Returning to pre-pregnancy job but haven't returned to pre-pregnancy figure

[Anonymous]

So I am going back to work soon and have no idea what I am going to wear. I delivered twins four and a half months ago and my lower half is not what it used to be; plus I'm nursing them and my upper half is humongous. I can't even begin to get any of my pre-pregnancy clothes on my body at this point. Even my feet are still a bit swollen and I can't wear most of my nicer shoes. I do plan/hope to lose the extra weight eventually, so I don't want - and can't afford!- to buy all new clothes and shoes.

I will only be working two days a week and I don't have to wear suits, but I do need to look nice and professional. What do people do? Keep wearing maternity clothes and endure people asking when you're due? Buy two or three decent outfits and wear them day in-day out? Wear only Target/Gap/TJ Maxx? And do those body-shaper things work? I thought maybe if I got a full-body shaper I might be able to squeeze into some of my larger pre-pregnancy skirts and pants. The tops are a lost cause until I stop nursing, I think.

Anyway, just wondering what others have done during this period. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Hi

I had twins 3 years old and went back in the office about 4 months after delivery. Yep, I still wore maternity clothes. Yep, people made remarks and I didn't care. I did buy some new stuff but didn't spend much money. I also raided friends' closets if I thought they had a size I could use. As for shoes, I didn't have this problem but I would get a couple of pairs from Target,TJ Maxx etc. Oh yeah, the body-shapers worked well also. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I bought new (cheaper) stuff. Not a whole wardrobe, but enough to get me through the week. I just wear the same thing over and over, but it makes me feel better than wearing maternity clothes. Plus, a lot of my maternity clothes were winter, and I went back to work in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought new (cheaper) stuff. Not a whole wardrobe, but enough to get me through the week. I just wear the same thing over and over, but it makes me feel better than wearing maternity clothes. Plus, a lot of my maternity clothes were winter, and I went back to work in the summer.

i had the same experience.

[Anonymous]

I'm another believer in buying a few new outfits in your current size to get you through. Personally, it made me feel more confident and "put together" to have clothes that fit and didn't make me look pregnant.

[Anonymous]

I bought some outfits at Gap and those types of stores. I didn't want to spend too much money on clothes in the larger size. Even if you don't have a lot of money to spare at the moment, it is so worth it to get out of maternity clothes and put yourself together. You'll be more comfortable in them. Returning to work is stressful enough, you at least want to look and feel good in your clothes.

[Anonymous]

HA! I'm two years post partum and still am not back to normal. I do most of my shopping at Target and dress up the outfits with jewlery. I just can't bring myself to spend money on clothes to hang off a body I'm terribly unhappy with.

I could not LIVE without \Spanks. I always give a pair of Spanks as a shower gift and get a big thank you a few months later!

[Anonymous]

One good pair of black pants will get you through months. I had the same situation, and just went crazy with accessories...bright scarves, fun jewelry, keep the eye upward. A few foundation pieces and noone will notice you're basically in the same pants. Also, I'm so cheap that I went to Talbots Outlet in Springfield and picked up 2 blazers in a larger size for $10 each. They were not perfect, but they provided a nice structured jacket to look pulled together at work that I summarily tossed as soon as I got back to my pre-pregnancy size and into my tailored work clothes. Good luck!!!

[Anonymous]

And on how to take off the weight ....

I recently purchased a work out video that is working for me. Jillian Michael's (from the Biggest Loser) has a video that is a 20 minute workout. It is called the 30 day Shred. It caught my eye because of all of the reviews - 433 out of 451 people gave it 4 or 5 stars.

I work full time, have a pre-schooler and an infant. I CAN find 20 minutes in the evening to get a workout in.

Disclaimer:- I NEVER attended a workout class before, never did a video workout before so I can not compare to others. I am mostly and outdoor exercise person - runner / bike rider.

[Anonymous]

This is the OP- thanks so much for all the ideas! I was so looking forward to putting on some nice clothes again, after spending my maternity leave in yoga pants, so I can relate to the PPs who wanted to ditch the maternity clothes. I will go out this week and buy a Spanx body shaper and a couple of decent basics.

Thanks, DCUMs!

[Anonymous]

Oh boy, that post brought back memories. Not good ones. I wore my maternity stuff for at least 6 weeks after I returned to work. I seriously considered just telling people I was still pregnant. Ugh. Definitely buy some new clothes and try not to stress out shopping - my sister's advice was just to try not to think about it too much b/c I needed to accept I just wasn't going to look good in anything for a while. It's hard. But you do get back to .... well, if not normal, then at least a shape you can find clothes to fit! Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

wear maternity PANTS but not the tops, if you can help it. Get some larger sized tops/blouses/jackets and no one will notice the pants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:wear maternity PANTS but not the tops, if you can help it. Get some larger sized tops/blouses/jackets and no one will notice the pants.

I did this and it worked for me as well. Another trick for up top, I used those Hollywood body tape to keep the shirt puckering on a button down shirt since my chest was still huge. The button down shirt, even untucked and hiding my pooch, made me feel a little more dressed up. Anway, the Hollywood body tape is basically really good double sided tap that keeps the fabric together. They sell them in a pink package at the check out counter at Bed Bath and Beyond.

[Anonymous]

Don't they sell those control-top/spandex type corset things to push your pooch in? I thought I read that a lot of post-baby Hollywood celebs wear them under their clothes.

Not sure if that is ideal or practical for you.

Plus, with autumn approaching you should be able to get away with sweaters and loose fitting tops/pants.

[Anonymous]

When I went back to work, I was the same weight as before but DEFINITELY not the same shape, so I had to get a few pairs of pants to have something to put on my body. This may seem silly, but I found that the real pants got too big as I got my shape back -- maternity pants were too forgiving and I couldn't tell that I'd made any progress! You don't have to break the bank, but I think a few pairs of real pants and perhaps a skirt might make you feel better about yourself and keep your motiviation up.