Pea in the Pod Maternity Store

[runes]

so dh and i are going on vacation next week, i happened to be at the mall and decided to go to pea in the pod to treat myself to a cute new nursing top for our trip. i went in there, passing the $150 maternity jeans, the $300 set of juicy couture pregnancy sweats, the $400 semi-formal silk maternity ball gowns to the back of the store to a tiny measly little rack of nursing shirts. over half of the rack was filled with nursing pajamas. a few 'glamourmom' type tanks in limited sizes and colors, and a couple of other random shirts in either small or large and everything was either black, white or grey. i started laughing out loud and asked the store clerk who was standing a few feet away from me whether this was the only selection of nursing shirts that they had, she responded in the affirmative. i was cordial enough and started saying how it's so hard to find cute, stylish, flattering nursing tops, and how ironic it is that the store was filled with beautiful (albeit super $$$$$$) clothing for pregnancy but nothing really for nursing or transitionwear for when the baby comes. at this point, the manager had overheard the conversation and very sternly said to me "maam, we are a specialty store, we can't be expected to carry everything for everybody". ummmm...ok?

i'm smelling a letter writing campaign here, anyone care to join me? to their credit they did have a fairly ok selection of nursing pads, pumps etc. Very overpriced but they were there. it just was simply bizarre for me to walk in there and not be able to find one decent, fashionable article of nursingwear. am i expecting too much?

[RachelGS]

Well, considering that they also peddle mainstream, formula-advertising parenting mags, probably so.

[Joannarachel]

Oh my gracious, how RUDE!

Because, you know, nursing has NOTHING to do with maternity clothing :

[mama24-7]

I understand what you're saying but think they are probably not selling much nursing wear to mamas who can afford those clothes. I would call and ask to speak to the manager about the rude treatment.

Sus

[msumomma]

I would have took one look at the pricetag on the $150 jeans, turned around and walked out!

[mamanurse]

Pea in the Pod, Mimi Maternity and Motherhood are all the same company. I've always been dissapointed with customer service and selection at these stores. If you sign up for the free mainstream mags they also send you free formula samples in the mail.

[gabysmom617]

Originally Posted by kidspiration

at this point, the manager had overheard the conversation and very sternly said to me "maam, we are a specialty store, we can't be expected to carry everything for everybody". ummmm...ok?

: Sheez. : It's not like you walked in there and complained because there was no men's department or something.

I'm reminded of the time i walked into motherhood nursing shirt shopping, with my then 5 month old baby boy. 5 whole months. And the saleslady is like, "hm....he looks 'past' nursing." As if he was FAR too old to be nursing or something. i felt uncomfortable being in there after that, kinda weird. but i didn't let it bother me.

[Joannarachel]

I didn't know Pea and Motherhood were the same. I agree, their nursing selection leaves a lot to be desired.

I was in there the other day buying a nursing shirt and both my babies started screeching for milk at the same time. I got kind of flustered and told them as soon as we could find a bench, and the clerk offered me her chair

[JamesMama]

I was in Motherhood the other day, they had a really adorable nursing tank top...not the undershirt varity an actual Hippy nursing top...with the snap cup not the pull aside. DH is gonna take me up there this weekend so I can get it.

Anyway! PITP is INSANE with their prices, I'm sorry about the crappy nursing section, I've noticed nursingwear is few and far between.

[2Sweeties1Angel]

I was in Destination Maternity (combo store of Motherhood, Mimi, and PITP) and they had a decent selection of nursing tops/bras. They also sell breastpumps, nursing pads, Preggie Pops, and Mothering magazine (along with all the mainstream crap).

[nikirj]

This is where your free formula samples come from ladies. When you don't know what list you signed up for, etc, etc, etc, and you get a full-sized can in the mail? It's these guys.

Don't give up your address!

[runes]

yeah that.

every single time i've gone into one of those stores, they've asked my for my address and phone number. they make it seem as if you can't even make a purchase there without giving up your contact information. each time i do, i adamantly state that not only do i not want to be added to their mailing list, but that i do not want any free samples ESPECIALLY of formula. i've been on the receiving end of quite a few disdainful looks when saying this. one checkout clerk kept trying to push it on me, saying over and over "oh, but it's FREE". i wish i could have said "so's my breastmilk"!

[geek_the_girl]

Yuck

[laohaire]

My mom bought me some Motherhood clothes when I was pregnant. To be honest with you, it didn't occur to me at all at the time (I'd never been pregnant or, obviously, nursed before) but all the clothes I have are TERRIBLE for nursing. I don't mean that they aren't particularly discreet, but more like you almost can't physically manage it.

Fortunately I'm not too picky, a regular shirt works for me, plus I have 2 nursing dresses from Motherwear But, what a waste, it would make sense to me to have most of those clothes transition at least somewhat (since I continued to wear the maternity pants for a while.... <cough cough> er, I mean still....).

[Thursday Girl]

as far as the addresses go, refuse to give them yours, what are they going to do refuse to take your money? i am going to refuse to give my phone number to babies r us next time, it just annoys me so much that stores want you personal information. i mean without us they don't have a tore and they are their demanding info.

i went to one motherhood store looking for nursing clothes and found the same tiny selection. i have never owned a nursing anything but would like to. it's all so expensive though.

courtney

[ChinaDoll]

Originally Posted by gabysmom617

: Sheez. : It's not like you walked in there and complained because there was no men's department or something.

I'm reminded of the time i walked into motherhood nursing shirt shopping, with my then 5 month old baby boy. 5 whole months. And the saleslady is like, "hm....he looks 'past' nursing." As if he was FAR too old to be nursing or something. i felt uncomfortable being in there after that, kinda weird. but i didn't let it bother me.

OMG, are you serious?! I've been out of touch, obviously! Wow, I guess America will be shocked when I get home with my still-nursing 2.5 year old!

[shelleyd]

When I was pregnant, I went into Motherhood maternity and bought a nursing shirt, a nursing tank and a nursing bra. The clerk then asked for my contact info, when I declined, she said, "But you'll get free formula". Just the way she said it, I knew she was thinking I was naive to think that I'd never need formula. Their selection sucks and IME, the clerks there take your refusal of free formula pretty personally.

I've never given my info to them or any store and I'm happy to say that I've never received formula in the mail

Shelley

[Lovinmy2babies+1]

I LOVE our Motherhood store. Everytime I go in there, I hear the manager and sales associates telling the women who are about due to check out their nursing bras and nursing clothes so they have something to make them more comfortable for the early nursing days. They are ALWAYS pushing the nursing stuff.