Summer Maternity Awesomeness

Fun fact time! I'm always pregnant at the same time as Britney Spears. How weird is that? I remember PRAYING during my first pregnancy that Britney Spears would have a boy because she said in an interview that if she had a girl, she'd name her Addison. I refused to have a daughter with the same name as Britney Spears' kid. Luckily, a boy was born and my child's name was saved. Is that vain?

Anyway, it was so fun to watch to see what koo koo kachoo outfits she would come up with. She is a crazy dresser y'all! I want you to look at the two pictures above. Think: would I rather spend my pregnancy looking like uber-adorable and happy Selma Blair, or wedgie-picking, cigarette smoking Britney Spears?

THINK HARD.

I know it's the summer and you're hot and super uncomfortable and basically just want to lay around in your undies all day, but eventually, you're going to have to leave the house in all your preggo glory. Luckily, I can help you with that, despite it having been two years since my last (LAST) pregnancy. You'll note that all of the outfits pictures are dresses or skirts. They are SO much cooler in the summer when you're a bajillion degrees. Shorts and pants are fine, but I know when I got to the end I was like NOTHING CAN TOUCH ME EVER and I eschewed anything with more fabric than absolutely necessary.

Mama licious maternity, £21
Old Navy denim maternity, $33
Wet Seal flip flop shoes, $7.99
Peace bag, $23
TopShop beading earrings, $20


When choosing shirts, look for ones that don't require layering. Besides the fact it'll just make you hotter, there's too much adjusting needed when you move around. Looser, lighter fabrics are king and super flattering because they don't give you sausage arms. Down with sausage arms! And flip flops are your friends when you're retaining fluid. Now, you'll notice that these are decidedly NOT capris. That's because a skirt will be cooler and not showcase pregnancy cankles. Lovely!

Short sleeve cardigan, $7.99
Maternity, £25
Forever21 flat thong sandals, $19
Ruffle bag, $15
Amrita Singh metal bracelet, $40
Belle Noel by Kim Kardashian hoop earrings, $49

Maxi dresses own my heart for pregnancy. They are mucho adorable and so easy because it's one piece. I know you can handle one piece. They are practically pajamas. Go ahead, have a nap in one. It's great. If you're self conscious about pregnancy arms, totally wear a drapey sweater if you can handle it in the heat. I also noticed that when I was preggo I liked to keep my chest bare and wear earrings and bracelets instead. That may be because I had awesome pregnancy boobs and wanted everyone to see, but it also had something to do with the fact that necklaces made me sweaty.

Isabella oliver maternity, $81
ALDO t strap sandals, $45
Dorothy Perkins clutch bag, £10
Pearl jewelry, $11
Calla freshwater pearl jewelry, $25

No matter what, some jerk friend always wants to get married right when I'm massively pregnant. Like, hello, gestating a fetus here... can we wait? Just kidding, I didn't expect people to plan around my gargantuan-ness, but it was always hard to find something cute for a formal occasion. For dressing up, I like an outfit that shows the belly, otherwise I think people must just think I'm fat. This dress is so cute. If you can handle heels, by all means, but this would be just as cute with ballet flats. Note that the heels are substantial.. don't teeter around on stilettos when massively pregnant, please. It's disconcerting. Dress up, eat the food and waddle out the door before your ankles swell.

Does that give you hope for the last few months of summer pregnancy? Definitely hang out in your undies as much as you want... but put something cute on before you leave the house lest you startle the neighbors!

Maternity Monday - "Your Feet Are Swollen"

My mother-in-law has been informing me for weeks (every single time she sees me), that my feet are swollen. I've been in denial. They look the same to me. But yesterday, as I was heading out the door for church, I tried to slip on my red peeptoe heels. And they didn't fit. There was no way I was going to be able to squish my fat feet into them. I was horrified. My whole outfit had been planned around those shoes. I settled for my black pumps, as painful as it was to shove my feet into them.

This never happened to me in my previous pregnancies! I wore 4-inch heels to the end. But now, with weeks left to go, I can't fit into any of my favorite shoes. It's a sad sad day. Because of my predicament, I've spent the last hour looking for shoes that might work for me. Here are my findings.

Because of my addiction to heels, I still need some height. I wore wedges this weekend for several hours and felt just fine. Therefore, I refuse to give up wedges!

(Steve Madden)

These will still give me the height I want, but will be a little less rough on my extra plump footsies. Ditto to espadrilles like these:(Zappos)
I'd like these better without the ankle strap right now. I don't need a tight strap to draw attention to my swollen ankles.

I'll be honest. I'm not a huge fan of kitten heels. While I like a cute kitten heel on other people, I'm just not used to how they look on me. But I found these patent leather ones that I think I could handle. I think it's the chunkiness of the heel. (Zappos)

These are cute, too. I could handle these as a substitute to my usual Sunday heels.

(Zappos)

Thankfully, spring has arrived, which means I can wear flats, sandals, flip flops...typical Florida girl footwear. And my feet thank me for it. (Charlotte Russe)

(American Eagle)

If you're in the same boat as me and are having issues with swollen feet, there are a few things you can do.

