Ingrid & Isabel Bellaband - Seamless Maternity Belly Band for Women - Essential Pregnancy Postpartum Jeans & Pants Extender

I purchased several pants from Motherhood Maternity when I found out I was pregnant (ending the first trimester). Since it was my first pregnancy, I really wasn't sure if I should buy a small or a medium. Do I get fat everywhere? Is it only my belly that grows?I'm normally a medium in other brands, so I bought 2 medium petite and 2 small. I was able to fit comfortably (with ample room!) on the small when I was around 3-4 months pregnant. The medium was on the bigger side. All of them required additional support to stay up even with built-in panels, and that's when I decided to purchase the Bellaband. Initially, I had to fold the maternity panels in half then use this product over them because the panels were quite huge on my still-small belly. That didn't impede the functionality of the Bellaband though.The product definitely held up my maternity pants/jeggings, and even normal winter pants on. I followed the tag for washing it, and it still did its job without issues after.By the 5-6 month mark, the small pants were skin tight (like tight skinny jeans). Not uncomfortable, but I definitely got fat on my thighs and legs. Edema contributed a lot. The Bellaband allowed me to continue wearing the pants. Without it, I would have needed to readjust and lift the pants every 5 minutes. The medium pairs fit nicely, but they still would not have been held up by the built-in panel. The Bellaband was stretchier and thicker. In fact, I accidentally poked a hole on a pants panel when I was putting them on. Again, the Bellaband saved the day because it just covers up the ugly hole.In the end, I was also grateful that I only needed to wash this a few times throughout my pregnancy because the maternity pants panel were able to serve as a barrier between my lotioned-up skin and the product. Pairing this with the maternity pants was NOT a waste of money, in my opinion.Overall, I highly recommend this product. It can hold up all types of ill-fitting pants, hide flaws on the panels, and yet doesn't add to the mountain of laundry you have to do. You can reuse it again and again without soiling if paired with cheap maternity pants with built-in panels.My total cost for my maternity clothes were ~350 dollars. It includes 4 pairs of pants, 3 shorts, 1 dress, 1 top (I was able to use my regular t-shirts), 3 types of maternity belts (a smaller stretchy one for the 2nd trimester, a bigger one for the 3rd trimester and a vaginal support one for days with edema) and 12 pairs of compression socks, and, of course, the Bellaband.

When I was first pregnant with my eldest, they didn't have anything like this and I was in clunky and mostly ugly maternity clothes, because I'm way too cheap to buy the "expensive" stuff that will only get a years worth of use out of it! With my 2nd, 2 1/2 years later, I found the Bellaband and whew. I love it. I'm in the process of buying another one for my current pregnancy because as we creep into warmer weather here in Maine, baggy clothing can't hide the fact that my pants just don't fit like they should.Now, what size should you get?! Let me help.If you have a tiny shape with zero hips --Size 1 fits pre-preggo pants size 0 - 8Size 2 fits size 10 - 14Size 3 fits size 16 - 22Size 4 fits 24+If you have curvy hips but a smaller waist, plan on a sizing up a bit...Size 1 fitting 0 - 6,size 2 = 8 - 12,size 3 = 14 - 20,size 4 = 22+and if you're pregnant with multiples, go up even further;Size 1 = 0 - 2Size 2 = 4 - 8Size 3 = 10 - 16Size 4 = 18+For hands-on reference, I'm 5'3, 140lbs (non-pregnant) and fall right between size 8 & 10 depending on the pants (I have them childbearin' hips), so I bought a size 2. It works fantastically. Enough give and stretch to the material to make it comfortable but sturdy enough to keep my belly supported and keep my pants from falling down. (With my first pregnancy I gained 30lbs, with my 2nd I gained 23lbs, and so far I'm 25 weeks and change and have gained 18lbs -- the bellaband stretches with you!)

I bought this in late February 2016 when I was 7 weeks pregnant and already a little uncomfortable in my size 16 jeans; I started pregnancy around 200 pounds, so I kind of expected jean troubles early. I wanted to stretch my wardrobe because I'm on a serious budget, and I thought this was one of the best ways to save some cash. I followed the size chart carefully and picked up a black bella band. I like it a lot - what an ingenious idea! It does feel like it's a little big, as I expected it to be tighter, but I think it will feel a bit more snug on my belly later in my pregnancy. I'm now at 11 weeks and just starting to show.I typically wear dress pants to work (try NY&Co's 7th Avenue Design Studio Knit Pant; they are dress-pant sweat-pants and they are fabulous), so I only use the bella band occasionally thus far. I've used it comfortably and successfully several times with my size 16 jeans held closed with a hair-thing and a couple times with my jeans wide open, partly unzippered. The thin strip of elastic does a surprisingly nice job holding things together and staying put up front, so if how thin it is throws you off when you open the package, don't be discouraged - at least give it a go while walking around the house cleaning or something and do the fold over as instructed. It just looks like a layering cami. I do find myself sneaking a peek down there often, though, because I'm paranoid it will slip and expose me, but so far it hasn't except that it does sometimes ride up my backside, which is a bit annoying. I still like it though because REGULAR camis will ride up your backside a bit, so as long as it is really staying put where it's supposed to be hiding your open pants, I think it's still a worthwhile product.The only thing I would NOT suggest is trying to use it to hold up pants that were too small BEFORE pregnancy began. I had the brilliant idea that I could get away with my size 14 black skinny jeans that I hadn't been able to wear for quite some time with this nifty contraption, but alas... It's not bella band's fault though - those jeans had no business being on me and I knew it. I'm sure it'll work through pregnancy and beyond for whatever I'm comfortably wearing BEFORE I became pregnant, but not for the jeans I wished I still fit in. Theoretically, though, if I started losing weight after I give birth and got myself a lot closer to an actual size 14, this bella band could easily be used as a transition to smaller pants.I'll edit my review further along in my pregnancy and include some pictures when I do. I want to test it out with other types of pants, at different stages of pregnancy.