That in between stage

[Cricket0619]

I am annoyed because I feel like I have grown since Monday.  I am anxious to get a bump, but this in between stage is annoying.  I am starting to be uncomfortable in my clothes, but not ready for full panel maternity clothes yet.  I have one pair of maternity pants that have a band, but I can't wear those every day.  Just a little vent

[simpsongal]

This week I started walking like I'm pregnant and letting my stomach puff out. Usually, I have excellent posture, which includes flexing my abs and tucking my stomach in. Now I still keep my back straight and shoulders back but the belly is out on display. I'd rather look pregnant-ish than fat or full of food.

I also tend to hold my tummy like I'm pregnant so people know. I hear you, the in between stage is the pits.

[Jalapeñomel]

I held off wearing maternity clothes for as long as I could, so I was wearing my fat pants around (I lost about 30 lbs prior to getting pregnant), and I wore them super low until I couldn't do it even with a hair tie anymore.

[natablue]

I swear my belly went through a growth spurt in the past week. At 16 weeks, I think most people wouldn't be able to tell I was pregnant in normal clothes that weren't tight-fitting, it still just kind of looked like I ate a big lunch. Fast forward to 17 weeks, there's no mistaking I'm pregnant. I'm like where did this come from! I feel like I grew overnight.

[Cricket0619]

Aug 21, 2013 10:56:27 GMT -5 natablue said:

I swear my belly went through a growth spurt in the past week. At 16 weeks, I think most people wouldn't be able to tell I was pregnant in normal clothes that weren't tight-fitting, it still just kind of looked like I ate a big lunch. Fast forward to 17 weeks, there's no mistaking I'm pregnant. I'm like where did this come from! I feel like I grew overnight.

I know it sounds crazy, but I swear since Monday I for sure have grown! Others probably can't tell on me, they probably think I'm just gaining weight in the belly or like you said ate a big lunch. We will see what I find to wear for the next couple of days/weeks. 

[Cricket0619]

Aug 21, 2013 11:00:59 GMT -5 sameoldash said:

i think my long torso is making a huge difference in my ability to still be able to wear alllll my pre-preg pants, even without a hair tie. my stomach isn't small anymore, but it's just high enough that my pants button underneath it.

but OMG, i need maternity shirts asap. everything is getting too short! i'm already starting to show bare belly around the house lol. and bras. ugh. the boobs are still getting bigger. help me baby jesus. 

I usually wear most pants that are low rise, so that helped for a while. Speaking of boobs, mine have grown maybe a little, but they need to catch up with my aeriolas.  Yikes! I don't like them, they look ugly. 

[lauren170]

I started wearing maternity pants around 14 weeks because it helped shape the bump. My regular jeans still fit but were just a big mess of muffin top.

[shelbyann]

Aug 21, 2013 11:11:07 GMT -5 lauren170 said:

I started wearing maternity pants around 14 weeks because it helped shape the bump. My regular jeans still fit but were just a big mess of muffin top.

This is where I am at. I have been resisting maternity pants because my normal ones still fit and I would feel a little ridiculous walking into a maternity store...but the muffin top is obnoxious, especially at the end of the day. 

[winecheery]

I wore demi panel mat jeans throughout the second trimester. Once I hit the second or third week of the third tri I needed the full panel.

I wanted my bump to show so bad and it took forever! If I wore loose fitting shirts you seriously couldn't even tell I was pregnant. But anyways, the demi panel helped me during this phase, because regular jeans weren't comfy anymore, but I would've been ridiculous in a full panel jean.

[winecheery]

Aug 21, 2013 13:10:45 GMT -5 marie3246 said:

I'm not showing yet, but I have major bloat after eating or drinking a ton of water. Then its usually gone in the morning and my stomach is still completely flat. Its so weird. I told my office today and several people told me I was showing already and this was in the morning and my stomach was super flat. Then the back pedaled and said it was just my shirt. So apparently I always looked like I was showing. ugh.

