Maternity Jeans??? « Back to Group Discussions

[iamkateiam]

Does anyone have suggestions for keeping maternity jeans up?  I have 2 pairs (one from Old Navy and one from Motherhood) and they both start to fall down as soon as I take a couple steps.  I've tried wearing a belly band over the belly part (they are both full coverage tops- if that's the right way to describe them), but that doesn't do anything except make my belly sweat (which is very sexy).  It doesn't help that I have thighs that jean manufacturers think are too big.  I end up having to buy a bigger size to fit my thighs so then they are big every where else.  I have the same problem with non-maternity jeans, but I can usually find a stye that works with my hips/butt and thighs- I have not found that with maternity pants.  I guess once we get pregnant we all like the same jean styles and magically have the same measurements in our legs. Anyways, I'm mostly just frustrated- I don't want to spend the next 5 months hiking my jeans up every couple steps!

PS- I got both of these pairs used- would dropping the money to get new ones help at all??  I'm grasping at straws here!!

Thanks ladies

[loveandgarbage]

Oh man I don't have any suggestions, only commiseration! I'm waiting to fit into the only maternity jeans I have that I splurged on when I was pregnant with DS1. I've tried on a lot of pairs throughout the years, and yes, they all assume that pregnant women have the same body. When I found my pair and they FIT I plunked down $200 for them. I've gotten a lot of use out of them, so I don't feel guilty, but damn it was a lot of money.

Do you have a store near you with a wide selection of maternity jeans?

[josie423]

I hate maternity jeans! The full coverage tighter fitting panels stay up the best, but they eventually hurt my belly. The secret fit feel the best, but after 10 minutes they are sliding down. The half panels leave an indentation in my belly under my clothes. I'm sorry, I don't have much advice! I haven't tried the under belly panels yet, those are next.

[Brambleberry]

I'm not sure if they make jeans this way or just khaki type pants, but my favorite maternity pants are the ones with the adjustable elastic - the elastic has button holes all along the length of it and you pull it snug and button it.  It's hard to explain.  My two pairs like this only work for the first two trimesters though.  For third tri I love the ones with the stretchy panel in front.  I absolutely hate at any stage in pregnancy the pants with the strong wide elastic that go under the belly.  At least I think that's what they're supposed to do, but they don't really and the elastic digs into my belly and makes me miserable. 

[jenifera2]

If the belly panel is too loose, maybe you can just sew it a little tighter?

I think my babe must be really low, because with my non-maternity pants like sweats and jammies I can't push them low enough on my hips to not be super tight feeling, even the ones that were considerably too big before I got pregnant. I'm on a mission to make warm fleece pants since the only ones I've found are Old Navy and they're $25 each!

[etsdtm99]

i think taking in the top might help - if they are that secret-fit belly stuff, its slinkier vs a full coverage panel, i know it does stretch out if someone wore the pants before you - i've noticed that its hard to fit into the same pants 2 pregnancies in a row, so i assume it would be hard to do used pants too - i have some from my last pregnancy that are the same size i wear now and they fall off cause the belly is stretched out ..  i think taking in the belly panel is a good option.. 

[Chloe'sMama]

I personally prefer the under the belly ones with the wide elastic that rides low.  I am constantly having to pull them up too, but I can not stand the feeling of the fabric over my belly.  I only have 1-2 pairs of jeans and actually don't wear them that often.  I usually wear athletic type pants and I also have some 'dressy' pants that are really flowy.  All of those are not maternity but can just be put under my belly.

I am still in my normal clothes at this point, but just pushed lower and lower.... most of my maternity stuff is pants, so I need to wait a while till it cools off.  Hopefully I can hold off a little longer.

[iamkateiam]

Thanks ladies.  Today I got so fed up I just tucked the top into my bra (I have a short torso so it just reached).  It actually worked really well!  I might take the suggestion and try to take in the top part.  I might also use this as an excuse to go buy some decent jeans.  Or maybe fall will get here and I can just wear leggins all the time.  Or, as I like to call them, socially acceptable sweat pants.

[loveandgarbage]

I am LIVING in leggings right now. The only thing that bothers me is that the elastic sits right on my bladder!

