Hey friends! So, I recently found myself wandering around a mall during a work trip, and of course, I thought, “Hey, why not check out some maternity stores since there’s no sales tax?” But let me tell you, the thought of buying maternity clothes has been giving me serious anxiety for a while now. I’m in a bit of denial about the weight gain, and let’s face it, I’m just plain scared. I’ve also got some hand-me-downs from a friend, which has made me think I could avoid this whole shopping ordeal. But here I was, contemplating it anyway.
As I stepped into the maternity store, I was met by a couple of overly enthusiastic saleswomen. Now, I’m not huge or anything, but my size four pants are definitely not fitting these days. The sales staff kept insisting I should be able to squeeze into small sizes—uh, no thanks! I continued browsing, and before I knew it, my fitting room was overflowing with clothes. Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, one of the peppy sales associates suggested I try on “the bump.” You know, the fake belly they use to show what you might look like as you get bigger.
Panic set in. I felt like I was suffocating under the pressure, and the scarf around my neck felt like it was tightening. Still, I marched to the fitting room, only to find that yes, the bump was there. I did what any woman would do—I covered it up with my coat. As I tried on the clothes, I was greeted by a stranger in the mirror. Who was that? I’m still trying to wrap my head around my new curves and it’s not going well.
Instead of accepting that I’d need to try on bigger sizes, I just started sweating and cursing my changing body. I quickly threw on my own clothes and practically yanked my friend, Rachel, out of the store. She must have thought I was losing it!
I know I should be grateful for the weight gain because it means a healthy baby, but after working hard to get in shape for my wedding just a few months ago, it’s hard not to look in the mirror and wonder where all that effort went. Will I ever feel comfortable in my new skin? If you’ve been through this, how did you cope with gaining weight during pregnancy?
If you want more insights on navigating this journey, check out our other post on Modern Family Blog. And for those of you considering at-home insemination options, you should definitely check out Make A Mom for their top-notch insemination kits. You can also find helpful resources on pregnancy and home insemination at Hopkins Medicine.
Summary
Shopping for maternity clothes can be a daunting experience, especially when dealing with body changes. The pressure of trying on clothes that no longer fit can lead to feelings of anxiety and denial. It’s important to remember that these changes are part of a beautiful journey towards motherhood. Sharing experiences and resources can help ease the emotional burden.
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