- Put your feet up whenever possible

- Don't cross your legs when sitting

- Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time. Change positions regularly to let the blood flow.

- Drink more water.

- Exercise. Even just walking helps.

- Avoid junk food. (HAHAHAHAHAHA)

If you do decide to go get shoes that fit more comfortably, go shopping in the evening. That's when your feet will be at their biggest. And try not to cry too much when you see you've gone up a size. Chances are, the swelling will go down after the baby comes and you'll be back in your normal size. So no need to go out and get a whole closet full of bigger shoes. Darn it.

Maternity Monday - After You Pop

Those first few weeks after you have a baby are the hardest. You’re sleep deprived, adjusting to a new crazy schedule, you’re still carrying more weight than you’d like, and you basically feel like a big fat frumpalumpagus.

For me, taking some time to try to look my best despite the craziness going on all around me really helps me feel more positive about myself. You already know I think you should rock a girdle, but what do you wear over it?

Loose Tops

When I was pregnant for the first time, baby doll tops or empire waist tops like the ones above were everywhere. While these are great for hiding post partum tummy bulge, they aren't my favorite option.

TunicsThere are so many different styles of tunics right now. They're just as loose as baby doll shirts, but so much less...baby doll-y. And the ones that are button down are easy access for nursing.

Elastic Hems and Bands

These are my favorite right now. Shirts with an elastic hem or thick band around the bottom are everywhere. The loose fit nicely hides the flabiness you don't want anyone to see.

Even if you're just lounging around the house, fight the urge to throw on your husband's oversized t-shirt and opt for a more feminine loose fitting shirt like the one below. You'll feel loads better about yourself.

A winged cardigan is also great for hiding the fun rolls that pregnancy leaves behind.(All tops from Forever 21)

Stretchy Bottoms

I'm not going to lie. I have c-sections so the first week I’m home from the hospital, I live in these:
But that’s just in the comfort of my home. If I’m going to venture out of the house, I try to look more put together. There are options other than sweatpants that are just as comfortable, but much more stylish.

Drawstring PantsThese drawstring pants are as easy and comfortable as a pair of yoga pants, but will look much cuter as you're out and about running errands.

Summer Linen PantsDitto on these. But I find it highly unnecessary to tuck your shirt into them like this model.

Jeans are totally comfortable, too, as long as they have some stretch in them.

(Pants from Forever 21)

Skirts

(Skirts from Old Navy)

There are so many casual skirt options for spring and summer. The two above have a stretchy waist band perfect for those first few postpartum weeks.

Last tip for feeling more like a hot momma than a hot mess in those first few weeks of sleepless nights and 'round the clock feedings: put on some make up!! Conceal those under eye circles. Put on some blush to brighten up your cheeks. Check out Jae’s make up post to see how to brighten your tired eyes.

Maternity Monday - Dressing the Bump for Spring

Someone please fund a shopping spree for me quick because there are so many cute trends for spring!

Let's start with tops:

Graphic T's are in. And although grey doesn't seem like a very springy color, it's all over the place this season. (Gap)

Knots are also all the rage. (Such a lame phrase.) Look for shirts or dresses with a little knot detail, but make sure it doesn't look too bulky when you try it on. (Old Navy)Cut outs, like the ones on these sleeves are another cute trend for spring. (Old Navy)Florals and ruffles are also in. Be careful with both, though. Too much of either is not a good thing. (Nordstrom)

Moving on to bottoms:

I love casual skirts while preggo. Sometimes I don't feel like squishing my extra meaty legs into shorts. (Motherhood Maternity)

But I do love love love me some Bermuda shorts. I have a pair of white ones like these that are sadly starting to get a little too tight. Please don't pair these shorts with the shoes pictured. (Gap) Here's another style of bermuda shorts I like. More cargo-y. For a Florida girl like me, these are great with a graphic T and some cute flip flops. (Motherhood Maternity)Another spring trend is cuffed shorts. I have to say, I wasn't crazy about a lot of the looser fitting cuffed shorts I found. But these are more subtle and I want to own them. (Motherhood Maternity)

Let's talk dresses:

This little number can either be worn as a dress or a skirt. This with a colorful cardigan and some cute jewelry would be adorable and so comfy, no? If you're going to wear it as a skirt, pair it with a snug fitting top. Loosy flowy skirt + loosy flowy top = hugeness. (Nordstrom)This wrap dress combines a few spring trends: knots, draping, and bright colors. I want it to be miiine. (Nordstrom)And finally, the maxi dress. Oh how I am coveting this dress. I'd pair it with a little cardi and some colorful accessories. I'm thinking plum. It could also be belted, if my stomach muscles weren't killing me these days. (Nordstrom) Go shop, spring chickens. Then I can live vicariously through you.

Maternity Monday - What to Wear Underneath

When you get into your third trimester, it can get a little difficult to cover up. Perhaps the shirts you wore in your last pregnancy shrunk while they were in that plastic bin for the last couple of years (That's my story. It can't be that I'm just bigger this time. It just can't be.), or perhaps the maternity shirts you find in stores aren't quite long enough to cover your bump.

