Time for maternity clothes, but not for my belly . . .

[jocelyndale]

I'm what . . . 13w5d . . . and my boobs are officially too big for most of my clothing. My shirts are all riding up. My baggy sweaters are tight. I think I've gone beyond an H cup and my nipples are now somewhere in the vicinity of Jupiter.

I'm not terribly hopeful, either, because most of the maternity clothing I've seen isn't really all that accomodating for the incredibly busty.

I have narrow shoulders (short, small-boned, very curvy--basically, women's petite), so I can't just go buy plus-size clothing. It falls off at my shoulders, twists around, and attempts to strangle me as I drive.

I'm contemplating just making a half dozen polarfleece ponchos and just wearing those. HAH! I can be a tent for Hallowe'en!

Busty women who've gone before--what do I do?

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by jocelyndale

I'm what . . . 13w5d . . . and my boobs are officially too big for most of my clothing. My shirts are all riding up. My baggy sweaters are tight. I think I've gone beyond an H cup and my nipples are now somewhere in the vicinity of Jupiter.

I'm not terribly hopeful, either, because most of the maternity clothing I've seen isn't really all that accomodating for the incredibly busty.

I have narrow shoulders (short, small-boned, very curvy--basically, women's petite), so I can't just go buy plus-size clothing. It falls off at my shoulders, twists around, and attempts to strangle me as I drive.

I'm contemplating just making a half dozen polarfleece ponchos and just wearing those. HAH! I can be a tent for Hallowe'en!

Busty women who've gone before--what do I do?

I was busty for my size, but not quite that endowed. I needed huge size maternity clothes as I put on tons of weight all over though. Not much help. I am just the opposite this time, not needing the maternity tent tops, but my bum is about too big for my bottoms.

[St. Margaret]

I got a stretchy shirt at the gap that is great- it is rather long for my lack of a belly at this point, but it hugs pretty well so it's okay. And did I mention it's stretchy? It gives you room when you need it and hugs when you don't. I think I'll be able to wear it from late 1st trimester all the way through birth. It's long sleeved with a scoop neck that's sort of gathered-- I wear different cute camis under it (good practice for nursing outfits, right?) Good luck!

[jocelyndale]

Gap's site frustrates me because they only give a sizing chart based on hips. That's absolutely no help at all!

I might have to check their stuff out. Do their stores carry maternity? I hate ordering online and finding I need to return something. :/ I've not stepped foot into a Gap . . . um, ever. Not exactly my style. I'm willing to look, though!

[St. Margaret]

Oh, I just stopped into their baby store at our little mall, and they had a whole maternity section in the back (like, a long room running the width of the story). I don't normally shop at the gap, but I was looking for a few work shirts that I could also keep wearing as I grew, and this was nice and non-trendy, just a pretty normal long sleeved tee (and super soft, so I've been loving it when I've felt so miserable). But I'm someone to buy clothes only in person if possible.

[jocelyndale]

Gap has a baby store? o_O And they sell maternity clothing in the baby store? No wonder I've never seen any!

Times have changed since I lived anywhere with a sizeable mall. Our mall is tiny. I actually prefer living someplace without tons of sprawl (*sigh*, it's coming), but it does mean I don't know about other shopping opportunities.

I'll have to see if I can find compelling reasons to visit Richmond or DC.

[PajamaMama]

I had this problem with my first pregnancy, and I bought mens' tank tops and just wore them under flannel (unbuttoned) shirts...

Since then the rest of me has filled out enough so that I was able with dd#2 (and this time I think) to wear maternity clothes in large sizes without having them slip off my shoulders.

After I'd been nursing for about 3 months with both babies my boobs went back down to a c/d cup so take heart...it probably won't last forever!

[jocelyndale]

I was a lot bigger than a C/D pre-pregnancy (think 34G on a skinny day). My mother's breasts never went down too much after nursing. I'm planning on having a reduction in a few years, when the babe is done with the boobs. I'm just having a heck of a time finding anything that fits without falling off. If it's roomy enough for the boobs, it falls off the shoulders, which defeats the purpose.

And I'll fully admit to being picky about fabric and color. I am going to try the JCPenney maternity 5-piece set--a friend with a similar body type had very good luck with that set, but not with other clothing from penney's.

In town, we have one or two super pricey maternity boutiques, one mall store (motherhood?), JCPenney's (with about three pieces of maternity clothing, the rest catalog), and Sear's (three racks). I don't think Belk carries much.

The net time I'm in Richmond or DC, I'll check out some more stores so that I can touch and feel and examine clothing before I buy it.

I think I'm going to have to sew. My mother was forced to make all of her maternity clothes. I have sewing machines and a serger, so that might be the path I take.

Ah, well, at least my cloak will serve me well for a winter coat.