Maternity Jeans FAIL :(

MrsNicole&Brian808 · June 2010

I've been very frustrated with how clothing fits lately. My pre-PG clothing is getting uncomfortably snug and the few maternity tops and bottoms I have also don't quite fit right. I guess I'm in an awkward, in-between phase right now.

I went to Motherhood on Saturday and bought a pair of full panel maternity jeans. A saleswoman helped me pick out a size. It felt really big on me, but she assured me that, not only would I grow into them, but she told me they are not pre-shrunk and would fit much better after a wash and dry.

I washed them yesterday and MH put the laundry away last night. Of course, I was running late this morning and just threw the mat jeans on this morning and ran out the door. Well, they feel HUGE on me and I don't think they shrunk one bit. I've actually resorted to hiking the full panel all the way up and tucking it under my bra strap because these jeans feel like they're sagging and falling down otherwise. I was almost in tears this morning at work, fighting with my jeans in the bathroom.

I've already been frustrated with how clothing fits/looks on me and I just feel so unattractive. I feel like leaving work right now and going straight to Motherhood to buy a smaller size. I don't even know if I could return this pair since I've already washed it. And I might grow into them later, anyway? To top it all off, I really don't want to buy another pair right now. MH has been on edge about our spending since losing his job...although I'm sure he'd tell me to go ahead and buy another pair if it will make me feel better.

I feel like I've done a good job keeping my hormones and emotions in check for most of this pregnancy, but I feel like a complete basketcase today! Over a pair of jeans. Crying

MauiWedding08 · June 2010

I'm sorry - I hope they return them since you bought that size on their advice!!

I never bought jeans at motherhood but I will say that mine from the gap were never baggy - try buying them in your size. If anything I think I remember reading some reviews on the tri boards that said motherhood jeans stretch through the day/multiple wears. Plus the panel is invented to let you grow in the belly - most people won't grow in the thighs and hips. I did get pretty wide in the hips and didn't "outgrow" my maternity pants.

I am sure once you find the right size that you will feel better. I got maternity clothes early and never looked back

MrsNicole&Brian808 · June 2010

MauiWedding08:

I'm sorry - I hope they return them since you bought that size on their advice!!

I never bought jeans at motherhood but I will say that mine from the gap were never baggy - try buying them in your size. If anything I think I remember reading some reviews on the tri boards that said motherhood jeans stretch through the day/multiple wears. Plus the panel is invented to let you grow in the belly - most people won't grow in the thighs and hips. I did get pretty wide in the hips and didn't "outgrow" my maternity pants.

I am sure once you find the right size that you will feel better. I got maternity clothes early and never looked back

The saleswoman asked what size I wore pre-PG. I was an 8/10, which translates to their Medium size. They must run a bit big. There is just so much room in the hip area! I have never fit into a Small size of anything, but she should have let me try it on anyway. That's it! We'll see how long I last today. I'm definitely making another trip over to Motherhood today!

MauiWedding08 · June 2010

wow, I didn't know they varied that much. I do own one pair of pants from there - kind of a tweed-y dress pant. I do remember them being a little loose but unlike denim the tweed didn't stretch at all so they worked and I also knew I wouldn't be machine drying so I bought them without any room (other than the tummy panel).

I realize I should have said most women don't grown *that much* in the hips/thighs/butt. I definitely got bigger but not big enough to really outgrow the pants. For the last couple of weeks I was didn't have to go to the office and lived in sweats or sweater pants, but if need be I could have still fit into the denim and did put them on occasionally to leave the house - they just would not have been my first choice

What kind of tops are you buying? I really liked the ones with ruched sides. Target has them and motherhood also sold them (but usually they were more expensive there). I thought that style was great for early pregnancy and continue to work well through out. I didn't like loose or babydoll style - they just made me look big and at first I thought it was because I wasn't "pregnant enough" - but by the time I had an obvious belly they just made me look bigger and some of them didn't even cover my lower belly so you could see the maternity pant band. Funny that I was less tummy conscious while pregnant...

like this - I always wear a cami under t-shirts so the lightweight quality didn't bug me. Also my petite friend that had a baby 1 week before me at first didn't like them but pulled it across her hips and then by 3rd tri was happy with the extra length... just trying to help

SanHawaii08 · June 2010

aww, Nicole, I'm sorry Sad I know how excited you were to get some jeans that fit! I've been wearing the same one pair of my old jeans that still fit (they were my "fat" jeans), as well as 2 pairs of black exercise/yoga pants - one of which i passed off as black slacks last week when meeting clients in NYC Embarrassed (the material is different - not regular cotton and lycra or whatever) wally teases me now about wearing sweatpants to work (but they're not sweatpants! hah)

could you do something like that too, in addition to mat jeans? they've been pretty comfy - i got both of them at target a long time ago, so - easy on the budget too.

i have yet to set foot into a maternity clothing store, b/c i fear the same outcome Sad but it will get better! i hope they help you find something that fits!