[Imakcerka]

skirts!

[kellybeth]

i love my maternity jeans. they are so cozy! and yes, long organic hemp skirts and jersey cotton are always nice, but i make mine so they're abundant.

[HouseofPeace]

i've had pairs of maternity pants over my last 7 years of being pregnant, but never a pair i loved.  or even really liked.  i don't know why my thighs, hips and butt blossom so much, but pants in general make me feel really dumpy when pregnant.  i've got a pair of linen size 10 gap boyfriend style slacks that i've been wearing daily- the super wide legs are my favorite.  i've never been a jeans girl (hard time getting a good fit), and maternity jeans are no different.... but i do have a pair of Gap size 8 maternity corduroys that look kinda cute, but are too big in the belly for now (and seem like they may be too small in the thighs soon), and a couple of big baggy khakis that my hubby makes fun of each time i wear them.... love the encouragement, right?

i do love yoga pants and stretchy pants.  i've moved a pair of Target super wide leg black, yoga waisted pajama pants into my daily wear category as they're so comfortable, and they're black, so it's not too pj-esque.  my medium yoga pants are too small, but i haven't been out to find a pair of large ones i like.  they had some brands at TJ Maxx, but I love the green apple brand bamboo ones (they don't pill and fit really well) and they've not had them at the local shop yet... (here's hoping they carry them out here, since i moved away from my other tj maxx, and this one item i do buy seasonally, just because no one else ever seems to give up a pair of amazing yoga pants....hmmm, i only buy new pairs when i bleach or get holes in my 'good' pair).

i'm in the long dress phase.  i have 2 maxi dresses, one is grey and black, and the other is colorful, and i'm just living in those as all my skirts (except one shorter green yoga-waisted one) have too much waist.  i used to have enough broomstick skirts to have my own hippie commune, but i literally wore them to shreds.  and no more have wandered my way.  i also passed on some other skirts, and they never came home...

i'll be lurking here to figure out what else i need once these pants are too small!!!  i love sailor style pants, and maternity leggings, and dresses.  i have a couple of sweater dresses (long) that are great in winter.  and i love love love sweater season.  being pregnant and in a big cozy sweater is the best, and i could care less about the rest of the outfit!  except shoes.....

shoes, ladies?  i can't do my boots (they have heels) when pregnant!  and that's my fall go-to!  my chaco's are amazing, but won't cut our new england winter.....

[Adaline'sMama]

Another vote for skirts!

Im a super hard fit for jeans. I have a bigish butt, and skinny thighs, and am super short- so Im a hard fit even when Im not pregnant. I can totally wear the Liz Lange jeans from Target Maternity though. They fit pretty well, and I can walk at least 30 steps without them falling down. When I get more pregnant, they stay up way better.

But, I pretty much live in skirts and boots.

[HouseofPeace]

ha- just found my 2 other maternity clothes boxes today, and i have at least 7 pairs of maternity jeans.  i tried on one that 'fit' but it has the tight below the belly band.  NOT HAPPENING- totally uncomfortable.  then threw the rest into a drawer to try on another day.

ended up wearing the giant maternity khakis from Mimi maternity that i always wear.  they stay up, aren't too tight in the belly, and are otherwise huge.  and found all my maternity dresses and shirts too!  so excited to have a whole new wardrobe!

[loveandgarbage]

I sold a lot of my maternity clothes at a yard sale a couple of years ago because we thought we were "done" or at least done for many many years. I kept a few pieces (my favorites) to give to my sister when she needs them... so until then I at least have a few pieces that I really like!

[typebug]

Originally Posted by HouseofPeace 

i'll be lurking here to figure out what else i need once these pants are too small!!!  i love sailor style pants, and maternity leggings, and dresses.  i have a couple of sweater dresses (long) that are great in winter.  and i love love love sweater season.  being pregnant and in a big cozy sweater is the best, and i could care less about the rest of the outfit!  except shoes.....

