belly bands/belts - are they any good??

[blondie14]

hi, i am 21 weeks pregnant with my second baby and struggling with maternity jeans. with my ds, my bump was very high so got away without buying maternity wear, but this time my bump is much lower so not got away with it. have bought a few pairs of maternity jeans but found the fit is rubbish and am having to constantly pull them up! (not a good look) have seen the belly bands and belly belts in a catalouge and wondered if they work? do they keep your pants from falling down and which is the best?? are they as comfy as they look? would love to carry one wearing "normal" jeans as also noticed that maternity trousers seem to lack in leg length!!! (do the makers think we shrink or like the half-mast look??!!
any advice would be really helpful and stop me wasting more money.

maternity jeans are notoriously rubbish - I think the heavy denim means they fall down more than other trous.

Next and Dorothy Perkins do mat trous in a variety of leg lengths (Next even do an Extra Long 33" leg)

I don't think the bump belt things stop trous descending, but they do hide whatever bodge (hairband round button, elastic belt etc) you need to keep them up.

oh and this type of trouser may look ghastly but IME they stay up better than any other sort - justr wear a long top.

oo interested to see responses to this [lurks]

if I may also ask a semi-hijacking question, if you rate belly bands, what make would you recommend?

wherever's cheapest - Topshop are normally good
Blooming Marv etc ofetn seem to charge a fortune for really basic stuff like this

I've got belly bands from topshop. They don't stop anything falling down and are more of a solution to the short top problem.

I also have the belly belt which is basically a posher version of elastic through button hole to extend normal trousers. I only use it in the early days and have never found it replaced the need for maternity trousers. The belly band is helpful to cover this.

Had a black one from jojomamanbebe, and it was great. Wore it from month 4 to month 9. Also had a button on it, so it was possible to nip it in a bit in the early months (not much). Was the most valuable item of clothing I had, for smart or casual.
Was a bit pricey at 15quid though. Would think someone better at sewing could make one themselves for next to nothing.

I have two bellybands but I bought them in a size M and even at 26 weeks I don't find they are particularly helpful as they are too loose to hold things in very well. (I am usually a 12-14 so I thought that would be the right size.)

I agree that the trousers with stretchy panels are far better than the other type. My other maternity trousers make me look far bigger than I really am, as they kind of hang down from the bump rather than hugging it.

Found folding my belly band in half helped to tighten it - and often looked better too.
Or, if not half, then a third, or something. iyswim.

Been wearing my belly band for a few weeks now and at 26 weeks am still in my low cut, wide leg Levi's. I have a belly belt too for when the inevitable expansion really kicks in. I bought 3 really long, wide cotton scarves from Primark that wrap twice round my bump and I tie them at the side or the front, they're funky colours and look great as well as offering loads of support. I HATE maternity clothes and refuse to wear anything tenty so am layering up and keeping from looking too mumsy!!

I'm 5'11" and struggled with leg length. Try www.funmum.com and Jojo Maman Bebe. H&M stuff is quite long too.
I found belly belts still made my flies hang open, which wasn't a great look, but okay if you wear long tops.
I also used hair elastics wrapped around the button and looped through the hole to give an extra inch or two.
The main problem with belly belts is that they didn't give extra space for my massive thighs!!

great idea with the scarves gilly!

I have two black bump bands from Topshop (£5 each) and wouldn't be without them. I really do find they help hold things up(trousers and even knickers under dresses). I have two because I lost one for a week (preg brain) and missed it so much I got another.

I also find that as the bump gets bigger, buttons on trousers are pushed out and look lumpy. The band helps give a smoother line under lycra tops.

Can you tell I love mine? [smile}