Maternity pants issues « Back to Group Discussions

[zeeohee]

So, at 14w, I'm realizing that my dream of relying only on my belly band and avoiding maternity jeans for my entire pregnancy was a rather silly one. I decided to check Savers (thrift store) yesterday to see if they had any good options. I usually wear a 16/XL in bottoms, so I tried on one pair labeled 16, one XL, and one XXL. ALL THREE were *so* tight in the thighs that I could barely (if at all!) get them up, much less move once I got them there! I do have curvy/muscular legs, but I have never had a thigh problem with any non-maternity pants, not even skinny jeans. What the heck is going on here? Is this a common maternity jeans problem? Do I need to look at larger sizes (the one pair I could comfortably get up to butt-level, which was strangely the XL and not the XXL, fit just fine in the waist and hips)? Different brands (these were all either Liz Lange or Motherhood)? Help!

[lolliegee]

I have definitely found this to be an issue with maternity pants. It's frustrating. I was trying some on the other day (Walmart, not the best quality, but I just wanted something to tide me over) and their XL wouldn't go over my thighs either, but they didn't have anything bigger. I admit that I'm a larger mama to begin with, but I wear lots of XL pants.

[InLove2009]

That was an issue for me too. I usually wear a size 8 sometimes20. But the medium pants wouldn't fit my thighs. So I had to get a large in the maternity pants....

[zeeohee]

So weird. Aren't we supposed to get larger all over? I guess I expected maternity items to take that into consideration...

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with this issue, though. I didn't think my thighs were *that* abnormally large! I still think I might order some of my favorite Gap jeans in a maternity version. The pair that I could get up *were* nice and comfy in the belly panel area, so I'm kinda sold on the whole concept now :)

[rainbownurse]

I am normally a 18-20 and I found Motherhood maternity jeans to be SUPER small and really hard to get up the thighs (like,  I couldn't at all.) Thyme XXL fits me perfect all over, and I've heard really good things about JCPenny. 

[yallcomeback]

I was about an 18 pre-preg and I have given up on the idea of maternity jeans. Even if they fit, which is rare because I'm also tall, they fall down when I walk and drive me nuts. I'm just sticking with leggings and yoga pants lol. They're easier to get down on the floor and stretch in too

[Tenk]

I have always found this to be a problem with maternity pants.  I don't know why they do that and in expensive brands it seems to be even worse!!  I tried on several pairs of from Pea in a Pod that were close to or more than $150 a pair and each one tighter in my thighs than the last IT SUCKS!!!  I haven't even been shopping this time (I have a LOT of left overs from previous pregnancies) but it just seems so defeating to go in and pick up the size you normally wear  (ie M or XL or whatever) and it get stuck at your thighs :(

I found a pair in 2007 that I LOVED from Motherhood and they were on sale for $25 and they fit GREAT on my smaller preg body and on my bigger preg body because I was different sizes in 2008 and 2010 and never even made it to maternity pants in 2011/2012 at 18w.  This time I'm in maternity pants and weigh about 142 at 16w1d and this same pair fit great just like all the last times  (I started one pregnancy at 155 and this same pair lasted start to finish though they were a tiny bit tight at the end)
 

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by yallcomeback 

I was about an 18 pre-preg and I have given up on the idea of maternity jeans. Even if they fit, which is rare because I'm also tall, they fall down when I walk and drive me nuts. I'm just sticking with leggings and yoga pants lol. They're easier to get down on the floor and stretch in too

That's my exact experience. I had maternity jeans in the past and they fell down - though I did have a better experience with full panel ones. And the other problem with them is they didn't have much stretch and once I got to the end of my pregnancy, they would start to dig into my belly some at the jean seam. Full panel JC penney jeans was my best experience if anyone needed a recommendation.

I got rid of all my maternity clothes thinking I'd either never have a baby again or maybe I'd lose weight and need smaller ones. Well, I was wrong on both counts. But, oh well. 

[Ruheling]

I was a 16 pre-pregancy. My 2 pairs of size 18 pants are the only pants that fit right now. I found a pair of jeans from motherhood maternity that is snug in the thighs, but looks ok -- it's all the lycra in them. I'm pretty sure they were only $30.  I just need to make SURE my husband doesn't send them through the dryer. I can't get away with yoga pants the entire pregnancy. And I just don't love dresses. Plus, I'm so tall/wide that I think it's going to take until month 8 for me to fill them out enough to look cute.

