Maternity Clothes...

I'm 15 weeks and although I still fit in some of my clothes, my pants are starting to get too tight around the belly area.  I have not wanted to start buying meternity clothes because I still don't have much of a belly (its there and definitely growing) and my butt is relatively the same size than it was before (maybe a liiitle bit bigger).
Should I start shoping for maternity clothes?  I'm affraid that if I buy something now that it wont fit me in 6 weeks.  If I buy something, what kind of pants do you recomend, the kind that cover your whole belly, the mid belly ones or the ones that are below the belly.
I just don't know which direction my belly is going to start growing, I don't know if I'll have a high belly or a low belly yet and if I buy anything that sits bellow the belly it'll fall off right now cause there really isn't much there yet.

Also, do ultra low pants like the ones at the Junior Department, do those work for a while or will the belly still get in the way later?  I also don't want to look stupid, I like relatively fashionable clothes and I don't want to look like a balloon.

Please help!  Which are mmore comfortable and last longer?  Any specicfic brands or styles?

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72%

 (13) 

Above belly pants

5%

 (1) 

Mid Belly pants

22%

 (4) 

Under belly pants

0%

 (0) 

Ultra low cut junior pants.

18 Members voted

[mamaofonetrying42]

I wouldn’t be worry about your pants not fitting in weeks to come, as when you shop for mat. pants you just about always get the size you are. So if you are Med your pants will be a Med. They have an stretchable band so it grows when you grow. You know? Now if you go and gain 50-80lbs then you might need a bigger size....hehe

[sweetangel7]

So, around 16w, I bought two bella bands from a site called ingrid and isabella...I wanted ones that had lace on the bottom so they looked like a cami but they sell cheaper ones that are plain at Target.  Those helped me stay in my regular pants longer.  I did buy some maternity pants around that point though because everyone said one day you'll wake up and need them.  I bought three of the ones that were the mid belly pants but just had a thick band in that area were fine until the last two weeks or so...Now, they are sooo tight, in the belly, that even though they are maternity, they are a complete loss to me right now.  I also had bought 2 pairs that were the whole belly and at first I felt funny wearing them, now I am sooo comfortable in them, they are literally the only thing I can wear.  I bought all my pants at motherhood maternity and as I got further along, like recently around 28w, I had to buy some more so I'd have enough for work and a little variety as well.  I wish I had just bought all of them with the full panel or secret belly as they call it at motherhood because now that my three pairs of pants that I bought without them are out of commission, its like almost $100 bucks sitting in my closet that I can't wear until after I deliver and need something to tide me over until I get my figure back or until my next pregnancy.  I'd go into a store to try them on though...when I went they were sooo nice and helpful and personal and I barely had a bump back then.  

Good luck!

[sweetangel7]

I could get away with wearing the bands until I was like 18w or further if I wanted, but everyone kept telling me to just wear maternity because I'd be more comfortable, and boy was it true!  It wasn't until like 25w where I started to get a real noticeable pregnancy belly...I remember being at my 24w appointment and feeling sheepish around all the ladies with their big bellies...mine was the right shape but just small...now its growing more and more each day!

[Mumita]

I went to Target and I couldn't find the bella bands and I went to babies r us and they had some for $20 and I just refused to pay 20 bucks for an elastic band with buttons, its just a rip off.
I'm thinking of just starting to buy maternity instead, I can deal with rubber bands for a couple of weeks I think,
Last week my pants fit, then Monday morning when I was getting ready for work my pants just wouldn't button anymore!  So I put on a hair band on the button to fix me up for a week.  If I keep going at this rate, I'll definitely be showing by 18 weeks!
I don't like this limbo stage, I don't know what to do.