Whether you're trying to cover the fact that you're wearing unbuttoned jeans, hide the band on your maternity jeans, or conceal your growing belly, there are a few options you can try.

First up: The BellaBand.

While I've never personally tried one of these, I've seen them work for other women. They are advertised to work all through your pregnancy, and are offered in a few colors.

If an actual BellaBand is a little out of your budget, Target sells a cheaper version, called a BeBand:Another option is a long camisole. I'm short, (5'3"...and a half thankyouverymuch), so these work for me. They're long enough that they cover what some of my maternity shirts don't cover. The other thing I love about wearing a cami is that it helps to smooth everything out a bit. It also covers up my newly acquired preggo cleavage when I need it to. Motherhood Maternity sells inexpensive camisoles in a couple of color options:As we've established, I'm a cheapo, so I checked Ross and found maternity cami's for $5 each.

Option 3: Topless Undershirts

These are inexpensive undershirts that start just below the bra line and are long enough to cover everything you want covered. Be warned: While these work great for us preggos, be sure to buy a size bigger because they don't come in maternity sizes. These are also great for nursing moms because unlike a cami, there are no straps to worry about, and they hide more of your stomach than a belly band, so you can stay covered while you're trying to discreetly whip out the ladies.
Topless Undershirts come in tons of colors. There are even a couple of prints to choose from.

Maternity Monday - Dresses

One of my pregnant friends was recently complaining that all maternity dresses make her look like she's wearing a tent. This put me on a hunt for cute non-tent-like dresses. There are a lot of options out there that won't make you look much bigger than you actually are. Just stay away from this: When looking for maternity dresses an empire waist is mucho flattering. Having some tightness on your top half is the key to not looking like you're wearing a big fat muumuu. Here are a few options I found.

The Tie Dress(Nordstrom)
This dress ties in the back, which allows you to control how tight to make it under your bustline. This will give you some shape and create a nice silhouette. The big sleeves hide jiggly arms.

The Smocked Dress(A Pea in the Pod)
This one is smocked under the bustline, which makes it nice and tight. Because of the elastic band, there's no need for a tie back.

The Baby Doll Dress

(A Pea in the Pod)

Again, this is tight on the bust, making you look like you still have some kind of a figure. I love the detail on the sleeves and I think the neckline is really flattering.

The Bow Dress

(A Pea in the Pod)

I think we've established that I like a cute bow. It's so girly and sweet. I think off to the side looks best. It just adds a little eye catching detail.

And finally, my favorite, The Wrap Dress(Gap)
Very flattering to your expanding waistline. I have a black wrap dress that I love. I like that I can adjust it as my belly grows. But who styled her? Wrong shoes!

See? No tents here. Maternity dresses have come a looong way from the scary jumpers our moms once wore.

Maternity Monday - Post Partum Secrets

Back in my working days, before I had kids, I knew a beautiful little pixie of a girl. I would have sworn the girl was a single college student, so when she told me she was actually a mother of two, I thought, "What?? How?? But your stomach is flatter than mine!" I hadn't experienced childbirth yet and assumed that having kids meant saying goodbye to your girlish figure forever. I asked little miss pixie one word: How? And she responded with one word: Girdle.

Okay, so here's my disclaimer: I am not a doctor and have no idea if what I'm about to tell you is actually a terrible idea. This is just what I do. Well, me and little miss pixie.

This beautiful girl I speak of had c-sections. She didn't let that stop her from wearing a girdle, so neither did I. I actually found that being held in made me feel better during my recovery. But for some, it might be really uncomfortable. Just a warning.

In my search to find non-scary pictures of girdles for you, I discovered that not only do they make girdles specifically for post partum tummies, but they even make c-section girdles. All the pictures I found of them were a little scary, but they basically look like this:

sensationalshapewear.com

That's one option. As you lose the weight, you pull the snaps a little tighter. I've never tried this kind.

Here's the first girdle I got after my first son was born. It was so so. It gave me some killer saddle bags and who doesn't want that? So attractive. Plus it was really annoying to go to the bathroom.

spanx.com

This is the type I ended up using the most. No saddle bags, held in tummy, and even some booty lift. Nice! But there was still the annoying problem of going to the bathroom.

spanx.com

Now they make girdles just like the two above, but with snaps in the...um....bathroom going area. Like a onesie. Sorry, but I wasn't going to post pictures of that. I have a friend who is currently using that kind and she's really happy with it. So that's what I'm going to try this go around.

Actual Spanx are a little pricey for me, so I just buy whatever brand of girdle I can find at places like Target or Kohl's. Even though you can do an online search of post partum girdles, I just buy regular girdles in a size or two bigger than my normal size. I love that it holds in and smooths out my bumpy, doughy, post partum tummy, and they're totally ideal for Plus Size Maternity. I usually use mine for several weeks until my stomach starts to look somewhat normal again.


This may sound like crazy talk to some of you, but for those of you wanting to try it, the three pictures above aren't the only styles to choose from. There are all different kinds. Try what you think will work best for you.


Did I lose you all?