'm sure there are a bunch of super helpful tips and tricks that won't end up getting shared here!

And you will be ok. A common theme I saw was despair that the pain would never end. Especially with postpartum hormone crash, and exhaustion from no sleep, and having to be on a constant medication schedule so you don't feel like you're dying. Prepare yourself for possibly feeling doomed, and know that the pain goes away, and you learn your baby's cues, and you will sleep again, and everything will be fine. So many people focus so hard on preparing for the surgery and recovery that they forget that they also have to be a mom afterward, and that transition alone can be brutal. There are people who handle it just fine. I was not one of those people. I thought I would dive right in and just struggle with exhaustion, ya know? Told myself I could handle that. And I just didn't comprehend how things magnified each other... it wasn't just "sleep deprivation + breastfeeding pain + stitches and severely bruised tailbone + screaming baby" no, not for me. Change the plus signs to multiplication signs. The pain and exhaustion and crying was like torture for me. Have a plan for someone to call if it gets like that for you. A best friend, a neighbor, a parent, someone who can come be there to help you with short notice. They need to know that an SOS text means "I'm falling apart, I need you, are you able to come over?" I think that so often we read these birth stories on babybumps from moms 12-72 hours out from birth and they say their baby eats like a champ and it's so worth it, but then you don't see their posts on breastfeeding and beyondthebump when they feel like they're drowning, and we just get this false hope that if we can make it through birth, everything will be fine. Prepare for the worst, anything better is a tender mercy. It doesn't last forever, but it's really common and it can be really isolating. You will survive. Just know your limits and know who will be there for you if you need help.

The bandalettes that two people mentioned don't work well for me, but I have tried undersummers and slips and all kinds of things to prevent chub rub and I like these Vasarette Smooth Slip Shorts the best! And best of all, they're really cheap and so comfortable! They don't ride up and they are really light and thin so they don't feel tight or make you hot like Spanx do. Dresses definitely are the coolest option, but I also like the Ponte stretch pants from torrid, they don't make me too hot and they are pretty comfortable.

Of course!!

So one of the biggest things I've found is that the placement of pads can be just as important as the shape themselves. Jaymes Mansfield talks about this and filling the "boy pocket" (the natural indent between the pelvis and the top of the thigh muscle) a bit in her tutorial. I also spent a lot of time just looking in a full length mirror to understand the shape of my own hips and the shape I wanted to create, I'd highly recommend this.

Now for the general outline, I watched Sugar Love's video where she makes a simple pattern on saran wrap that can be cut out and traced onto foam. Drawing the shape on the saran wrap while it's on your body also helps with getting an idea of where to start and end the pads. I also made mine while corseted so I knew where I needed the pads to begin in relation to my new waist.

Then in terms of cutting dimension into them I referred to onlinekyne's tutorial, specifically the part about creating an axis on the foam, with the intersection point being where you want the highest part of your hip to be (it's best to draw this axis on your pattern while you're still wrapped in the saran wrap, again so that you know where it'll sit and what it'll look like on your body). Then trim around until there's a nice taper from the edges to the intersection point.

And I can't pretend that scoring an electric knife from thrift store didn't make a world of difference... you can of course trim with regular scissors, and I used them for some of the finer details, but the electric knife was seriously a blessing from Cher.

And although it's not necessary, having a corset really did help me in figuring out around where I wanted the pads to sit, and of course in bringing even more contrast to the hip-waist ratio.

Finally, it's really important to get a good smoothing compression garment over the foam to help make it all look seamless. I put the pads under a pair of pantyhose, then a body shaper over that, and then another pair of pantyhose.

Sorry for the essay lol but I figured too much info would be better than too little. And lmk if anything is still unclear!

on amazon they sell hip and butt padding that looks natural. it looks very natural if you are wearing jeans or dress pants imo! but in dresses it can be a little weird looking/accentuate lumps and bumps.

i dont know what country your from so i used US amazon: https://www.amazon.com/YIANNA-Womens-Control-Underwear-A1117-Black-M/dp/B0117SMRWW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1522016691&sr=8-5&keywords=hip+padded+underwear

i would get something with tummy control because it gives an hourglass figure.