[evthing4reason]

I like the pants that have the wide band that folds down so you can wear them full coverage, med and low. I bought my mat clothes in the size i was and what the saleswomen reccomended. I have only gained 15lbs and i my fundal height is measuring 2 weeks smaller, and my mat clothes don't fit anymore so don't buy to much cause you will need bigger later

[sweetangel7]

That stage is horrid!  I couldn't do the rubber band trick because I wear dress pants that have those little clasps on the inside of the band!  So, I had to do something and I was trying to avoid the maternity pants because I normally have two closet fulls of clothes for each season and I love variety!  So, I knew that I couldn't afford to have such a spread of clothing while pregnant, I tried to stretch it out so I wouldn't get bored with my maternity.  I remember wearing maternity to my 18w appointment and I had such a tiny bump that I was soo proud of!  I thought the bella bands would be good post partum too.  Check out the site ingrid and isabella...you might be able to get away with one...and they are different than the things at babies r us that look like belt buckles or elastic with buttons.  But seriously, if you get maternity, I'd get the full belly panel if not, you'll be uncomfy later and have to buy more pants...and maternity pants aren't cheap!

[Brittny27]

I bought my maternity pants on ebay and got great deals.  if you don't mind them being worn already.  All the pants I got looked bran new since there really not worn much.  I got old navy and gap pants and loved them. The gap pants had the roll over waist so you could wear them as under belly early and then over belly once the belly showed.

at 6-7 weeks I wasn't able to button my regular pants because of bloating so i went to the underbelly waist pants so I was more comfortable. and still didn't look like i was in maternity clothing

[sweetangel7]

You can fold the secret belly pants down too...so they can be full belly, half or low...I really like them if you can't tell!  I've stayed medium true to size...other than the band on the other ones being too tight, when I went back to buy more, I still bought mediums but with the full/secret belly panel.  I'm almost 30w...and I've gained an amount that I am shocked by but no one believes it...25lbs...it came on fast and furious after 24w...all belly!  I'm measuring right on too.  Just to be a glutton for punishment, I put on a pair of my regular pre pregnancy jeans and got them on so thighs, hips, but are still good but there was no hope of zipping or anything...too much for a bella band lol  I'm trying to eat healthy and exercise, so I am not trying to focus on my weight because I figure my body will do what it needs to do...and so will yours!  Like they say, we are all different!

[hkenny]

I tried the belly band to start and hated it, my pants always felt like they were going to fall off.
I have a pair of secret fit belly from motherhood which are over belly and they are by far the best ever. I do wear a cami under the band though beside it slides otherwise. I have a pair of old navy over belly and hate them,the band is waaaaaay to tight. I had a pair of paige premuim under belly and hated them becuase it dug in ( i got my seam stress to change them, i put my belly band onto them) and i have a pair of under belly from thyme materinity and they are very uncomfortable. So my advice is go with the secret fit from motherhood, they are the cheapest off all of mine ( paige were $200!) and I wear them everyday.

[hkenny]

ps. buy your regular size. I would be large before getting pregnant, and at 18 weeks I was mad b/c they loosen a bit and I thought great I should have bought meduim but now that I am getting bigger they are very comfortable. I dont like have things tight on my bellly and now that I am forsure showing I am glad I bought the large.i just put them in the dryer when I was smaller to tighten them a bit.

[babydreams9]

I wholeheartedly recommend the "secret panel" full belly cover jeans/pants from Motherhood. I hated the underbelly kind - way too uncomfortable and were always falling down... and the mid belly pants you can see the line if you wear closer fitting shirts. You'll be able to wear the full cover all the way to the end!! And even post-pardum for a couple weeks.

[LauraB78]

Hi LADY!!

Well, here's my advice,  I LOVE Motherhood maternity.. They have the "secret fit "belly jeans that come up over your belly. They are a little awkward at your stage, but will fit you until you deliver! I spent A LOT of money at target and such and I personally HATED their maternity clothes. Motherhood is expensive, but TRUST ME, you would rather pay $40. for jeans you can wear the whole time, than get a few less expensive pairs that you cant wear b.c they are uncomfortable. I also bought a belly band there, it was $16., I think and it goes over your belly., then you put your pants on, and it kinda keeps "your drawers up" while in the in between stage. I also am still wearing it b.c my it has been 3 weeks (today!) ago that I delivered Jax and my belly still feels like jelly and is gross and the belly band kinda keeps it together, you know? =)

I also heard that JC Penney ( I think) carries a brand called duo and they may offer something a bit more fashionable? I personally bought lots of ****, and the only things I ended up wearing repeatedly were the clothes I purchased at Motherhood! I wish we were closer in size, I could just mail you some stuff... But you are TINY! I am a cow! Anyway, PM me if you want anymore tips. I also bought a lot of maternity Motherhood gear on ebay.Well, not a LOT, but I think 2 shirts, a dress, and 2 pairs of jeans! Good luck!!