MrsNicole&Brian808 · June 2010

MauiWedding08:

wow, I didn't know they varied that much. I do own one pair of pants from there - kind of a tweed-y dress pant. I do remember them being a little loose but unlike denim the tweed didn't stretch at all so they worked and I also knew I wouldn't be machine drying so I bought them without any room (other than the tummy panel).

I think these jeans are also quite stretchy! I think you were right about them continuing to stretch throughout the day. I feel like they are even looser now, and I've already had breakfast and drank a lot of water.

MauiWedding08:

I realize I should have said most women don't grown *that much* in the hips/thighs/butt. I definitely got bigger but not big enough to really outgrow the pants. For the last couple of weeks I was didn't have to go to the office and lived in sweats or sweater pants, but if need be I could have still fit into the denim and did put them on occasionally to leave the house - they just would not have been my first choice

What kind of tops are you buying? I really liked the ones with ruched sides. Target has them and motherhood also sold them (but usually they were more expensive there). I thought that style was great for early pregnancy and continue to work well through out. I didn't like loose or babydoll style - they just made me look big and at first I thought it was because I wasn't "pregnant enough" - but by the time I had an obvious belly they just made me look bigger and some of them didn't even cover my lower belly so you could see the maternity pant band. Funny that I was less tummy conscious while pregnant...

like this

I pretty sure I'll get bigger in the hips, but unless I resort to a diet purely made up of chocolate-covered bacon and ice cream, I can't see myself getting big enough to be comfortable in these jeans.

Thanks for the link! I like that style! The tops I have are some hand-me-downs and a couple of Motherhood tops. I keep thinking I'll grow into them, but I think, like you said, they'll just make me feel and look even bigger. Not flattering at all. Stick out tongue

MauiWedding08 · June 2010

another couple of ideas - I'm not sure about your dress code at work but if you are wearing jeans I'm sure these 2 options might work as well.

My local target had some of those knit gaucho pants with a roll over waist band in stock (in the normal, not mat., section - merona brand) - I know those are probably not "in" anymore but I bet they would be soooooo comfy and still semi-dressy depending on what you wear with them. They also have a nice roll over waist band knit skirt too - I think old navy usually makes these as well. Both were $15ish

MrsIH · June 2010

Oh Nicole, I'm sorry to hear that What a disappointment.

I certainly HEAR you on the maternity clothes though and feel your pain. Recently I figured I needed 1 more pair of jeans and liked them in the store, bought them and brought them home. Well they're too long, wayyy too long that I hear them drag on the ground, grrr... I didn't notice that in the change room at all. I have also thrown a pair of black work pants (the first pair I bought) in the dryer (oops!) and they shrunk so I never got to wear them... it seems they are all "hang to dry", "low iron", etc. etc. Another pair I just bought, my iron wasn't low enough so there is an iron mark on the back pocket. I can't win either :P

SanHawaii08 · June 2010

MauiWedding08:
What kind of tops are you buying? I really liked the ones with ruched sides. Target has them and motherhood also sold them (but usually they were more expensive there). I thought that style was great for early pregnancy and continue to work well through out. I didn't like loose or babydoll style - they just made me look big and at first I thought it was because I wasn't "pregnant enough" - but by the time I had an obvious belly they just made me look bigger and some of them didn't even cover my lower belly so you could see the maternity pant band. Funny that I was less tummy conscious while pregnant...
like this - I always wear a cami under t-shirts so the lightweight quality didn't bug me. Also my petite friend that had a baby 1 week before me at first didn't like them but pulled it across her hips and then by 3rd tri was happy with the extra length... just trying to help

ooh, i likely. i think i'll start with target for maternity clothes...maybe this weekend!

i think i'm also less self-conscious about my tummy, now that everyone i know knows i'm pg. it was always where i carried my weight before, but now, i have a reason Stick out tongue (though i lurk on the Nov board and was looking at this week's bump pics - bump sizes vary SO much from woman to woman, regardless of how big they were to begin with!)

Married2MrWright · June 2010

Oh, I am sorry Nicole. FWIW, I had a pair of mat jeans like that that didn't fit until the third tri and by then, boy was I glad I had them! I did use a smoothing tank that was long to hold up my mat pants for me before they fit my belly bump.

You might consider an in-between pair of mat jeans...I had these early one and LOVED them...they were nice too, post partum...they had a "real waist band" with buttons that adjusted to fit my bump. I wore them until well into the third tri and then they were too snug in the last 4 weeks or so,

I also liked my Duo full panel jeans because they had an adjustable waist band which kept them from sagging. It looks like they come in petites too.

mrs.winter · June 2010

I remember those days! I ended up having to buy bigger sizes at the end of my pregnancy (not that you want your hips/thighs to get bigger but mine did) as my old ones didn't fit anymore. Also, at MM all their jeans run different. Some I would wear a small and others I was a medium.

