Finding Clothes

I totally hear you. I am 13 weeks along with numbr 2 and am frustrated because I don't look pregnant and don't fit into my maternity clothes, but I do (in my opinion) look fat around the middle. I also haven't really actually gained any weight but my waist is totally gone. Whatever mom made the suggestion about hair bands around the button and wearing low rise pants is right on target. My normal jeans are low rise and with the hair band I wore my regular size jeans all through my 1st pregnancy. I also have some of those t-shirt gaucho pants and they are AWESOME. And since you are about to be chasing a rapidly moving toddler, you'll want something that's comfortable. They also make these things called Belly Bands ( I have no idea where to find them) but it says you can slide the up over prepregnancy pants to wear them longer and over maternity pants to wear them sooner in that inbetween phase. I know they sell them online so you cna probably find them in a google search.

my entire pregnancy was spent wearing clothes from Ross, I was very small when i became pregnant, and maternity clothes(besides jeans) were too big for the most part, Ross has current styles in a variety of sizes, and a maternity section, but i go for the amazing clearance rack, these clothes are very low priced, (sometimes pants that are actually cute, for 3 dollars, or a shirt for like a 2 dollars) and since these clothes are disposable, all the better that they are cheap.

There are maternity clothes that just have the wide band that will grow with you probably until you are 6 months. What I did was wear regular shirts that fit loosely and untucked but had the maternity pants underneath. You can also get pants with elastic waist bands. You could also just buy a couple of things that are 1 size larger, just to fill the gap. You can use them right after you have the baby. You need to feel comfortable in your clothes and not have things too tight. This is too much pressure on the baby. I know it's strange to start wearing maternity clothes so soon, but it does happen especially if it's not your first. I had to start out pretty early too the second time around. Motherhood Maternity or Old Navy have some pretty stylish outfits. Walmart or Target even have some pretty decent looking clothes. Good luck.

Congratulations!! I will be 5 months pregnant this Sunday with my third child and after your first pregnancy each one after that will start to show sooner. The maturnity store has a belt thing that you can put on your jeans to make them fit you a little bit longer. I don't know what it is called but I saw it the other day while I was buying maturnity clothes. It clips onto your jeans in the front and keeps them on you and you don't have to button the button. Also, you could just buy a couple of cheap bigger jeans at like Target or Wal-mart just until you need to buy maturnity clothes, cause after you have the baby you won't beable to wear your normal clothes for awhile and if you have some jeans that are a bigger size then you won't have to wear maturnity jeans after the baby is born. But I would really check into the belt thing.

Hi R.,

I would suggest talking with some close friends that might be a little bigger than you. See about borrowing some of their clothes for a few weeks.. then as you out grow them, give them back. Being pregnant is such a transition.. also please be aware that you just had a baby 9 months ago.. your body chemistry is still dealing with that stress and experience.

Give yourself some love. Your body is growing and changing.. and believe it or not.. it is beautiful!!

There are also some really neat consignment shops in the area. There is The Children's Closet on Kingwood Drive, behind Steinmart. They are next to Kwik Kopy and Designer Consignor. Then there is also Merry-Go-Round on Woodland Hills Drive.. right next to Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and Kids in Action!

Hugs,
A. C.

I was that way to never wanted nor could afford Maternity clothes so I always wore the elastic waste pants either cotton and jean material, or if you can sew then cut the front out of your waste and put elastic material in the place of the button and zipper. Congratulations!! And good luck. K.

Hey R....I feel your pain. I am 3 months pregnant with my 3rd right now, but I am showing much more than I imagine you are. Because this is my 3rd, I started showing very quickly. I look about like I did 5-6 month pregnant with my 1st. YIKES!!

Anyway...the great thing right now is that maternity pants are going low-rise, draw-string, stretchy & wonderful. And even better, there are a lot of non-maternity things that will work great for these first few months of pregnancy & can stay in your wardrobe after the baby is born. I just went to Ross & found some maternity capris & pants that are low-rise with a draw-string, which I thing would work great for you now & last through most of your pregnancy. I also found more fitted maternity shirts that work great for smaller times, but have room to grow. But I was most successful in the junior's department, buying empire-waisted flowy shirts that were long enough to cover the belly & waistbands. I spend about $60 there & ended up with almost a complete casual wardrobe. It probably won't last the entire pregnancy, so I may have to buy a few more things in my bigger final month or 2, but $60 here & another $40 there...and I have still spent way less than most people spend on maternity clothes.

