The elastic waistband calls…
January 21, 2010 by Shannon
It’s time. I’ve tried to deny it, but my body is insisting. It’s time for maternity pants.
I’ve been using a rubber band on my jeans so I don’t have to button them all the way, and it sorta works, but it’s a little uncomfortable. So I hauled out my big tub of maternity clothes — which only contains two pairs of casual pants, unfortunately. I was working during my last pregnancy, so most of my maternity clothes are work wear. Anyway, I tried on my one pair of maternity jeans, just to see how they’d feel, and to my horror, they were great. They were comfortable and stretchy. Ugggggh.
The maternity jeans in question were a necessity buy when I was seven months pregnant with Kellan. SEVEN MONTHS. By some miracle, I wore my favorite non-maternity jeans all that time! When I couldn’t button those up any more, I knew it was time. So I bought a couple pairs of stretchy casual pants to see me through the final two months of my pregnancy.
Now. This brings me to the next issue. Can someone tell me how, exactly, I could wear a pair of non-maternity jeans for SEVEN MONTHS during my first pregnancy, only to find that I am forced to go the stretchy waistband route at THREE MONTHS during the second pregnancy??? I mean, I know the female body remembers what to do for the second pregnancy and the tummy pops early, but come on. Don’t maternity pants sound a little unreasonable at three months?
Okay, maybe I’m overreacting a little. My current jeans are a little more high-waisted than the miracle pair I wore while pregnant with Kellan. So it makes sense that those rode under the belly a little better than my current pants do. But still. Am I really doomed to stretchy pants for the next 6-7 months?
So what about those belly band things? Have any of you worn those during your pregnancies? Are they a good compromise, or do they just drive you crazy? I’d like to hear whether or not they might be a good option for me at this point. Because honestly? Wearing maternity pants now could cause me some serious psychological damage — it will be all I can do to not think about how big I’ll be come due date time. Help! I’d love to hear your opinion!
Comments (9)
I found the belly band a little obnoxious. It’s a good idea in theory but in practice they roll and I spent most of the day hitching it up. I say embrace the stretchy pants and don’t worry about how big you might get. The thing about second (and subsequent) Pregnancies is that your body has already been stretched out once so it just bounces right back into pregnant form. Like “Oh, I remember this.” It’s not necessarily an indicator that you’ll be huge in the end. Plus, you know, you carry every baby differently. Get comfortable, sister! July is a loooooooong way off
I never used one of those belly bands, but my sister hated it in the early months, because it kept rolling down. However, its been much more useful as her baby belly has grown bigger.
I was huge in the first pregnancy, but much smaller with number 2, but its different for everyone. Don’t worry so much about size - just enjoy it and take care of yourself.
I don’t know what it is about the second pregnancy, but I started wearng mat clothes RIGHT AWAY so don’t feel bad! In fact, I’m pretty that by 2 and a half months pregnant with my FIRST pregnancy, I was in mat jeans, too. BUt yeah, I grew much quicker the second time around. Don’t sweat it, though - just enjoy being pregnant! xo
Shannon - When I read this post it made me think of a recent post from one of my favorite crafty gals at her wonderful blog Grosgrain. She had a simple tutorial to turn any pants into maternity pants. She gets the pants from a consignment store, does a little cutting, a little sewing and then she has some super chic pants at a less than chic price. If I am ever pregnant (oh how my time clock is clicking) I envisions that I would love to give her pattern a try!
http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2009/09/maternity-pants-tutorial.html
-Sorry I can’t hyper link it…my web guy is at a conference this morning!
Oh your blog is smart and linked it anyway!
envision that is…sorry typo patrol!
You were such a beautiful pregnant lady during your first pregnancy so I have no doubt you’ll be just as lovely! Don’t worry about the pants. I do have several friends who swore about how fabulous those belly bands were.
Embrace the elastic waistband! It is your friend. No one knows why you need maternity clothes sooner the second time but everyone does. Maybe because everything’s looser and stretched out? Sorry.
Personally, I wasn’t a fan of the Bella Band. It was always riding up and just one more thing to hike up or down. Just go for the elastic waist. Seriously. No one even has to know if you pick your tops right.
bella band…good idea but not a great idea. i tried it with my first one and it kept on rolling down and didn’t keep my pants up. i ended up using it after my first for keeping my mommy muffin top in. Now with only being a few months along with my second I’m already in my maternity pants…i couldn’t believe it either but i’m embracing it.