Bella Band Maternity Accessory
Being currently mired in that awkward, interminable stage of pregnancy where your body shape has definitely morphed into an anaconda-swallowing-a-cow shape and yet not quite enough so for it to be obvious you haven’t just been face-down in a bag of Nutter Butters for the last few months (ha ha ha, as IF! Come on, they were Thin Mints), I’m constantly on the lookout for wardrobe items that will Flatter, Conceal, and Accommodate.
I thought Old Navy might be able to help me out with some loose, inexpensive tops, but . . . my god, have you been to Old Navy lately? I think their team of corporate designers must be pulling some sort of elaborate prank, creating more and more unwearable clothing in an effort to see how insanely ridiculous they can make women look this summer. These “trapeze” styles that drape from the neck straight down in a giant baggy slump of fabric would make Twiggy look like freaking Mama Cass. Maybe, just maybe if you have no breasts whatsoever you can pull off this look, but when I tried on this shirt I literally just had to lean against the dressing room and laugh. The only possible way that could have looked worse on me is if I also had Britney Spears style my hair.
Anyway, the point of this post is to give mighty praise to the Bella Band. I never tried this during my first pregnancy, mostly because I was convinced it would be uncomfortable or roll up/down constantly. As it turns out, this thing works like a dream. You just fold it over the top of whatever pants no longer fit (leaving them unbuttoned) and it keeps everything in check — even low rise jeans (I wear it like the woman on the left in the image up at the top of this post). I thought my beloved Joe’s Jeans were a goner, because even the hairband trick wouldn’t keep them on my anaconda belly, but with the Band I can wear them in total comfort. ROCK.
This doesn’t solve the problem of what shirts to wear, but it’s nice to be able to wear whatever the hell I want on my bottom half and not worry about looking like I’m lost in a sea of fabric. It sort of works to wear larger sizes during pregnancy, but then you’ve got the problem of something being a larger size all over, not just in the waist where you need it. Bella Band to the rescue — all your old clothes can last just a little longer (before the Trimester of the Narwhale begins, that is).
This would make an awesome gift for a newly pregnant friend, and it seems like it would work quite nicely during the equally awkward post-partum period. Smartest pregnancy product EVER.
Link: Bella Band on Amazon
Ballpark price: $26
Posted: August 7th, 2007 under Fashion, Personally recommended by Linda, Pregnancy.
Comments: 17
Comments
Comment from Leah
Time: August 7, 2007, 12:40 pm
Simon and I have a new game called “Pregnant or Trendy?” It’s pretty self-explanatory. Thanks, Old Navy!
Comment from Daily Tragedies
Time: August 7, 2007, 2:32 pm
I have no personal experience with the Bella Band, but I concur with your opinion re: those Old Navy trapeze dresses. I went in there looking for something comfy to wear around the house, but I couldn’t bring myself to spend real cash money on one of those hideous things! Old Navy, WTF?
Comment from ShannonJ
Time: August 7, 2007, 3:49 pm
I have two and barely used them b/c I bought them way too late in my second (and final) pregnancy. Want ‘em?
Comment from sooboo
Time: August 7, 2007, 8:31 pm
I too recently visited Old Navy and my thought was, “I’ll bet pregnant chicks love this stuff because they are the only ones that can get away with looking pregnant”. But, I guess not. That’s probably why there was so much stuff on clearance.
Comment from becky
Time: August 7, 2007, 9:42 pm
i love the bella band! i was able to wear my regular jeans into 6 or 7 months, and now i’m due in two weeks and use the band to hold my maternity pants up (the cheap elastic in old navy maternity pants stretches out so quickly). motherhood maternity sells a cheaper version of the bella band that works just as well too.
Comment from Anya
Time: August 7, 2007, 9:49 pm
Loved the Bella Band all through my pregnancy & it works great post-pregnancy too… works kinda like a very soft and not too tight girdle, slimming out the belly…that is…shall we say…sort of like a deflated balloon for a wee bit…
Comment from nonsoccermom
Time: August 8, 2007, 2:24 pm
Yes! Love the bella band - I’m in the same awkward stage of pregnancy as you and maternity pants are way too big. This is so great, I just wish I had had one during my first pregnancy.
Comment from k
Time: August 8, 2007, 5:07 pm
shannonj: just found out saturday that i’m pregnant with #2! if you’re looking to get rid of your bella band(s), i’d love to give it/them a try!
Comment from Jenny
Time: August 9, 2007, 5:35 am
Trimester of the Narwhale! Awesome.
I can’t really speak to the Bella Band, but Old Navy? What the heck?
I know “What Not to Wear” is not everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s a reason they do natter on about clothing with a bit of “structure.” Come on, Old Navs, just because you can churn out spleventy zillion cheap jersey sacks for $0.02 cents apiece doesn’t mean you should try to convince us all it’s “fashion.”
Comment from Erin
Time: August 9, 2007, 1:58 pm
Oh, I was also thinking that maybe Old Navy’s weird sack like dresses and shirts, while they would make everyone who wore them look pregnant, would at least work as cheap maternity clothes–I guess they are totally unreedemable.
Comment from Becky
Time: August 9, 2007, 2:26 pm
I have the Motherhood Maternity version of the bella band….LOVE IT….it is so comfy…I have retired it until after birth so I can hold in my deflated belly!
Comment from Deanna
Time: August 10, 2007, 4:13 am
Love it! I am plus size and I found that the size 2 band helped lift the baby bump and I actually looked pregnant instead of just my normal belly. The size 3 Bella Band was a little too loose nad not as tight- odd, cuz according to their size charts I should wear a 3.
And did you think “there is no way this tube top is gonna fit on my belly!?!” when you saw it? But it’s great and washes well in the washer in a mesh bag. I wore it tucked under my bra to keep it from rolling to my waist.
Comment from Natalie
Time: August 13, 2007, 7:01 pm
I would like to buy a band, but I don’t know the cheapest place to get them, any ideas? If you have any please drop me a not at tater_16_2001@yahoo.com (make subject belly band) Thanks.
Comment from Brooke
Time: August 14, 2007, 11:40 am
I am SO going to get two of these. Did anyone notice they also have them in B, W, and Brown with a lace trim at the bottom? Cool!
Comment from Heather B.
Time: August 17, 2007, 4:31 am
I actually have a friend who bought a cheapo sack like dress from Old Navy and then belted it. It ended up looking normal on her (she’s boobless) where as if I wore it, I would have looked about 20 weeks pregnant. We suggested that she keep it for future pregnancy usage.
Comment from lisa
Time: August 27, 2007, 6:24 am
Question about the Bella Band - is it super thick so that it really does conceal the button on your waistband? I saw the knock off one at Motherhood and bought it - but its pretty thin. Does the job, but could be better. I was interested in your description of the bella band - I may take the plunge and order one if its a lot thicker fabric…guess I shouldn’t have cheaped out, but it was THERE!!! 
Comment from Amanda
Time: September 3, 2007, 7:00 pm
I actually cut off a souple of my husband’s size M undershirts right at the armpits and used them as a DIY bellaband. In fact, I still use them to achieve that layered look that hides my 14-months-post-baby belly flab.
Plus, it was worth it to see my husband’s sad, WTF face when he encountered his new, midriff-baring undershirts. I swear he’s such a packrat he wanted to keep them…
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