Plus size mamas support thread! [Archive] - MotheringDotCommunity Forums

crazycandigirl

02-10-2007, 09:44 AM

Hello! I belong here. I have extra fluff and stuff and am pregnant. All is good in my world. And I am sooo excited that lane bryant has maternity clothes. After my ultrasound next week, and I know that everything looks alright, I am going shopping.:wink

I haven't had any problems with anyone making a big deal about my weight. This is my third pregnancy in the past year (I have had 2 losses), and my ob is awesome. I asked her if I could just not do the weigh in thing, and she said that was fine. So I will keep track of things and if I suddenly gain way too much I will let her know, but I do not have to deal with the scale thing every time I go in. I am so glad I realized that I could opt out of being weighed.:D

momuveight2B

02-10-2007, 09:55 AM

That is awesome that you do not have to weigh. That causes me so much stress and anxiety, not because of what is but because of the judgement I feel from the medical staff.

DoomaYula

02-10-2007, 11:34 AM

You can opt of being weighed, or you can weigh yourself backwards.

With my first pregnancy, when I was on the high end of normal-sized (pre-preg), I was having twins, and I gained a ton -- as I was told to. When I finally hit about 220lbs, I flipped out at my doc and told him that this was ABSOLUTELY IT I AM DONE STEPPING ON THE EVIL SCALE OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. Yes, I was pretty hormonal! :lol But the doc was cool.

With my second pregnancy, I would just step backwards on to the scale, so I never really saw the numbers, and nobody at the CNM clinic said anything about my weight.

How I would love to be 220 again! Now, that seems skinny to me!

Recently I went with a VERY petite client to a prenatal appointment, at 36w. She is about 5 feet tall. She weighed 120, at 36w. The mw said, "That's less than I weigh now." The apprentice said, "That's less than *I* weigh now." I said, "That's like more than 100lbs less than I weigh now!"

Hippiemommie

02-10-2007, 02:02 PM

Hi everyone! I'm heavy and concerned with how the midwives will treat me because of this. With my son they saw a sudden weight gain and said the baby was huge, sent me for an u/s, said we couldn't go past 40 weeks with them, induction then section. :dizzy: All because I was heavy. I'll have my first appointment Friday with new midwives and I am addressing the issue because I believe I am seen as weaker or lazy expecially when I'm pregnant and that $)#$ ain't flying this time around. :mischief I'm also going for a VBAC any VBAC plus mamas?

MOMGOTSPUNK

02-10-2007, 02:09 PM

Hiya mamas!

I've noticed a few others mentioning Lane Bryant maternity, so I figure I'm not the only plus-size mama. Hooray for already looking pregnant, before I even conceived! :lol

:yeah:

I looked in the mirror yesterday without any clothes.:duck: I look five months pregnant, and I am only 7 weeks. I wish that I could go through this pregnancy without gaining anything, but I know that I can't. I have kept on the baby weight from both of my last 2 pregnancies, and I wasn't skinny to begin with. 1st pregnancy started at 212. Second pregnancy started at 220. Third pregnancy/NOW starting at 230. :duck: Thankfully I have recently been able to find some plus-size maternity clothing. Anybody have ideas for maternity plus-size swimsuits.:o

sanguine_speed

02-10-2007, 05:55 PM

I guess I'm not what you'd call "plus sized" per se, but I am 20 pounds overweight according to BMI. So, I'm about a size 10-14, but my whole point here is that I look 5 months pregnant when I'm only 11 weeks! It's all fluff on top of there. It sucks because maternity clothes dig in to my fat, especially when I sit down.
Here's a pic of my belly (inches of fluff on top of tiny uterus :lol ).

http://jemm.dyndns.org/feb07/

khaoskat

02-10-2007, 07:32 PM

Add me to this....

Worst thing is, I have no clue what my starting weight is...I haven't stepped on a scale since my last OB apt in Oct. Ok, wait, I take that back, I did at my family doc, but have no clue what they were as I was busy chasing around 2 kids.

With DS1, I was 218, dropped down to 204, then weighed 225 at birth. (Winter pregnancy)

With DS2, I was 231, dropped down to 228, then weighed 234 at birth. (Winter pregnancy)

With DD1 (stillbirth at full term) I gained apx. 20 pounds. (Summer pregnancy)

Hopefully I wont gain as much this time.

I have never been able to find maternity shorts that fit right. They are either too low cut, or to tight fitting in the bottom..etc.

Melissa S.

Miny20

02-11-2007, 09:40 AM

I went to Walmart and bought a pattern and intend to make my own maternity clothes! It's hard to find plus size maternity patterns, but this one has shorts, pants, a dress, and 2 shirts. So, I purchased a bunch of coordindating fabrics and will have stuff that can be worn together.

Either, way, they're all going to end up being hated clothes at the end of my pregnancy because I'll wear them so much!

Funny how your views on pregnancy change from the beginning of the first to the beginning of the second!

ashleyhaugh

02-11-2007, 10:31 AM

im a plus sized mama to be too.... this is our first

DoomaYula

02-11-2007, 11:05 PM

khaoskat

02-12-2007, 12:11 AM

I remember being so psyched to buy my maternity clothes with my first pregnancy. I would always ask my best friend, "When am I going to start showing, already?!?!?!?" HA. HA. HAHAHHAHAHA. By the end, I was like, I AM SO SICK OF THESE STUPID 4 MATERNITY SHIRTS AND PANTS THAT I WEAR OVER AND OVER AND OVER EVERY WEEK.

I was never able to find any summer shits this past pregnancy. I had a total of 4 - 2 short sleeved; 2 sleeveless.

I never found any maternity shorts, I wore plus sized a few sizes bigger than what I wore....in cotton that would stretch to fit.

I have no clue what I am going to do this summer.

I already feel like I am going to have to start wearing maternity clothes earlier this pregnancy. With DS1 - 7 1/2 months for pants 8 months for shirts; DS2 was 7 months for both; DD1 was around 5-6 months.

My pants already all feel tight to me.

Melissa S.

MOMGOTSPUNK

02-12-2007, 10:08 AM

I will be at week 8 this week, and I am seriously losing my battle with my regular jeans. I don't quite want to go into maternity yet, but what do I do. Also, this will be my first pregnancy that I need maternity clothing during summer months. I have already spent more money on this pregnancy maternity clothing than my other 2 together. That still isn't very much money, though.

I am looking for my first maternity swimsuit online. I can't believe how expensive they are, for something that will not fit next summer and I may not use again.:shy

HeatherB

02-15-2007, 01:29 AM

Add me to the list of THRILLED that LB is carrying maternity! :D I told my DH it was a sign I needed to be pg again. ;) I've begged them to carry it (again) through both of my pgcies, and I'm so happy now! Of course, I'm doing my best to hold out on buying anything yet, as I have been investing in REAL clothes lately! And I need to get my use out of those, too! :lol

VBAC - I had my first VBAC 2.5 years ago - NO problems with weight, etc. Go for it, mama! :hug I had a fabulous homebirth midwife who NEVER gave me a hard time about weight. In fact she sometimes worried because I lost so much. But I did the same with my first, too, and eating better and trying to exercise more will do that, especially coupled with throwing up for months! I am SO excited to birth with the same midwife this time. :)

We are currently in a "weight loss" class at the gym, approved by my midwife, but all the goals are totally out the window now being pg. I am eager to be more fit and have a healthier heart at the end of these 12 weeks. And I'm glad my DH is with me! But there's no telling if it will be easier or harder to lose weight right now. As I said, I typically drop a lot in the first trimester, but I have yet to throw up at all! (maybe it IS a girl this time?!) And I'm eating more often to try to keep the nausea at bay, so I am definitely gaining. The trainer today said to look at how your clothes fit more than the scale - but that of course isn't gonna help me!! :lol I just keep reminding myself that it will be so worth it come labor time!

hammycakes

02-15-2007, 02:32 PM

:yeah:
Thankfully I have recently been able to find some plus-size maternity clothing. Anybody have ideas for maternity plus-size swimsuits.:o

I found 5 on ebay (plus sized) for under 30.00.. ebay is my answer for everything! just search maternity bathing suit plus sized

HeatherB

02-16-2007, 12:12 AM

Forgot about the swimsuit question... I got mine at a Motherhood Maternity outlet. There they carry plus sizes. Not the cheapest and not the absolute best, I'm sure, but it works! Glad I'll have another summer to use it through, and this time, we own a pool! :D

crazycandigirl

02-16-2007, 10:19 AM

Oh I wish we had a pool. It gets so hot down here in texas. sigh. I am already dreading the summer heat.

HeatherB

02-16-2007, 01:43 PM

crazycandigirl, where in TX are you? We're in the Houston area. Gotta say, the pool gets alot more use than the yard would've had there been one! Our pool is really just a tiny lap pool, but it IS nice cool water on hot summer days!

crazycandigirl

02-16-2007, 02:51 PM

I live in Georgetown, just a bit north of Austin. We do have a small public pool in georgetown, but it costs money and is always filled to the brim all day and every day. That makes it hard to go swimming.

HeatherB

02-16-2007, 05:19 PM

And Austin does get SO hot. Different from here, where it's just plain HUMID. But no fun, either way!!

HeatherB

02-17-2007, 11:52 PM

Hey, mamas... I was out with DH tonight and stopped into the newly-opened Motherhood store in our area. I didn't expect much, and was VERY surprised to see a display clearly marked "Plus." They had a decent array of items, including swim suits, jeans, capris, cute tops, etc. Even some sale items. So, I dunno if that's going to be the standard in all of their stores (was NOT in my past experience), or if it's just a few stores, but it might be worth checking out!

mamabearsoblessed

02-18-2007, 07:22 AM

With my first 2 pgs I found lots to love at motherhood~ cute overalls and simple tops~ all in plus size. I need a whole new maternity wardrobe this time around :bouncy, I can't wait to go shopping!!!! And am psyched to hear that LB has matern now!!!

:wave: Hi Heather!!! Rememeber me from the one thread???!!!!! I'M HERE!!!!! :throb

Hippiemommie

02-18-2007, 07:02 PM

I'm going to try online for some Plus clothes but the ones I got with my DS at Motherhood fell apart in just a couple months. I'll be staying far away from them!

dynamicdoula

02-18-2007, 10:01 PM

expecting :belly '08

Hippiemommie i'm wondering about your sig.... just how long are you going to be pregnant, exactly? :lol

HeatherB

02-18-2007, 11:44 PM

mamabearsoblessed, congrats!! Welcome to the DDC!! :D

I noticed at Motherhood that some of their clothes were CHEAP - I mean, $20 for a pair of jeans. Then there were others that were $45! I know their bras and panties are really "cheap" as in poorly made. I haven't had much trouble with the regular clothes I've bought from them, though. But at the time it was my ONLY option for maternity clothes, so I also couldn't compare to anything else!

dynamicdoula

02-19-2007, 12:00 AM

I did some googling for maternity clothes for plus size me, and all I find are tents! UGH!!! I hope going to LB tomorrow will be fruitful....

Hippiemommie

03-03-2007, 10:19 PM

Hippiemommie i'm wondering about your sig.... just how long are you going to be pregnant, exactly? :lol

LMAO I finally fixed that! I guess I just don't care for odd years!!!!

NatureMama3

03-03-2007, 10:50 PM

add me on too. I'm significantly less this go-round, but still plus sized.

My wonderful hernia (thanks twins!) has already popped out again, making me look 5 months pregnant.

My beef with maternity is none is modest. If anyone knows of some modest plus-sized maternity, please holler! (I typically wear long skirts and non-cleavage showing shirts, since nursing gear shows more than just lifting a shirt)

HeatherB

03-04-2007, 12:22 AM

Christine, have you checked out Lane Bryant's maternity wear? I was just looking at it, and there's a wide variety of tops, from more revealing to high-necked long-sleeve tees and button-down shirts.

I'm eager to try some of the LB pants! Though I've been bummed that they don't have my size available in all of the styles I want. :( Not sure if that's temporary or long-term, though. I tried on one of the more expensive pairs at Motherhood and they were okay, but not great. Not worth their horrible return policy! LB's is much more flexible - yay!

brendon

03-04-2007, 08:12 AM

I am wearing stretchy clothes for now. I can't stand the thought of having to buy maternity becuase it never fits right. I need to find a really nice dress for a wedding in may, and then capris becuase I will be in the south and I know this will not be fun.

I noticed at target they had some xxl, but sheesh what odd style. They would only look good if I had a basketball for a tummy, which I have never had.

Nope, don't like maternity clothes.

crazycandigirl

03-04-2007, 08:32 AM

I too am so excited about the maternity pants at Lane Bryant. I ordered some clothes from there last week and am waiting for them to arrive, and among them are two pairs of pants. Lane Bryant had jeans that I fit in perfectly when I am not pregnant that are very flattering on me, so I hope that they are just as nice when I am all belly. :lol When I was pregnant with DD I could not find pants that fit right, so I had to wear overalls as long as I could and stretch pants for the rest. Very unflattering and boring. Fingers crossed that this time I can be a little more stylish. :wink

NatureMama3

03-04-2007, 09:16 AM

Haven't tried Lane Bryant, will do! Didn't know they had maternity! :lol

With my last 2 I bought clothes at Sears and Meier & Frank but the Sears around here don't carry maternity and M&F was bought out by Macy's. :(

