13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

All of the sudden my belly has popped out, no denying it now. My work pants are pretty tight and only going to get tighter. My issue is that I'm not due until Feb and ideally I really don't want to have to buy 2 sets of maternity clothes - summer and winter. Should I just bite the bullet, though, and take the plunge or is it worth investing in a bella band for now?



ETA: I should add that I have a tough time shopping for clothes in that I can't really shop at a Target or Old Navy b/c they don't sell my size. Since it's only my belly that's grown so far, I'm assuming maternity, at least at this point, would be the same thing so it would be a fairly substantial investment.

Message edited 8/14/2007 9:31:07 AM.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I personally wasn't a big fan of the bella band. I would try to get maternity pants (maybe just plain dress pants - black, brown, stone colored) for now ... those should take you pretty far into your pregnancy.

You can try the bella band too. I know Redhead had success with it for quite a number of weeks and she's as tiny as you!

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I am in the same situation that you are. I am 13W5D and my pants still fit but they were snug and it was uncomfortable. I started wearing maternity clothes this week and I am so comfortable.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

Hit the clearance rack at Target for work pants. I have picked up a few pairs for when I need them - basic black and pinstriped pants for work - under $5 each!!

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I think it all depends what you're comfortable with wearing...I didn't start showing until I was 6 months so it was silly for me to wear maternity pants which didn't fit me anyway. I wore the bella band until it started getting tight and then got a few pairs of pants...that I am still wearing today.

Message edited 8/14/2007 9:31:05 AM.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I got some basic work maternity pants that I hope willl at least get me through a couple of months - black, brown, etc. For jeans, I am going to wait until the fall.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

Hi Eileen,
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

I saw you posted on here your LIW screenname and I saw you were eogara, and I was all "wait a second, Eileen is PREGNANT?!?!?!?!!!?!?"

Welcome to the board and I hope you have a great pregnancy.

Next, about clothes.....

I would get some pants that are 1 size up for now. You're little, so I am sure your belly isn't big enough for maternity pants yet. You'd be pulling them up left and right!
And you'll also get use out of the bigger pants after the baby is born as well. For now, try to find maternity sales. I've gotten stuff at Kohl's, JCPenney, Mimi Maternity (for work) and my SIL and mom got me a ton of stuff from a great maternity store in Brooklyn.

Also, get a bunch of dresses. I just scored a Daisy Fuentes empire dress at Kohl's for $30! They're great because even though they aren't maternity, they fit great becasue that's the style now. I didn't even have to get a bigger size, and they can be worn next summer.

Good Luck!!!!!

Gina

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I did a ton of elastic waist bands. I'm still wearing some at week 38 with a HUGE belly.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I didn't have much luck with the bella band. I actually thought it was very uncompfortable. I was in the same situation as you. Old Navy is great for maternity clothes but you have to get xsmall. I bought a lot of clothes xs on the clearence rack. good luck

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I personally hated the bella band - totally wasted my money there. I wore it twice and both times I spent the entire day adjusting it. I have too much butt for it to stay put - as soon as I sat down it would roll up around my waist and the back of my pants would gape open.

I didn't want to have to invest in summer clothes and winter clothes either, as I am due in January, but for me it was worse being uncomfortable. I also wanted no part of the next size up because by next summer I hope to be back to my regular size. I had no difficulty with maternity clothes - the smalls fit me perfectly, but I don't usually have trouble finding clothes to fit, so you may be different.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I would invest in materity pants. They have the ones that have expandable waist bands and a little stretchy in the back. They will be usable as you grow. I used that type of pant as my work pants all through my pregnancy.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I've been using the bella band so far and I really like it. Try it out and if it doesn't work go for the maternity pants.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

OMG i didn't know that u were preggos

Congrats another 05 is pG.

I would say get Maternity pants cause u are going to need them later on.

Congrats again

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I did both the bella band and maternity. The bella band was ok for a couple of weeks and then I just gave in a got maternity clothes. They are soooo comfortable that I don't know why I waited. Everything is expandable so they will grow with you.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

It may seem early for the maternity pants, but I say just embrace it. I'm about 27 weeks and have been wearing them for the last 3 or 4 weeks. they are so comfy that I wish I had started wearing them sooner.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I'd get both--LOVE the Bella! The pants will probably be too large at this point and you can also use the Bella to keep them up.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

why not try both?

For me, i 'showed' at around 14 weeks - where I literally had a belly people could see, yet the rest of me was still small. The maternity pants were all big on me, and they would fall off. I used the belt - though I got mine from motherhood - and it was exactly what i needed. Since everything fit, I just couldn't button it.

I am not 24 weeks - and am only now fitting into maternity pants - with my pants not fitting so well at hips and all.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

i would go with the bellyband for now. your belly is going to grow alot more, your still very early. i learned the hard way, i went out very early in my pregnancy and bought all maternity pants, only to have to buy more maternity pants later on, when i outgrew the first batch.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I loved the bella band in the beginning - It helped me stay in my regular clothes until about 16 weeks - and I felt I looked much better than I did in maternity clothes at that point! I bought my first maternity jeans around 17 weeks but that was really it for a while. I really liked the bella band and continued to use it through my 6th mo to hold up maternity pants that would roll down. I say try it!

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

Hi! I'm not pregnant yet...so I don't know if this is a good idea or not...hehe

How about those super comfy elastic Gaucho Pants?? I wear them to work with heels and they are fancy enough for my job. Unless you are working in a more corporate atmosphere. I'm in marketing....

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

Posted by curliegirl

Hi Eileen,
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

I saw you posted on here your LIW screenname and I saw you were eogara, and I was all "wait a second, Eileen is PREGNANT?!?!?!?!!!?!?"

Welcome to the board and I hope you have a great pregnancy.

Message edited 8/14/2007 2:02:11 PM.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I never used the band, just maternity pants since they were just so damn comfy!

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

I bought my first pair of maternity pants at 10 weeks, and my second at 11 weeks. I never used the Bella Band. I agree with the other girls, try to hit the sales racks at Kohls, Old Navy etc. I'm not a small or extra small, but I did notice quite a bunch of maternity stuff in those sizes at Old Navy in the Big H shopping center in Huntington @ 3 weeks ago.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

When I was 17 weeks I bought the belly band and I love it. I'm almost 31 weeks and still use it for most my pre-pregnancy pant. I do however sometimes use maternity pants. I guess it depends on how comfortable you are. I hope this helps you make your decison.Take care.

Re: 13 weeks and tight pants... Bella Band or Maternity Pants?

congrats to u. didn't know u were pregnant