What Size is "Holy Wide Hips and Breastfeeding Boobs?"

The first-trimester awkward stage is bad. And no one seems to tell you that. Maybe some of you were able to wear your own clothes through that stage, but me? It was a mix of regular shirts, maternity pants, and big underwear. You're all excited to wear maternity clothes and then you go to try them on and you have to wear that ridiculous fake pillow belly.

C'mon. Don't lie. I know you did it.

But this post-partum stage is about 15 times worse. You look at the scale and you've dropped thirty pounds, but you still have to wear maternity pants which sort of don't fit, but when you try on real pants even in 10 times bigger than your normal size, they don't fit either. And then you have to pick your shirts carefully so you can nurse in them. And you have to wear nursing bras so you can nurse. And your underwear? They're all bloody.

Lovely, eh?

Then everyone asks you "how you are doing?" which really means "are you back in your old clothes again you're still looking a little pregnant there when are you going to go to the gym huh?" Or at least, that's what I hear. I don't mind the extra pounds so long as I have clothes to wear. But then if I buy new stuff, chances are I won't be wearing it long. But it would be nice to sort of look nice.

My make-up is all old and cruddy and my hair needs desperate attention, except I don't really know what to use or what to buy. So, while part of me is anxious to buy new clothes, shoes (that was a catastrophe), bras, and underpants, part of me doesn't even know where to start.

But maybe you do! Share your "swear bys" in the comments and maybe I'll find something to get me through! Just copy and paste these and fill them out! 

Make Up Product

Underwear

Nursing Bra

Jeans

Shampoo/Conditioner

Face Care Products

Accessory (Belt/Earrings/etc...) (makes you look put together in a snap)

Splurge

Comments

[SLewis]

For nursing I really like these Bella Materna nursing bras which I got for a good price at Tummystyle.com.

http://tummystyle.com/searchresult.aspx?CategoryID=104&view=all

[MamaKaren]

Make Up Product: Bare Escentuals (can be purchase at Sephora or QVC). My "basic face" is the Minerals Foundation, a sweep of Warmth Face Color across my cheeks and nose, and Mineral Veil; sometimes I add a bit of eyeliner- it takes less than 3 minutes

Underwear: my maternity bikinis were awesome while I was trying to recapture my pre-pregnancy body. Oh, wait, the baby will be four this month and I am STILL trying to recapture my pre-pregnancy body.

Nursing Bra: I bought mine from Motherwear (www.motherwear.com). Actual pretty nursing bras! Not just huge white things with cantilevers and complicated latches!

Jeans: Levi's Signature midrise bootcut. Available at Target for about $20.

Splurge: a trip to the coffeeshop for something foamy and sweet, and enough time to read an entertainment (not a parenting or news!) magazine from start to finish.

[amanda]

Make-up - Paula's Choice has really nice light tint foundations. I mix about 1/4 of a squirt with basic moisturizer to give me a tiny bit of color and evenness. Tarte cheek stain. Awesome, awesome, awesome! Promise. Not messy, not greasy. Simply incredible.

I never got on board the nursing bra train. My second daughter came 19 months after our first and the leakage wasn't an issue and my bras and tennis shoes all die after 3-6 months no matter what. So I confess I am a cup puller downer for nursing. Or I wear cami's because even nursing I am a nice, manageable cup size.

Jeans, damned if I know. I just bought som Da'mage from Bluefly and they're nice, but my body is still changing at 9 months post delivery.

Underwear, shampoos and accessories stymie me. Cannot understand how to win in those areas.

Go to a salon. Get pampered. Have someone else pay. Yeah, I know, not exactly lining up by the dozen to do that for you.

Good luck. Please let us know if you find winners.

[katie]

Nursing bras with an underwire are an absolute no-no, any lactation consultant will tell you that. And I feel investing in a good cream always works. I'm not going to recommend anything 'cos I don't know your skin type but you can go to any Sephora and ask for a sample cream to take home. Tell them what you are looking for, ask for a sample and if it works - don't look at the price... Good luck, oh, and get some rest if possible - sleep is the best cure for any problems. I admire you for not giving up and still wanting to look good, for your own self and for your own good. Cos we all know you are beautiful anyways :-)

[petite mommy]

I had my 2nd son during the summer so I wore the nursing tanks from glamour mom.com .they looked like shirts so thats what I wore. I realize this wouldnt work so well during the winter months but they were something I couldnt do without the first few months after I had him and the whole time I breastfed.

As far as clothes and shoes, you are WAY taller than me so I have absolutely no advice there.:)

Makeup. I wear minimal makeup. I get by on Victorias secret moisturizer, some blush, and the VS beauty rush lip gloss on most days.

