Maternity Pants - I'm doing it wrong

By Mrs. Lion Sep 17, 2014

I don't remember this problem from my last pregnancy, but I am having the worst time with pants! I bought a pair of no panel target pants, with a stretchy elastic band. Well, from the first wash the elastic inside folds in half, and even when I can get it to straighten out, as soon as I sit down it folds again. Fail! It drives me nuts!

I also have a pair of old navy linen pants which have a panel, but the panel is huge! I can wear them for about 15 minutes before the panel is so stretched that I have to fold it down, which doesn't stay and looks ridiculous.

Help! Am I wearing these wrong? Did I just pick crappy options? What do you recommend? Tunic shirts look awful on me, as do skinny jeans (I know, I am so not trendy).

You might also enjoy...

Tags: (no tags yet)

21 comments

cmomma17
honeydew / 7811 posts

Sep 17, 2014

All my maternity pants suck unfortunately
snowjewelz
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts

Sep 17, 2014

For the records I HATE demi panel! I get that fold over thing too! I only own one pair of shorts w/ the demi panel and that was b/c I was still small when I bought it. Now I only live in full panels!

Are those linen pants new? I have hand me down leggings w/ full panels and the panels hold up well...
Mrs. Lion
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts

Sep 17, 2014

@snowjewelz: yes they were new. I am only 16 weeks...do full panel work this early?
snowjewelz
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts

Sep 17, 2014

@Mrs. Lion: Hmm maybe that's why? I never tried full panel when I was smaller... But I can imagine it slacking b/c it's supposed to stretch out and hold a bigger bump? If weather permits I'd def keep it for later tho! You'll def fill into it!
meredithNYC
pomegranate / 3314 posts

Sep 17, 2014

I think with my first pregnancy I did demi-panel for first/second trimester (I didn't really show until late since I'm so tall) and full panel for third. I'm now 9 weeks pregnant and starting out with demi panels, which don't annoy me too much.

I haven't actually ordered any yet, but you might try the Gap website since they have a couple of options including the side elastic insert, which you might like?
MrsScallop
persimmon / 1328 posts

Sep 17, 2014

@Mrs. Lion: I had the same problem with my full panel pants earlier in my pregnancy. They seemed to fit at first, but before long I was yanking them back up. For me, the underbelly pants or a belly band worked so much better until I had a full on bump. Even now at almost 27 weeks, some of my pants still get droopy by the end of the day.
BandDmommy
pomelo / 5660 posts

Sep 17, 2014

Demi panel until 3rd trimester
KT326
pomegranate / 3438 posts

Sep 17, 2014

The only way maternity pants stayed up for me before my 3rd trimester was to wear a belly band with them. I really hated that in between stage! I felt like I was constantly pulling my pants up before I discovered adding the belly band.
Cole
grapefruit / 4649 posts

Sep 17, 2014

I concur that they are just awful. I wore a lot of non maternity leggings and yoga pants in one size up for the first half of pregnancy, maybe even longer. Being pregnant over the summer has the advantage of lots of dresses. Now that I only have a few weeks left maternity pants are fitting nicely but it's crazy that to get through my pregnancy I have needed things in a wide variety of sizes!

Sorry this wasn't much help besides the suggestion of buying stretchy stuff one size up. NY & co usually has ponte knit pants with elastic waists that are more like a trouser cut, maybe try there?
Anagram
eggplant / 11716 posts

Sep 17, 2014

@Mrs. Lion: secret belly fit maternity pants! I can wear them now not-pregnant. Since the panel is totally spandex, they fit pretty much any size tummy. I wore them right up until the day I delivered, and they were my post partum pants, too.
Mrs. Lion
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts

Sep 17, 2014

@KT326: this is a good idea! Ill have to try it!

@Cole: aside form those two pairs of pants i basically live in non-maternity yoga pants

@Anagram: thanks! Where do you find them?
kentuckygirl
pear / 1786 posts

Sep 17, 2014

I love the Demi panelist pants from Gap. They never folded over! I didn't wear full panel until late in my pregnancy because they slipped down. Good luck!
Tanjowen
nectarine / 2521 posts

Sep 17, 2014

I was in the same boat as @KT326. The Bellyband was my lifesaver in that awkward in-between stage!
maddyz
persimmon / 1270 posts

Sep 17, 2014

I can not get a bellyband to work AT ALL. Bellyband goes up, pants go down. It's not a good look.. I am very active at work so this might have something to do with not getting the bellyband to work.

I have a pair of full panel pants from Motherhood Maternity I have been wearing for about 3 weeks (I am only 17 weeks now) and I just got a nice full panel pair of skinny jeans. Both stay up all day. I have some pants a friend gave me that are full panel and are too big for me, I might fit them at the vary end. Finding pants that actually fit was key

I haven't been able to wear any of my old jeans from the get go and I spent all summer in a pair of black loose gym shorts or a dress.
Happygal
pomelo / 5000 posts

Sep 17, 2014

I'm right there with you.

Everyone talks about how comfortable maternity pants are and I don't get it. My stomach is still not that big at 21 weeks, so the pants start to slip and pull my underwear down, too. The panel makes me feel a bit suffocated. Not a fan.

I'm Belly Band clueless. I thought they were to be used with regular pants, but you wear them with maternity pants instead?
blackbird
wonderful grape / 20453 posts

Sep 17, 2014

I always folded the panel and that made the fit better. Old navy fit like crap though. Hated it.
Anagram
eggplant / 11716 posts

Sep 17, 2014

@Mrs. Lion: http://www.motherhood.com/maternity/secret-fit-belly-all.asp
My Only Sunshine
persimmon / 1129 posts

Sep 18, 2014

@Mrs. Lion: Yes, the secret fit panel from Motherhood is so comfy! And they stay up really well. I had work pants, jeans, and leggings all with that panel and loved them. I think I was able to start wearing them pretty early too.
Mrs. Lion
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts

Sep 18, 2014

@Anagram: yay! I may be going there today
mrs. wagon
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts

Sep 18, 2014

Maternity pants are THE WORST. There is no winning. Demi and no panel were the worst because it would dig right into my bladder (as if I didn't have to pee every 30 mins already!!). My advice would be to find really lightweight pants with a full panel, and fold the panel down until your belly gets bigger. Pants that are heavy (like jeans) just drag down and the crotch is at your knees. My best pair were a very lightweight pair of black chinos. I wore them with everything. I think I got them at Motherhood Maternity.
Ms.Pumpkin
apricot / 435 posts

Sep 18, 2014

OMG! Everyone I know loves them so much, I felt so alone in my hatred of maternity pants!

They all fall down on me, regardless of how big I am- I'll be 37 weeks on Sat, and I'm still hitching up my drawers as I walk around like a little kid!

Then I tried leggings (I'm not normally a leggings person), and the pair I got from Old Navy were supposed to be full length, but if I pull them all the way up so that the crotch is where it's supposed to be, they're more like capris! I have long legs, but I didn't think they were that long!

I just gave up and wear lots of the jersey fold-down maxi skirts. If I were pregnant during winter, I'd probably search harder for decent leggings to wear underneath.