Help I'm a whale at 18 weeks and don't know how to dress

[Anonymous]

I couldn't put off maternity clothes shopping any longer and it was a horrifying experience. I am short and seem to be gaining weight in my arms as well as all around my middle, so I do not look good in anything, nor do i resemble other pregnant women at work who were tall and stayed skinny apart from a small bump. The clothes seem to be either extremely tight spandex or tent-like, and I can't imagine anyone will take me seriously at work in either. How do you manage to look professional through pregnancy? Where do you shop? If you don't intend to have more kids, can you do this without spending ridiculous amounts for clothes you'll wear for a few months and then get rid of?

[Anonymous]

Try Facebook marketplace. There should be lots of people selling maternity clothes.

[Anonymous]

I wore lots of scarfs and necklaces to draw the eye to my face. Good luck - it’s tough.

[Anonymous]

A Pea in the Pod was the only place I found maternity tops and dresses that felt like they fit with my pre-pregnancy style, looked somewhat flattering and weren’t made of garish patterns and cheap materials. I will say that it isn’t cheap! I mostly shopped the sales rack and then just resigned myself to wearing the same few tops constantly and figured no one would judge since it was obviously a temporary situation.

But I agree—the easy to find maternity clothes are hideous and make me think big box stores believe that only midwestern moms from 2002 are having babies.

[Anonymous]

Gap/Old Navy/H&M - all online. And a few hand me downs from friends. If you need something a bit more high end for work - Seraphine. I am also very short and found those sources adequate. No spandex here Maybe Target or other big boxes just don't carry your style.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the recs, all. I was a bit freaked out after I came home from the mall with only one pair of pants and two shirts that weren't completely awful! For now I think I might try to buy very basic work pants and black and white tops from somewhere like Old Navy and wear my regular unbuttoned blazers, sweaters, and scarves until that starts looking stupid. Don't need to wear suits to work, but can't do flowered maxi dresses or spandex with garish patterns for work either, which is most of what I've seen in stores. Will check for Pea in a Pod stuff, maybe used online.

[Anonymous]

OLD NAVY!! At least for me, their stuff runs big, so some items I bought aren’t even maternity. Nice (flowing) dresses that you can dress up or down, depending on your work. I’m also short, 5’2 (168) and am only carrying in my stomach so far- I’m 23w2d, STM. You can also try Pink Blush.

[Anonymous]

Target has some cute dresses right now.

[Anonymous]

Old navy pixie pants in maternity were great and cheap. For summer I liked the side panel ones since the full panel gets very itchy.I got almost all my clothes from friends or Neigbor list-serve for nothing or very little. I also did maternity T-shirt's in solid colors with my old blazers on top (chose the ones with less structure).

Also, don't despair. 18 weeks is the worst time. You're bloated and puffy with no discernible bump. In another month it'll change. I lost the bloat and became all belly and boobs for most of my pregnancy.

Macy's has maternity stuff and it's all motherhood maternity brand but sometimes on a better sale and better cash back options.

[Anonymous]

Get one nice maternity suit for work for days when you just have to feel professional and put together.

[Anonymous]

I was a whale for both pregnancies (or maybe a hippo?) and found that I was much more comfortable in dresses. Find a few that are in solid colors and add light sweaters/blazers to change it up.

[Anonymous]

Oddly my go-to clothing since about where you are is a black T-shirt dress from old navy. It’s a hand me down too! I work in a more formal environment but suits are not required. So I dress it up with long necklaces and a suit jacket or sweater. Weirdly I get so many compliments but it’s just really an old long t-shirt. I also got a few tops and great black pants from motherhood which help. A friend advised me not to worry too much because ppl understand you don’t get a full new wardrobe for pregnancy. Which is true!

[Anonymous]

I would stick with black or navy.

[Anonymous]

Stitch Fix has maternity clothes. I appreciated their quality and style.

[Anonymous]

Invest in a couple of pairs of black pants and some maternity tanks in neutral colors that you can wear under cardigans or blazers. Also recommend buying a few nice maternity dresses that you can rotate through.