https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 01:35:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1142428 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 11:13:33 +0000 cascademom 1142428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got belly bands from Etsy. Maybe next time, I'll get the real deal. I liked using them way more than the hairband trick. I loved, loved my Old Navy maternity demi panel jeans throughout my pregnancy. I hated full panel stuff, so I avoided it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1142282 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:11:04 +0000 Mrs. J 1142282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have the BeBand from Target, and I've worn it most of my pregnancy (I am 36 weeks now). I loved them--I have it in white and black. I also prefer full panel maternity pants to demi panel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141928 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 08:09:55 +0000 MrsKoala 1141928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anandam: If you go with the demi panel, you won't have the problem of it falling down as much as you would with the full panel. I want to highly recommend Gap's maternity pants (I went with one size down in Gap) as I don't have that problem with them and other maternity pants were more of an issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141761 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 05:33:36 +0000 ElbieKay 1141761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had this problem, but I work in IT and can wear jeans to work most of the time (unless client visits are involved). I spent several weeks hiking up my maternity jeans because they kept sliding down my hips. It was annoying but it's slowly improving and I couldn't come up with a better solution.</p> <p>I was ok in my regular jeans, though I had to loosen my belt, until early in my second trimester. I guess everyone is different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141759 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 05:30:14 +0000 Ocean girl 1141759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anandam: I agree with the PP's - get yourself some maternity basics. They should fit you all the way through your pregnancy.</p> <p>Another thing I did was pair non-maternity stretchy-waist leggings with some of my longer, non maternity tunic tops. If this is work appropriate for you, then go ahead and be comfy in outfits that you don't have to rig up with bands or elastics. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141725 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 03:51:55 +0000 lamariniere 1141725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: Totally going to recommend stretchy skirts/dresses too! I bought a few cheap ones from H&amp;M and they lasted me my whole pregnancy. I bought just one pair of maternity jeans for the weekend. After I couldn't fit into work pants, I just did dresses and skirts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141613 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 22:06:46 +0000 MamaCate 1141613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>P.S. I don't know how casual your dress code is but I did a lot of stretchy skirts and dresses and they lasted through most of pregnancy... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141612 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 22:06:13 +0000 indi 1141612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used a band (from Target) for a couple of weeks over my hair-tied pants for a few weeks (folded over for extra hold). But oooooh was it heaven when I bought a few pairs of maternity pants. I'm with the PPs above that said to just dive in and get a nice pair of maternity pants or two. So comfortable! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141601 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:47:05 +0000 MamaCate 1141601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got a Bella band from target and it worked for a while first trimester last time. I am only 7 wks with my second now and much more poochy so I have used it earlier this time and it is still working. For me it is better folded over twice so it keeps things on place. It is so much easier to breathe at work now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141594 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:39:28 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1141594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first, I used the Bella band as long as I could and then I got maternity pants. O-M-G! What a difference and SO comfy! I immediately went to them when I started bloating with this pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141591 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:35:12 +0000 Sapphiresun 1141591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went straight to maternity pants at 12 weeks, and the same size fit me right the way through, so it wasn't really a waste of money at all. If anything, it made them a better investment because I actually got 6-7 months wear out of them, and I felt soooo much more comfortable.</p> <p>I got the secret fit dress pants from motherhood when they were on BOGO, and the top was kind of like a nylon material where it fit nicely early on, and just stretched more as I grew.</p> <p>I found with jeans they were a material on the tummy that was a little thicker, and didn't fit as tight early on, but I'm still getting my money's worth there because I'm still wearing them 2 months PP (boo). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141587 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:31:48 +0000 SweetMamaM 1141587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anandam: I always had a big booty and little waist so I haven't had any problem with them staying up. I did have a problem with maternity jeans - they are all skinnies this season and skinnies are not flattering on me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141586 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:30:29 +0000 immabeetoo 1141586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anandam: I never had any issue; I wore the same maternity pants from week 12 or so, through delivery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141578 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:24:48 +0000 anandam 1141578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetMamaM: @MrsKoala: @scg00387: </p> <p>I've heard/read that they can be too big at first? Like the belly will bunch, and then down the road when my hips/thighs grow, I'll need a different size, right? Or were you really able to manage throughout with maternity? </p> <p>I feel so clueless! Never really considered this part in advance! