Product Review: Motherhood Tummy Sleeve revisited

I stopped wearing my Motherhood Maternity tummy sleeves weeks ago when I could no longer squeeze into non-maternity bottoms and graduated to full-panel maternity pants. But I have now rediscovered how lifesaving they can still be as the heavier fabrics of fall have my maternity pants constantly slipping down my body. (Seriously, how do some people walk around with the crotch of their pants between their knees? SO uncomfortable!)

These days, I'm wearing the full-panel Secret Fit Belly boot-cut maternity jeans ($25) with the panel pulled up all the way to my ribs and also have the tummy sleeve folded in half around my hips, just below my belly button. My two sleeves are definitely raggedy from too much washing in unforgiving laundromat machines (I recommend hand-washing them), but no one sees them and they save me from the saggy-ass syndrome and let me get away with not having to buy more expensive maternity jeans. I'm sure that the designer jeans stay up a bit better, but this mama is not paying $300 for pants I can't wear after baby is born.

Just a quick, hopefully money-saving, tip!

Read More

Where have I been? And, Product Review Revisited: Motherhood Maternity's Tummy Sleeve

Yikes, where have I been ? I’ve actually been moving from North to South Queens and, what with a baby on the way and poor hubby having to do all the heavy moving and (the horror) unpacking, we’re just starting to see the ground underneath all the boxes in our new place!

But now, back to your regularly scheduled Queens Mama:

Despite the previous post, I never did quite get around to getting the Bella Band and, you know what, I’m glad I didn’t. Despite unraveling a bit, my Motherhood Tummy Sleeves have held up and I’m still using them to hold up the few non-maternity pants I still fit into at 4 months pregnant.

So, here's my final verdict: For those of us looking to save some money and extend the life of our non-maternity wardrobe, you can't go wrong with purchasing one or two Motherhood Tummy Sleeves at $17 each. Make sure to hand-wash them (or use the gentle cycle on your washer) if you don’t want them to unravel too much. And be careful with any jagged fingernails you may have if you don’t want the fabric to snag. But, in the end, these sleeves will serve you well and won’t break the bank while you’re waiting to fit into those maternity clothes of your dreams.

Next up on the review list: Baby Bargains--the mother's baby-product-buying-bible--and Motherhood Maternity cargo pants, my favorite new pants that make all of my non-pregnant friends jealous!

Read More

Product Review: Motherhood Maternity's Tummy Sleeve

A couple of weeks ago I bought the Motherhood Maternity Tummy Sleeve from their store in the Queens Center Mall. I had been loving it because it allows me to leave my too-tight jeans unbuttoned (or semi unbuttoned using the hair-tie through your buttonhole method). And, at about $17, it was $10 cheaper than the coveted Ingrid & Isabel Bella Band.

Yesterday, however, I noticed a little string hanging suspiciously from the band. Upon further inspection, I found out the whole dang hem of the sleeve was coming out after only 4 wears and zero washes!

I do have another, similarly worn, never washed, Tummy Sleeve that is still intact, but I've got to do a little bit of investigating to find the product that will give the best bang for the buck. Once I receive my Belly Band in the mail (sadly, it seems that nobody in Queens carries it, but you can buy it through JC Penny, Baby Earth and others for around $26), I'll wear the heck out of the thing and give you the down-low.

And, don't worry remaining Motherhood Tummy Sleeve, maybe you'll surprise me and live a long life. Maybe Tummy Sleeve numero uno was a bad apple.

Read More