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.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The Big 3-0
Wow....today I hit the big 3-0! 30 weeks!! (Not 30 years...I wish since my big 4-0 birthday is only 8 months away). It is hard to believe, in some ways, that I'm this far along. It often feels as though the days and weeks have been dragging along and that I've been pregnant forever. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful! :-)
The odd thing to know is that we found out we were pregnant when I was 4 weeks. So, we have known for the past 26 weeks that we will be parents. Half a year!! The nice thing to know is that we only have 9 weeks more to go until we deliver (9 weeks plus a day or two, possibly).
Chris and I are so looking forward to meeting our little gymnast. The baby seems to love doing acrobatics. I'm looking forward to the birth for more than just seeing our little angel. I'm also excited because it will finally mean a complete end to morning sickness, back aches, and the need for Tums (which have recently become my best friend)! ;) I would say it will mean the end of fatigue (which has recently restarted), but, while technically true, we will soon go into sleep deprivation mode. However, to me that is more than worth it.
Happy 3-0 to me! :-)
The odd thing to know is that we found out we were pregnant when I was 4 weeks. So, we have known for the past 26 weeks that we will be parents. Half a year!! The nice thing to know is that we only have 9 weeks more to go until we deliver (9 weeks plus a day or two, possibly).
Chris and I are so looking forward to meeting our little gymnast. The baby seems to love doing acrobatics. I'm looking forward to the birth for more than just seeing our little angel. I'm also excited because it will finally mean a complete end to morning sickness, back aches, and the need for Tums (which have recently become my best friend)! ;) I would say it will mean the end of fatigue (which has recently restarted), but, while technically true, we will soon go into sleep deprivation mode. However, to me that is more than worth it.
Happy 3-0 to me! :-)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Why I'm Having a Scheduled C-Section
Yes....I'm having a scheduled c-section for those who don't know. Some people give me odd looks when it comes up or automatically ask why, while others try to be polite and not say a word.
Let me first say this. I'm not having a scheduled c-section by choice. If I had my way, I would go for it--all natural, well, almost--hello epidural! ;) LOL! But, I would do the vaginal birth if I could. When Chris and I went on a tour of the hospital where we will have our baby, I was so envious of all the women who are able to have their baby in their rooms. That won't be me though.
On Friday, Sept 13, 1996, when I was just 5 1/2 weeks shy of my 25th birthday, I was in a major fall (I won't get into what caused the fall, etc., now). The fall affected my life in many ways for a variety of reasons, but the most apparent one was my physical condition. I was teetering on the edge of life and death. I can honestly say that my life is a miracle from God and the angels who saved me on that day. However, while I survived, it wasn't without physical consequence. I broke 6 ribs (one punctured a lung causing the other lung to collapse), broke my upper left arm, caused internal damage, had a slight skull fracture, shattered my right hip and broke my pelvis in 4 places.
Needless to say, I spent a long time in the hospital. Soon after the surgery repairing my hip and pelvis, I developed what is called compartment syndrome in my right leg under my knee. Basically, what that means is that a limb starts blowing up like a balloon. If it isn't taken care of quickly, one can lose the limb or worse. The doctors had to relieve the pressure and did so by performing something called a fasciotomy (basically, they made a large cut in my right calf and 3 smaller ones in my right foot). They were able to save my leg, but...the swelling killed 40% of the muscle which had to be removed and damaged/killed many nerves in my leg. So, to this day, I have something called drop foot (I literally cannot lift my foot with my ankle). Ever since that day, my balance has not always been the greatest.
One year after this, on Sept 11, 1997, I had a total hip replacement for my right hip and spent even more time recovering.
One of the concerns my sister and mom addressed while I was in the hospital was if I would be able to still have children. The doctors said yes. However, they said I would require a c-section due to my broken pelvis. My pelvis will not expand as it needs to during birth. So...I will have a scheduled c-section. Also, in my research, even if my pelvis hadn't been injured, due to my hip replacement I would have chosen to have a c-section because many women end up having to replace their hips again within a year of giving birth.
I'm just so thankful to God that my injuries, my fall, will not prevent me from becoming a mom. I am willing to go through whatever I need to in order to have this baby. The good news, for me I suppose, is that my cousin, a Labor & Delivery nurse, thinks that a c-section will be a piece of cake for me because it will be nothing compared to any of my past surgeries. I hope she is right! :-)
Let me first say this. I'm not having a scheduled c-section by choice. If I had my way, I would go for it--all natural, well, almost--hello epidural! ;) LOL! But, I would do the vaginal birth if I could. When Chris and I went on a tour of the hospital where we will have our baby, I was so envious of all the women who are able to have their baby in their rooms. That won't be me though.
On Friday, Sept 13, 1996, when I was just 5 1/2 weeks shy of my 25th birthday, I was in a major fall (I won't get into what caused the fall, etc., now). The fall affected my life in many ways for a variety of reasons, but the most apparent one was my physical condition. I was teetering on the edge of life and death. I can honestly say that my life is a miracle from God and the angels who saved me on that day. However, while I survived, it wasn't without physical consequence. I broke 6 ribs (one punctured a lung causing the other lung to collapse), broke my upper left arm, caused internal damage, had a slight skull fracture, shattered my right hip and broke my pelvis in 4 places.
Needless to say, I spent a long time in the hospital. Soon after the surgery repairing my hip and pelvis, I developed what is called compartment syndrome in my right leg under my knee. Basically, what that means is that a limb starts blowing up like a balloon. If it isn't taken care of quickly, one can lose the limb or worse. The doctors had to relieve the pressure and did so by performing something called a fasciotomy (basically, they made a large cut in my right calf and 3 smaller ones in my right foot). They were able to save my leg, but...the swelling killed 40% of the muscle which had to be removed and damaged/killed many nerves in my leg. So, to this day, I have something called drop foot (I literally cannot lift my foot with my ankle). Ever since that day, my balance has not always been the greatest.
One year after this, on Sept 11, 1997, I had a total hip replacement for my right hip and spent even more time recovering.
One of the concerns my sister and mom addressed while I was in the hospital was if I would be able to still have children. The doctors said yes. However, they said I would require a c-section due to my broken pelvis. My pelvis will not expand as it needs to during birth. So...I will have a scheduled c-section. Also, in my research, even if my pelvis hadn't been injured, due to my hip replacement I would have chosen to have a c-section because many women end up having to replace their hips again within a year of giving birth.
I'm just so thankful to God that my injuries, my fall, will not prevent me from becoming a mom. I am willing to go through whatever I need to in order to have this baby. The good news, for me I suppose, is that my cousin, a Labor & Delivery nurse, thinks that a c-section will be a piece of cake for me because it will be nothing compared to any of my past surgeries. I hope she is right! :-)
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