I think you should go ahead and get another pair:-)

eacerna · June 2010

Nicole - i don't have a Motherhood Maternity pants but I want to say that I *love* the pair of Gap maternity jeans that I got. I tried on size Small tops on MM but they were too big for me so perhaps their sizes run big and not meant for us petite girls.

lisakeiko · June 2010

I'm so sorry to hear that the shopping trip wasn't great. =( Do you have to wear long pants to work? If not, would skirts/dresses be okay? These were a lot more comfortable for me than pants and jeans. I hope you're able to find something new and good when you go back today!

mrs.winter · June 2010

Oh and you should check out Target. I ended up shopping there for most of my maternity clothes since you can return them...I hate that about MM. Sometimes you need to come home to try them on. I ended up retuning a tons of stuff after I had Ashton. I could not have done that at MM.

MrsNicole&Brian808 · June 2010

Thanks, everyone! Smile

I'm thinking of holding on to these jeans for later on. Who knows what size I'll be towards the end. I'll go back to MM and try on a smaller size and different styles. If that doesn't work out, I'll try someplace else. There was actually a pair of jeans at MM that fit pretty good on Saturday, but they were $50 (the ones I got were $29.98). I was hoping to find something more affordable. I'll give Target a try and also check out Old Navy in Waikele.

I work in a predominantly male, industrial environment so the norm around here is pants versus dresses and skirts. I'll keep searching....

SanHawaii08 · June 2010

for tops - i got 2 shirts and 2 dresses (at the outlets! great sales!) over the weekend, from banana republic and ann taylor. one top is loose and stretchy, and the dresses and the other top have an empire waist with ruching or extra fabric/folds in the front, if that makes sense at all - so there's a lot of extra fabric in the front which would accomodate a belly. here's one example (of a shirt i already had):

i think i'll have to get "real" mat sweaters in the fall, but am hoping stuff like this, along with some tops of target, will hold me over for the summer.

then again, since it doesn't get that cold in hawaii in the fall, not sure if that really helps you...

redshoegirl · June 2010

Oh hon - big hugs! I can totally understand - I felt SO unnattractive and frumpy for the majority of the time I was pregnant (still do actually lol). I know that some women feel sexy and curvy, but I wasn't one of them.

I agree with the other girls - get a pair of maternity jeans that's in your current size. That sales person was a lunatic for saying to get them large! While your hips/thighs can get larger (mine did, although not by a full size), it's mostly your belly that grows so that's where you need the extra room.

Since they've been washed, I doubt you can return them but I suppose you could always sell them on eBay or something if you wanted to get a little of your money back?

Also, someone else mentioned wearing black yoga pants and I second this, if you can get away with it at your work! I found a pair that were a thick knit and as long as the top was covered by my shirt (which it always was), they didn't really look like yoga pants per se, and were the most comfortable and versatile piece of clothing I had the entire pregnancy!

myday1708 · June 2010

MauiWedding08:
most people won't grow in the thighs and hips.

Ummm... I totally did! I bet these jeans eventually fit. You might be one size now and another size in your 3rd Tri. At least that's how it was for me. I didn't get PG jeans because I kept waiting until I felt I was at a good size to get them and then it was summer and all I wanted to wear was dresses and yoga pants!

myday1708 · June 2010

mrs.winter:
Oh and you should check out Target. I ended up shopping there for most of my maternity clothes since you can return them...I hate that about MM. Sometimes you need to come home to try them on. I ended up retuning a tons of stuff after I had Ashton. I could not have done that at MM.

Second thumbs up for mat clothes at Target!

inamra · June 2010

Oh no =( Bummer. I actually got Motherhood Maternity jeans and I got them in my size and they fit just right at the store and the same after the wash. I would definitely recommend just getting one in your size now, since the full panel will stretch with the baby. My jeans never felt small even when I was 39wks. I think you should try to return them anyway. You only washed it once, so I don't think they'd notice and if they challenge you on it, I think you'd have a good case if you explained that it was THEIR associate who told you that a size bigger would work because they'd shrink and so now you're stuck with a pair of pants that don't fit due to their mistake. It's worth a try to return them! GL!

lola808 · June 2010

Some petite gals may never need actual maternity pants (or tops either). Nothing ever fit me right, so I just bought a pair of stretch denim jeans one size up from usual and used it with the belly band. It lasted all pregnancy and was way cheaper and more stylish! (Got them for $12 at Ross)

mrspresley · June 2010

i hate motherhood's return policy and regret getting a pair of jeans there. they worked ok but not until the very end of my PG. they fit well but kept slipping down so i was constantly hiking them up. i know they make suspender type things that hook onto your bra from the pants but otherwise i don't have any ideas for you

sorry your shopping trip was a fail. but don't worry about how you look, you look great and should embrace being PG

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