Awkward Phase

kes487 · July 2011

Ladies, I'm currently going through that awkward phase where I don't look pregnant, but it just looks like I have a baby beer belly. I mean, I've never had a belly before, so it makes me feel self-conscious about my figure. I don't want to buy full blown maternity shirts, but right now I'm wearing my tight-fitted, v-neck cotton tees and some normal jeans (my jeans are a little tight in the waist, but only when I sit down).

What are some of the things you ladies wore that hid your "beer-belly bump", but also didn't make it look like you're wearing a shirt that's too big for your size?

Jules08 · July 2011

This probably won't be too helpful, but I didn't. I embraced it as part of pregnancy. I just wore clothes that fit and were comfortable.

AlwaysSunny925 · July 2011

Dresses, dresses, dresses. That is practically all I live in right now.

Frostycake2011 · July 2011

Anything tight along the breast line that flows outwards. Usually will work until you will the flowing shirt. Also any shirts that are just loose fitted or with ruffles...? Good luck, You will be out of that awkward stage in less time then you know it.

anne.ortego · July 2011

I'm wearing non-fitted polo style shirts, and that's working pretty well for me.

Nichie2 · July 2011

Good for you for being 17 weeks and still fitting in your regular jeans! I agree though..sun dresses are a staple for me right now. Other than that, the flowy shirts are great as well. It'll pass.

Missus123 · July 2011

Dresses are what I feel most comfortable in right now. I've always had a bit of a belly but my weight has shifted up and my lower stomach is growing with the uterus/baby so I just look uncomfortable. I thought I had gained a lot of weight because of the change in appearance but I hadn't gained much at all. It was just my body and insides shifting and moving around. Aside from dresses, I wear stretchy pants on the weekends and try to wear loose close in general. I found some great finds on asos.com and they have free shipping too!

Petunia844 · July 2011

Well compared to all of my other pregnant friends/family I think I showed super early... but in the lovely fluffy awkward phase I just switched to maternity pants or wore my bella band and it seemed to hide the fluff pretty well. Now though there's no doubting the belly and I get comments from people all the time about being pregnant, so hopefully you'll be out of that phase soon too!

lovelyAngelique · July 2011

jnatkaniec:
Dresses, dresses, dresses. That is practically all I live in right now.

This! In fact I want to go buy more. Just make sure that if you buy dresses they are fitted under the breast and not at the waist. Most summer dresses work fine for me. I hate my jeans right now and I keep hearing girls say that stretchy pants are comfortable but mine sure aren't. They feel like they squeeze my midsection and make the belly look like two. LOL

reason00 · July 2011

I love fashion! Very into it.

I don't wear maternity shirts, even still. Just the pants.

There's a lot of slightly baggy slouchy shirts out there that will hide it pretty well. Same with layering. Wear a slightly loose fitted shirt with a blazer.

I wasn't a fan of the in between stage. I was wearing my regular pants, but I couldn't do them up, so I used an elastic to hold it together lol.

christinakempe · July 2011

I'm there too! I'm only 13 weeks, but this is my second, so we're probably showing about the same amount. I'm really only wearing skirts right now because the maternity pants I have have a full panel and it's too hot to be that covered. I think it actually looks less awkward to just break down and start wearing maternity clothes, because they're made to fit a pregnant body and make you look "pregnant" instead of "weirdly pudgier".

ChavayJakov · July 2011

You know, when I was at that stage I actually went out to a maternity store and purchased a longer cut, slim fit, roughed (sp?...the elastic on the sides gathering the material slightly?) tee and a belly-band (b-band) and those actually helped me look more pregnant...I don't know if it was the extra support of the b-band (it's not like a shaper or anything) or the cut of the maternity shirt...but either one of those on their own helped me to look less "sloppy" (as I thought of it).

katie0919 · July 2011

I found that by 17 weeks, I actually looked pretty pregnant. My 'beer belly' was round enough that I felt confident...and I've been wearing maternity clothes since about 16 weeks. They are much more comfortable than regular clothes! I wore a lot of tight fitting pregnancy tank tops around that time...I felt it accentuated my belly and made me look actually pregnant, which is what I wanted! Like the PP stated, I've just embraced my pregnant body and I've learned to love it. I'm proud of my baby belly! GL!