outside of that, have you tried doing targeted exercises for your hips? i follow a lot of girls on instagram who have amazing curves and it seems to work for them: https://www.instagram.com/p/BgNboqKFVie/?taken-by=anfisa.nava
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW8hRIDeWd0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qqcwJ-_WY4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7yfkkDMLPE


for a disclaimer i'm a cis woman who has a triangle body shape (very narrow hips and broader shoulders - i am wider in the chest than the hips which is very unconventional) and i've found that simply doing exercises can really help. there was a buzzfeed youtube video where three people did 100 squats for 30 days, and even doing just that increased their hip diameters by 1-2"... and squats tend to be the least productive exercises for trying to build hip muscles! so i imagine a compound routine that involves rest days and mindful exercises would probably result in higher gains.

if you don't feel comfortable going to a gym or don't have access to a gym you can do a lot of the exercises at home with body weight or heavy books and such. that's what i do because i hate going to the gym.

if all of the exercise stuff gives you anxiety like it does for me, i would just start out by doing squats and lunges with my bodyweight in my bedroom and then move on to other stuff when i feel a lot more comfortable. my bf has exercised for much longer than me and his hips/butt are thicker and more "feminine" looking than mine. i can't recommend it enough though because you do see differences if you stick to it!

sorry for the tl;dr but i would ask a trans woman or google for trans women who have fitness routines and maybe blogs? i wound this but i don't know if it is any helpful. this is just a subject that reigns really close to me because exercise has changed my body a lot and really given me more confidence in my body.

First, I love the dress!

I don't have any experience with combining something like this, but I wonder if the longline bra and the high waisted shorts would interact in someway to reduce the effectiveness of one of the items. (In other words, I assume the shorts would be pulled up over the bra to ensure maximum support from the bra. The material of the bra might make them slip during the day -or- if the shorts have the rubber strip to help them stay up, they might pull on the bra.) Perhaps a slightly lower-cut support for the waist/legs would reduce some of that.

Have you actually talked to a seamstress? If so, have they made any recommendations? They'll probably know better than I do about material/structure interactions.

Side note: when using google, I found strapless shaper slip with built in bras, such as this, but I don't know if those have a tendency to ride up after a while. Just trying to be helpful in case you hadn't thought of it.

Good luck!

I'm a huge fan of turtle necks. I feel like throwing a basic black turtle neck under a dress is a great way to keep you warm and look great! I got this bodysuit turtle neck from Amazon and I wear it all the time. I suggest a bodysuit because its easier to manage as in it doesn't move throughout the day: https://www.amazon.com/PALINDA-Turtleneck-Bodysuit-Stretchy-Leotards%EF%BC%88Black%EF%BC%8CM/dp/B07BF54X4V/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=WW0ET3S14ES4&keywords=bodysuit+turtleneck&qid=1573086025&sprefix=bodysuit+turt%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExMElOSVVJU0k4RDkyJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTI4MDM2MjhaNVdSNk1LSVRDUyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjMxMzk4MUQ0V0FGNlpXQlFESSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

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For more high end winter looks I really love monochrome outfits. They look incredible without really having the try. Also one of the biggest tips that I got a few years ago that really upped my fashion game is accessories. Monochrome outfits (all black usually) with gold pieces (necklaces, bracelets, belts, anklets) and a hair accessory as a statement! Hope I helped !

Best shapewear purchase I ever made. Expensive, but worth it. Had no makeup on in these, so this is all you can see, but even without hip padding this thing does a lot to really cinch the waist and at least give something in the hip area.

I paid more for mine than on Amazon, but I was able to go dressed to my local friendly lingerie shop and get fitted by the owner, so it was worth it.

Much more direct in its function than a lacy corset, but less sexy and pretty. Easier to wear under everyday clothes, so for me it's a great option. And besides, respiration is overrated...

Oh my gosh, my "chubby hourglass" figure buddy - I'm with you on the witchy/gothic look. I wore this dress in navy to a wedding, and it looked amazing on me. Check out the photos of people wearing it - all sizes look amazing in it. I loved the black and dark red versions too!

I liked this one as well, and it comes in some great colors. I was originally thinking this one but I have a large chest and I thought the neckline on the first one I linked would be more flattering.

I thought about ordering this one and a pashmina or bolero to cover my arms, but didn't want to deal with carrying around a pashmina and prefer my arms to be covered.

Good luck finding a dress! (If you're looking for a smoothing thing for underneath, I ordered this one and liked it, and I normally hate those things!)

Slip shorts!! They're definitely how I get through the summer in dresses (which I'd much rather wear than shorts). I get pretty atrocious chafing without slip shorts and they also make me less afraid of flashing anyone. A lot of people seem to like the Jockey ones (I think they're called Skimmies?), but those didn't work for me. I have a couple pairs of these from Amazon, and they're great. I feel like they're light/breathable enough to be comfortable. I've also heard of people wearing bike shorts under dresses.