XO

[Mumita]

Thanks everyone! I have been looking at Motherhood store most of all because right now they have a good sale but I just didn't know what size to go with, so I guess I'll go with my regular size?
I'm not so concerned about shirts, it seems like you can get maternity shirts everywhere and they all pretty much fit.  I always have issues buying pants pregnant or not because I have VERY narrow hips and a nice size butt and I have long legs and my waist used to be small.   So I could never buy jeans at GAP or Old Navy because if they weren't ultra low cut then they wouldn't fit and the crotch part is always too long and the inseam too short. Or the butt too tight and the waist too big....
I haven't tried on any maternity pants yet and I was thinking of getting them online but I guess I'll go to the store instead and try them on.  
Thanks again, I think I have a better Idea now, hopefully my belly will be a liiiitle bit bigger by the time I buy the pants so I have a better idea where it all is going to go.

[kele1129]

I loved the bella bands and for a while Old Navy maternity...Motherhood jeans and I do not get along...I found the cut of most of them quite uncomfortable. Now at almost 37 weeks along, I live in yoga pants...so so so comfy!

[Whitneylauren]

So I am one of the those women whose hips get really wide the minute I get pregnant- I was in maternity clothes by 8 weeks. Those bella bands never ever worked for me..... plus I didn't want to stretch out my nice expensive pants either.

If you are planning on having more babies, and want a really nice pair of jeans I would give in and buy Seven Maternity Jeans. I have worn mine through my whole pregnancy and the still fit and look just like regular jeans. I LOVE THEM! You can find them on sale for like $100 and A Pea in the Pod or get them on Ebay for a good price. Then you can save them for you other pregnancies.

I purchased most of my shirts at the Gap Maternity and Target. I have stayed in a small (maternity) my whole pregnancy, but every woman is different.

[hkenny]

mumita- motherhood has petite sizes and long sizes so i bet you will be able to find some jeans/pants there. Be careful of old navy maternity shirts, i was told to buy my regualr sizes (large) and all my old navy tops are still to big!! again I like motherhoods tops.

[justice6920]

I am kinda with you on spending the $20.00 on the bands (just didnt feel it was worth it).... What worked for me, since i was the same size except for a little tummy... I would Tie a rubber band or hair tie around the button hole and loop it around the button and it would STRETCH and give me more room.... I just made sure i wore a shirt that covered the button or zipper part of my pants....and I got a month or two extra out my pants without having to buy any bands or mat clothes too early on..... Bc i have noticed that you can buy one size and it will last for a bit but your butt and hips do spread and change so you do end up going up a size probably near the end..... I started out at a large and am 35 weeks now and am in a XL......

[Mumita]

justice- I do the rubberband and hair tie trick with most of my jeans.  I use paper clamps on my work pants since I cant use the rubber band.  They have a tab that goes accross the button so I keep the tab unbuttoned and use a clamp or paper clip to hold it together but with more space.

I think I have a couple of weeks until I desperately need maternity clothes.

Whitneylauren- as much as I'd LOVE a pair of Seven maternity jeans, I can't afford to buy them unless they sell them at TJ Max.  I have a pair of seven jeans from TJ Max that are awesome and fit great right now I'm using a rubber band on the button to stretch out the belly a little.

I'll see if I can go out this weekend and try out some clothes on from some brands to see what fits and what doesn't.

[justice6920]

Another good or cheap place (LOVE TJ MAX) is Ross - I am not sure where your located or if they have a Ross in your state but they have TONS of name brand Maternity clothes at more than HALF the price! Maybe Try Burlington too!