Pregnancy, Part 2

The Gallagher Guide to the Baby Years, 2005 Edition
by Stephanie Gallagher

(Page 2 of 3)

"I loved being pregnant and wanted the world to know, so I loved wearing the obvious 'maternity clothes' look. However, the most important items in my pregnant wardrobe were hardly ever seen. The real essentials include a super-comfortable, front latch, all-cotton (if you can find it) sleeping bra! Your ever-growing breasts can be painful, especially at night as you toss and turn. A good sleeping bra (similar to an exercise or jogging bra) can keep your breasts supported and lessen the discomfort.

"Comfortable panties are another must, and I found gigantic briefs to do the trick, as long as they were big enough to go completely over the belly. Anything hitting the waistline was torture. After my pregnancy, I was told by friends that they liked bikinis for the same reason (they didn't restrict the waistline).

"Whether or not you are one of the women whose feet swell in pregnancy, near the end of the pregnancy, you will find bending over to be less than fun. Bending over to tie your shoes will be downright annoying. Take care of your comfort and sanity by having comfortable slip-on shoes or sandals that you can manage to slip in and out of without help!"

— Theresa Smead, St. Louis, MO

"Those pants with the stretch panels were a definite no-no for me. The seam where the panel was connected to the non-stretch fabric always cut into my belly. I got one of those wardrobe-in-a-box sets that was great, came with a short skirt, leggings, a jumper dress, and two shirts (short sleeve and long sleeve). Comfy and stylish!"

— Michele Longenbach, Garden Grove, CA

"I resisted buying maternity underwear with my first pregnancy, [but later when I tried them] I couldn't believe how much more comfortable (although ugly) they were."

— Tammy McCluskey, M.D., Kinnelon, NJ

"There are times when you just don't want anything touching your tummy, and even if it has the elastic maternity panel in front, it still irritates you. Baby doll dresses work best."

— K. Scarlett Shaw, Euless, TX

"First, black pants. I worked in an office and I would wear those pants every day. No one ever noticed! They were so comfortable and went with everything. Second, comfy, slip-on shoes. I gave up trying to tie my shoes somewhere around the sixth month. Third, supportive bras. I knew I was pregnant when my chest exploded. Supportive bras are the best investment."

— Sara Hammontree, Mountain Home, AR

"I recommend Lands' End leggings. You can buy them in normal sizes. I got the "Tall" sizing — it gives you more length from crotch to waistband. I also got a large. Believe it or not, they stretched to accommodate me in my ninth month and also my usual size before and after. They were supportive immediately postpartum, too."

— Sarah Pletcher, East Lansing, MI

The Five Hottest Places to Buy Maternity Clothes

Gone are the days of baby doll dresses and big floppy bows. Today, maternity clothes come in the same fashionable styles as regular women's clothes, and you don't need to go to a fancy boutique or spend a lot of money to get them. Indeed, many of the same stores where you normally shop now carry maternity clothes. Here are our favorites.

1. Target
2. The Gap
3. Old Navy
4. Motherhood Maternity (and Motherhood Maternity Outlet)
5. eBay

"Motherhood Maternity is fairly priced, and the quality of their clothes is decent (they do tend to shrink quite quickly, so be careful when drying). Target is also a good choice for maternity wear. They now sell the Liz Lange line, which is nice. I would actually wear some of the clothes even if I wasn't pregnant."

— Katie Conroy, Palos Hills, IL

"I bought many of my maternity clothes off of eBay. It's a great way to get all the clothes you need without spending an arm and a leg. Maternity clothes are too expensive to buy a whole new wardrobe that will only last a few months."

— Jonalee Fernatt, Ulrichsville, OH

"Target maternity clothes are affordable, look nice, and last."

— Sara Dixon, Grimesland, NC

"JCPenney.com and Motherhood Maternity Outlet both have great selections of plus-sized maternity clothes, and they are pretty inexpensive. The Motherhood outlet stores seem to have a much better selection of plus-sized clothes. Also, watch for rummage sales. I bought around thirty items of plus-sized maternity clothes in great condition for $27!"

— Amy McDonald, Buffalo, MN

"Old Navy and Gap Maternity can both be found online (some Old Navy stores carry maternity also). They offer free returns and exchanges, so sizes are not that big of a deal to try before you know what will work. With my first pregnancy, I ordered and paid for shipping one time, then just continued exchanging so much that I never had to pay for shipping again! The clothes are similar to 'normal' clothes (not tentlike pregnancy stuff) and fit very well."

— Kari Rydell, Ladera Ranch, CA

"Target has really stylish clothes that last the whole pregnancy, plus the prices are perfect! Also, don't be afraid to shop online. I bought over fifty articles of maternity clothing in a lot on eBay with my last pregnancy, all for $115! There were a couple of things in there that I wouldn't wear, but the rest were perfect!"

— Stephanie R. Smith, Alexandria, KY

Our Seven-Step Formula for Coping with Bed Rest

In the first trimester, you fantasize about being put on bed rest. You're sooooo tired, you think, hmmm, forced to stay in bed? Sign me up! But being confined to your bed during pregnancy can be lonely, boring, and emotionally draining. Here are the best ways to cope.

1. Accept it.

2. Stock up on books, magazines, and videos.

3. Arrange a schedule for visitors.

4. Get a laptop computer and join an online support group for expectant moms.

5. Ask for help with cooking, cleaning, running errands, finishing the baby's room.

6. Do simple craft projects.

7. Get dressed and put on makeup (if you normally wear it) every day.

"If finances allow, get a laptop computer. You can make family picture albums, keep in touch with relatives, meet new cyber-friends who are in the same boat, study up on fetal development, and so much more. If you have a DVD player, there is an online rental service called Netflix that can be a sanity-saver. For around $20 a month, you get up to three DVDs that you can exchange as much as you like or keep as long as you like. No late fees or trips to the video store, and since it takes about four to five days for you to receive a new one after sending one back, you can have a new movie almost every night if you stagger them. They even provide postage-paid mailers."

— Angel Smith, Brooksville, FL

"Ask family and friends for help with meals, finishing the nursery, and running errands. Though your spouse can do those things as well, he will more than likely still be working 40+ hours per week and tending to some of your other needs.

"Each day, set up your beds: your normal one and one on the couch. Have plenty of fluids and prepared snacks, get a good book, have lots of pillows and a blanket, and keep the phone close by. Relax and don't stress about the things that are not getting done. You are doing the most important thing: taking care of the baby."

— Dana A. Croy, Murfreesboro, TN

Copyright © 2002, 2004 by Sound Bite Press, Inc.

About the Author

Stephanie Gallagher is an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in such magazines as Redbook, McCall's, and Woman's World. She is the publisher of Sound Bite Press and author of Money Secrets the Pros Don't Want You to Know, Fabulous Bargains, and The Everything Baby Resource Guide.