Oh, the joys of motherhood! Right after having a baby, your body doesn’t feel like something you can reclaim...like awaiting your luggage at the airport baggage carousel. A piece here, a piece there. It all looks familiar, but you swear it isn't yours.
Don’t get me wrong. I was a pregnancy embracer and would do it all over again.
But my body after baby. Oof.
There’s a term for it now: The Fourth Trimester. It’s nice that there are help and guidance to get style questions answered. I recall going to an early play date with my first newborn. We all clutched our mugs of decaf until I couldn’t suppress my burning question any longer: now that the baby is out, when does “it” go back in?
It being my pregnancy stomach, where my coffee mug rested still, like a little shelf for those board-style baby books.
It turns out, I’m not alone. Most women feel that postpartum they want to chuck their pregnancy clothes out the window and return to their regularly scheduled wardrobing, only to face a certain level of shock and distress when they realize their boobs have surpassed all sizing expectation and that the hips didn’t get the message that the baby has left the premises.
Thus the need to plan ahead, while still pregnant for this Fourth Trimester phenomenon so you’re caught less off guard when feeling exhausted and your needs are trapped behind two loads of laundry. The goal is to feel comfortable and stylish, repurpose some clothing within your maternity wardrobe while making the transition forward for the remade you.
STYLISH SLEEPWEAR
Since you’ll be spending more waking hours at night than you have likely in your entire lifetime, you might as well have cute and comfortable sleepwear to see you through (with easy access to breastfeed if you so choose). Once you find a design you like, by multiples. It’s not you making the mess. Blame the little bambino with the sweet, milky spit up.
BELLY BAND
Speaking directly to my stomach issue, a seamless belly band with some Spandex or stretch can offer comfortable compression and help guide your tummy back into its former place.
FABRICS WITH FLOW
I made the mistake early on with my summer baby of thinking that 100% cotton and woven wools for fall were things I would readily fit into, but that was for my former body: ah, what a dreamer! Keep in mind that woven fabrics don’t have a lot of give and skin is highly sensitive. Look for fabric blends and clothing with stretch that can adjust and move with you: you’ll crave that softness against your skin.
FLATTERING CUTS
Dresses that offer easy functionality for nursing if you are breastfeeding in flattering cuts like A-line or swing styles will serve you well. Wrap dresses also adjust as you can tie them tighter or looser as your body continues to fluctuate.
SOME TRENDS ARE YOUR FRIEND
The current athleisure trend plays in your favor with a wide choice of comfortable and stretchy leggings, eye-catching sneakers, fold-over yoga pants and graphic-Ts all at the mercy of a post-preggers body.
BREATHABLE TOPS
If you choose to breastfeed, you’ll find quickly that you’ll go through clean shirts like a teenager and his gym socks. Thus the need for a variety of tops with easy accessibility to feed that speak to your style, with built in panels that cover you up where you need it. Consider snap-closure tanks, sporty hoodies, tulip and surplice tops.
SLEEP BRA
Never knew you needed one, right? I didn’t either until I went from a C Cup pre-baby to an E Cup after birth and felt like “my twins” were heading different directions as I laid on my bed. A light support sleep bra is minimally invasive at night and offers just the right support for your growing bosom and milk while you rest—for the hours that you are able.
THE LONG CARDIGAN
One of the carryovers from your existing wardrobe, a duster or long cardigan is an essential piece for its versatility and ability to be worn pre and post baby. Here tassels and crochet add a punch of funk.
Most of us are not on the celebrity slim-down plan and shouldn’t feel the pressures to be model thin after any specific period of time. It can take generally women six weeks to a year to return to her previous sizing. Even then, you may drop the weight, but feel the weight is displaced! Don't be discouraged. Body after baby is an interesting journey and one that cannot be described until you’ve been there, as comically summarized in this graphic T-shirt:
