Maternity re-fitting?

Dannielle wrote:> Has anyone ever altered their old non-maternity clothes into maternity

they sell something on the notions wall that is a maternity panel insert that you can put into any pair of pants. Keep in mind your hips will get wider and you need to allow for that.

IMHO, that would work for the first, maybe second trimester, but as your hips re-align later in the pregnancy, you'll need additional width all around, not just for your belly. I was very slim, and although my babes were carried mostly out front, my overall hip measurement increased toward the end. You'll probably be able to wear altered pants for a while, but need full-blown maternity pants later. If you have pants you never want to wear again in your "normal" size, go for it.

Bei

YES!!! DID that when I was pregnant with DS. I took a pair of my Dockers (work pants at the time) and inserted a maternity panel. Think I hacked up a pair of jeans as well, but can't remember. It wasn't that difficult to do, and I actually still have maternity panels in my sewing box if you want me to send them over to you .

If I remember correctly, the panels have directions with them to walk you through it, but basically, it is putting the panel where the zipper was.

However.....having said that, I tried to put the Dockers on after having DS, and they were too tight....had to cut the panel a bit to get them on.

Larisa, dredging up memories from 5 years ago...a painful, not too pleasant experience

Sure you can. I have 4 kids and have hacked up alot of old pants. When I ran out of the maternity panels, I used a panel made from ribbing with a piece of elastic across the top to stabilize it. You need to cut a U shaped piece out of the front of the pants, extending all the way to the beginning of the pockets. Be careful not to cut it too low, hard to cover up with a shirt. Maybe just cut as low as the zipper goes.I have seen the new maternity styles and don't care for them either. Tight clothes over a big belly will ride up or down as the case may be. I also made a bunch of big overshirts. Used a regular pattern and altered it to A-line. Good luck. It is a wonderful time!

Kirsten Sollie

As the other posters have mentioned, your hips and your ass will spread. Be grateful for this. The hormonally driven softening and stretching of connective tissue that causes this phenomenon facilitates childbirth. So I wouldn't go hacking up any pants I was especially fond of.

Men's gym or lounging pants are inexpensive and can be had in several basic colors, including black and navy. They look fine with a long tunic over the top, and the drawstring waists expand easily to carry you through to the end.

Kathleen

If you try the men's pants, be sure to try before you buy. I have found they are cut very differently, and ride extremely low on my frame

Chances are good that your current wardrobe, unless roomy, will never fit you again, as it is true that your hips widen. I had my first child the week I turned 34, and I felt my pelvis break free and it never returned to where it had been. There are other changes, though smaller (usually.) Enjoy this time, wear what makes you comfortable. This is not a time for tight, constricting clothing, or things that make you "hitch up" your trousers.

Thanks for all the tips! I'll take a peek at Joann's to see if they have the panels in stock somewhere. If my hips and ass spread any more than they already are - I'm in big time trouble! I expect some flexing during birth, as this is my second child, but I'm a pretty big girl to begin with! And, just two days after I gave birth the first time, I was back into my old jeans again....so maybe I'll hack an old pair of jeans that are starting to wear out any way....

And the men's pants - I hadn't thought of that either. I don't plan on being constricted at any point during this pregnancy, and I am not working so I don't have to look glamorous either - just acceptable for shopping and such!

Dannielle

You know, I liked you until you said that bit about being back in your old pants two days after your first baby. ;-)

I was back in my size 10 (that's a *real* size 10 from 1965, probably a size "2" today) in about a week. I was fortunate in not having gained much, and I also delivered 4 weeks early so I never did get huge.

Another thought if you don't want to ruin current favorites would be to check thrift shops for garments in a larger size which you could carve up for use now, and toss later with no guilt or regrets.

Beverly

I've got an ancient Burda maternity magazine with just this in it. But my scanner isn't working! Would you like me to try to photograph it for you?

Oh, dear! I was HUUUUGE at 4 months! Judging by the birth, James had an onlymic pool to swim in!

I grew out of everything all at once, and spent 14 days making 16 garments, after which I was too big to reach the sewing machine comfortably!

Hehehe... 12 years later I am at last considerably smaller than I was just before I got preggy!

Memories.... Immediately after younger DD was born four weeks early, my DM, DMIL and I spent a week making tiny doll clothes for her and ripping most of the cloth diapers in half. She was 4lbs. 7oz. and all the "newborn" layette was huge. We gave all the cute doll clothes to older DD after her sister outgrew them. ;-)

James was about eight and a half pounds, and never wore anything in newborn size. He was out of all the 0-3 month stuff by six weeks!

You have to understand, I am already a very large girl - nearly 100 pounds overweight. I had gestational diabetes during my pregnancy so I didn't gain much to begin with....

Since then I have managed to lose about 40 pounds, but now I can't lose more until after this baby arrives...and that was my summer time goal - to lose about another 60-70 pounds!

Dannielle

Oh, I appreciate it. But don't fret over it. I am going to search at Penney's this weekend and come up with something. I did find some maternity panels at Joann's tonight, but they just weren't right. I need the basic U shape panels and these were rectangles that require opening the side seams for insertion....not easy to do with jeans with pockets!

So, if I get too desparate, I'll just deal with sweat pants and the like, but I'm sure I'll find something. I just wasn't sure how feasible the idea was for doing a U shaped panel....

Thanks! Dannielle

You'll manage it. You did well to lose before the baby, and you now know how, so soon as you are ready, you'l manage it! :) I've lost 62.5 of the 70 I want to shed, so if *I* can do it, anyone can! :)

so just cut the corners off round, and voila.... U shaped panel

WAIT!!!! I have several panels in my sewing box..I will *GIVE* them to you if you want them!!!!!

Larisa

Dannielle wrote:

Ahhh...didn't make doll clothes, but did buy some that were intended for a 16" doll..preemie stuff was WAY too big for my peanut (DD)...still have some of the doll clothes tucked away