Conference moira::parenting

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Note 55.72        Women's Health/Pregnancy & Childbirth-related         72 of 80
CSLALL::LMURPHY                                       9 lines   7-JUN-1993 16:13
                             -< "healthy request" >-
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    I refuse to go into mat clothes too!! but i did just move into my
    sisters jeans (which she is too small for since jenny craig!!!!!)
    
    i wish my doctor did ultrasounds...."only when there is an indication
    it's necessary"   that bums me out....i feel like i am missing an
    experience
    
    i think campbells make a healthy request soup...probably really cut
    down on the salt...might be worth checking out.
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Note 55.73        Women's Health/Pregnancy & Childbirth-related         73 of 80
KAOFS::M_BARNEY "Formerly Ms.Fett"                   21 lines   7-JUN-1993 16:14
                           -< hang in there ladies >-
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    I feel for you! Pregnancy can be really uncomfortable in many many
    ways. Just one step and a time - We're routing for you!
    
    Re: the weight: As discussed before, please don't worry about 
    the weight thing if your doctor is not worried. If you are that 
    concientious about size, you WILL have the will to get rid of it
    later, so that should not be an issue. Do not give yourself extra
    worries - that's probably worse for you than gaining a few pounds.
    
    re: vitamins - I have heard from several sources (including my
    doc) that maternity vitamins can make you feel more nausea. Suggestion
    is to either look for alternatives or try taking them at another time
    of day (i.e. with food like the previous noter said). Tell your doc
    about it. He/she may have alternatives....
    
    re: maternity clothes - it'll happen sometime....8-)
    
    Good luck
    
    Monica (from someone who gained 45 pounds each time!)
    
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Note 55.74        Women's Health/Pregnancy & Childbirth-related         74 of 80
CALS::HEALEY "DTN 297-2426"                          22 lines   8-JUN-1993 09:19
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re: maternity clothes...

	I can relate!  All my clothes are very tailored and close fitting
	so I'm having problems now too.  I am using this opportunity to
	fill my wardrope with all those oversized, loose fitting clothes 
	that are the style now.  I can use them again after the pregnancy
	so I am buying alot more than I would of maternity clothes.  And
	my husband can't complain!  Actually, he is happy to hear me STOP	
	complaining about the fit of my clothes.  Granted, these new
	clothes will not take me through till the end but if they can get 
	me through the summer, at least I won't be buying two seasons worth 
	of maternity clothes!

	I hate stretch pants though and I've been observing that most
	pregnant women wear them almost exclusively.  I refuse to wear
	them to work... they are like sweat pants to me and I won't
	wear sweats to work.  I may have to break down though near the
	end of the pregnancy.

	Karen

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Note 55.75        Women's Health/Pregnancy & Childbirth-related         75 of 80
SUPER::WTHOMAS                                       17 lines   8-JUN-1993 09:31
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    Ah these replies bring back so many memories.
    
	Regarding maternity clothes, never say never, you will be surprised
    at what you will be forced (and willing) to wear at the end just
    because it fits and it is comfortable.
    
    	Regarding weight, please (as Monica suggested) forget that you are
    American for just nine months. Don't get on the scale every morning,
    don't WORRY about the weight, there are so many other things to obsess
    about during pregnancy ;-) If you feel hungry then by all means EAT. If
    you are sick and think that food helps you then EAT.
    
    	Listen to your body, it holds a great deal of wisdom. 
    
    		Wendy who only learned by going through it herself *sigh*
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Note 55.78        Women's Health/Pregnancy & Childbirth-related         78 of 80
SOFBAS::SNOW "Justine McEvoy Snow"                   16 lines   8-JUN-1993 11:06
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    	The maternity clothes, well... I waited until I was 6 months
    pregnant before wearing any (and I measured six months pregnant at four
    months), and all I can say is, NEVER AGAIN.  They were so much more
    comfortable than trying to cram into tailored clothes and then
    elasticized waist skirts and pants!   You can get some 'tailored'
    styled maternity clothes, some aren't too bad.   I never wore stretch
    pants - I don't like them either.  I preferred really baggy pants that
    I just cuffed and rolled. 
    
