Maternity clothes?

This is my first pregnancy, and I am completly confused about maternity
clothes, specifically underwear and bras. Now I did go by the Motherhood
Maternity store in the mall and the description of the various styles of
pant/skirt 'bellies' helped a lot, but all the undies are packed up in boxes
and you can't see how they're made. (Tops aren't a problem)

I'm at 17 weeks now and ~just~ starting to pooch out a bit. I'm still
wearing my 'fat' clothes (I'd lost about 20lbs in the year prior to becoming
pregnant, talk about handy!) bras aren't really a problem yet, I will need
to pick up some of the 'expanders' at the sewing shop. But my underwear are
starting to become uncomfortable. Do you buy the same size in materity
undies as you wore pre-pregnancy? How are they made? Similar to maternity
pants w/an expanding panel? What about wearing bikinis that will go ~under~
my belly rather than over? (I'm accustomed to wearing high cut briefs.) I
assume I'll need the support later.

I've noticed a little bit of tightness in my bras now, but nothing too
major. When do you generally have to buy a nursing/maternity bra? Is there
some 'guideline' to figuring out what size you'll be (I plan on
breastfeeding exclusively) when your milk comes in? Also, is the gain in
the breasts strictly cup size or does it usally affect band size as well?
TIA,
Wendy

I never bought maternity underwear. I was able to wear my regular bras because
I wear sports bras. I did need to by a few bigger and with a little more
support whe I got near the end. As to panties I read somewhere to buy the next
size bigger in bikinis. This worked great for me. I had a lot of problems
(itching and irritation) with having things on my belly late preganancy. Hope
this helps.
Rose
Mamma to Caity Feb 13 1999 ( Daddy's best birthday present)

"WD" wrote in message
...
This is my first pregnancy, and I am completly confused about maternity
clothes, specifically underwear and bras. Now I did go by the Motherhood
Maternity store in the mall and the description of the various styles of
pant/skirt 'bellies' helped a lot, but all the undies are packed up in
boxes
and you can't see how they're made. (Tops aren't a problem)

I'd go to Target for maternity undies, and get fitted at a lingerie shop for
a maternity bra if I was you. Maternity undies are less of an issue than
bras, because you can really just wear anything that will stay up on you. I
like full brief cotton undies, and I just bought plus sizes and wore them
backwards so my big belly went where the fat ladies bum would go.


I'm at 17 weeks now and ~just~ starting to pooch out a bit. I'm still
wearing my 'fat' clothes (I'd lost about 20lbs in the year prior to
becoming
pregnant, talk about handy!) bras aren't really a problem yet, I will need
to pick up some of the 'expanders' at the sewing shop.

I've noticed a little bit of tightness in my bras now, but nothing too
major. When do you generally have to buy a nursing/maternity bra? Is
there
some 'guideline' to figuring out what size you'll be (I plan on
breastfeeding exclusively) when your milk comes in? Also, is the gain in
the breasts strictly cup size or does it usally affect band size as well?
TIA,
Wendy



Get fitted, and do it soon. Maternity bras are designed not to compress milk
ducts. You may need to be refitted a few times through the pregnancy... both
band size and cup size can change. If this all seems like a lot of $$$,
maybe get just one bra at each fitting, and get a snug fitting seamless
cotton lycra sportsbra to use when the usual bra is in the wash.

"WD" wrote in message
...
snip Do you buy the same size in materity
undies as you wore pre-pregnancy? How are they made? Similar to
maternity
pants w/an expanding panel? What about wearing bikinis that will go
~under~
my belly rather than over? (I'm accustomed to wearing high cut briefs.)
I
assume I'll need the support later.

