Price :
QTY :
CART TOTALS :
There are items
in your cart
CART TOTALS :
With this products also buy:
Your shopping bag is empty
Go to the shopPregnancy Taping Guide | Bump, Back & Pelvic Support (Midwife-Approved Use)
Pregnancy & Postnatal
Pregnancy Tape: How to Tape a Bump for Support
How to tape a bump with kinesiology tape: a drug-free option for lower back ache, bump support, pelvic girdle pain, round ligament pain and postnatal recovery. Also sold as KT tape, K tape or kinesio tape. Always use with the knowledge of your midwife or women’s health physio.
Pregnancy comes with real physical demands, and limited pain-relief options. Kinesiology tape is one of very few tools a women’s health physio can offer that is non-pharmaceutical, drug-free and works alongside your body rather than against it. Used appropriately, it can ease lower back ache, support a heavy bump, reduce pelvic girdle pain and help with round ligament discomfort. It does not treat any condition of pregnancy; it makes daily life a little more comfortable. Please discuss any use with your midwife, GP or physio first: this page is for information, not medical advice.
3 rolls for £14.97, delivered free
Pre-cut 20 strips with a dispenser box. Beige shown — see all colours & designs. £4.95 delivery on 1 or 2 rolls.
How do you tape a pregnancy bump?
Two strips, as a sling under the bump, never across it. Check with your midwife or physio first, then stand in front of a mirror with the bump relaxed. Anchor one strip on the outside of the hip with no stretch, and run it under the bump, following its curve, towards the pubic bone at 15 to 25% stretch, so it lifts rather than squeezes. Repeat from the other hip so the two strips meet at the bottom of the bump in a V. The lift should feel like a hand supporting the bump. Never tape horizontally across the bump with stretch.
Is KT tape the same as kinesiology tape?
Yes, in ordinary use. Kinesiology tape is the product category. KT Tape is one American brand of it, and the name stuck as a generic term in the UK, alongside K tape, kinesio tape and sports tape. They all describe the same thing: elastic tape worn on the skin to support muscles and joints without restricting movement. The adhesive on ours is latex-free and hypoallergenic.
How to apply kinesiology tape to a bump, step by step
Position: Stand in front of a mirror with the bump relaxed, or have your partner apply it while you stand.
- Check with your midwife or physio first, then clean and dry the skin under and beside the bump. No oils or creams that day.
- Take one I-strip. Stick one end on the outside of the hip, no stretch.
- Run the strip under the bump, following its curve, towards the pubic bone at 15 to 25% stretch, so it acts as a sling. Lay the last 3cm down with no stretch.
- Repeat from the other hip so the two strips meet or overlap slightly at the bottom of the bump, making a V.
- Rub gently for 20 seconds. The lift should feel like a hand supporting the bump, not a squeeze.
- Never tape across the bump horizontally with stretch. If the skin itches or reddens, remove it slowly in the shower.
Strips2 per application
Stretch15 to 25%, never more
Wear3 to 4 days here, 5 to 7 elsewhere
Per roll10 applications
Every strip is a pre-cut 5cm × 25cm I-strip from the dispenser box, 20 to a roll. Need a Y-strip? Cut one in 10 seconds. Anchors always go on with no stretch, and the tape comes off best in the shower, rolled back slowly along the hair. Basics for any area: how to apply kinesiology tape.
How many rolls of tape do I need for bump support?
One roll. A bump application takes two pre-cut strips and a roll holds 20, so you get ten applications from a single roll. Most women tape from the third trimester onwards, so one or two rolls covers the stretch where the bump is heaviest. A roll is £4.99, or three rolls for £14.97 delivered free anywhere in the UK. The adhesive is latex-free and hypoallergenic.
Common pregnancy conditions and their taping approach
Second & third trimester
Lower Back Support During Pregnancy
Lower back ache affects an estimated 50 to 70% of pregnancies, typically from the second trimester onward. The growing bump shifts the centre of gravity forward, the lordotic curve deepens and the lumbar erectors work overtime. Tape gives them a break.
