I think at this point we should add “fashion” to the list of F-words I’m no longer allowed to use. These days getting dressed consists of pondering which cardigan I should put over which loose-fitting top.
The other day I left the house in jeans, a graphic tee (which admittedly G has seen me wear as a pajama top on occasion) and a jersey cardigan, and G said, “You’re wearing that to work?”
“I HAVE HEELS ON!” was my defense, followed by a feeble: “It’s clean and not wrinkled.”
These days that’s an A+ outfit.
So let’s go back to the beginning, shall we? My first attempt at wearing something other than sweatpants and dark circles under my eyes was for a casual joint baby shower for my friends Erica and Tappa at about 5 weeks postpartum. At the time I was still in so much pain from my c-section that forgoing my seatbelt for the five minute drive was a risk I was happy to take, but DAMMIT I WAS GOING TO WEAR JEANS! Even if they were maternity jeans…
Top: Target
Tank: The Limited
Jeans: Old Navy Maternity
Boots: Nine West
Ring: New York & Company
I should note that I took this picture recently, so this is me NOW, not then. I really wish I’d had the energy to take a picture back then, because while I was 5 weeks postpartum, I actually looked 5 months pregnant. It wasn’t pretty.
I’d added this oversized flower ring at the last minute in hopes that it would distract from…well, things needing distracting:
The liars ladies at the shower were all, “You look fantastic!” but looking back I realize my ring probably should have been bigger. Much, much bigger.
Today I’m back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but the majority of my pre-pregnancy clothes still do not fit. Like my friend Steph explains, “Things shift.”
The other day I tried on a pair of jeans that I remember wearing into my second trimester but now I can’t even get them PARTIALLY zipped. And if it’s not my pants being a pain in my ass, it’s THESE DAMN MILK JUGS busting out of every shirt I own. (I officially take back ever wishing for bigger boobs when I was younger.)
So yeah, dressing my postpartum body has not been easy.
Sure I could buy new clothes that fit…but I’m too stubborn. And yes, I could stop eating like a teenage boy now that I’m no longer pregnant…but I don’t want to. And of course, I could work out and tone up and try to get all the jiggly bits back in place…but I’d much rather spend my precious time and energy playing with my daughter.
So for now, I’ll just stick with my heels and oversized jewelry.
I just want to say, you are so THE BOMB! I hope that the day I get preggers, have a baby, and actually have time to write a blog, that I’m as awesome as you are! Have a fabulous day!
Hey, I am a long time reader but had to come out of the woodwork for this one.
I just wrote about this a little bit…
http://autumnwades.blogspot.com/
and posted a totally horrifying picture of myself.
I think you do look totally beautiful and not at all ‘mom bodied’. And, those boots? Hot stuff.
I love your honesty D and how you can make this transition a humorous one. You look super cute in that outfit.
And I can so relate to wanting to tone up, but not wanting to eat better…exercise… LOL 
So funny! I had my son in January and even though I’m actually at a lower weight than I was before I had him, I am fatter, looser, jiggly, floppy, saggy… I could go on and on. Nothing fits right and I refuse to buy new clothes. I have packed away my maternity pants but I’m still wearing the dresses and tops I wore when pregnant. I feel your pain.
I couldn’t have said it better myself. I also, could stop eating like a teenage boy, but I don’t want to either!
Hey, it gets better…but it takes a while to get there. For me, I was in denial — thinking that since I lost the weight, my body would surely bounce back to exactly how it was before — no go. BUT now I am pretty content with it and have bought some clothes that make me feel like me (and not like I’m wearing something that no longer fits). Oh, and my daughter is 20 months old — it takes a while to get to this mentality, at least for me.
LOL! I love how honest you are too! And you look great!
You should allow yourself to shop. It may take awhile for everything to go back and it may never go back quite the same (hence weight has dropped but things fit funny) and then you’ll be all depressed. Hide the clothes that don’t fit right and buy yourself some that fit NOW. You are worth it. Love you blog!
I was actually thinking just yesterday that I should email you and beg for a postpartum fashion post. I’m due Friday, and even though this is my second pregnancy I feel lost about what to wear after the baby is born! Glad to know I’m not the only one that might be floppy and jiggly for awhile. I hope you’ll show us a few of your “tricks”… I’m sure you some more up your sleeve for hiding those little flaws while still looking fabulous!
Teenage boy, too funny! Hang in there!
I love your honesty and humor! My daughter is going to be 12 months and I still struggle with dressing my post-partum body. I think I might try some larger jewelry as well, great idea!
You look awesome by the way, so don’t sweat it.
