[ Carrie wrote: "I am just starting to wear thigh high support hose. The really thick ones. And I cannot keep the things on. they just roll down my legs at the most inconvenient times.I could not find a maternity garter belt. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep these things up? - Carrie]
Dear Carrie, I sympathize with you, totally. With my pregnancies I didn't need the 'really thick, medical 'support' hose - I "only" needed the so-called regular "support" maternity panty-hose, - Believe me...that was bad enough! I've always found panty-hose uncomfortable and a nuisance and prefer thigh high nylons, either the "stay-up" kind or occasionally with a garterbelt. Of course when I was pregnant the garterbelt was no longer an option. My doctor said I should avoid the stay-up type of stockings too, as they could cause a constriction, leading to varicose veins and/or other circulation problems. At the time I worked in an office where I dealt with the public, so pregnant or not, I pretty much had to wear skirts or dresses and of course, along with that, nylons on my legs, so maternity panty-hose it was. Yuck! As much as disliked (and still dislike) regular panty-hose, I absolutely hated maternity panty-hose! By the 6th month or so, it itched and irritated my abdomen, it wouldn't stay in place - the top band would roll over or slide down. Plus it was expensive - almost double the price of regular "non-maternity" panty-hose (and about 4 times the price of the regular nylon stockings I was used to buying) and poorly made to boot - it seemed to run very easily - much more then even regular panty-hose. Anyway enough of my "I Hate Panty-hose" rant! On to my idea for a possible solution.
During my first pregnancy, 10 years ago, (my first of three unhappy experiences with maternity panty-hose), I remember complaining to my mother about how they felt and asking what she wore when she had been pregnant. My brothers and sisters where all born between 1958 and 1970 - mostly before panty-hose and particularly, maternity panty-hose became common or even available. She told me that when I was born in the late 1960's. pregnant women just wore regular nylon stockings - but they had special maternity garterbelts to hold them up. Well I started to look for one - I but to no avail. Most stores had never heard of such a thing and the few older saleswomen I spoke to, remembered them, but said they hadn't been made in years. Well they were right. No longer made - anywhere, apparently. That was over 10 years ago now. For my three pregnancies, spread over the next 10 years, I had to literally 'endure' maternity panty-hose. Well, I'm not pregnant now, (*may* be contemplating one more though!
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), but the panty-hose situation still bugs me. Lately I've been thinking that I must not be the only one out there who prefers nylon stockings to panty-hose - and who when pregnant, absolutely hates maternity panty-hose. Here is my question to everyone out there *IF* an actual maternity garterbelt was available that was comfortable, and reasonably priced (under or around $25.00 - $30.00 maybe?) and functional - perhaps it could also serve as a 'light support' garment for the tummy and at least somewhat "pretty" if not necessarily "sexy'), would anybody buy it do, you think? By "anybody" - I mean enough women to actually have one manufactured perhaps by smaller "cottage industry' manufactures willing to do custom production in limited runs?
I'm trying to determine if there would be a market for such a thing and I am seriously talking to some overseas companies about the possibility of having one designed and manufactured - using some 1960's catalog images as a basis, but with modern fabrics and other improvements. If I hear from enough other women who think there would be a market - even a fairly limited one- for an actual maternity garterbelt, I will push ahead with this project and see what I can come up with. Please, everybody - let me know what you think - pro or con - either here in this forum or PM or e-mail me.
[email protected]
Martina
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