Some women “do” pregnancy beautifully. You see that sparkle in their eyes, that glow to their countenance… Please don’t get me wrong… I am so blessed and honored to be pregnant again with a little girl. And I am sensitive to the fact that many women struggle getting or staying pregnant. But it’s hard, especially at 7 months, to feel beautiful. Most days I want to lounge around in a comfy pair of pants and a shirt. Couple that with the pregnancy-induced back pain and sciatica and you’ve got a mildly uncomfortable mama here.
I didn’t wear a supportive band around my pregnant belly with my son. And what a mistake that was. I have been told over and over again by various veteran mamas that a supportive garment can make a huge difference in the discomfort and back pain, particularly towards the end of the pregnancy. Right before BlogHer, I received two BellaBands from Ingrid & Isabel (one in organic cotton). The gal was so kind to send me two sizes and I have used those almost every day since I received them. I have to go back and tell you that after my son was born, I wore a “girdle” (that sounds so OLD for me) to help hold my tummy in. I became so accustomed to the gentle support it gave me that it felt odd not to wear anything once I found out I was pregnant.
The BellaBand is “a stretchy, seamless band of fabric that allows pregnant women and new moms to comfortably wear too-tight pre-pregnancy and too-loose maternity clothes.” I also find that it provides light support and a bit of lift to my ever-growing pregnant belly. A few months back, I could still “almost” fit into my jeans (except for the whole buttoning them concept). I liked covering up with the band so I didn’t have to buy even bigger pants! Nowadays I use it to cover up where my maternity shirts leave off.
The BellaBand is available in nylon/spandex or organic cotton/spandex. I actually prefer the Organic version because it breathes a little better than the original. I love the way it fits and feels and how versatile it is. You can wear it in the beginning when you’re not ready for maternity clothes, in the middle when your maternity jeans are a bit loose (wish I had that problem), towards the end to keep your maternity pants up, and post partum when you’re trying to fit into your pre-pregnancy jeans. The BellaBand is available in a variety of colors, including a new Fall Collection featuring three new colors (berry, storm, harvets) and a cute Lace Collection. It’s almost like wearing another shirt, without actually wearing another shirt!
Ingrid & Isabel also offer Essentials Collection which includes Tanks, Camis, Belly Leggings, and Everywear Pants. What’s great about these four pieces is that they can be worn with practically anything. You can wear a cute dress or long shirt with the Belly Leggings, pair the Everyday Cami or Ruched Tank with a pair of jeans, or layer it under another top. I received a pair of super comfy Belly Leggings and a matching Everyday Cami in black. They’re both super comfy for lounging around! The Cami is nice and long to cover my belly (thankfully) and the Belly Leggings are coming in handy for long shirts and dresses now that it’s cooling off. I particularly like the fact that all 3 of these items can be worn after our little girl is born. I appreciate companies that make versatile maternity and post partum clothing since this time in a mama’s life, while important, is relatively short over a lifetime.
For more information and store locations, please visit the site.
- Discover Luxury at Sonesta Irvine: Your Ideal Staycation - August 8, 2024
- CHOC Walk Returns to the Disneyland Resort – Special Events and Ways to Support - June 28, 2023
- Beastly Ball Returns to the Los Angeles Zoo - May 8, 2023
BellaBands are awesome. I agree. I wore them all throughout my last pregnancy and plan to do so again if/when we get pregnant with baby #3. 🙂
Didn’t have these when I was pregnant but I can see how useful they are.