Everyone has been so supportive of my pregnancy via internet, and some have even expressed their excitement at seeing how I style my bump, dress my pregnancy, you know, work it. Well... I may be a bit of a disappointment. My pregnancy style is very similar to how I go about things normally. Neutral tee. Jeans. Sandals. Leather tote. The usual suspects.
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| Tee: Gap (similar) // Jeans: Old Navy Maternity (similar) // Sandals: Madden Girl (new via Salvation Army) // Bag: Banana Republic Kristen Tote (no longer available, but I'm searching high and low for a similar) // Polish: Essie in Forever Yummy (don't let the name turn you off, it's the perfect classic red) |
I usually break out the maternity jeans fairly early. I don't like that feeling of tightness that squeezing into my regular jeans provokes, so why fight it? As far as tops go, I'm wearing my usual tees and tanks, and for special events rocking either a shift dress, or something fitted but stretchy (and some Assets shorts, pulled up over the belly, thanks for asking).
Once the belly is out full force, I embrace it, ditching the shifts in favor of fitted tops and dresses. Maternity also brings out my love for monochromatic dressing and dark neutrals (even more so than usual!). They have the potential to be so flattering, and therefore have a soothing effect on the hormonal roller coaster of maternity self image.
Speaking of self image, is there anyone else out there that finds pregnancy to be a bit of a struggle? In some ways my first pregnancy was the worst. Chalk it up to personal demons, or the influence of the zeitgeist, but pregnancy came with more than just a change in cup size (they runneth over). Lots of fears. Lots of them. My body will be ruined. Varicose veins. Stretch marks. Thirty extra pounds, to be endured in perpetuity. Now I'm not saying that I glowed the entire time, or that I don't bear a mark or two, but it wasn't bad. My body did what it was designed to do, and there is something rather empowering about that. Even beautiful.
Great outfit and you look fantastic! You definitely not alone with pregnancy being a struggle. I found both times to be almost a relapse to a darker place of insecurity experienced when I was much younger. It didnt help they were 18 months apart and I didn't get my body back long before I was right back into it again. There were things that helped me the second time around (like working out), but there is no doubt about it that pregnancy was hard (and I assume it will be hard for the next time I am pregnant). You are not alone. The gaining and losing of weight is a cross that is hard to bear, but you are right in saying that it is beautiful that we are able to do what our bodies were designed to do. :) So very true!
ReplyDelete-Diana A.
DeleteThank you, Diana! Yes, I agree that being proactive and doing things to feel our best helps so much! Running around with my other little ones also helped a lot ( for the subsequent 2 pregnancies). With my first I was sitting around so much more mainly because I could! That being said, I agree, it's a cross to be born (sorry for the awful pun).
Deleteyou look wonderful as always and congratulations, Mary!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ana!
DeleteThanks for being honest about the goods and bads of pregnancy. Body changes can be beautiful, but they're sad, too. I think it's normal to mourn the loss of your old body.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteYou look gorgeous Mary. And I hear you on maternity jeans. I'm rocking a blanqi this go-round and it has made it possible (but still not ideal) to wear non-maternity pants well into trimester 2, but I'll take that big 'ol full panel over unbuttoned jeans any day of the week.
ReplyDeleteJenny, I saw your post on the blanqi; I want one! And I HATE Wearing unbuttoned pants, it feels so precarious!
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