If you can find a size that fits you, this can help your existing wardrobe last a few months longer.
Made with soft and stretchy material, the Mamas & Papas bump band is designed to help cover up unfastened trousers when your expanding tummy needs a bit of breathing space in the early days, but it doesn’t necessarily fit all bump sizes.
Bump bands can offer two functions – some give extra support to ease lower abdominal pain and back ache, others are more cosmetic helping to disguise unfastened trousers or gaps under non-maternity tops in early pregnancy.
The Mamas & Papas falls into the second category. In theory, this kind of bump band can be a great money-saver as it means you can put off buying maternity clothes until you really need them.
However, for me, I found it too large for my admittedly small bump. It’s shaped to be wider at the bottom and smaller around the lower ribs, but I could still get into it at 35 weeks pregnant, so my bump was clearly the wrong size and shape. It’s also a very wide band, stretching from the pelvis to just underneath the bust. I found this much more coverage than was necessary, and felt a narrower band might have fitted better.
What we love
It’s a good concept and the stretchy fabric was soft on my skin. In my case, it was more useful in offering gentle support for a near-term bump rather than for wearing in the first few months.
What to watch out for
Despite wearing the size equivalent to my usual clothing, this bump band was too big for me. It didn’t stay snugly in place, but rode up at the bottom and was baggy at the top, causing saggy wrinkles, which showed under clothes. It therefore unfortunately didn’t really do its job of hiding open trouser buttons or flies as it tended to ride up and expose the fastenings. I had to adjust it a few times during the day to keep it in place, and never felt confident that my gaping trousers were properly hidden.
Who is the bump band best for?
Mums-to-be whose bump is showing early.
If you can find a size that fits you, this can help your existing wardrobe last a few months longer. But remember that every mum-to-be’s bump is different, so be prepared to try before you buy. It’s no use if it doesn’t fit snugly.
