Panels of maternity jeans, HELP.

sojorairie · August 2015

Sooo, with my first pregnancy I was pregnant during the summer. I really didn't have to worry about maternity jeans. This time I will be delivering in January and I feel so confused. I have purchased one pair of jeans so far from Old Navy, they are nice but are huge on me. And I mean huge. I got a full panel thinking that would give me extra support, but I feel like they are so big they fall and everyone can see my maternity portion of my jeans. I feel sketical of the low panel, like that just wouldn't be enough. Then you have the side panel, which have good reviews for less pregnant people and non-pregnant people. But does anyone know how comfortable side panel are later in pregnancy?

Just so many options and it just confuses me. I would wear my maternity leggings everyday if I could, but I'm afraid my daughters private school will not understand my struggle with jeans. Please help me, and let me know options. Please please please!

claireloSC · August 2015

Can you go a size down? In my opinion full panel is the only way - mine were big at first but as my bump popped out they fit great now. Maybe try other brands too that might fit better. I like the Gap for example.

nlwz123 · August 2015

I have a pair of low and full panel. Low is great right now, but I can definitely foresee needing the full panel when my belly is bigger.

katie0613 · August 2015

I get the jeans from Old Navy had had to order a size down also. I got the side panel and full panel and I love them both.

violetigerlily · August 2015

If the maternity jeans are a little too big on you now, I'd invest in a bella band (https://www.ingridandisabel.com/bellaband-how-to-wear but you can buy it on amazon) . I'm lurking from Nov15 (due Nov 28th) and used it in months 3 and 4 when I could still pull my old jeans on but couldn't button them and it worked really well. They say you can also use it over the full panel jeans when they're a little too big to keep them up. Is there a reason that you bought jeans that were so big? It could be as simple as going down a size or two until they're not falling down and just have a little room to grow.

Edit: because my sentence got cut off

nlwz123 · August 2015

violetigerlily said:

If the maternity jeans are a little too big on you now, I'd invest in a bella band (https://www.ingridandisabel.com/bellaband-how-to-wear but you can buy it o) . I'm lurking from Nov15 (due Nov 28th) and used it in months 3 and 4 when I could still pull my old jeans on but couldn't button them and it worked really well. They say you can also use it over the full panel jeans when they're a little too big to keep them up. Is there a reason that you bought jeans that were so big? It could be as simple as going down a size or two until they're not falling down and just have a little room to grow.

Yes, this. I love my bella band. I haven't had to buy new works pants yet because of it.

DaphneMoon1 · August 2015

I bought a pair of jeans from ON and was pulling them up all day. Never wore them again.

I also have a pair of Motherhood Maternity jeans and they are 100x better. They are the only ones I wear. They can be a bit expensive at the actual store. I bought mine at Kohl's when I had a 30% off and I think they were on sale (because everything at Kohl's is always on sale). I paid less than $30 I believe.

Monilee1017 · August 2015

I have one full panel and one low panel. Did you buy a size too big? I got mine at Motherhood Maternity and the women there said to buy your current size.

KFrob · August 2015

For the first time I can fit into Old Navy pants! I bought the full panel in my normal size when I was around 12 weeks and all I had was a tiny bump and mostly bloat. I didn't even have an issue with them staying up then. I also have a couple of pairs of work pants (like khakis type) from Gap that are the low panel. So far those fit great also but I am curious if I will be able to wear then the whole way through.

ariasbabyblog · August 2015

I am wearing nothing but maternity jeans, so I have a variety to choose from. The low panel is great right now as my bump is small, but as I get larger I found that the fuller panel is a must, not just for support, but for staying up and an extra layer. My first was born in March, so I went through a winter pregnancy already. Not having to worry about if my belly was popping out from under my shirts was lovely. As you get bigger, the lower panels don't stay up as well, but honestly all of my pants slip a little throughout the day. For some reason designers didn't think maternity jeans needed belt loops. I bought all of my jeans at my non-pregnant size in store so I could try them on. If I was pulling them up then, I didn't buy them. This pregnancy I bought some mid-level panels to try them out, and so far I find them a little irritating, we'll see what happens when I get fuller. I love my full panels, and the low panels have their place, but I do prefer the full panel.