I've noticed a little bit of tightness in my bras now, but nothing too
major. When do you generally have to buy a nursing/maternity bra? Is
there
some 'guideline' to figuring out what size you'll be (I plan on
breastfeeding exclusively) when your milk comes in? Also, is the gain in
the breasts strictly cup size or does it usally affect band size as well?
TIA,
Wendy

Wendy,

At 27 weeks I am wearing regular bikini underwear either the same size or
one size larger below the belly and have been since about week 12; but I've
been in bigger bras for about thes ame time, probably because I was so small
to begin with. I was a 36A and bought and am comfortable in an assortment
of 38 and 40, stretchy B and C cup sport (pullover and front zip) or sleep
type bras and these are continuing to fit well. My size 36 sport bras got
too tight early on, I think my rib cage expanded. I know people who nurse
in these type of bras so that's what I'm going to try first.

"WD" wrote in message
...
This is my first pregnancy, and I am completly confused about maternity
clothes, specifically underwear and bras. Now I did go by the Motherhood
Maternity store in the mall and the description of the various styles of
pant/skirt 'bellies' helped a lot, but all the undies are packed up in
boxes
and you can't see how they're made. (Tops aren't a problem)


I *hate* maternity underwear. Right now I am 29 weeks. I take my old regular
ones and just let them ride low under my belly. Maybe it is because I am not
developing as much rear end as I did with my son, but the maternity
underwear is too small over my belly and GIANT over my rear end. It just
flaps in the breeze.

I'm at 17 weeks now and ~just~ starting to pooch out a bit. I'm still
wearing my 'fat' clothes (I'd lost about 20lbs in the year prior to
becoming
pregnant, talk about handy!) bras aren't really a problem yet, I will need
to pick up some of the 'expanders' at the sewing shop. But my underwear
are
starting to become uncomfortable. Do you buy the same size in materity
undies as you wore pre-pregnancy? How are they made? Similar to
maternity
pants w/an expanding panel? What about wearing bikinis that will go
~under~
my belly rather than over? (I'm accustomed to wearing high cut briefs.)
I
assume I'll need the support later.


The Motherhood ones I got are just big and shaped differently, they do not
use the expanding belly concept of the pants. I liked the JCPenney maternity
underwear ok with my son, but I was a house with him.

I've noticed a little bit of tightness in my bras now, but nothing too
major. When do you generally have to buy a nursing/maternity bra? Is
there
some 'guideline' to figuring out what size you'll be (I plan on
breastfeeding exclusively) when your milk comes in? Also, is the gain in
the breasts strictly cup size or does it usally affect band size as well?
TIA,
Wendy



Band size as well, at least for me. If you do buy a larger size nursing bra
before delivery, do nt get a lot. You may expand more than one size. I got
lucky and did not, but my friend did.

Hi Wendy, I was so excited when I finally started to show, but I had a heck
of a time with underwear. I normally wear a thong, I don't like anything on
my backside (mind you, it took me a while to get used to thongs too), but I
found that anything without a really decent stretch was uncomfortable.
Speaking from personal preference, I don't like anything over my belly under
my clothes, it becomes really obvious later as your tops get more tight, and
it feels very restrictive. I also have tried wearing normal 'low-rider'
underwear, but the fabric still bunches up under my tummy and makes me feel
like I constantly have to tuck and pull to get it right. So, my
preference(most people won't go by this), is thongs with as little as
possible between the front and back, and a low cut front that sits just on
your short and curlies, but doesn't cover the belly at all.

As for bras, I went from a small B to a large C in my first trimester and
then also got bigger around the ribs. I had to buy a new bra in a larger
size, but still a normal bra, not a maternity bra. I'm 36 weeks now and
still use the same bra and underwear.

Best of luck in your search for comfort. : )
-Alicia


"WD" wrote in message
...
This is my first pregnancy, and I am completly confused about maternity
clothes, specifically underwear and bras. Now I did go by the Motherhood
Maternity store in the mall and the description of the various styles of
pant/skirt 'bellies' helped a lot, but all the undies are packed up in
boxes
and you can't see how they're made. (Tops aren't a problem)

I'm at 17 weeks now and ~just~ starting to pooch out a bit. I'm still
wearing my 'fat' clothes (I'd lost about 20lbs in the year prior to
becoming
pregnant, talk about handy!) bras aren't really a problem yet, I will need
to pick up some of the 'expanders' at the sewing shop. But my underwear
are
starting to become uncomfortable. Do you buy the same size in materity
undies as you wore pre-pregnancy? How are they made? Similar to
maternity
pants w/an expanding panel? What about wearing bikinis that will go
~under~
my belly rather than over? (I'm accustomed to wearing high cut briefs.)
I
assume I'll need the support later.

