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I totally started wearing the underbelly panel maternity pants at around 8-9 weeks, and the full-panel not super long after that.

@runnerd: I bought a couple of pairs of jeans for the in between because I was bloated and uncomfortable in my pre-preg stuff but didn't have the belly for maternity. I ended up wearing them for a long time after I gave birth because I had another in between phase (was totally over wearing maternity clothes but didn't quite fit back into pre-preg yet). So you may get more use out of them than you think!

I'm wearing a lot of dresses and tights and boots right now.

It was summer for me so I wore a lot of maxi dresses and skirts but the funny thing is that I'm actually still wearing them now and I'm 31 weeks but I'm also in Florida so we haven't really had a winter yet I'm still able to wear my dresses and flip flops

I used the Bella band from about 7wks onward, but also bought a few stretchy skirts on sale that I thought would carry me through pregnancy and still be wearable afterward (American Apparel High Waist Interlock Skirt, I tried to give a link but it didn't work), and I'm still living in them with tights and boots in NY winter at 18wks, like @NorCalWayfarer said. I think they'll be good for a while yet, and definitely postpartum.

I went straight to maternity pants at like 10 weeks. I bought some dress pants from motherhood that have like a stretchy nylonish belly part, so I wore them right away, all through pregnancy and unfortunately now... 4 months pp.
But I'd also venture to say jeans a size up aren't a waste, as even though I'm actually 10lbs lighter than pre-pregnancy, I'm still a size up just from things shifting and spreading *shudder*.

I bought some underbelly maternity jeans at 10 weeks and they were worth it and they fit until I gave birth so definitely not a waste of money. Maternity pants are so much more comfortable than feeling like a stuffed sausage in your regular clothes! I say break out the maternity pants and be comfy!

Go straight to maternity pants!
I felt super bloated and uncomfortable in the first tri although all my clothes fit. I remember the day I put on maternity pants, thinking 'why didn't I do this sooner??'
Even gaining a significant amount of weight, they lasted me until the very end.

Chances are you will need the maternity pants for a few weeks after delivery. I ended up buying another pair of maternity pants at 9 months and was still wearing them several weeks postpartum. So don't worry about not getting your money's worth. Until I changed to maternity pants I was using the hair elastic trick to keep my pants "buttoned". I wore a lot of loose fitting shirts so no one could see the bloat. Scarves and chunky necklaces draw the eye up away from the midsection.

I started wearing maternity pants to work around nine weeks, but I would fold the full panel down.

@runnerd: Yea for getting bigger!

I would go ahead and invest in a few things. Either normal jeans a size up that also can be work PP or maternity stuff that you are going to have to invest in anyways (might as well get more use out of it).

i used the hairband-through-the-buttonhole-extender trick until maternity pants fit.

I tried going up a size in pants and the bella band but maternity jeans were the most comfortable. Just get the size you wear now and they'll last your whole pregnancy!

I had a few pairs of pants that stretched a bit more than others that I wore for a while, but I agree w PPs that the underbelly pants are good for those early days--and I'm assuming post baby. I still wear them bc at 25 weeks I'm just starting to feel like my full panel jeans aren't always slipping down.

That being said, I have liked Motherhood leggings--not super warm, but with a long sweater/tunic (I've been successful at Gap and Target) and boots I've been totally fine.

FWIW I've also liked the Pea in a Pod cords--which are full panel but seem to stay up better (I found they run a bit tighter than other brands, but they're super cute with boots or flats). They are expensive ($85) but they have a buy one get one sale at Destination Maternity--or did last weekend anyway.

Buy those demi panel maternity pants. No one will be able to tell they are maternity and they will feel SO GOOD. Seriously. It's the best thing I did for myself and I'm now 32 weeks and still wearing those pants. As for tops, I was doing looser tops as much as possible because I hated any kind of constriction on my belly with all of the bloat.

I would just invest in maternity clothes now. Might as well get more use out of them.

@runnerd I gained some weight before getting my bfp too with all the fertility treatments we were doing and taking it easy with exercising, etc. so i totally know how you feel!

i already bought a bella band and a few pairs of maternity leggings just so i can be more comfortable because the bloating is out of control (especially by the end of the day!)

Maternity leggings! I was so afraid to dive in, but it was seriously the BEST decision. You'll feel so much better!

@lovelyplum they are the MOST COMFORTABLE things ever.. wish i could wear them all the time lol