[Damselfly]

I bought some big ol' granny panties for my hospital visit, and guess what? I'm still wearing them! They're too comfortable to toss. But don't worry, I also got some new regular bikinis in cool colors and patterns.

Nursing bra: pretty much hate them. I like to use regular bras without an underwire.

Shampoo and conditioner: I like L'Oreal Vive products. And because my hair is naturally curly and tends to frizz, when I blow it out, I use a little John Frieda relaxing cream and/or Citre Shine spray before drying my hair.

[Tracy]

i recommend investing in a few long flowy shirts (which luckily are in style). They hide the muffin top and bum when you try to squeeze int your still too tight jeans. And easy to nurse in.

http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2049154711

I also really like this bra for nighttime nursing:

http://tummystyle.com/detail.aspx?ID=1173

[agavi]

My splurge is anything I can do on a Saturday morning. My husband is on baby duty from early morning until whenever I get home. Usually it's a yoga class and something at a day spa - massage, facial, mani/pedi, getting my hair done, etc. When I get home after my short 3 hour mini vacation, I am a whole new girl. It's fabulous. I totally recommend it!

[Jaime]

Make Up Product

The Present by Philosophy---its foundation primer/clear makeup. During the week I wear it under my foundation (also by Philosophy) but on the weekends when I am just hanging around the house, I can wear the Present on its own....skin looks even without makeup on!

Jeans

Old Navy---you can buy a pair that fits now and wont cry when they are too big again. Once the weight settles down again...I just got a pair of City of Angels jeans by Paige Premium Denim. Man---they rock!

Shampoo/Conditioner

LOVE the Herbal Essence and Pantene is always a good choice too.

Face Care Products

Philosophy products. I use all of them.

Accessory (Belt/Earrings/etc...) (makes you look put together in a snap)

Diamond stud earrings or any simple stud. I also always have a pair of simple hoops around. Silver and gold options.

Splurge

I splurge on my haircuts....$75 each cut but it makes me happy and makes me feel SO good.

[FishyGirl]

Make Up Product - sorry, can't help here, don't wear any - haven't found any that doesn't make my face itch

Underwear - I have some motherhood underwear, bikinis, that didn't fit worth a crap when I was pregnant, but are great now

Nursing Bra - I have a Bravado that I wear at night, and then I have a couple of Medela bras that I love for daytime - see here http://www.medela.com/NEWFILES/seambraspant.html#seamless%20bras

I recommend going to a store THAT KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING and get professionally fitted - best thing I ever did for the girls.

Jeans - bah - the bane of my existence. I am finally back in my favorite pair of prepreg jeans, but that only happened last week. They are St. John's Bay boot cut stretch from JC Penney, but based on a recent jeans education I'm going in search of some Citizens of Humanity.

Shampoo/Conditioner - Garnier Fructis Length and Strength formula shampoo and conditioner - has helped minimize the breakage and loss that comes during postpartum - of course, my hair is about waist long, so YMMV. Just as important, though, as rockabyemama said, is a good haircut - mine lives in a ponytail or bun all day, but has a good cut and shape to it to allow me to wear it down or in a nicer updo when I need to look less momish.

Face Care Products - I like the Arbonne intelligence line, or MaryKay Velocity products - I don't use much, just cleanser and occasional day moisturizer, but the cleanser does a good job at handling the crazy postpartum Zits without drying me out too bad.

Accessory (Belt/Earrings/etc...) (makes you look put together in a snap) - Diamond stud earrings

Splurge - same as accessory, but I've had them for years.

It's a rotten time, but at least it doesn't last forever.

[Esther S.]

The only nursing bra that would actually hold my boobs in place without squishing them was the Cotton Mimi Maternity bra. It has an extra thick elastic around the bottom and a thick fabric for the cups (nothing like the horrible bravado bras, which are basically bad jog bras with a snap). And they don't have to go over your head.