Tape pattern: Two vertical I-strips either side of the lumbar spine from L1 down to the sacrum, at 15 to 25% stretch. Apply with the patient seated and gently leaning forward. Use with midwife or physio approval.
Full Lower Back Pain Guide →
Third trimester
Abdominal Bump Support
From around 28 weeks the weight of the bump can feel pulling and heavy, especially by the end of the day or after standing. A “belly sling” tape pattern lifts and supports the lower abdomen without restricting baby’s space.
Tape pattern: Two long I-strips fan up from the pubic bone around the underside of the bump to anchor either side of the navel at 15 to 25% stretch, gentle and supportive, never tight. Avoid in the first trimester. Midwife or physio approval first.
PGP, common in pregnancy
Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP / SPD)
Sharp or grinding pain at the front of the pelvis (pubic symphysis), the sacroiliac joints at the back, or both. Affects up to 1 in 5 pregnancies. Worsens with stairs, getting in and out of cars, single-leg standing and rolling over in bed. Pregnancy hormones (relaxin) loosen the pelvic ligaments and create instability.
Tape pattern: Sacroiliac stabilisation strips horizontally across each SI joint at 50% stretch (middle only, zero at ends), plus a gentle compressive band around the pelvis. This pattern should be applied or shown by a women’s health physio, because the placement matters.
Round ligament pain
Round Ligament Pain
Sharp, brief pulling pain low in the abdomen, usually one-sided, triggered by sudden movement, coughing or rolling over. Most common in the second trimester as the round ligaments stretch to accommodate the growing uterus.
Tape pattern: A gentle decompression strip diagonally across the painful side of the lower abdomen at 25% stretch with the patient lying down and the muscle relaxed. Use with midwife approval and stop immediately if uncomfortable.
Postnatal recovery
Postnatal Diastasis Recti & Core Re-Connection
Around two thirds of women have a persistent gap in the abdominal midline at six weeks postnatal. Tape doesn’t close the gap, physio-led core rehab does, but it gives the abdominal wall a tactile cue to switch back on during daily lifting, carrying and feeding.
Tape pattern: Two vertical I-strips either side of the midline with the gap drawn together by hand, at 25% stretch. Wait until your six-week postnatal check and your midwife or GP has cleared you. See our abdominal taping page for detail.
Pubic symphysis pain
Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction
A specific subtype of pelvic girdle pain: sharp pain at the front of the pelvis on the pubic bone, worse on standing on one leg, climbing stairs or parting the legs in bed. Tape provides a gentle compressive cue across the pubic symphysis to reduce shearing.
Tape pattern: Horizontal I-strip across the pubic symphysis at 25% stretch, anchored on each ilium. Always with women’s health physio guidance; many NHS maternity units offer this.
Which colour tape for a bump
Beige is the usual choice, and the Talisman prints are popular for maternity photos. £4.99 a roll, 3 rolls £14.97 delivered free anywhere in the UK, same-day dispatch before 3pm. Mix colours and designs on the order counter.
From £4.99 per pack
Shop 10 Plain ColoursShop Talisman DesignsIs kinesiology tape safe in pregnancy?
For most women yes, used appropriately and with your midwife or physio knowing about it. The tape works mechanically and through skin proprioception, never pharmacologically: nothing absorbs into the bloodstream in any clinically relevant amount, which is why NHS maternity physios in the UK use it. Every pregnancy is individual though, so discuss it with your maternity team before you start. Most physios suggest waiting until after 12 weeks before taping the abdomen or lower back, and stopping if the skin reacts at all.
Will kinesiology tape help pelvic girdle pain?
Many women get real relief from it, and the placement is what makes the difference. Pelvic girdle pain is taped over the SI joint at the back or the pubic symphysis at the front, depending on where it hurts, and both are applications worth having shown to you by a women’s health physio the first time rather than guessing. NHS maternity physios use kinesiology tape for PGP routinely. It eases the pain while you are on your feet; it does not change the underlying pelvic instability, which settles after delivery.