    	And the maternity nylons... heaven.  I can't believe I waited so
    long.  Next time, I'll start wearing whatever is comfortable whenever
    it is comfortable!
    
    	Justine
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Note 55.80        Women's Health/Pregnancy & Childbirth-related         80 of 80
CANON::SANTOS "Nothing lasts forever"                 5 lines   9-JUN-1993 08:14
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    I wore stretch pants till I was about 4 1/2 months and then bought some
    maternity pants with elastic waist.  I always hated things with elastic
    waists but these look and feel good and there's plenty of room!  I'm
    not 22 weeks and these are all I wear except for jumper-type shorts
    with no waist at all.

yup, I remember this well....

With my first, I too refused to wear maternity clothes until around my
6th month. I ended up ruining alot of the zippers in my good work clothes.

With my second I think I was in maternity by 3 months.  It took a week
or so to get used to wearing them and they were pretty big at the
beginning, but I was much more comfortable.

My advice is wear whatever is comfortable.  Even in professional settings,
there are alot of comfortable yet stylish clothes to be had without spending
big $$$.

Barbara

    I had quickly left my normal shape and had a lot of trouble
    for that little while, as my regular pants, skirts were uncomfortable,
    but maternity clothes were huge. Well, I did things like kept the 
    skirt button together (hole and button) with a safety pin and wore a 
    long blouse, or the first time I wore the maternity pants I had bought
    myself, there slipped down so often, that I wore my husband's
    suspenders to keep them up! It worked so long as I wore a big top
    over it. But it gave us a good laugh!
    
    Monica

    I had good luck in finding roomy "normal" jumpers at a discount
    departement store. I think they were under $15 and I bought three. 
    I couldn't wear them through all of my pregnancy, but I did wear them
    for the first six months.  I went into some maternity clothes in my
    fourth month.
    
    I couldn't stand much of anything on my tummy.  It made me feel very
    uncomfortable to wear jeans or things with a waistband.
    
    judy

	I remember buying a pair of maternity jeans that had velcro at
	the waist.  I thought they were great, because I could adjust them
	to fit right.  At the time, they were quite big.

	As my pregnancy progressed, I found that the velcro wasn't up to
	holding back my belly.  I'd sit down, and the velcro would open up.

	I was in someone's office one day, and bent over to pick up a pen
	off the floor.  The velcro made the *loudest* noise as it came undone.

	I laughed and said, "Velcro".  The guy probably had no idea what I
	meant, but I thought it was hysterical.  I took to pinning the pants
	after that.

	As for maternity clothes being too big... you may want to pick up
	a few pairs of pants (with elastic waistbands)in a size larger than your
 	usual size, and wear those until the maternity clothes fit.  I got most 
	things at Marshall's or Hit or Miss, and wore them after the baby was 
	born, too.

	Karen

    Just a suggestion that I'm finding to be a decent compromise...
    Maternity skirts - the shorter ones with pleats on the bottom half -
    with oversized (but not maternity) long jackets and whatever blouse
    or t-shirt is comfortable underneath.  I find the skirts to be very
    roomy but don't look as "tent-like" as the maternity jumpers/dresses,
    plus they are above the knee so I don't feel as frumpy in them!
    
    I find this working well at about 5 mos. along... But it's still a
    challenge to be comfortable AND satisfactoraly fashionable - ha!
    
    Another alternative to stretch pants - Dockers has some nice elastic-
    waist pants (regular sizing S,M,L) that are nice and roomy but not
    overly baggy. Look good with the legs rolled up a bit and any big
    T-shirt or long blouse on top.
    
    Good luck to everyone who faces that daily dilemma at the closet
    every morning...
    
    -Cori

    With my first 2 I was pregnant during the winter, so bulky sweaters
    were most of my wardrobe.  This time around I've noticed that virtually
    no dept stores (esp the cheap ones!) have a maternity dept anymore. 
    I've been getting by with "plus" size clothes.  Two things that have
    worked VERY well .... blouses in "plus" sizes.  Note that you DO want
    to try these on, because shifting styles, in the same size, makes a big
    difference.  The other thing is Men's shirts.  Size 17 seems to be big
    enough to make it all the way through.  These are also clothes that you
    can wear later (as pjs), or hand down to the overweight person in your
    life.  As for pants ... I'm going with a lot of sweats or "plus size"
    stretch pants.  I have a few pairs of maternity pants, but MUCH prefer
    sweats with pockets.  Shorts found me in the Men's dept getting xl gym
    shorts.  Cheap and comfy - and I know someone who can make use of them
    later.
    