HeatherB

03-04-2007, 06:26 PM

Take a look at http://www.lanebryant.com/ where they carry the Maternity now! I don't know if it's possible to order it through stores - I haven't tried it yet. I am just thrilled, as they started carrying it only in the last few months! Told my DH it was a sign we needed to get pg again! ;) :lol

2bluefish

03-05-2007, 12:59 PM

I'm on the wrong side of 200 myself. 7 months post partum and 7 weeks pregnant - so yeah, I look pregnant. I'm barely out of maternity clothes, so I'm sure I'll be back in them sooner than later. I didn't get back into my prepregnancy clothes. I'm in southmost part of Texas, and I just picked up lot's of 2X tees at K-mart and Wal-mart and some plus sized stretchy jeans a size too big, cause I like to hike them up over my belly under my loose tees (what a nerd). Since I'm hopefully going to be doing the tandem nursing thing, I'm hopeful the weight will come off eaiser this time around. I'm cutting out sodas which was my biggest weakness.

That's exciting about the lane bryant thing - please post if anyone tries them. I've bought regular clothes from them in the past and found the torsos too long. I wonder if the maternity clothes will have the same problem?

Hippiemommie

03-05-2007, 09:46 PM

I almost bought some capris from Lane Bryant online the other day but the price shocked me! I would love to hear how they fit! Motherhood, who I don't care for anyway, their xl and 1x fit me the same, a little tight, and their 2x swallows me whole. I am thinking of getting a bella band to keep my regular pants on. I just wish someone would do a co-op for one.

crazycandigirl

03-07-2007, 03:47 PM

I just got in my Lane Bryant maternity clothes today and of course tried everything on. It all fits wonderfully and true to my non pregnant size, with plenty of room to stretch and grow. The jeans and capris that I got are adorable, and you can not tell they are maternity with a shirt on. They seem to be the same quality as all of the clothing I get there, so they should wear well and last forever. I am so happy! I can look cute while pregnant. Hurray!!!

Geeki

03-07-2007, 10:46 PM

Add me to the list.

I gained way to much on Depo Provera and now at a solid 230 (with a 40 I cup....) I'm "fluffy". I've never been a tiny girl, but at some point I would like to be back down to 170.

I didnt know LB had a maternity section now.

HeatherB

03-08-2007, 01:38 AM

Candi, thanks for the LB review!! I can't wait to get some! And I'm seriously thinking it's time, too. My regular jeans are getting uncomfy. Not necessarily too small, just not quite "right," KWIM? Though the funny thing is I've been wearing both my "regular" and my "skinnier" jeans - you know, the ones I told DH were really too small but he insisted looked great? :lol Thank goodness they all have a little stretch to them! ;) At least that size is still available in the maternity pants! But then I know I'm losing a little weight now, too, so it's hard to know if it's time to make the switch or not. I just know I"m not ready for my big, full-panel jeans from previous pregnancies!

Viola

03-08-2007, 01:45 AM

Anybody have ideas for maternity plus-size swimsuits.:o

I got one from Motherhood's website during my last pregnancy. I wish LB had had maternity clothes when I was pregnant!

HeatherB

03-08-2007, 02:04 AM

Well, I spoke too soon... They don't have my size in MOST of the pants I want. :( So I've emailed them and inquired as to when they will be restocking! I sure hope it's soon!

HeatherB

03-16-2007, 01:29 AM

Well, I went ahead and ordered some pants from LB maternity and they got here today! Of course, it turns out I'm smaller than I thought :eek and they're all too big! I may keep one pair that I like better than the others.

GOOD NEWS is though, that they've restocked on jeans and added a bunch of spring/summer tops, too!! So now I have to decide what to order - again! :lol

I'm definitely going to get a pair of the jeans NOW before they're gone. I think I like the half-panel pretty well. Comfy and secure enough now but still plenty of stretch. It's like a big, wide elastic band.

I also have tried on a pair of pants with a "full panel," and like I thought it's not the "all the way up to your chest" type of panel -much better than others. It also has no elastic at the top! So nothing to dig into your belly, just nice soft stretchy jersey. I remember all of my Motherhood pants having the huge panel and the 1" elastic that digs in and is rather uncomfy eventually. BUT the lack of it does mean that it doesn't fit as securely NOW.

So, there's my input on it! But they do all seem well made and I'm happy I can get some different stuff! (Oh, the knit gauchos were WAY big, even though I definitely ordered the "right" size.) Hope this helps! :D

2bluefish

03-16-2007, 09:02 AM

Hehe, I tried a pair last time that were so comfortable - no elastic. They were great until I got them home and walked out in the yard and they fell down around my ankles! I can't for the life of me figure out how they were supposed to stay up!

