Are bellabands, or similar ones, worth it?

[fruityb]

I'm 10 weeks pregnant and am really struggling with my trousers at the moment. I don't want to go buying maternity clothing just yet as I just think it's too early. I have a bit of a belly going on, but am assuming this is bloating and whatnot as again I'm only 10 weeks. My jeans are so uncomfortable, my jeggings are digging in around the middle and I don't have a great deal of long tops to wear with leggings. I've been looking at the bands, various types, and just wondered if anyone had used them and had any opinion?

[Shanster]

I had one in my first pregnancy and they are pretty useless really. They don't hold your trousers up and you'd need a really floaty top to cover them up. I'm 9 weeks now and think I might get some maternity jeans this weekend. The below the bump kind are best for this stage I think, and I'll be in them for a few months after the baby is born too. You end up needing 2 sizes of mat gear - the first for earlier stage and post partum, and the second for when you're really huge (I put on 2 stone with my first two).

[sepa]

I have them. Not sure they would be any good to leave your trousers undone to wear though. I have them as I find it comfortable to have the tightness on my belly and always get paranoid that my belly will stick out if I'm doing anything!

I suppose you could do the jeans up using a hair and (through the hole then around the button then use the belly band things? (Hair bands like in the picture)

[60sname]

I bought a three-pack of bump bands from New Look - grey, black and navy - and found them very useful to cover the gap in my trousers early on (folded in two, over an elastic band) and later to wear under tops that had become too short.

[purplemunkey]

I'd just go for some under the bump mat jeans. They are just like normal jeans/trousers but with a stretchy waistband. I was in them from 12 weeks as doing up proper trousers was already uncomfortable by then. You couldn't tell they were mat clothes. Like Shanster I wore them for months after baby was born too. I was back in my old normal jeans by the time DD was 7 months. I also agree you'll end up with a second lot of mat gear later down the line - under the bump stuff ended up half way down my arse once my bump was big!

[MummySparkle]

I loved my bump band! Pretty sure I bought two cheapie ones from eBay. They won't hold your trousers up, but they are fab at covering the gap when a tshirt stops and your trousers begin! It just looks like you have a longline vest layered under a tshirt. Loved em! Also great for my winter pregnancy as kept my middle warm

I can't really see the point in buying branded ones above ones from new look though. They are essentially the bottom bit of a tshirt cut off and hemmed at the top

[Picklesauage]

Just buy maternity jeans!
A) they are so comfy you will never want to go back to normal jeans!
B) they fit better than those silly bands!
C) you feel you get better value for money if you buy them now and wear them for longer.

[fruityb]

Thanks guys. I've ordered a couple of dresses and am going to see what I can work with leggings and such. I never thought I'd need to be thinking about clothes at 10 weeks! I shouldn't believe everything I read, that makes it sound like you don't look pregnant till 16!