I got this from amazon in white. It does amazing things and is surprisingly cute and comfortable. Other than that nothing. It has a slit for you to pee through... so no undies. And I had cups sewn into my dress. I'm planning on bringing underwear and a bra so I can change into my after party romper at the end of the night.

i used this one about an hour a day from weeks 4-12: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T2WBJJ8/ref=asc_df_B00T2WBJJ85388490/

i liked it well enough. i had a REALLY strong core prior to baby, and it has returned pretty evenly. can't say if its genes, nutrition, or the girdle, but everything went back pretty nicely.

I'm about your size and have the same issue, even at my thinnest (5'6", 125ish) I still had a pooch and I'm not sure it would ever go away completely even if I lost more weight. (No babies, but I have been overweight and I have a small frame.) Also I never connected it, but my grandma is tiny and has a very pronounced pooch too!

I recently got a Squeem to hold it in and I feel a lot sexier now that I can have a (mostly) flat area from my belly button on down. It also makes my pants fit a lot better and feel more flattering because there's no more squeezing or muffin top. I've heard Spanx is good also, but I wanted the connector style one because I hate wrangling into super tight clothes haha.

I've been wearing basic cotton bike shorts under dresses for years, but they don't last very long and sometimes the waistbands cut in strangely or the thighs roll up. So I did a bit of research for undershorts that aren't shapewear, and found recommendations for Jockey Skimmies. They get good reviews, but they're kind of expensive (especially given I'm ordering from Australia) so I chose these Vassarette ones instead.


Of course I don't want to be intentionally flashing people my long undies, but it makes me so much less self conscious wearing dresses/skirts! I have a back injury and sometimes use a walking stick, so things like getting out of the car can be a bit of a production at times, the last thing I need is to be fussing to keep my skirt hem at the right angle, on top of everything else. :)



I also wear capri length leggings under maxi dresses when it's a bit colder. It's the perfect way to wear a pretty maxi in spring/autumn and keep a little warm without having to wear full length tights.

I just bought the Vassarette Women's Comfortably Smooth Slip Short Panty in black and light tan in 3X and they fit amazing! They don’t roll up my legs or down on my tummy and are still short enough to wear with above-the-knee dresses. I’d recommend them for sure. PLUS; they’re only $8.00-$8.50 a pair.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3SYCXY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hA3TCbXM6FFSF

Get something like this or if you prefer getting a woman's one get something like this.

I have a few that I bought before when I was pretending to be male cishet. I still wear them and it helps. 😊

edit: as a warning that top one, the model, makes me shudder. Not a fan. I just was struggling to find one on Amazon.

I had the exact same issue as you and after trying tape, realized I needed something more structured for support. I used a plunge bodysuit with transparent plastic straps. Then I used fashion tape to secure the neckline where I wanted it. I had semi-transparent fabric for shoulder straps, but my bra straps were not visible to my eye or in the pictures. I was also worried about cleavage, but in the photos it looks great. Lifting and separating the breasts decreases the amount of cleavage and makes it more appropriate.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spanx-Low-Back-Mid-Thigh-Champagne-Bodysuit/dp/B0757PDY42

I got one on Amazon here for the same reason, I didn't want to spend tons of money on something that may or may not work. It has 658 reviews and people seem to like it, so it may be worth looking into. It seems to be pretty solidly constructed, decent quality, and it's got a hip belt, waist belt, and something else or other that's supposed to help.

My thighs have always rubbed together - I have narrow hips. So I've tried a few things:

• Bandelettes get good reviews, but they don't stay up on certain leg shapes. Sizing is kinda weird. I was really disappointed that they didn't work for me, but I still recommend trying them if you haven't already.
  
• Generic stretchy shapewear like this works very well, but it's hell to wear in summer. So sweaty. They're also transparent (why?).
  
• Pettipants are less hot, but for me they're pointless since they are either loose enough to ride up and allow my thighs to chafe or short enough that the part of my thighs that touch isn't even covered.
  
• Creams, deodorants, overpriced chafing shit... never did anything for me.
  
  Tbh I solved most of my thigh problems by jumping on the wide leg pants train years ago. I don't bother with skirts/dresses unless it's cold enough to comfortably wear tights underneath them.
  
  
  

I’m not who you asked either but I HIGHLY recommend these. I own about 10 pairs now 😂

You're most welcome!