Good luck!!

C.

R.,
What I did when I was pregnant and I couldn't fit into my old clothes but maternity ones were too big was buy some clothes that were one size bigger. I didn't have to buy too many because before i knew it i was into maternity clothes but a couple outfits should do. The good thing is after you have the baby, it might take a while to get back into your regular clothes, so the bigger ones work too. You also don't have to wear your maternity clothes after you have the baby. I know how depressing that can be. I hope this will help you out. Good luck with your pregnancy.

A.

I swear by Bella Bands!! They let you wear your pants/jeans/skirts well into your pregnancy as they cover your zipper/fly area so you don't have to zip or button up.

My little one is 6 months old and I'm in a weird place with clothes too. Maternity stuff is WAY to big, but my regular clothes are too small. My bella band is helping me get through this trying wardrobe period <grin>

Can't recommend it enough. You will save a good bit in maternity clothes this way too. www.bellaband.com

Hi R.
You didn't specify if you are looking for business or casual attire, but try the belly band for a few weeks. It enables you to wear your current pants and skirts comfortably. After that, if you still aren't ready for maternity clothes, try stretchy material. I've found great items in jersey knit which I was able to mix and match until I "graduated" into full-blown maternity wear.

Hope that helps

All the best
-j

When I was at this stage in my pregnancy I went to American Eagle and bought a size 12 pull string pants (I was originally a size 6) that also buttoned. At the beginning months of my pregnancy I would button and them tie the drawstrings with lots of extra room (but the pleating effect was cute) by 9 months they still fit, just no draw string really to pull. They even worked great as I was losing the weight after delivery. I recently passed them on to a friend but have to admit was sad to see them go. Find clothes you love to wear during your pregnancy because it will help you feel better all around. I think I bought a pair of Jeans and one other pair of pants from a materninty store. When I was pregnant stores like AE just had more affordable, cuter clothes. I also bought cute t-shirts that still fit now but were cute and showed my belly in a Julia Roberts sort of way.

DON'T feel bad, none of us likes to feel fat and even though you badly want to wear a sign right now that says I am not fat or bloated I am pregnant, this time will pass and soon you will be noticeably pregnant and your back will feel the extra weight...

Hi and congratulations on your pregnancy.

Here are some of my ideas. First of all - try taking a hairband (they are stronger than rubber bands) - loop it around the fastener on your jeans then slide it through the button hole and loop back around. This give you an extra few inches in the waistline. Also try to low rise pants. Another thing that's great is the really soft gaucho pants that are made of t-shirt like material - very stretchable. You can find them at Target and Old Navy for good prices. Also check at Wal-Mart. Or if you have a friend that is maybe a size or two bigger than you borrow some things from her until you are fitting into maternity. I did that also.

I, and many of my friends, showed much sooner with the second pregnancy. If you don't want to be in maternity yet, you can put a rubber band around the button of your pants and through the hole on the other side or something like that. Don't feel bad, that growing baby needs some room momma! ;o)

Hi R.,
Congrats on the newest addition!!! You need to know that your tummy will be "out there" faster than it was the first time, especially since your body hasn't had a full year + to recover it's prepregnancy muscle tone. Your body needs at least a year with a lot of work to get back to where you were. Don't despair. Switch to elastic waist pants. Jeans can be more accomodating by wearing a shirt to cover the zipper area and using a rubber band to "extend" the waist. Wear dresses that don't feel tight and do your best to keep yourself comfortable as much as possible.
Good luck,
C.

Wow, a 9-month old with another on the way - you're a busy lady! And what woman wouldn't understand stressing over clothes?? :) For what it's worth, when my son was 9 months old I was just beginning to fit into my regular clothes again, so I can imagine if I were 2 months pregnant how well they'd have fit! You might try one-piece dresses or even buying some cheap pants in a size bigger than you'd normally wear. Also, layering will probably help, too.

Good luck!!

A.