I have just spent my evening trying to find big cozy bump friendly sweaters online. Where are they? I'm only seeing little thin cardigans so far. #impatient Anyway, here I was thinking I'd dodged dealing with winter but it looks like my hubby is heading off on a work trip to NZ and I'm thinking of going too. The only thing is it's going to be very early spring and insanely cold for us. I was thinking leggings and cozy sweater dresses. I'm going to bring riding style flat boots but I also have to have some heels with me because I tend to go with my hubby when he does any evening work dinners. I'm thinking at 5.5 months I can probably still manage a 2"-3" heel as long as I'm just tottering around the hotel? I'm also eying this coat. Seems really cheap but it just has to hold together for 14 days! :)

[HouseofPeace]

i'm a sweater collector- if i find one i like, i get it.  i have the advantage of many mommy hand-me-downs, as well as a give-n-take for the last 6 years (give what you have, take what you need) which gave me a lot of great sweaters, many homemade!  i don't know off the top of my head where to get one, but the sweater dresses would be great.  i love those too.  i also wear MEN's sweaters- cashmere and cotton and wool, mostly, but i'd pick up any men's sweaters as well, and those made me ridiculously happy.  my husband reclaimed one that was way too big (i'm 5'4", he's 6;2"), while i claimed wool one i shrunk.  j crew brands are ones we've enjoyed (mens), and i think i did have one cotton navy j crew cardigan that i love for pregnancy.

import shops (irish/english) sometimes have great sweaters.  i don't actually shop online, but if i find anything more current in sweaters, i'll link up for sure!!!

also got really lucky and found a wool coat last year (london fog i think) that fits perfectly, making me a happy winterer.  in new england.  cute coat- 2 weeks isn't long, and i found many maternity things aren't made to last like real clothes, b/c they're only maternity.  

[typebug]

Originally Posted by HouseofPeace 

i'm a sweater collector- if i find one i like, i get it.  i have the advantage of many mommy hand-me-downs, as well as a give-n-take for the last 6 years (give what you have, take what you need) which gave me a lot of great sweaters, many homemade!  i don't know off the top of my head where to get one, but the sweater dresses would be great.  i love those too.  i also wear MEN's sweaters- cashmere and cotton and wool, mostly, but i'd pick up any men's sweaters as well, and those made me ridiculously happy.  my husband reclaimed one that was way too big (i'm 5'4", he's 6;2"), while i claimed wool one i shrunk.  j crew brands are ones we've enjoyed (mens), and i think i did have one cotton navy j crew cardigan that i love for pregnancy.

import shops (irish/english) sometimes have great sweaters.  i don't actually shop online, but if i find anything more current in sweaters, i'll link up for sure!!!

also got really lucky and found a wool coat last year (london fog i think) that fits perfectly, making me a happy winterer.  in new england.  cute coat- 2 weeks isn't long, and i found many maternity things aren't made to last like real clothes, b/c they're only maternity.  

Excellent ideas! Thanks. I hadn't thought of perusing the men's section but that might help. I didn't check J Crew yet, and I think they even ship here.  I did such a big purge when we moved and left all wintery stuff in Canada. Starting from scratch again...  

On a cultural discovery note, a lot of women here dress like very little girls during pregnancy with big puffy frothy layers of lace and georgette and tons of giant bows and bedazzled brooches. It's fascinating and kinda creepy at the same time. 

[kellybeth]

i LOVE sweater weather. it's been so unbearably hot in colorado this summer. the trees are finally starting to change and the nights are getting just a little cooler. i too am a sweater collector, though now 90% of mine don't fit.

i did snag a clearance sweater from macy's maternity section, and they also offer it online on motherhood maternity (but it's not on sale there). it's so incredibly soft and warm, but not too warm. it's been my linus blanket for the past week. it doesn't close in the front, which i like, and it looks almost hand-knit.

i'll be thrifting for some sweaters soon enough.

[HouseofPeace]

On a cultural discovery note, a lot of women here dress like very little girls during pregnancy with big puffy frothy layers of lace and georgette and tons of giant bows and bedazzled brooches. It's fascinating and kinda creepy at the same time. 

this made my day.  we once knew a woman who dressed a bit like a christmas present- all her maternity outfits seemed to have bows, and my husband laughed that she looked like a doll/present combo.