I've been happy with these from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3SLMGE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_QlX2CbMQJHE1W

The control wear style worked for me, these. It's a bit of a black are though. Don't think there's one method people can universally agree upon, although ultimately the best tuck is surgical!

Giiiiiirrrrl get you some slip shorts.

Available basically anywhere. Something like these (disclaimer, I don't own these exact ones - just as an example. I got mine in a target)

They are basically slightly thicker pantyhose that lay nice and flat against you without being bulky and resolve all chaffing issues.


GAME CHANGERS

I wore some high waisted PJ pants and a nursing tank to the hospital. And slip on sneakers. They had me change into a hospital gown prior to getting ready for the surgery. For the actual procedure they pushed the gown way up on to my side of the drape. I'm not sure if wearing my.own gown would have been an option, it definitely would have gotten pretty bloody while recovering afterwards. I was basically laying in bed with a giant pad under me for the first few hours as after the procedure until I was allowed to get up and walk around.

This is the support belt I bought: TiRain 3 in 1 Postpartum Support... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T2WBJJ8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I’m getting this one because I’d like to get my hips back together too ;)

3 in 1 Postpartum Support - Recovery Belly/waist/pelvis Belt Shapewear (Nude) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T2WBJJ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hHI-AbS8T35GC

I just bought this for post partum and I've actually been wearing it loosely at 28 weeks because it helps my hips and back so much. It seems worth the 20.00. I like that it's velcro so you can choose how tight it will be.
https://www.amazon.com/Postpartum-Support-Recovery-pelvis-Shapewear/dp/B00T2WBJJ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474476029&sr=8-1&keywords=post+partum+support

New York and Company is what I swore by for years!

Then I found these at Macy's and have been buying them since.

http://www.amazon.com/Flexees-Womens-Dressing-White-Medium/dp/B001UJHAEY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314372107&sr=8-1

They are slimming, are good if you like your cami a little on the longer side, don't ride up, and don't constrict your chest area!

Good on ya!

Also, buy some Skimmies for under your skirts & dresses. Your thighs will thank you.

Jockey Skimmies

I bought this one...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00T2WBJJ8/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It was recommended here on BabyBumps awhile back and I figured I'd give it a try! :)

I had a medical grade binder that the hospital gave me after my c-section, and after a few weeks in that, I got a [Squeem Waist Cincher] (http://www.amazon.com/Squeem-Perfect-Compression-Cincher-Shapewear/dp/B0020MMDZQ). Neither of them really did anything in the long term, but it's nice to not feel so...floppy after baby is born.

I have this one and wear it under fancy clothes, although it would be comfortable enough to wear on a day-to-day basis.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B010NBGOBY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

What does your dress look like? That would help us search!!

SPANX Women's Suit Your Fancy Plunge Low-Back Mid-Thigh Bodysuit Champagne Beige Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0757PDY42/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_boKsDbXQC0VBG

I’m going to have the same problem with my dress and I’m considering two pieces, one that is low back and a second for thighs!

Oh, I have a three-piece binder on my amazon wish list to buy later on this summer . . . this one

These are my absolute favorite: http://www.amazon.com/Jockey-Womens-Hosiery-Skimmies-Slipshort/dp/B00827RQPU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426563844&sr=8-1&keywords=slip+shorts

I have one pair of these and they do ride up just a little over time: http://www.amazon.com/Jockey-Hosiery-Skimmies-Wicking-Slipshort/dp/B00IB7LY2C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426563971&sr=8-3&keywords=slip+shorts

> Went out shopping for "foundation garments"

I always swore I would never, ever again wear a girdle, but last year I got one of those bodysuits like this. I have worn it exactly once, but I wouldn't mind wearing it again. It smooths out my hip bumps and holds in my tummy rolls without being awful, and it has a handy pee-port!

I wear shorts like these under my dresses.

These Jockey slip shorts are my all-time fave. Much more lightweight than bike shorts. They come in shorter lengths (and rises) too, but I find the short ones ride up on me.

Seconded. I have five pair in various colors and lengths kicking around my drawer. You can get them at amazon.

Get a shaper that has boning in it, if the straps aren't working. There was a shaper someone recommended here from the brand Rago that I tried on (bought on Amazon) and it really did stay up. I think it was this one and it was low enough in the back for my low back gown, but I am also pretty tall: https://www.amazon.com/Rago-Womens-Waist-Shaper-Medium/dp/B000BIRH5C/

Nordstrom also had one with boning from another brand that was a smoother fabric. Do not get Spanx. Somehow the Spanx all made me look worse once I put them on!