    To keep your regular clothes going a little longer, for buttons, you
    can loop an elastic through the hole of the button hole, and then slide
    the other end of the elastic over the button.  A lot easier than pins.
    
    And don't forget .... just because the baby's born, doesn't mean you're
    skinny again right away - you'll be wearing the clothes longer than you
    realize, so get comfy, and enjoy it.  It's the ONE time in our lives
    when people think it's neat that we're "huge" (-:
    

    I have to agree with the last reply about the Plus size shirts. I
    bought a couple this pregnancy and I have worn them all the way
    through. I bought size 42-44 over size T-shirts with a pocket. They are
    extremely comfortable. As far as pants go, I can't stand the materninty
    pants with the nylon panel. They fit great around the belly, but under
    the belly where the jean material begins they cut me in half!  So this
    time I went with the maternity leggings, that go to the calf. I have
    worn them for the last 4 months and there is still some room for
    stretching there. You would never know they were maternity pants they
    have the same elastic waist as regular leggings.
    
    I am lucky to carry this baby through the same season as my 1st. So I
    can wear all the same clothes I did last time. If I carried fall/winter
    it would have killed me to go out and by all new clothes. But I'm
    not so lucky to have to endure the heat and humidity!
    
    Ramble,ramble...
    
    Sandy  (due aug 3rd with #2) 
    
    

    I got pregnant at the same time too...2 weeks apart...figured great
    same maternity clothes and if it's a girl...wardrobe thru childhood
    in the right sizes and seasons!!!  BUT...I am bigger quicker this 
    time and most of my maternity clothes are winter....this time i'll be
    in them summer i just know it!!  and it will probably be a boy and i'll
    spend a fortune on more clothes!!!!  oh well!

	I found some great shorts at Fashion Bug.  They are 100% cotton,
	in lots of different colors.  They have an elastic waist with lots
	of room to grow!  I expect them to get me through the summer with
	no problem (I'll be 6-1/2 months at the end of August).  And I can
	wear them next summer too!

	My goal is to try and get clothes that I can wear again after 
	pregnancy.  So, I'm staying away from buying maternity and plus
	sizes.  I'm just trying to stick with the oversized clothes that
	are supposed to look big.  This fall, if I'm lucky, I want to
	buy some oversized sweaters (I have NONE!) that I can team with
	maternity pants/skirts.  

	Big, bulky, loose clothes are in and it seems to be a great time 
	to be pregnant fashion wise!  I'm not surprised that many department
	stores have stopped carrying maternity wear.  So many expectant
	mothers can get buy on their current wardrobe if they were into
	the oversized fashions.

	Karen

    I know that after I had my two children I never wanted to wear clothes
    I wore when I was pregnant.  I also find myself not wearing any of the
    oversized clothes since they make me feel bigger than I want to feel.
    The stretch pants I wore when pregnant seemed like they would fit me
    when I wasn't but I found they really are a lot bigger than you think.
    :-)
    

    Here are a few helpful hints for getting you through the expense of
    wearing maternity clothes.
    
    1.  I like to wear hose other than plain beige - so I was able to
    continue wearing charcoal, cream etc. and not pay a fortune.  Rather
    than wear maternity pantyhose I wore "Queen" size.  Started wearing
    them around my fifth month or so and they took me through the whole
    pregnancy.  I am five foot two and weight 120 pounds - put on a total
    of 28 more pounds.
    
    2.  I wanted to look professional at work and stay comfortable too so I
    went to one of our better "Plus Size" ladies shoppes and bought two
    really nice tops in their smallest size.  I simply moved the cuff
    buttons and am still wearing these tops today (baby is now one).
    
    3.  I wore separates to work and therefore looked like I had lots more
    maternity clothes than I actually did.  One thing I did do was whip up
    a couple of elastic waisted skirts twice during my pregancy (when I
    outgrew one I made another) in black and navy.  These teamed up with
    nice tops looked great.  I was able to find a couple of "swing"
    tops too which look very maternity.  
    
