The post baby body. Enough said, right? It can be overwhelming. You have a beautiful baby that you absolutely adore. Then you try to get dressed or heaven forbid... look in a mirror and .... ugh.... suddenly your wardrobe doesn't look anything like it did before you had a baby. Take a deep breathe, ladies.
This is completely normal. It's incredibly frustrating... but normal. When you first realize that old pair of jeans that you loved so dearly before you got pregnant may never fit the same way again, you might get emotional. Again... this is normal. As much as we may hear about how our bodies change after pregnancy, I'm not sure that anything really prepares us for this realization.
Will your body ever go back to the way it was before? Most likely it won't be exactly the same as it was before. (Yes, insert tears here) You just have to learn to embrace your new body. Easier said than done, I know.
So first off, don't expect things to fit the way they did before. Second, don't expect to shop the way you did before. You have to learn to dress this gorgeous new body. And it will take time. Shopping post pregnancy is tough. It takes longer. You have to learn everything all over again about what looks good on you. But be patient with yourself. You will get there.
Probably the hardest part of post-pregnancy getting dressed is when you have to figure out what to wear to work. Those three months maternity leave fly by. And for those of us who are working moms getting back to an office, the yoga pants that you've been living in since the birth are not going to cut it.
As a new mom it's nice to be able to treat yourself to a few new wardrobe pieces to help you get back to the office. But what do you buy? Is it worth buying clothes for this post-pregnancy body that you're hoping is only a temporary situation? After three months is my body done changing? Probably not. I noticed changes in my body up to a year post-pregnancy. (Don't freak out!) Everyone's situation is different and you will figure this out!
So getting back to what you should buy: If you're going to spend money on new clothes, try to find items in styles that are classic, simple and easily tailored. You want items that could transition with you over time. Buying items that could be tailored allows you to get further wear out of clothing even if your body continues to change.
Great examples might be knitwear with a little stretch to it, shift dresses that don't cinch at the waist or tops with detail that distract the eye upward. Pants can be tough. Stick with dark colors and not a lot of pockets. Any item that are lined will cost a little more to have tailored (just something to keep in mind). If you choose to wear layers, use thin fabrics to minimize adding bulk. Look for dresses or tops that have detail pointing inward so as to give an optical illusion that helps you appear slimmer. Little tricks can make a big difference.
As for the items that you currently have in your wardrobe: just because they may not fit the same way they did before you were pregnant, doesn't mean that they don't fit. They may require a slight alteration or just a new perspective. Try to keep an open mind and remember to be kind to yourself.
For the breastfeeding moms: I'm with you ladies, and I had a really hard time with tops while breastfeeding my babies. Many of my pre-pregnancy tops simply didn't fit my breastfeeding boobs. And for moms that have to go back to work, add tops to the list of items you will need to purchase. I found that buying shells and wearing them under blazers and cardigans was the best way to go for me. Just try on a variety of different styles and see what works best for you. Don't get rid of your old tops just yet though, those boobs will change when you finish breastfeeding and you may want to try on those old tops again!
I realize this is a lot of information. It can be overwhelming, stressful, emotional, ect. The good news is that you can figure out how to make this new body look gorgeous! And that sweet baby is worth all of it!
*This post was requested by one of my clients. If you have questions or ideas for blog posts send an email to beaconstyle.bos@gmail.com!