Now that I'm in the 13th week of pregnancy, I'm in a self-proclaimed transition. For the last 3-4 weeks I've felt that my size medium shirts were getting too tight around the belly area. After purchasing some large shirts from my local thrift store, I thought I'd be all set until month 5 or so. Well, I'm finding that while the large sizes fit my burgeoning belly better (check out that alliteration!) they don't fit well on top. Sigh. Is there no hope for a transitioning woman?Reluctantly, I lugged out my old bin of maternity clothes thinking I'd have to bite the bullet and start advertising my pregnancy. I was getting to the point where I really didn't care, I just wanted to be comfortable. After pulling out shirt after shirt and I realized that I'm still too small for actual maternity wear. Another sigh.
So, I had a light bulb moment. What if I sew myself a few shirts that will give my belly more room and fit me on top? One wally world trip and $6 later, I was in business! I just finished my first shirt and am almost done with my second. I'll post modeling pictures (and my sewing adventure story) when they're both completely done.
This got me thinking, why isn't there a line of clothing out there for the woman in transition? The woman who's too small for maternity clothes but too big to look good in her regular wardrobe? If any of you have money to invest in my idea, let me know! We could create a whole line of clothing called "transitions". I can envision it on the racks at Target now . . . .I've experienced a HUGE attitudinal difference in this second pregnancy. During my pregnancy with Chloe, I was ansy with anticipation at being able to don my first maternity clothes. I was proud of my belly and felt aglow with the privilege of carrying a new life. This pregnancy is a completely different story. Don't get me wrong, I'm still very excited about harboring life, but I'm not feeling the glowing beauty I felt with the first pregnancy. I feel like hiding rather than proclaiming my belly protrusion.
Do any of you feel this way too? What secrets to you have to share for this transition phase?
9 comments:
target has clothes for every stage.. i think they call it "barely showing" or something like that. at least they did a few years ago. do you have a target nearby?
With all three of my pregnancy's I was excited to be able to get out my maternity clothes (mostly b/c my maternity clothing is much cuter than my normal wear). Unfortunately b/c I went from nursing to pregant I never really had a transition where my clothing never fit. However I love your idea -- become an entreprenuer and design your own clothes. I'll look forward to seeing the results.
I would buy your new line in a heartbeat...if I were pregnant. Which I'm not, so don't start any rumors!!! I had a loooong period where I felt "fat" and didn't really start looking preggo until 22 weeks. And I'm still transitioning back into my regular clothes. For me, breastfeeding has NOT been a weight loss aid. And despite my 3x plus a couple days of exercising and my smart eating, I'm seeing only tiny increments of weight loss. So I'm all for nursing friendly transition clothes!!!! Go for it, Al!
Hi Alicia,
I was pregnant during the winter months in New England so I was able to do the "sweater" thing as well as the rubber band through the loop in the jeans/skirts. Unlike most first-time moms, I held off on wearing my maternity clothes for as long as possible probably b/c they bottoms fell right off - HA!
I was able to hide my pregancy for about 4 months but we short-waisted people can't really go much longer than that w/o showing.
I think that your idea is a neat one and look forward to the pictures of your creations. I have no idea what I'll wear the second time around (Lord willing) as I will be at home instead of working. Maybe I will ask for your help:).
The pictures that you posted of your week with your mom were cute. You looked so trendy and "fresh" for an expecting momma:).
Just so you know most pregnant ladies pop faster the second, third... time around. I did start wearing my prego shirts about 3 months along , about the time I told people. I think the baby doll shirts are great and I have always preferred the band that was like 4 inches wide whenever I bought maternity bottoms and many of them were great for the early, and right after baby times!
I feel your pain Alicia and am glad that you came up with such a clever idea. I have always struggled with that "transition" phase with clothing and am so now again with the post-pregnancy belly. So your clothes would work well for both of those phases!
I loved being pregnant and didn't mind the bulging belly even the second time around, but I agree that there needs to be a transition phase in maternity clothes. No woman wants to look like they are wearing a tent any sooner than they have to!
UGH! I completely understand! I loved being pregnant, but there were 5 or 6 weeks when I absolutely hated getting dressed in the morning, especially for church! I felt like I was stuck in the transition stage forEVER. Nate finally told me, "Just go buy a couple outfits you feel really good in. I don't care how much they are!" (Poor guy was so sick of my grumbling!) If I could sew, I would've made myself a couple things! What a great idea! I can't wait to see the results.
Hey Alicia - Glad to see you're taking the initiative and doing something about your problems. Good for you! I guess I was too lazy - I just settled for looking "lumpy, bumpy, & dumpy" for that in-between phase :o)
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