Your medical doctor will give you specific direction on how to best use an abdominal belt in your individual circumstances. Generally speaking, however, most healthcare professionals will recommend that a patient start wearing an abdominal belt immediately after the c-section and for a few weeks postpartum. It will help provide external support to the abdominal muscles and the surgical incision. It can also be used after a normal delivery. You should wear it for 4-6 hours per day in the first few weeks and then increase that to 8-12 hours per day, depending on need. You should not wear the abdominal binder for more than 12 hours a day so as to not become too dependent on it.
Prolonged wearing of an abdominal binder may cause chest and back pain, rib bruising, rib fractures, overheating, shortness of breath, and skin damage. So be very careful and make sure to communicate with your doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Always ask your medical consultant about wearing an abdominal binder BEFORE starting the treatment.