I've noticed a little bit of tightness in my bras now, but nothing too
major. When do you generally have to buy a nursing/maternity bra? Is
there
some 'guideline' to figuring out what size you'll be (I plan on
breastfeeding exclusively) when your milk comes in? Also, is the gain in
the breasts strictly cup size or does it usally affect band size as well?
TIA,
Wendy

"Nina" wrote:
"Stephanie S" wrote
I *hate* maternity underwear. Right now I am 29 weeks. I take my old
regular
ones and just let them ride low under my belly. Maybe it is because I
am
not
developing as much rear end as I did with my son, but the maternity
underwear is too small over my belly and GIANT over my rear end. It
just flaps in the breeze.

I found low cut underwear at WalMart, I guess they are made for teenagers
wearing those hiphugger pants. I wear those and the low cut thongs. I
really like having anything over my stomach, especially in the heat.

I'm still wearing my prepregnancy Victoria's Secret bikini underwear. I'm
30 weeks, and comfortable with them so far. My butt is bigger, but I
haven't reached critical mass yet. ) I'm really hoping that I don't need
to buy bigger underwear. I like the VC cotton underwear, but I only buy it
on sale.

--
z e l d a b e e @ p a n i x . c o m http://NewsReader.Com/

On 09 Jul 2003 19:41:13 GMT, zeldabee
wrote:

I'm still wearing my prepregnancy Victoria's Secret bikini underwear. I'm
30 weeks, and comfortable with them so far. My butt is bigger, but I
haven't reached critical mass yet. )

Allow me to warn you of something that happened to me. I
continued wearing my underwear for a while. Then it was obvious
that I was going to have to buy either bigger undies or go to
maternity undies.

After the birth of the baby and I went back to my normal clothes,
my regular pre-pregnancy undies were all strectch out of shape
and no longer fit. In fact, they wouldn't stay up anymore.
Sigh... I had to buy all new undies again.

--
==Daye==
E-mail: brendana AT labyrinth DOT net DOT au

On Wed, 9 Jul 2003 04:08:23 -0400, "WD"
wrote:

Do you buy the same size in materity
undies as you wore pre-pregnancy? How are they made? Similar to maternity
pants w/an expanding panel? What about wearing bikinis that will go ~under~
my belly rather than over?

I didn't buy maternity undies. I started out with bikinis. Then
I went to granny panties (ie briefs) in a larger size. I had
to... my normal size didn't fit anymore. I bought cheap, cotton
undies. They worked just as well. You will have to find what is
comfortable for you, and then buy several pairs.

I've noticed a little bit of tightness in my bras now, but nothing too
major. When do you generally have to buy a nursing/maternity bra? Is there
some 'guideline' to figuring out what size you'll be (I plan on
breastfeeding exclusively) when your milk comes in?

I bought a maternity bra when my old bras became uncomfortable.
In fact, my breasts hurt because they were not getting enough
support. For fitting, I went to a upscale underwear shop (like a
Victoria Secrets) and got fitted by them. I found out what size
I needed. Then I went to Target and bought a maternity bra in
that size.

--
==Daye==
E-mail: brendana AT labyrinth DOT net DOT au

On Wed, 09 Jul 2003 15:04:38 -0700, wrote:

Why bother with buying underwear you will only wear for a few months? Go without underwear.

If you enjoy being without underwear, that is prefectly okay.
However, some of us don't like to be without undies.

--
==Daye==
E-mail: brendana AT labyrinth DOT net DOT au