BellaBand (Black Size 1)

I've been using my Bella Band for several weeks now, and I really like it. It has greatly expanded my wardrobe options in this time between regular clothes and maternity clothes. I think it will continue to be useful as I get bigger.

This is good for when you don't want to buy a whole new wardrobe. I use it for my pre-pregnancy slacks which gives me more options to wear. It's not too tight on the stomach and it smoothes out the lines. I also use it for maternity jeans as it helps hold up the jeans. I've washed mine several times with regular clothes and it's held up so far. I even bought a second one.

Negatives: It rides up in the back when I sit down which is frustrating. So before I stand up I have to make sure to pull it back down. Also, in order to cover the zipper (that won't zip up) you have to wear it low around the waist. As a result it can sometimes be seen below the shirtline. That's why I only gave it three stars.

I bought both of mine from the Doula shop. Shipping was quick and they sent a coupon for the next order.

Works great but it's a little on the tight side for the second tri-mester and I am petite so if you are not petite it may be very tight. Go for the next size up if you are in your second tri-mester or beyond.

Every woman who's ever been pregnant has been faced with the dilemma of maternity clothes: To buy, or not to buy? In these financially challenging times, the temptation not to buy is very strong. And I wish I could report that the BellaBand is a solution to your first- and second-trimester wardrobe woes, but I can't.

I bought one as soon as I found out I was pregnant, and pretty soon I was putting it to use. But not for long. After a couple weeks of struggling, I put it in the closet and didn't use it again. When I got pregnant, I was no waif -- about a size 14 -- and maybe it works better for skinnier women. On me, it just didn't cut it. It rolled down; it rolled up; it never felt secure. I always felt as if I were one false move away from my pants falling down. It was a real disappointment.

If you're reading this review with a baby on the way, you're probably wondering what I did do. Well, since properly-fitting maternity pants for non-skinny women are nearly impossible to come by, I learned how to make do. Since the BellaBand couldn't salvage my pre-pregnancy jeans, I sprang for Gap jeans with an elastic top. I wore almost nothing else through most of my pregnancy. I'd never worn plus-sized clothes, but I discovered that 1X-2X plus-size clothes with elastic waists were nearly as good as correctly sized pregnancy clothes, and often much, much cheaper.

Sorry, zaftig ladies. I wish I had better news for you. Perhaps others have had better luck, but I can't recommend the BellaBand.

This nifty band holds your breeches up and let's you get away with a minimum of maternity clothes purchases. It just looks like you've layered a tank top under your shirt, very cute.