I totally understand. I’m 5’10” so most of my shirts were borderline too short pre-pregnancy. Now, with the HUGE knockers that I have, they’re out of the question. I think I’m going to have to invest in some “Tall” shirts…
Hi D, I could have totally written this myself! I have been wearing the same two pairs of pants and five tops to work ever since I returned a month ago. I have lost all the weight too but the girls are huge and none of my tops are fitting. I am hoping that when I stop nursing that they go back and I can get some of my wardrobe back!!! I went through my closet a few weeks ago and seperated all of my clothes in three piles. Fits now, may fit if I lose the girls and a few more pounds, and the keep dreaming pile. Good luck, hopefully we will both be back there again soon!
Karen
Don’t be too hard on yourself. It takes awhile for things to “settle back into place”, but I promise you they do!! They really do! Once you feel like exercising again you will be amazed how quickly your body gets back into its former shape. When you have a c-section (I’ve had 2) they cut your stomach muscles. I think it takes almost a year for them to get back to where they were before. My stomach seamed to “stick out” forever!! But now it’s back to normal. Hopefully this helps.
YAY D!!! Took me 9 months to gain and dam 9 months to lose it. WTG!!!
D! I love your honesty and always have. You look great and you really are an inspiration. I am currently 11 weeks pregnant, Wahooo, still in my normal clothes. I am trying to stay positive and realistic on how my body is going to change and wear all I can now and make the most of my wardrobe before my body does start really changing. I know it will be totally worth it, its just adjusting! Thanks always for your awesome post! BTW, all of your pregnancy fashion post are my inspiration to stay cute while pregnant and show off that belly! You did amazing at that! XOXO
Ditto to all of that! My babe is 6 weeks and I’m officially back to my pre-baby weight, but not really – nothing fits, like you said. Those darn boobs!!! And you need to think ahead – okay, the buttons stay closed right NOW, because I just fed her, but in 2 hours, this shirt’s going to be busting open. Ugh. I just used a Kohls gift card that was from returned baby shower items to buy myself a few tshirts that are a bigger size. Oh well. Not sure what to do about shorts and skirts – none of the waistbands fit.
Dear Dusty. You are hot. You ARE. I love you. xoxo, M.
I’m wearing the same shirt, but in black/blue!
D
Story of my life. Are you inside my head??
jbhat
See, maternity fashion is a piece of cake- the celebs and designers are All. Over. It. Buuut postpartum is the ugly secret that nobody talks about, and it’s time we, as a society, face this problem and assign designers to deal with it head on. Not that I wanted to shop, either- I really hate the idea of having three wardrobes: normal. maternity, and postpartum. At least a few celebs are being honest about the miracle of shapewear…
Thank you for making me feel normal. My recovery/weight loss has been SLOW and I’ve been feeling like I’ll never get my body back. I’m willing to accept that it won’t be exactly as it was before but I hope it improves dramatically from here.
Thank you for being normal and presenting normal for normal women
I put on a ton of weight w/ baby #1 and didn’t mind until after the baby–and then it all just kind of went from cute belly to floppy. And then I discovered the breast feeding myth. My weight didn’t even begin to come off until my child was a year and I honestly didn’t have energy to do anything about it until then. Now I’m preggo w/ baby #2 and I SWORE I wasn’t going to gain weight. ha ha! They’re totally worth it though. Kate is gorgeous and so are you.
Wow! Your comments are so wonderful, flattering, understanding, and just all-around supportive. Thank you SO MUCH everyone!
@autumn–Thank you so much for sharing that post. It was so beautiful and I think you look incredible!
@Carol–Thanks for the kind words and the advice. Admitedly, I have purchased a few things to tide me over, but for the most part I’m trying to make due with what I have b/c I swear my body continues to change each week!
@Carrie–Today is your due date! Congratulations!!
@Meredith–YES! A few weeks ago my friend Jill and I were talking about how it seems like all our pre-pregnancy shirts have shrunk length-wise. We guessed it just seemed that way b/c we had gotten so used to wearing longer tops while we were pregnant, but you bring up a good point–it’s gotta be the boobs!
@Chicago Mom–Yep, the c-section certainly isn’t helping things. Somedays I wonder if my stomach will EVER go back to normal. I swear I still look pregnant.
@Amber–Congratulations to you!
“Today I’m back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but the majority of my pre-pregnancy clothes still do not fit. “
Wow! You look much better then I at the moment and I was never pregnant. Really respect.
“Things shift.”
So true. I’m sitting here at 5 weeks postpartum and only 10 pounds away from pre-preggers weight. I have a pair of jeans that I wore until month 4…but will those suckers zip? Hahahaha! Hell no!
I can pull them up over my hips, but those babies had to have spread and not snapped back into place yet. Ugh.