I don't think people understand the delicate balance between wanting a baby bump (like a legit, hard round thing) and "blump" that we all get around where you are.  

Blump isn't "showing" random coworkers/people, it's the awkward stage we all have to endure before you as a spectator are allowed to say something about our bellies.  They might've thought they were complimenting you.  But that was a stupid thing to say.  

[simpsongal]

Aug 21, 2013 11:02:35 GMT -5 Cricket0619 said:

Aug 21, 2013 10:56:27 GMT -5 natablue said:

I swear my belly went through a growth spurt in the past week. At 16 weeks, I think most people wouldn't be able to tell I was pregnant in normal clothes that weren't tight-fitting, it still just kind of looked like I ate a big lunch. Fast forward to 17 weeks, there's no mistaking I'm pregnant. I'm like where did this come from! I feel like I grew overnight.

I know it sounds crazy, but I swear since Monday I for sure have grown! Others probably can't tell on me, they probably think I'm just gaining weight in the belly or like you said ate a big lunch. We will see what I find to wear for the next couple of days/weeks. 

Me  too!  Everything seems to have popped forward this past weekend.  DH was like - whoa... pregnant belly!  And it's not like a fat belly b/c my upper abs and lower are expanding too.

My boobs resumed growth this week too.  The 36 C cups I bought a month ago are starting to look like push up bras - I'm getting that bra line under my shirt that you get when the bra is too small.  DH is thrilled.

[snickers]

That stage is really frustrating, for sure. Hope you get a cute little belly soon!

[simpsongal]

Aug 21, 2013 13:10:45 GMT -5 marie3246 said:

I'm not showing yet, but I have major bloat after eating or drinking a ton of water. Then its usually gone in the morning and my stomach is still completely flat. Its so weird. I told my office today and several people told me I was showing already and this was in the morning and my stomach was super flat. Then the back pedaled and said it was just my shirt. So apparently I always looked like I was showing. ugh.

That's the kicker.  I look pregnant but decent in the morning.  But by the end of the day, after eating lunch and drinking water, my stomach distends at least 2-3 inches.  As I explained to my CW, there's nowhere else for the food to go!

Save yourself discomfort - dress for your largest size during the day.  I went to work in norma dress pants on Monday and had then totally unbuttoned and partially zipped down by the end of the day.  Ugh!

[annabear07]

I gave up on regular clothes at 12 weeks. Pretty much over night nothing fit due to expanding hips and the blump. I blame this all on my short torso! The in bewteen stages suck but you have to do whatever is most comfortable!

[Yankees21]

I haven't worn anything but dresses and skirts at work since finding out I was pregnant, but you can bet that once fall is here I will go straight to maternity pants.

[formerlyak]

Aug 21, 2013 15:53:41 GMT -5 bricco said:

Is it bad that I already feel like I'm here?!?! I had to hair-tie my pants today. TOO SOON.

That's the early bloat stage. It sucks hardcore. I was like that with DS and bought some demi panel maternity pants to wear to work at about 8-9 weeks because by the end of the day my regular pants hurt so bad. They lasted me almost my whole pregnancy -- bloat was replaced with belly eventually.

I highly recommend roll down maxi skirts for this stage. I had one pair of roll down yoga pants (the roll down maxi skirts weren't really popular 8 years ago so you couldn't find them in stores), and it was awesome to wear those on the weekends.

[winemaker06]

At 13 weeks, I have finally given up on non-maternity pants. I am wearing full-panel ones, which make my blump look even more round. But I didn't want to spend money on the smaller panels if they might not last the whole time.
This bloat thing is so new to me, and is actually pretty hard as well. It just doesn't make sense, so is it just me and some horrible bloat? I only noticed my stomach being 'hard' in the past week, but can feel my uterus like a foot below the worst of my stomach.
I wasn't skinny to start with, but my stomach was never this big. I still feel like a fake, especially after reading this thread! It's definitely too early to think I look this pregnant.