    4.  It is really nice to be pregnant and feel like you still look your
    best.  I must say I really enjoyed my pregnancy and wearing the
    clothes.  Accessories can really make an outfit, so don't forget those
    earrings, scarves, necklaces to finish off your outfit.
    
    Regards,
    
    Linda
    
    

    I was mellow about most things during my pregnancy.  BUT, I
    meticulously ironed all my clothes, including my extra-large tshirts.
    I smile when I remember giving my Mom grief during a visit when she
    ironed my tshirts but folded them rather than hanging on a hanger.  I
    had a major snit and insisted she re-iron them.
    
    Well, at least I didn't demand ice cream and pickles and midnight.
    
    Laura

    That's funny Laura, I am the same way with this pregnancy. Everything,
    I mean everything I wear I iron. Especially white cotton clothes. I
    don't know what it is.....hormones?
    
    Sandy

    When I first started to look at maternity clothes, I practically
    despaired - they seemed either very expensive, or badly made, and
    in the UK the concept of petite maternity clothes (I am 5ft 2) is 
    nonexistent (finding much selection of either in the high street is 
    bad enough!).

    However things didn't turn out so bad, and I found the following to be 
    helpful:

    * Sending off for all the catalogues - they are more expensive than
      chain stores, and I don't like buying clothes by mail order, because
      it is so much hassle if they don't fit, but the catalogues *do* have
      lots of pictures of pregnant women wearing different kinds of outfits,
      and they give you ideas.  Having looked in the catalogues, I found it
      much easier to select clothes from the high street.

    * Wearing separates as much as possible (I have been fortunate in that
      I have been comfortable with waistbands).  Oversize sweatshirts and 
      t-shirts, with leggings and skirts or shorts.  Much to my surprise, my 
      favourite garments have been two pairs of maternity shorts, which went 
      with thick tights in the winter, and with bare legs now.  And if you're
      lucky enough not to have swollen ankles, why cover up the only bit of
      you that is still in shape!

      With t-shirts, I bought some from the maternity departments, and others
      were outsize t-shirts from the Sweater Shop.  They were the same price,
      but the outsize ones were better quality and have been a better fit.

    * Letting out the waistband on an existing dress, lifting it an inch
      at the back a couple of months later, and putting a jacket over it - 
      this was my most useful outfit for work during the winter and spring 
      (3-7 months), and it cost me nothing!

    Ali

    I have found the rompers at CWT my favorite maternity things.  I have
    been able to fit into them at four months and now ending my six month
    and am still in the regular large.  They have no wasteband and are
    professional enough for work if you wear the accessories.  I also
    bought some dresses there that were a few sizes bigger and they seem to
    fit fine (although getting alittle shorter in the front).  I can't say
    enough about my maternity bathing suit though.  I bought one at
    Mothercare for $42.00 and already its worn so much that the elastic is
    not supporting the "ahem, upper half" as well as it was earlier.  But
    the room in the belly area would have lasted well through the
    pregnancy.  I will return for another.
    
    I am at a loss however, as to wear to buy a Wedding outfit for the end
    of August.  I will be 8 months, alot closer to 9 now that I think about
    it and want to be comfortable.  Any ideas for something fancy?  What
    about consignment shops?  Has anyone ever heard of a Maternity one?  We
    should start a business if they don't have one!  I bet it would do
    great in the Greater Maynard Area.
    
    
    cj

    Please do not put information about specific retain stores in
    PARENTING.  If you are looking for a store, post a query in "Where Can
    I Find."  You will get Email replies.  If you want to offer a pointer
    to a store, please put just the town and invite people to contact you
    by Email.
    
    Because PARENTING is very busy and disk-intensive, we have a hard time
    finding and keeping a home for it.  Therefore, we do not permit you to
    post names of stores, doctors, photographers, and other local services.
    
    We appreciate your cooperation.
    
    Laura
    co-mod
    

	Need to find a real nice dress for a wedding I am to attend in
	early October.  I will be in my 8th month approaching my 9th month.
	Does anyone know if a maternity rental type place exists to rent 
	an outfit for the day or where I may find something real nice and 
	not so expensive?