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141508 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 20:37:06 +0000 immabeetoo 1141508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anandam: I'd just get maternity pants, you'll need them eventually anyways! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141495 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 20:24:32 +0000 abbylyn 1141495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bought a belly band from motherhood, and one from target. Loved them both, and was able to wear my regular pants with those until I was in my 3rd trimester. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141470 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 20:01:40 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1141470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Loved the real bella band - used it post partum too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141356 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:05:00 +0000 Foodnerd81 1141356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never bothered with the Bella band but I did buckle a belt over my unbuttoned pants for a while. Then I went to the maternity pants and they were so much more comfortable. I was due in late July so I figured I wouldn't be wearing pants and jeans that much at the end of the pregnancy anyway, being so hot. </p> <p>I did get a great pair of jeans at pea in the pod, called "before and after". The panel was smaller and they fit great up until the start of the third trimester, and have been great post partum when mat pants are too big but real pants still pinch the pudge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141224 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:48:33 +0000 PurplePeony 1141224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: totally agree on getting the "real thing." I bought myself an I&amp;I band early in my pregnancy, and a friend later lent me some maternity clothes including a knockoff brand band. I liked the I&amp;I one a lot but hated the one my friend lent me, which didn't have the silicone strip. It also felt like the fabric wasn't as dense so it stretched out a lot faster, while mine stayed nice and snug. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141211 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:39:40 +0000 bisous 1141211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got a belly band at Target but didn't love it because it always rolled up or down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141115 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 16:21:50 +0000 Mrsbells 1141115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the original bella band by Ingrid &amp; Isabel. Mine had the silicone strip to help keep it in place </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141113 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 16:21:04 +0000 PurplePeony 1141113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wore a Bella band over hair-tied pants, it never felt secure enough without but the Bella band let me leave to tops of my pants further open and smoothed out the bumps. I also wore a lot of dresses with flowier waistlines (as opposed to structured sheath-type dresses) because they were most comfortable. Maternity pants didn't really work for me until I was about 15 weeks, and the full-panel ones REALLY didn't work until just a couple weeks ago (I'm almost 30 weeks now). Those first tri bloat-and-tiny-bump weeks are so tough, clothes-wise! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141077 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:57:13 +0000 mrsog 1141077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anandam: I still had a somewhat loose shirt over it but it was flat enough and definitely flatter than with the hairband. I asked DH if he noticed it and he said not at all </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141066 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:48:31 +0000 anandam 1141066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: @Springtime: @mrsog: </p> <p>Do they really hold your unzipped pants flat so it's less noticeable? With the hairband I've got lots of puckering and limited shirt options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141062 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:46:08 +0000 mrsog 1141062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got a belly band from target and its great. i think it was like $15 and its so much better than the rubber band trick I was doing before. I am 10 weeks now and not ready to start buying maternity clothes either </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141057 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:44:36 +0000 MrsKoala 1141057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Go straight to maternity pants. You will feel so much better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141052 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:42:06 +0000 Springtime 1141052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used a bella band around that time, I got mine at Target and loved it. But it was such a relief and much more comfortable when I started wearing maternity pants! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141047 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:40:22 +0000 SweetMamaM 1141047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd definitely recommend going straight to the maternity pants! I was already feeling so out of sorts, it was nice just to be comfortable :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141033 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:36:24 +0000 catomd00 1141033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used Bella bands for a few weeks. They're a decent alternative to hair bands or maternity pants. They're pretty expensive though. I happened to get mine when they were having a 50% off sale. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-trimester-advice#post-1141022 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:33:32 +0000 anandam 1141022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I'm 9wks now and haven't really been able to consistently button my pants for two weeks. They fit otherwise, but they just do not close with my bloat.</p> <p>I've been using a hairband and longer shirts to cover, but have only about three working outfits at this point, all pretty frumpy. What's the best next step? I've heard of Bella Bands? Do people have a favorite brand?</p> <p>Any advice welcome! Don't really wanna throw down loads of money since it's so early and things still fit except the waistband. </p>