Still wearing maternity clothes, frustrated...

jschmidt6 · September 2013

Intro: hi working mommas! My little guy will be 7 weeks this week, I will be going back to work in 2 weeks and DS will be staying in daycare. I have enjoyed reading this board so far!! Dilemma: I'm sick of wearing maternity clothes!!! I gained 40lbs during my pregnancy and 7 weeks PP I'm still 18 lbs over my regular weight. Its all in my butt and legs grrrr. I guess I was just being naive thinking that I would be able to fit into all my work clothes by the time my maternity leave was over. I'm breastfeeding, walking everyday and eating healthy hoping to shed these pounds. My question is, should I go and buy new work clothes to fit my body size now? Or should I stick to my maternity clothes. I really don't want to spend money on "chubby clothes" but I guess I should just bite the bullet and buy a couple things for the next few weeks/months. I was wondering what other moms' experiences were?

financialdiva · September 2013

When I returned to work after DS2, I purchased some clothes, but returned to work in some maternity clothes as well. Kind of mix and matched.

I got some great deals at JcPenny's.

FWIW, I am 7lbs under my pre DS2 weight, and some of my pre-pg clothes still don't fit.

Nechie122 · September 2013

I bought new clothes but two years out, I still wear some of them. I had success with skirts with elastic waists and "peasant" tops (not necessarily worn together) as well as wrap dresses -- basically anything that would hide a gut but could also be belted in or worn loose/layered as I lost weight. Honestly, it was so worth it for my self-esteem to have "real" clothes. And if you have another child, you can dig them out again for 1st tri bloat (I know that's the last thing on your mind 7 weeks PP!)

Try to find some end-of-season sales and have fun shopping!

ebp913 · September 2013

I got some new work pants at Target and I adore them. They are machine washable and super comfy. I honestly like them better than most of my Banana Republic ones. I couldn't wear maternity stuff because it didn't fit without a belly so I just bought a few things to hold me over til I could get back into the pre baby stuff. Not to discourage you but unless you are like killing it at the gym, I'd give it 9 months before you are back to your old self and fitting into clothes like you used to. Just buy a few key things to hold you over that make you feel good. If you plan to have more kids... you'll wear the stuff again anyways.

AZ123 · September 2013

Yes! I call them transitional clothes. You don't have to spend a lot but it will make you feel so much better!

jf198400 · September 2013

I also bought new clothes for work. I got a few pairs of pants 1 size bigger than I normally wear. When I finally was back to normal I took them to the tailor and had them taken in so I can still wear them. It was totally worth the money to feel confident and comfortable.

mae0111 · September 2013

I bought a few pieces as others mentioned. I got a couple pairs of black pants at Kohls, but spent a bit more on wrap dresses and a couple of tops that I knew I'd be able to wear for a while. I'm really glad I did. I still have 5lbs to lose (DD is 6 months today), but I had 12 left when I started back to work. As PP said, you'll feel better if you buy a few things that fit.

EMOmamma · September 2013

Hate to say it but you may never go back to your old pants. My hips are just bigger now, even under pp weight my old pants didn't look good anymore. I agree w/ pp - get some forgiving clothes to get you through the next few months and reevaluate after that. I am all about dresses now, although they're a pain if you're pumping/nursing.

Tink112011 · September 2013

EMO-mamma said:

Hate to say it but you may never go back to your old pants. My hips are just bigger now, even under pp weight my old pants didn't look good anymore. I agree w/ pp - get some forgiving clothes to get you through the next few months and reevaluate after that. I am all about dresses now, although they're a pain if you're pumping/nursing.

Yes. I don't wear any pre-pregnancy pants. They just don't work. I don't feel good in them. Feeling good in what you wear is important, IMO.

Karla CS · September 2013

Yep, just do it. You'll feel more comfortable and you'll look more professional in clothes that fit properly.

jnnfrrose6 · September 2013

milkergirl1 said:

PrivacyWanted said:

Buy some new clothes. I am so glad I did. I've been at prepregnancy weight for a few months and I'm still not fitting in my old clothes. my body is just different.

This is me. I hated the idea of spending the money, but I still can't fit into my old clothes, so I'm glad I went out and bought new clothes.

Me too! You don't need to get the highest quality (ie priciest) things right now, since you don't intend to be this weight, but you will feel better about yourself wearing new clothes that fit you better (I've had success at Kohl's and JCP). FWIW I'm still wearing some of my maternity dresses (1 year PP) simply because I'm still nursing and it's easier to get at the girls. One day I'll be able to wear my "cute" dresses again...I'm down to pre-pregnancy weight too, but as others have said, your body just isn't the same shape anymore, so not everything will fit like it used to.

82Sonia · September 2013

I bought some cheap transitional clothes at Target when I went back to work at 20 weeks. My pre-pregnancy clothes didn't fit until around 6.5 months. Buy some cheap pieces and give yourself some time to lose the weight. I also gained 40 lbs. so I understand your frustration.

jschmidt6 · September 2013

Ok, I think I'll go shopping this weekend, at the very least for new pants. Women have it so much harder than men!!! I think I'll buy a couple of dresses and skirts that will still look good after I shed these pounds

. Going through the closet this week to start my Goodwill pile.

Ridgebackmom · September 2013

I also continued to wear MC but I also went to kohls and bought some skirts/dresses, pair of legging and khaki capris 1 size up. It's so easy to wear them when you feel like nothing fits. I'm 4m pp and haven't really tried "regular" clothes yet. I have about 5 lbs to go. UGH!! I feel your pain.

BCakes83 · September 2013

That's definitely tough. I keep hearing that even if you loose more weight then you gained your body shape may change and your pre-pregnancy clothes might not fit right. I would say you should do whatever makes you feel good about yourself whether that is buying a few new pieces at your new size or wearing some old maternity clothes until you ready to update your wardrobe. Or some combo of those.

shannm · September 2013

I spent a few dollars on some pants from target until I could get back down.

BekiB · September 2013

I put my maternity clothes away and bought clothes that fit. I just bought a little, and I have to do laundry often.

virginiagirl11 · September 2013

Buy a few transitional things but not too many and don't get rid of your pre-pg stuff yet. You just don't know how things will shake out once your body has settled for good.

At seven weeks pp after my first pregnancy, I was still wearing maternity clothes, too. However, about six months out, I was able to fit back into almost all of my pre-pg clothes, pants included.

This time around, DS2 is four months old and I'm still wearing maternity clothes and am about 8-10 lbs. over my pre-pg weight. I gained a little more with him so it's taken longer to lose the weight, but I'm slowly getting there. Since I'm working full time, have two little boys, and DH is self-employed I have zero time to work out right now so I don't anticipate being able to fit into my smaller pre-pg stuff. But hopefully the more forgiving stuff will work in a couple of months.

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