[rockabyemama]

I am probably not the best person to give any of this advice, but the things that help me feel (more) put together are:

A really great haircut from a great stylist who is a mom herself and gets that you (or at least I) will not be "doing" your hair. I got a cut that I wash at night before bed, sleep on wet, and then have instant curlyish, bedhed styled, purposely messy hair. I just scrunch it and that's about it. I don't know what kind of hair you have; if you have that cool thick Asian hair from your mom, or somewhat of a different texture, but finding someone who cuts it really well so that you don't have to do much is a lifesaver. (Maybe you already have one...a rec from your bff or other? I love Toni & Guy, which is actually a chain, but they have great training and are constantly updating and developing new styles so that I never have to actually know what is in)

This brings me to my second point: hair products. In the past,I would NEVER buy that expensive hair salon stuff. But, I realized recently that by using just their shampoo (targeted at my hair type) and 2 products (for me, one to put in after the shower while wet, and one to scrunch while dry) that also eliminated how much I would need to do to make my hair look presentable. I use Bed Hed/Catwalk Curls Rock shampoo and conditioner (to make my wavyish hair more curlyish), some kind of moisturizer/antifrizz (I keep changing which one depending on what is on sale), and Frisky for scrunching. They're expensive, but last literally 10X longer than anything I have bought at Walgreens/CVS/Target.

My last thing is: the perfect red lipstick. Mine I have actually had forever and is called Lovesigns by Origins. I top it with a cheap shimmery gloss and it makes me feel put together. I always think that red lipstick looks so bold and purposeful, that it makes everything else (like my messy hair) look purposeful, too.

Good luck! But hey, I bet you look fabulous no matter what!

[Caren]

Make Up Product: I don't wear much, but I use Cover Girl WetSlicks in iced berry and Cover Girl Cheekers blush every day.

Shampoo/Conditioner: I use Herbal Essence 2-in-1 in the blue bottle.

Face Care Products: Aveeno clear complexion face wash and moisturizer.

Accessory (Belt/Earrings/etc...) (makes you look put together in a snap) I love earings and a sturdy bracelet can be a good toy in an emergency.

Splurge: Day at the spa. Get a massage, mani and pedi, & facial.

[Mrs. Chicken]

Make Up Product - Benefit Dandelion powder. Two swipes around the face and you're glowing again. It saved me during the first-trimester pukes and the post-partum depression. Buy at sephora.com

Underwear - GapBody bikinis. Not to high, not too low and bleach will leave 'em sparkling clean.

Nursing Bra - Sorry, we were bottlefeeders. Can't help ya here.

Jeans - Gap Long and Lean. Just enough stretch and curvy.

Shampoo/Conditioner - Suave Humectant. It really is as good as the expensive stuff. And friend, I went bald once. I am picky about my hair. If I say this is good, it is.

Face Care Products - Hands down, Origins. Maybe a bit pricey, but worth it for the scent alone. They work miracles on your skin.

Accessory (Belt/Earrings/etc...) (makes you look put together in a snap) - A good bag. Try Gap again. Their tote bags can double as a diaper bag.

Splurge - Manicure pedicure. If my hands and feet look good, I feel better.

This is the hardest time, I agree. But somehow I think you must look smashing.

[JChase]

Well, I can't help with them all, but the beauty products I'm all over!

For finding the right makeup, I suggest checking out www.makeupalley.com. Here you can find reviews on all sorts of beauty products reviewed by real people. You have to sign up, but it's quick and free. A great resource.

Make Up Products:
- Cover Girl CG Smoothers Concealer in Neutralizer
- Sonia Kashuk Barely There Loose Powder Makeup in Naked and Colorless
- Cover Girl Lash Exact Mascara in Brown and Black
- Maybelline Shiny-licious Lip Gloss in Crushed Candy and Cinnamon Apple

Shampoo/Conditioner:
- Herbal Essences Color Me Happy Shampoo
- Dove Advanced Care Therapy Shampoo
- Dove Advanced Care Sheer Moisture Shampoo
- Dove Advanced Care Therapy Conditioner
- Dove Advanced Care Repairing Treatment

Face Care Products:
- Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash
- Phisoderm Anti-blemish Gel Facial Wash
- Dove Sensitive Skin Facial Lotion
- Dove Deep Moisture Facial Lotion with SPF

Really, check out www.makeupalley.com. It'll give you good advice and save you a lot of time and aggravation from trying and buying crappy products!

[Kelly]

While I was pregnant I tried wearing the maternity thong underwear sold at Motherhood Maternity (dismal failure in the fit, they were). Now, though, they fit fantastically (if you're a thong wearin' kinda gal). I technically fit into my jeans, but only if I'm standing. The body squishes around, but they don't and that's just not right. I've found salvation, therefore, in Old Navy pants. They're cut nicely, fit well, and have enough stretch to be really comfortable but they don't look stretchy in the least and are nice looking pants in general. They also have a ton of button-down shirts that work well with nursing. I'm a sworn Pantene 2-in-1 kinda girl for my hair. I don't wear makeup (yeah, I know), or much jewelry but have always thought a nice (sturdy, for the grabby hands) necklace looks great and adds some flare.