How kinesiology tape helps in pregnancy
The mechanism is mechanical and neurological, never pharmacological, which is an important point in pregnancy. Tape works by gentle skin lift over the painful area, which is thought to ease pressure on local pain receptors and improve micro-circulation, and by proprioceptive cueing: the brain registers the gentle pull as a constant reminder of body position, helping postural muscles fire and reducing the sense of bump heaviness. Nothing absorbs through the skin in any clinically relevant amount. No drug exposure to the baby.
That said: pregnancy skin is more sensitive (hormone-driven changes plus increased blood flow), so always patch-test on the forearm first and remove immediately at any redness, itching or discomfort. And every application during pregnancy should have the knowledge of your maternity team.
Postnatal recovery & daily care
- Pelvic-floor exercises: ideally daily, ideally for life. The single highest-return habit for women’s long-term health. Squeeze and lift, 10 reps three times a day.
- Diaphragmatic breathing: 5 minutes daily. Resets the pelvic floor and deep core after months of compression.
- Diastasis monitoring: check the gap with two fingers above and below the navel at six weeks. Persistent gaps wider than two fingers warrant a postnatal physio.
- Gradual return to exercise: walking first, then bodyweight strength, then return to running typically not before 12 weeks postnatal (or longer after a caesarean).
- Avoid heavy lifting & planks early on: especially with a diastasis or recovering pelvic floor. Build slowly.
- See a women’s health physio: available on the NHS or privately. The single highest-value postnatal investment for most women.
- Be patient with your body: full recovery from birth takes 12 months, not 12 weeks. Tape can be a gentle daily reminder of self-care.
Speak to your midwife, GP or maternity team immediately if you experience: any vaginal bleeding, reduced fetal movements, severe one-sided abdominal pain, severe headaches with visual disturbance or swelling (signs of pre-eclampsia), regular tightenings before 37 weeks, fever, or fluid loss. Never use kinesiology tape as a reason to delay a medical concern in pregnancy. Tape is a comfort tool. The maternity team is the safety net.
How long does kinesiology tape last on a bump?
3 to 4 days on a bump, against 5 to 7 days elsewhere on the body, because the skin is stretching and moving as the bump grows. Apply it to clean dry skin with no oils or creams that day, and rub it gently for 20 seconds. It is water resistant, so showering is fine, and not waterproof, so long swims shorten it. If the skin itches or reddens, remove it slowly in the shower rather than leaving it on.
Frequently asked questions about pregnancy taping
When can I start using tape in pregnancy?
Most physios suggest waiting until after 12 weeks (end of first trimester) before applying tape to the abdomen or lower back. Earlier use should be guided by your midwife or doctor.
When should I stop using tape during pregnancy?
Stop and contact your midwife immediately if you notice any skin reaction, increased pain, reduced fetal movements, bleeding, or anything that concerns you. Tape is comfort, and never overrides a medical concern.
Can I use tape after a caesarean?
Only with your surgeon’s clearance, typically 4 to 6 weeks once the scar is fully closed. Tape goes above and below the scar, never directly on a healing incision. A women’s health physio can show the best pattern.
Can tape help with bump itch or stretch marks?
No. Tape is for muscle and joint support, not for skin conditions. For itching, see your midwife, because severe itch in late pregnancy occasionally signals obstetric cholestasis, which needs urgent assessment.
Browse all 19 taping guides
From neck pain to ankle sprains, step-by-step guides for every common condition.
All Pain Guides →Taping guides for every body area
- Neck
- Shoulder
- Upper back
- Lower back
- Upper arm
- Elbow
- Forearm
- Hand & wrist
- Abdominal & core
- Pregnancy
- Thigh
- Knee
- Shin & calf
- Ankle
- Foot
- Face
Sixteen body-area guides, one tape. All pain and injury guides · Which kinesiology tape to buy in the UK · Build your order
Tape for this area
Pre-cut 20 strips with a dispenser box. 3 rolls for £14.97, delivered free — 6 for £22.99 delivered. Free UK delivery on 3 rolls or more, £4.95 on 1 or 2.
See all 26 colours and designs →
Not sure which to buy? Read the UK buyer’s guide · Mix colours and designs on the counter
