Plus Size Pregnancy

I am a plus size pregnant momma-to-be.  I'm not necessarily proud of that fact.  I wish I had started off thinner and had never gained the weight I did in the first place; however, it is a fact of my life....for now at least.

There are some challenges to being a plus size pregnant woman.  Namely--clothing.  Here, in the Springfield, IL area, there is only one store with one rack of plus size maternity wear--Sears.  Yuck!  I've never been a fan of Sears' clothing (despite their ads, etc....it always seems to be mainly polyester) and their maternity selection for a plus size woman is the worst.  Finding a store to actually carry plus size maternity wear inside their store and not just on the website is REALLY difficult.  It is quite ridiculous actually.  And many stores that may carry plus size clothing in general, do not offer plus size maternity wear.

I take one of two messages from this.  Either, (1) Plus size women aren't attractive enough to hope for sex much less hope to get pregnant, or (2) plus size women don't require maternity clothes since what they have is big enough already.  It really irritates the bejesus out of me!  Honest to goodness.  I wish I had some gumption (and business talent/designing abilities) because I think I could make a mint designing and selling plus-size maternity wear.  There are many plus size women out there like me who would like fashionable clothes in the first place and to have some fashionable maternity wear.  But, unfortunately, it is hard to find.

I got some of my maternity wear (at the store even) at Motherhood Maternity in a different town and later online.  I got some basics (like long sleeve Ts and turtlenecks that were cheaper than Motherhood) from JcPenney online.  I have seen all sorts of cute clothes, but none came in my size so I've had to make do with the selection I have---which is very limited.

A new issue I have run into is finding a nursing bra to fit me now.  This goes to being plus size, but also I know there are some women who aren't plus size who have issues with this as well.  While I've been pregnant, I've been able to get regular bras at Lane Bryant since they do carry my size (and larger).  However, a maternity bra was out of the question because even Motherhood didn't carry my size.

Now, I need a couple of nursing bras to get me started once the baby comes in 6 weeks.  I'll be quite honest about my size....I believe I will need a 40G or possibly 40H (I'm currently in 40DDD, but that is actually at least a size too small).  I've tried online looking at JcPenney.  Not even they carry my size.  They stop at DDD (E).  I've even tried Motherhood, and nada..... I recently went to a breastfeeding class held at the hospital and the instructor told those of us who were large busted to come up and talk to her at a break.  She had 2 stores that we could use.  Of course, the closest store is 1 1/2 hours away.  The next closest is an hour and 45 minutes away.  Apparently, anyone carrying large size nursing bras is hard to find.  I felt especially bad for a woman who said she started the pregnancy as a 38H.  I can only imagine how hard it is for her now, knowing how hard it is for me.

I wonder what stores are thinking when they don't sell clothing for plus size pregnant women, much less having a variety of larger bra cups available to women.  Do they really think that the only women to get pregnant are skinny minnies?  Really?  Or that a plus size pregnant woman is satisified with staying in plus size clothing?  I wasn't.  It was cheaper for me clothing wise to get maternity pants and shirts that have allowed my body to grow without having to buy bigger sizes the whole way through.  As for bras, do they really believe that women never get larger than a DD or DDD when pregnant?  Do the designers really operate this way too?  It really annoys me to no end.

Anyhow, my lovely husband will drive with me an hour and a half away in a couple days so we can see if I can find a bra.  Hopefully, it won't cost a mint, but I doubt it.  Apparently finding something my size is rare so therefore will likely cost a lot.  Lovely.