Beverly0628 · August 2015

If you are going for Old Navy jeans, I would recommend going to a store and trying them on if you can. Pre-pregnancy, I was between a size 2 and 4. I ordered some size 4 jeans from ON in both full and low panel. They fit a little weird, and weren't obviously too big, but I had to keep pulling them up. I ended up returning the full panels, because I didn't like the fit, or feel like the full panel offered very much support. I actually went to the store last week to try some things on and I ended up getting a pair of low panel in size 2 that I love! They fit perfectly, and I feel like the low panel offers more support than the full or side panel. I just assumed that I should go with the bigger size because I am pregnant, but that wasn't the case. I also tried on a full panel in the smaller size, but I felt like the panel was useless because it was so thin and kind of rolled down. Maybe size down and see how that goes. Also, if you don't have a ON store near you, you can order a few sizes online and then return what doesn't fit. You can print a free return label from their website.

jshannon83 · August 2015

I am loving my low panel Old Navy maternity jeans and full panel Motherhood Maternity jeans. I do find the full panel still falls down throughout the day, but as my bump gets larger, I think that will happen less frequently.

apinkpelican · August 2015

The full paneled ones are most comfortable for me. The low panel digs into my side/back fat. I like how the full panel smooths you all out. I love my ON ones. Maybe try a size down?

CaraBoonie · August 2015

Maybe it's just the brand? I got the high panel jeans from Motherhood and the fabric that extends past the pants is super soft, basically just like a pair of tights except less tight and annoying (I hate tights, lol). I hardly have a belly yet, but somehow this thin piece of fabric smooths and rounds out what bump I do have, and isn't large as you described. In general I'm obsessed with their jeans and have hated all other maternity jeans I've tried on so far (I despise low panel, as a PP said it cuts into my hips/belly/back/everything and is just uncomfortable.

MississippiCatfish · August 2015

I think it depends on your body type. I'm tall and thinner, and I love the low panel all the way through my pregnancy. I could never get the full panel to stay up, even at almost 42 weeks with my first! ETA - I just remembered that I eventually started tucking in a non-silky cami under the full panel, and that provided a little friction and helped them stay up a little. Damn sexy, too;)

claireloSC · August 2015

I already posted but wanted to clarify. I hate the low panel because my bump pushed the front down, even at the end of the first trimester. Then when I really popped, I grew out of them entirely. My full panel on the other hand is wearable at a bunch of different sizes. Also, motherhood maternity under bump leggings are great so far. They are high in the butt and hips but low in the front so no bump pushing them down.

deaddahliah · August 2015

I've only worn two different ON maternity jeans and they fit strangely. Both were side panel, the same style, same size but one was stretch and one was not. The non stretchy pants were so tight in the thighs I couldn't pull them up, but the waist was rather large, it fit loosely around my big butt. The stretchy ones were a little loose in the thigh for being skinny jeans, and seemed to fit in the waist fine... Until about 20minutes into work when they started sagging.

I really like the full panel jeans I got from Morherhood Maternity. They are Indigo Blue brand, and super cute. The tummy part isn't too long for my short torso and the jean part fits right under my belly.

MssyMmmy · August 2015

I have a few pairs from old navy and I find they get loose and saggy at the crotch the longer I wear them. They only look ok right after washed when they are still tight. In the beginning I thought I could get away with cheapo pants but I bought some more expensive ones and they look a million times better. I am also pro-full panel. My best pair is from thyme maternity. (Canadian. Not sure if you have this store on the US)

kay11916 · August 2015

I recently bought some maternity jeans from Motherhood and they are awesome. The others I had tried on before were just huge but these fit me perfectly. They're full panel. I like the Jessica Simpson brand and they weren't expensive at all. I'm still not showing much but regular jeans were no longer comfy and these are plenty tight enough but the tummy feels like it will grow with me.

Kelley421 · August 2015

I have both low panel and full. I can't wear the low anymore, even though the pants fit, it feels like the panel is digging in. My jeans came from target maternity. (My bump is about 10w ahead d/t multiples) full panel is def the way to go. The low panel might feel okay now, but in a couple months the belly will need more stretch!

secretbaba · August 2015

Lurking from M15, I am like PP in being 5'10" and thin/narrow. I couldn't hack full panel jeans AT ALL, most low panels were good until about 32-34 weeks. Then the actual jean part dug in, so I changed to Topshop stretch jeans/jeggings with a low panel. I actually wished I'd bought them earlier as they were easily the comfiest. The high panel I bought and hated were H&M, and low panels that worked for a while were Asos and New Look.

amargaret24 · August 2015

I read this and was so confused about all the terminology. I have the pants and shorts that I guess you call full panel? Like PP said, I like how it softens your belly area. The pants don't stay up great but my butt has always had an issue with low rise. I've just setteled on the fact that I'll be pulling up my pants until next....Feb/March?? Oi!!!