MrsKM82 · July 2011

I'm just jealous you still fit into your jeans! I haven't been able to be even close to buttoning mine since week 8. I think trying to hide the bump will make you just look bigger. I find dresses to be perfect at this point.

kes487 · July 2011

reason00:
I love fashion! Very into it.
I don't wear maternity shirts, even still. Just the pants.
There's a lot of slightly baggy slouchy shirts out there that will hide it pretty well. Same with layering. Wear a slightly loose fitted shirt with a blazer.
I wasn't a fan of the in between stage. I was wearing my regular pants, but I couldn't do them up, so I used an elastic to hold it together lol.

Nice!!! Didn't think about wearing a blazer!

Lol! I don't think I could use elastic to hold it together...sounds uncomfortable.

kes487 · July 2011

MrsKM82:
I'm just jealous you still fit into your jeans! I haven't been able to be even close to buttoning mine since week 8. I think trying to hide the bump will make you just look bigger. I find dresses to be perfect at this point.

Ahhh, just know there are only a few I can still fit!!! It was traumatizing trying to fit into a few favorites...that was a NO GO! I tell people now I'm 17 weeks and they look at me with a confused face, as if I don't know I'm pregnant.

I think a big part of it is, I naturally flex my stomach all day. It's weird, so all I have is a lump at the bottom.

The cool thing is, from yesterday to today was the first time I felt that SUPER tightness in my lower abdomen. So surreal...it's finally starting to feel like it's a baby there.

kes487 · July 2011

christinakempe:
I'm there too! I'm only 13 weeks, but this is my second, so we're probably showing about the same amount. I'm really only wearing skirts right now because the maternity pants I have have a full panel and it's too hot to be that covered. I think it actually looks less awkward to just break down and start wearing maternity clothes, because they're made to fit a pregnant body and make you look "pregnant" instead of "weirdly pudgier".

Do your skirts have like an elastic band or one that folds down?

kes487 · July 2011

lovelyAngelique:
jnatkaniec:
Dresses, dresses, dresses. That is practically all I live in right now.
This! In fact I want to go buy more. Just make sure that if you buy dresses they are fitted under the breast and not at the waist. Most summer dresses work fine for me. I hate my jeans right now and I keep hearing girls say that stretchy pants are comfortable but mine sure aren't. They feel like they squeeze my midsection and make the belly look like two. LOL

Yeah, living in Atlanta, I'm not wearing ANY pants...this humidity is killer! I tried wearing tights the other day - NEVER AGAIN, well, at least not until October.

kes487 · July 2011

katie0919:
I found that by 17 weeks, I actually looked pretty pregnant. My 'beer belly' was round enough that I felt confident...and I've been wearing maternity clothes since about 16 weeks. They are much more comfortable than regular clothes! I wore a lot of tight fitting pregnancy tank tops around that time...I felt it accentuated my belly and made me look actually pregnant, which is what I wanted! Like the PP stated, I've just embraced my pregnant body and I've learned to love it. I'm proud of my baby belly! GL!

I would be too if people knew I was pregnant! I actually cannot WAIT until I'm actually showing and people ask me how far along I am. Right now I just give off that "no-waistline" look, couple with boobs that I'm not used to having...just makes me feel top-heavy or something.

I'm jealous of you ladies showing off your baby bumps...while I'm still sporting the baby gut. LOL

Tracilaroo · July 2011

Those loose tanks are pretty instyle right now. I don't know if you have a Tilly's where you live but they have tons of them. You can get those little lace bra cover thingies that go underneath and then wear the loose tank and it just looks like it's supposed to be that way. That's the only real solution I came up with other than just wearing empire waist dresses.

Cebs222 · July 2011

I actually started wearing kind of tighter clothes than i normally even wore. Those shirts that are really tight under your boobs and flow out are really easy to help you look pregnant sooner. I also would liek rub my belly lovingly haha if people gave me weird looks like i was uber fat haha. It's a lot easier when the weather is cooler and you can wear jackets and hoodies! lol.

HannahsMom21 · July 2011

jnatkaniec:
Dresses, dresses, dresses. That is practically all I live in right now.

Yes This!!!!

christinakempe · August 2011

kes487:
christinakempe:
I'm there too! I'm only 13 weeks, but this is my second, so we're probably showing about the same amount. I'm really only wearing skirts right now because the maternity pants I have have a full panel and it's too hot to be that covered. I think it actually looks less awkward to just break down and start wearing maternity clothes, because they're made to fit a pregnant body and make you look "pregnant" instead of "weirdly pudgier".
Do your skirts have like an elastic band or one that folds down?

I have ones with elastic-y bands and one maternity one from old navy that folds down. I wore some of them until I popped last time--the really really stretchy ones

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