Maternity support garments for improved comfort during pregnancy
Creators: name: QUINTERO RODRIGUEZ, Carolina
Publisher: name: RMIT University
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 330315
subject: Textile and fashion design
classificationCode: 401413
subject: Textile technology
classificationCode: 401605
subject: Functional materials

description: Physiological discomfort is common during uncomplicated pregnancies and varies in type and intensity depending on the gestational age of the foetus. Some discomfort presents as physical symptoms that affect a mother's quality of life. Of all symptoms reported, the most common types of discomfort include lower back pain (LBP) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP), which generally arise during the second and third trimesters of the gestational period.

Healthcare providers recommend conservative, non-invasive and non-pharmacological treatments for pain and discomfort alleviation during pregnancy, such as the use of maternity support garments (MSGs). MSGs are therapeutic garments usually worn in contact with skin to alleviate pain and improve body support and comfort during pregnancy. The garments are thought to help support the increased weight of the abdomen, improve body posture and to reduce body laxity, without restricting the growth of the developing baby.

An extensive range of commercially available MSGs and patented designs exists, as does an abundance of unsupported evidence regarding their effectiveness, mechanisms of support and design features; however, scientific research in this area is scarce. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of MSGs used in conjunction with other treatments to improve comfort during pregnancy. Still, the effectiveness of the garments as sole interventions has not been clearly determined. Furthermore, there is little scientific investigation into the garments' current clinical applications, what pregnant women and clinical practitioners seek in a MSG, and the performance of MSGs in terms of pressure-induced to the underlying body parts, garment fit, garment support mechanisms and relevant attributes of the comprising materials of the garments that influence its therapeutic effectiveness.

Extending the current research on these areas is critical to understanding the main factors that influence the effectiveness of MSGs from functional and comfort perspectives, which could aid in the development of evidenced-based MSG designs that can increase women's comfort during pregnancy and compliance with treatment. Thus, the aim of the research was to determine the key considerations for the engineering of an evidence-based MSG designed to increase the comfort of women during an uncomplicated pregnancy.

In the present research, a review of existing literature regarding the effectiveness of MSGs as the sole intervention for the alleviation of pain and discomfort during pregnancy was done. This review was followed by an analysis of survey results from pregnant women and clinical practitioners to understand the clinical use of MSGs and the wearers' needs. Three commercially available garments commonly used by pregnant women were evaluated regarding their comprising materials on their physical and structural characteristics and thermo-physiological and sensorial comfort properties.  In addition, the interface pressure exerted by MSGs to the underlying body part was studied, and three-dimensional body scanning technology was used to analyse the fit of MSGs relevant to wear. The results from the literature review, survey studies and objective testing were used to determine the key design considerations relevant to the engineering a MSG, designed to fulfil the functional and comfort requirements of users.

The methodologies developed, and the guidelines established from the present research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge by furthering the understanding of MSGs and their comprising materials and providing a scientific basis for future developments of evidence-based MSGs and other therapeutic pressure garments.