	Please send e-mail with any names of places and other info.
	My email address is DPE1::PETROPOULOS

	...angie
    

	I'm also looking for a dress suitable for a late October wedding.

	It's a day wedding, but it's family, so I'd like something nice.
	I'll be 5 months pregnant at the wedding.

	If anyone knows of a good shop in the Worcester area, please
	send me mail.

	Karen

        I'm going to an October wedding myself and will be 35 weeks
        pregnant. I ended up buying a dress at a popular maternity store
        for $70.  I  deliberately chose something that I could wear both
        to work or to this wedding. The dress is quite simple, in a
        solid color (prints tend to be less dressy IMO), and the buttons
        that go down the front are large pearl colored buttons with gold
        around them.  The neckline is a V neck but scalloped which tends
        to dress it up.  No lace, bows or ruffles to dress things down. 
        Accessories make the difference or whether  I look like I'm
        going to a wedding or wearing a suit to work.  I find the dress
        to be quite elegant.

        Actually, I'm wearing this to possibly 3 weddings in October. 
        Unless you can afford it, it just isn't worth buying a dress
        that you can't wear to work as well.

        Sorry... never heard of maternity rental stores!

        Karen

    When I was last pregnant (five years ago!), I had to go to wedding
    (October, in fact) and I did what the previous noter did, i.e., wore a
    solid maternity dress and dressed it up with accessories.  I had my
    hair done that day, which helped me feel dressed up and was more
    economical than buying a dress (and probably made more of a difference
    in how nice I looked, too).  
    
    I don't think there are any maternity "rental" shops, but there are
    secondhand places that carry maternity clothes.  Any formal dress you
    would find there would probably have little mileage on it.  For the
    person in Worcester, I believe Kim's Kiddie Kloset in Holden carries
    maternity clothes (in addition to secondhand children's clothes).
    
    -Tracy
    

    How about consignment shops?   You can probably get a good deal on a
    dress that was worn only once or twice, expecially if it is a dressy
    dress.  Just an idea if you don't mind it being worn before, but I
    believe that they have to be dry-cleaned before they sell them.  
    
    Michelle
    

    I find striup pants very comfortable and fashionable during pregnancy. 
    I bought a few pairs for my first pregnancy - not maternity ones, just 
    bought a size medium and I was able to wear them at 9 months and then 
    after the baby was born and when I returned back to my weight before 
    becoming pregnant.  If the right top and shoe is worn then I think they
    can be VERY
    fashionable!  Especially work well for those women who really just gain 
    in the belly and not all over.  But, again, it's just personal
    preference.  Having a few pairs around can add alittle style and
    comfort to an expecting mom's closet.  
    

    My first baby was born in October, so I was able to avoid having to 
    buy a winter coat or jacket that I could wear while pregnant.  But this 
    baby is due in early January.  This morning's frost convinced me that
    I'm going to need something to keep me warm!  (I wore my regular coat
    but couldn't button it up.)  Does anyone have suggestions on winter
    coats or jackets for the third trimester?  Did you buy a maternity coat
    or jacket at a maternity store?  Or did you find a regular style that 
    would fit over the belly?  Did you find a coat or jacket to be easier/
    more comfortable?  
    
    Jane

	Jane,

	I'm hoping that my regular coat will do; it's sort of a swing-style
	that wraps around.

	If not, I borrowed an old coat from my sister-in-law that's a couple
	sizes bigger than my regular size and used that for my first
	pregnancy - I'll just use it again if need be.

	My sister bought herself a jacket at Lane Bryant in their smallest
	size and wore that for her pregnancy (baby was born in January).  It
	was more of a long jacket (nylon with a thick lining) that she thought
	she could use again after the baby, since she'd layer things underneath
	it.

	While we're  on this note, I'm desperately looking for inexpensive	
	maternity clothes.  I've checked the one local department store that
	I relied on in my first pregnancy, but found absolutely nothing.
	
	I'm looking mainly for long-sleeved cotton tops and cotton pants/
	stirrup pants/leggings.

	If anyone has pointers to a decent place to buy maternity wear,
	please send me a note at CNTROL::JENNISON.

