Is Maternity Shapewear Safe For A Growing Baby?

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A form fitting trend has some doctors and mothers wondering how safe it is for a developing baby.

As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported Monday, when the Duchess of Cambridge emerged 10 hours after delivery looking stunning in silk, mommies everywhere took notice.

"She looked too good to have just had a baby," said Jodie Cohen, employee at Great Shapes. "She looked amazing."

"I certainly never looked like that when I came home from the hospital, but good for her," said Amanda Alsheimer.

With a royal army of stylists, Kate's instant bounce-back was expected.

But for other expectant mothers, is the pressure on to look fabulous? Enter the latest must-have: maternity shapewear, Gusoff reported.

"I have definitely tried supportive pantyhose because you definitely need support," said

Power Mama Spanxs leads the market -- miracle undergarments that flatten bumps and bulges are now being made for the baby bump.

They purport to stretch with the growing belly and some pregnant moms confess they've skipped the expandable belly panel and just squeeze into tummy control.

"No, too hot. It's already uncomfortable," said

"I would think it's not safe, but what do I know," said

"We want to support the uterus without making things too tight in here," said Dr. Jill Maura Rabin.

Gusoff asked Dr. Rabin, of Northshore University Hospital, about slimming garments. She said if a doctor tells you your baby is growing properly, there's plenty of room in the womb.

But shapers can compress the gastrointestinal tract, causing acid reflux. And most shapewear made of lycra and spandex doesn't breathe well.

"You don't want to have something that's so tight and compressed that the skin can't sweat. You will have an elevated body temperature," said Rabin.

Nature, Rabin said, is the best body shaper. And one grandma agrees.

"It's natural. It's part of life. Don't be in pain, there will be a lot of pain in labor," she said.

Plastic surgeons say there is no evidence corseting the pregnant belly reduces stretch marks either. Not even an army of stylists can combat that.

CBS2 asked the folks at Spanxs to weigh in on the debate, but they did not respond to the request for comment.