[browneyedgirl9]

I started wearing maternity pants a few weeks ago, its bliss! They are so comfy!! I have some demi and some full panel. The full panel I fold down so its like a demi panel.

[Jalapeñomel]

It appears that I might be the only one who doesn't like maternity pants. I hate the panel, and I hate how low they are (I feel like I need to pull them up constantly). I miss my jeans and corduroys!

[winemaker06]

Aug 21, 2013 22:38:04 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

It appears that I might be the only one who doesn't like maternity pants. I hate the panel, and I hate how low they are (I feel like I need to pull them up constantly). I miss my jeans and corduroys!

You're not alone! I'm getting used to them with time. It beats having my normal jeans digging into my waist, so it's the lesser of two evils?

[timorousbeastie]

Aug 22, 2013 4:56:16 GMT -5 winemaker06 said:

Aug 21, 2013 22:38:04 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

It appears that I might be the only one who doesn't like maternity pants. I hate the panel, and I hate how low they are (I feel like I need to pull them up constantly). I miss my jeans and corduroys!

You're not alone! I'm getting used to them with time. It beats having my normal jeans digging into my waist, so it's the lesser of two evils?

At this point I like them more than regular jeans, but I'm definitely not a huge fan of them! They constantly slide down, but I can't hike them back up easily because there aren't any belt loops. I feel like I need to wear them with suspenders to keep them in place! (Wouldn't that be a great look - as if maternity jeans aren't sexy enough, just add suspenders to them )

[BaliHai]

My maternity jeans are so comfortable, but they are constantly sliding down. The lack of belt loops is definitely my least favorite part, too!

[winemaker06]

Okay, I think this thread jinxed me.
I got 3 pairs of jeans from a local consignment shop, all with a full panel, since that's what they had, for $15. I was very excited to get a deal.

Two pairs are great, they don't fall down much at all. Today was my first day wearing the 3rd pair and I spent ALL day miserable, trying to pull them up with no one noticing, and they are so saggy in the butt and crotch. Some of it might have to do with the prior person stretching them a bit, but 2 out of 3 are fine...

So for the record! They're all mediums. The good ones are Pea in the Pod and Kohl's Oh Baby by Motherhood. The bad ones are Target Liz Lange.

And, it's way too early to be wearing any ruched shirts. But many of my normal 'long' shirts are a bit too short for the full panel jeans... can't win!

[shelbyann]

winemaker06 have you tried using a Bella Band or similar? This thread inspired me to get one and it seems to work pretty well, at least with jeans.

[winemaker06]

Aug 22, 2013 16:44:03 GMT -5 shelbyann said:

winemaker06 have you tried using a Bella Band or similar? This thread inspired me to get one and it seems to work pretty well, at least with jeans.

Yea.. I splurged on the Bella Band branded one. It's really nice material, but I'm not a big fan. It might help after the baby moves up more, but for now my jeans still dig in painfully even completely unzipped with the band.

[Stingyshark]

Aug 21, 2013 15:53:41 GMT -5 bricco said:

Is it bad that I already feel like I'm here?!?! I had to hair-tie my pants today. TOO SOON.

I went to motherhood maternity at 7 weeks.... 

[Stingyshark]

I started wearing maternity shorts at 7-8wks. They were infinitely more comfortable than my regular shorts & jeans. I don' do uncomfortable well, so it was worth the money & sanity to just buy clothes that felt comfortable to me. I just rolled the panel band down and they look like totally normal shorts. You would never know they were maternity shorts.

At 21 wks my scrubs pants are now uncomfortable. I've pretty much given up on those unless we are seeing patients, then I wear them.

I can still wear some tshirts, but I mostly wear tank tops.

ETA: Baby was really low up until very recently; I think this might have contributed to my clothes being so tight so early.