	Thanks,
	Karen

    
    	I just layered when I had to go through the winter pregnant. I had
    a large coat that I wore a (heavy) sweatshirt underneath (because I
    couldn't close the coat). On the coldest days I added a scarf but I
    found that I was usually so hot that the coat and the sweatshirt were
    more than enough. 
    
    				Wendy
    
    	

I've seen an interesting coat advertised in Motherwear and some of the
other parenting-type catalogs.  It has a regular zipper up the front,
but there's a panel insert you can sip in to make it bigger.  They advertise
it as being good for pregnant women, as well as males/females who want
to carry their babies in a Snuggli-type carrier.

This is nice because you can wear it post-baby without the panel.

         I'm borrowing my husbands long wool dress coat.  Granted, with
	 blue jeans it will be a bit too dressy and with a dress it will
	 not be exactly elegant since it's huge on me but why spend the
	 money on a coat you only wear for a few months!  FWIW, my husband
	 is only 3 inches taller than me and 30 pounds heavier but the cut
	 of mens dress coats is completely different from womens so you 
	 don't need to have a huge husband for this solution to work for
	 you.  

  	 I also saw those coats with the panels but I didn't like to 
	 coat much itself so I wouldn't waste the money.

	 Karen

    You could just wear a cape.  My sister had her first in January, and
    this worked great,and she could also wear it afterwards.  I don't
    remember where she got it, but we live in Mass., and I know she got it
    in the Fitchburg area.
    
    Barb

    
    I was also going to suggest a cape. My daughter was born in early May,
    so I needed something that would get me through the whole winter. I 
    went to the Burlington Coat Factory (figuring they would have the
    largest selection). I didn't like the traditional style capes as they
    really don't have any sleeves and my arms would have to be all the way
    out when driving. What I ended up with is a cape-style coat. It's long,
    zips up the front, and the sleeves are all part of the coat,i.e., the
    side seam came up from the hem towards the armpit and then out to the
    end of the sleeve. I love this coat and wore it when pregnant and the
    two winters since my daughter was born. With this baby now, I'm due in
    February so the coat will come in very handy.
    
    Patty

    I hope it is OK to put this info here, so here goes.
    
    I was browsing in Business to Basics Maternity store on 119/2A in
    Acton, MA the other day, and when the store manager learned I was from
    Digital, he informed me that he was giving DEC employees a 20% discount
    off all regularly priced one and two piece career dresses and "sheer,
    sheer support or graduated hosiery".  This certainly helps since
    maternity work and casual clothes can get expensive.
    
    Just wanted to pass on the good news!  Happy shopping...
    
    Lucy 

	Does anyone know where to get plus sized maternity clothes at a
	reasonable price?  My friend is currently a size 18 and she just
	found out she is expecting. 

	Thanks!

    I have seen a lot of nice larger sized maternity clothes at a variety
    of store.  I bought at Sears, Target and even Lane Bryant for larger
    size items.  A lot of the current styles have the princess style waist
    line.  Mervyn's is another good place.

    I found that Penney's also has a nice selection of maternity clothes
    at a reasonable price.  I avoided the "maternity" shops since they
    wanted (IMHO) too much for their clothes.
    
    Irene

JC Penney's maternity catalog has quite a lot for the larger size
mom to be.   I haven't personally ordered from them, because
I had found enough clothes by the time I found their catalog. 

The JC Penney's stores I've been to didn't have much when I 
visited them.  But Sears did.  The rule of thumb seems to be try 
things on everywhere; if it fits you and you don't gag on the 
color or the style, buy it.   There isn't much out there for 
larger size maternity clothes. The inventory changes constantly, 
so you have to keep going back to look.   The mail order
catalog is probably easier to work with.  

I don't know where your friend is located, but I found some lovely
things suitable for work at August Max Woman in the Burlington 
Massachusetts Mall.   Not maternity per se, but loose flowing clothes 
a size or two larger than normal seem to work pretty well. 
Especially loose tops to wear with leggings, and some dresses
(depending on style).  I had a great sales person who just 
kept coming up with one suitable outfit after another, once
I explained what I needed.  

    Roaman's 1-800-274-7130 or 
    
    Lane Bryant 1-800-477-7030
    
    Give them a call, they will be more than happy to send you a
    catalog.  They both specialize in size 14 and above.