Hippiemommie

03-16-2007, 11:43 AM

I just got a coupon for Lane Bryant and it says if they don't have the size or style you want in the store to tell them and they will charge you and then ship them for free to your door!

mchalehm

03-16-2007, 12:04 PM

I weighed about 230 when I got pregnant and I bought a very cute Liz Lange maternity swimsuit from Target in an XXL. It fit like a dream and was adorable. It was a black tankini--covered everything and looked just like a retro 1950s swimsuit.

brendon

03-16-2007, 12:13 PM

i just heard that macy's is getting maternity...any idea if they will have plus size? I may have to email them.

I haven't left the house much, so my current clothes are o.k. but I will need some clothes soon.

Off to look around...

smudge

03-16-2007, 12:21 PM

I gotta say that I am not to hopeful to see a plus-size maternity line at Macy's. Two years ago I came to the conclusion that the large national chains figured that fat girls shouldn't be having having sex and ending up pg!
All the stuff I saw was for size 2 basketball bellies!
I had to buy all my stuff off the internet...

2bluefish

03-16-2007, 01:11 PM

What is the difference between the Lane Bryant website and the Lane Bryant Catalogue website? Are they the same company? They have cheeper stuff here (less selection):

http://www.lanebryantcatalog.com/plus-size-Maternity.aspx?DeptId=9300&Page=1

HeatherB

03-16-2007, 02:28 PM

Lane Bryant and Lane Bryant Catalog are completely separate companies. I've had things over the years from the Catalog and it's so-so. Cheap, but not great quality and honestly more suited for my mother than for me - at least back then! Not sure on how it came about that there are two such similar companies, but definitely not the same thing!

ETA: Why do they have a tiny model for their plus-size maternity clothes on the Catalog site? :scratch The clothes look humongous on her! But I can't tell if it's poorly designed clothes or a poor choice of model.

2bluefish

03-16-2007, 02:39 PM

Yeah, I get their catalogues and that has always irked me about the models - I can't tell what it is going to look like. Biggest problem I've had with their clothes is that they are usually too long for me. But I haven't liked Lane Bryant the store either - their stuff has shrunk on me, leaving feeling very cheated since it is so expensive.

I was just looking at the JCPenney website, and they have extended sizes on some of their maternity stuff. I usually have trouble finding things I like in the store, but looks like the website carries it...

I would like a few tops that aren't T-shirts this time around. :-D

Hippiemommie

03-16-2007, 03:55 PM

HeatherB

03-22-2007, 03:00 PM

Hey, mamas! I was looking at some of the "popping already" threads and feeling a bit sad - I *think* I'm popping a bit but it's so hard to tell! :( So I was just wondering how the other fluffier mamas are doing. Any obvious baby belly showing yet?

I do wish my figure was more accomodating to showing off pregnancy. I'm 12 weeks now with #3, so you'd think I'd be showing at least a little, right? And I do feel different. Certainly even my newer pants don't fit all that well. Can't wait for those LB maternity pants to get here!! :D But it'd be nice to be *obviously* :belly and not just a little rounder! :lol

~~Mama2B~~

03-22-2007, 03:09 PM

I FEEL YOU! I'm at week 39 and there are still people who either don't realize I'm pregnant or assume I'm only a few months along. If I'm in the right clothes I can look very pregnant, but in a standared loose fitting shirt, I just look fatter. :(

I usually wear a size 18 and I've put on 15 pounds of pregnancy weight. I didn't look pregnant at all until the 5th month and even then it was hard to tell. My baby was breech and sat very high, so I just looked rounder.

I recommend empire waist tops. In those I look pregnant. Also, I started wearing high waist tights/nylons and/or high waist bike shorts or leggins under my clothes. That helps smooth my rolliness into one round belly.

Even now, my bellybutton hasn't popped. It's really close to being flush with the rest of my belly, but I don't think it will ever poke out.

Hugs to you!

Kristi

~~Mama2B~~

03-22-2007, 03:13 PM

:lol in the words of dd 5, "Is the baby in your tummy now, cause your tummy is really fat."
Me-" nope, my tummy is fat becuase it is."

:lol

I was able to wear stretchy skirts for both pregnancies. No matter what pant I tried that were never comfortable. They cut off my tummy. :lol

LOL This reminds me of when I first announced I was pregnant. I was maybe a month along and working at a group home with younger boys. One of them sat down next to me and pressed on my belly. He looked at me with this dirty look and said, "Wait a minute! That's just fat!" I told him that even though I was pregnant I was, indeed, still fat, but there really was a baby in there. I don't know if he thought I was making it up or what! :lol

Kristi