Help this reader!
I have a question about what to wear when you’re in that awkward stage when you’re newly pregnant before you start showing, but your big bloated belly makes it look like you are. I’m only 11 weeks along so I don’t have a baby bump, but by the end of the day I can barely do up my pants. I’m not ready to wear maternity clothes or tell my boss that I’m expecting…what should I wear?? Any suggestions? I have to wear business clothes to work and I’m having a hard time balancing comfort and professionalism.
Thanks for your help!
Tiffany
Dear Tiffany,
First off… congratulations! Secondly, I would check out this post that Emily did a while ago about being “barely pregnant”. Thirdly… Dear Readers: any ideas from you that you have used?
Image from the post "barely pregnant"
Related posts:
ELASTIC skirts!
Dresses! I have to wear a skirt or dress to work every day, so I have several loose, flow-y dresses that I wear whenever I’m feeling not my thinnest. The greatest thing is that people are so used to seeing me in them that when I finally am pregnant, no one will think twice about them.
I did a whole series on my blog about dressing for pregnancy:
http://themoncurs.blogspot.com/search?q=dressing+for+pregnancy
Including a post about being “barely pregnant.”
http://themoncurs.blogspot.com/2010/01/dressing-for-pregnancy-little-bloated.html
Empire waisted stuff (and stretchy pants) are a good bet in the work place!
there are so many cute tops now that are loose fitting, they almost look maternity but no one will know the difference. also something like a cardigan or jacket that distracts from the belly.you could also look for a maternity pencil skirt and a blouse that doesn’t tuck in so you have the comfort but the sleek look. for the end of the day put on a pair of sweats and call it good. or start putting rubber bands on the button to loosen your pants. it will get better!
I have never had a baby, but I worked for 4 years in retail while in college. The best trick I learned was to take a rubber band and loop it through your button hole in your pants or jeans. Loop it back around and attach it to your button. It stretches the life of your clothes for quite some time according to my customers. The bigger the rubber band, the bigger the stretch!
I have 3 kids (4, 2, and nearly 1). First, go to Target and buy one or 2 belly bands – those stretchy fabric things that go around your middle. You can unbutton your pants quite a bit but the bands hold your pants up and keep things relatively flat. You’ll be able to wear your regular pants for much longer, and you can wear the band riding high to smooth out your stomach under stuff that isn’t loose if you want to hide a little longer. (And of course they also keep things up and smooth out your tummy after you have the baby.) The bands just look like you have a camisole on underneath that is sort of peeking out at the bottom. Black was most useful for me. You could also get a stretchy camisole and cut off the top of it and make a tube, if you wanted other colors, since the BBs come only in black and white and nude, I believe.
Thanks to a tip from a friend, I hit up Old Navy for some ribbed tank tops (aka “wife-beaters”, ugh). You really only need a few in a few colors — these are relatively light but also cover any gaps nicely. Oh, and anything with buttons down the front will gap very soon, so pull-over type tops are best if you want to buy regular clothes rather than maternity. And some camisoles will help cover your cleavage — I felt like my bosom was floating up to the ceiling!
Try to buy a few basics and accessorize — a black stretchy dress and top, a white button-down, nice maternity jeans. Start looking at cute flat shoes, because even after you have the baby you’ll want to carry him or her safely without stumbling. For winter I had a few sweaters I could layer easily, in colors I loved and that worked with what I had. I went to one great consignment shop and found a couple of adorable dresses.
I’m at 14 weeks right now and it’s definitely getting more and more obvious that there’s a little babe growing inside me. I just bought a cute top from anthropologie.
http://images.anthropologie.com/is/image/Anthropologie/010096_010_b
It’s called the Minas Tank and it’s on sale for $39.95. The ruffles and front bow sort of distract from the belly and I think it’d be cute for work too. I plan on wearing it layered over a long sleeve shirt with leggings and boots as the seasons change. I think it’s a great non-maternity… but still maternity shirt.
If you shop in store it also comes in a cute yellow plaid color.
Have fun with the girls and I would love to hear any one else’s suggestions for more non-maternity but still doable for maternity tops and dresses.
Bella Bands are a must! I’m 6 months and still wear my regular jeans, completely unbuttoned, with a bella band over the top of them. Motherhood makes one that isn’t quite as good, but still works well and is slightly cheaper.
http://www.bellablumaternity.com/bella-band-ingrid-isabel-p-3010.html
You can wear your pre-pregnancy pants for a long time just by leaving them unbuttoned. Loop a rubber band through the hole and wrap both ends around the button for extra stretch, and no loose flaps of material. Buy maternity camisoles – they are extra long so you can wear them under everything and cover up your makeshift button-fly. I found a long cami was more comfy than a bella band because I was constantly adjusting the band, whereas the cami would stay put. Buy some loose flowy tops that can camouflage your belly. While you’re still small now, and after you have the baby, you can wear a belt over them.
The bella band is a MUST. You can wear it with pants or skirts. It works great. It will also be great in the last weeks of pregnancy when your shirts don’t quite cover your belly (especially if you are carrying low) because it just looks like you have a tank on underneath.
Love them!!
And congratulations!!!!
i second the bella bands, or if you want to go cheaper, just get a rubber band and loop it over the button on your jeans, then through the button hole then back around the button- that way you dont have to buy anything and dont have to button those jeans if they’re tight!
Oh! How about a cute top with leggings?! Leggings are adorable, and a flowey top would hide your almost baby bump!
Don’t you just love hearing “Oh, look, you’re showing!!” and having to tell them “Nope! I’m just bloated.” Whatever you wear, stick to patterns and textures (ruffles, pleats, pin-tucks,etc) that keep the eye moving over your awkward bits. Solids show off every contour of your growing belly and every waist band you’ve got on!
Speaking of waist bands, I also second the bella band vote, I bought a cheap knock-off at Motherhood Maternity for less than $20, but you can also buy an extra-stretchy spandex tank or sports bra and cut the straps off, works like a charm. I still use mine once in a while when I can’t quite fit into something!
I wore skirts with elastic waist bands. Or a skirt with a roll down top (sort of like yoga pants, but a skirt). Congratulations~
Thanks so much for all the recommendations! I’m definitely going to look into buying a bella band and wear more jackets with my flowy shirts