[mizlizzy]

Oh yes, the pants problem. For now I am just doing leggings with skirts over, which works well with boots for our cold winters. My last pregnancy I had two thrifted pairs that I wore for over a year, and they are pretty threadbare now. One was Old Navy and they fit really, really well, but I feel the quality of Old Navy clothes has declined since 2007. Our local stores (gap, sears, old navy) also don't seem to sell maternity clothes anymore, they want you to do mail order, which is annoying when you want to try on alot of things.
The other pair of pants I wore to death was Juicy Coture maternity, they were black, did not look like maternity pants, so comfortable and very flattering and such a score for $5! This company no longer has a maternity line unfortunately.
So end of rant, I'll keep haunting the thrift/consignment stores and something will turn up. May everyone's pants dreams come true!

[cinderella08]

I typically wear a 16/18 and decided to get 1X pants at motherhood instead of XL.  I get the secret fit belly jeans and they tend to be snug in the thigh and butt....  I got the 1X and they fit so much better - even a tad loose (but not sloppy looking) which I'd rather have than too tight! 

[talldarkeyes]

Ugh! I have the SAME problem. I went to the local consignment store to try on their maternity section and their XL were SOOO tight in the thighs but super super baggy in the waist. I think most maternity pants are designed with apple shapes, not pear shapes, in mind. I did have success with GAP mail order. I got a pair of jeans which was on sale for $40 but then had 30% off which is now over sadly. They are the 1969 Jean (I think). They fit marvelously in the thigh and but but just a bit baggy in the waist which I am not too concerned about since it will only get bigger.

[zeeohee]

Wow, awesome replies, recs, and ideas. Thank you so much! I live in the middle of nowhere, NH, so it's a bit of a trek for me to find stuff. JCPenney I can do, though, so I'll try that for sure! I guess I also need to look at maternity leggings, because the skirt + leggings thing is SUPER uncomfortable for me at this point. I am tall and have really wide hips, so I kind of thought maybe I wouldn't show quite so fast, but...there is a serious bump going on, and I can't *stand* to have tight things touching it. Mostly I'm totally fine with PJs/yoga pants, but I'm doing some volunteer work that means I'm actually going to have to leave the house once in a while, and I was having an awful time sitting through a meeting last week with jeans + belly band. Sooooo uncomfortable while sitting :-/

Talldarkeyes, I am so happy to know the Gap maternity jeans worked for you. They are my absolute favorite jeans pre-preg -- some of the only ones that fit my wide hips and small waist! Did you order your usual size?

[skycheattraffic]

Definitely tight in the thigh and the waist keeps riding down. I don't have a noticeable bump (just look big -size 24) but the regular jeans, etc were digging in on the belly. I think I'll just score more sweatpants/jogging pants for now and dig deep to find my belly band for special occasions. I wish the top of preg jeans had a drawstring or other adjustment so we could cinch them tighter in early pregnancy

[Ruheling]

Well...motherhood maternity has maternity pants/trousers in plus sizes. The difference between their XL and 1X is crazy--I went from feeling like I was wearing a thigh tourniquet to looking like a clown. And they only had about 2 kinds of professional-ish looking trousers (and 10 types of jeans). I swear, they expect pregnant women to not work in this town.

[skycheattraffic]

I have the motherhood jeans and they aren't loose but they.wont.stay.up!!! I'm in sweats 24/7 and the two pairs of pre pregnancy pants that I can still close. Must find my belly band- or buy another soon

[howeberry]

Originally Posted by zeeohee 

Talldarkeyes, I am so happy to know the Gap maternity jeans worked for you. They are my absolute favorite jeans pre-preg -- some of the only ones that fit my wide hips and small waist! Did you order your usual size?

I'm not who you were addressing, but maybe this will help...

I lived in my Gap maternity jeans during my first pregnancy. I ordered my pre-pregnancy size (I think they recommend that on their site somewhere), and remember having to exchange one pair for a size smaller than my usual size because the butt sagged and thighs were too loose. This was a surprise and not a problem I usually have!

Good luck!

[zeeohee]

Thanks, howeberry! I went ahead and bought a pair in my usual size which should arrive any day now. Honestly, I'm so uncomfortable in my pre-preg clothes that at this point, I'll take saggy-butt jeans! And I'll definitely take that over the "thigh tourniquet," as Ruheling called it ^__^

[talldarkeyes]

Zeeohee, sorry for not replying! Yes, I ordered my usual size and they were too big. I can still wear them but when I buy another pair I will go a size smaller.

[zeeohee]

No problem, talldarkeyes! I was just happy to hear a positive review of those jeans. I probably would have bought my regular size anyway just to evaluate. Glad they're not unwearably baggy.