Pregnant Child in the City Results Poll: The Mama Glow is Good to Go

Yesterday's post asked the crucial question of "To Embrace or Not to Embrace" when it comes to showing off the belly bump. Some fantastic responses came back (including a few men!), and here's what they had to say...

Tracy: I absolutely say to EMBRACE the bump! There is absolutely no need to hide something so beautiful and natural. Stay comfortable and fashionable!

Alice P: I say EMBRACE it! It is a beautiful, natural thing and you shouldn't be afraid or shy about flaunting it. I think that, like anyone who doesn't like form fitting things themselves, don't wear them. Be yourself and be comfortable. This is a time when you are probably at your most uncomfortable and self-conscious about your body. Do what makes you feel good!

Samantha: Embrace the bump! I am certainly not recommending that pregnant women go around exposing their bare bellies under clothes that don't fit. However, the shape of a pregnant woman is one of the most beautiful shapes that God created and should not be hidden under an over sized tent of a shirt.

Meghan: Why not both? There are so many outfits to chose from for every mood. Sometimes going tent route is just as cute and comfy as the fitted look. Just don't bare belly and you can't go wrong.

Cathy: I say embrace it! There are so many cute fashion options out there to fit just right, why cover it? Besides, I think a woman who embraces the bump also gives the impression she is embracing everything that goes along with it, which is where that happy “glow” comes from.

Laura: Ditto, ladies. If you've got it, flaunt it...a pregnant woman's body is one of the most beautiful things in God's creation!

Brenda: Show it off!! Just don't take pregnancy photos like this... http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/category/photos/pregnancy

Peg: How about a compromise between muu-muu and skin-tight? I always preferred looser stuff for comfort reasons, but if it was too loose I did look like a house!

Allison: I love the bump! the rounder the better!

Jessica: I think preggo women look WAY more attractive in fitted clothes rather than tents. You even feel better in them. Tents make you look bigger than you are and fitted clothes kind of show that you are not a blob, that you have a form and it is beautiful.

Jarred: If people...can let their beer gut hang out I say you just let that bump hang on out!

Elizabeth: Definitely embrace it. Why hide in a house coat for 6 months?

Patrick: I have seen lots of nice outfits out there that embrace "The Bump!" Why not? It is a natural part of life! I say go for it!

Thanks to everyone for their great responses! I am grateful that we have embraced pregnant women in our society, and the need to "hide out" for nine months has gone away. Please keep sharing your thoughts!

Pregnant Child in the City: To Embrace or Not to Embrace

This morning, I went to my "guilty pleasure" website to surf the showbiz headlines. The website--The Daily Mail--writes their features in a distinctly British voice which I find irresistible. While they have their own celebs across the pond to focus on ("Big Brother," for example, seems to be a much bigger phenomenon in England than it does here), they add their own two cents when it comes to covering American celebs.

Case in point: Heroes actress Ali Larter, who is about 7 1/2 months pregnant with her first child. The original article (link below) discusses nothing more than Ms. Larter enjoying an LA lunch with her husband, and begins as such:

"She is believed to have just a few more weeks to go until her due date. But Heroes actress Ali Larter still looked pretty glamorous as she lunched in Los Angeles yesterday. The 34-year-old actress wore a casual black outfit and tinted sunglasses as she strolled to her car with husband Hayes MacArthur."

As you can see from the pictures below (from The Daily Mail's orig. article), Ali wears black skinny jeans, black Chucks, and a fitted (though not tight) black tee.




What got me was not the article itself, but a comment made by a reader. The reader asked why late-term preggies "prefer to wear tight-fitting clothings when they are at the end stage of their pregnancies." They continued on by adding, "if the traditional maternity clothes (like what our moms used to wear) are no longer in vogue, there are many smock or a-line tops they can wear." The reader made a few disparaging remarks about pregnant women as well, though I felt like those weren't necessary to understand the gist of the argument.

In essence, this reader was asking what all we preggers ask ourselves about our growing bumps: To Embrace or Not to Embrace?

It's a question every modern pregnant lady faces, and the answer is never black-and-white. The truth is, it changes by the day. There will be times when wearing an old stretch knit dress from H & M suits us, and times when all we want is a big floaty caftan a la Mrs. Roper.


Most women's wardrobes (both pre-pregnancy and maternity) will contain pieces of both kinds. We may choose to embrace on some days, and diminish on others.

While this may be my first experience with pregnancy, I have found that not only do fitted pieces (like Ms. Larter's) actually look better, they can continue to be worn after my little pumpkin is born.

And in our current economy, wearability and longevity in clothing is top priority for most consumers.

I'm curious to know what readers think about this. Perhaps tomorrow will be a follow-up containing your responses...

Thanks for reading!

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1327862/Ali-Larter-blooming-black-lunches-Los-Angeles.html#ixzz14noueFIl

Pregnant Child in the City: Taking Matters Into My Own Hands...

As some of you may know, I used to be a school teacher. I spent nearly five years in the beautiful South teaching Drama and English. There were days when I absolutely LOVED it and days when I considered leaving and becoming a Starbucks manager (better pay/benefits, free coffee, no detention slips to hand out, etc.).



Thankfully, the good days outweighed the bad. But change can be a good thing...

Long story (sort of) short, I went back to school in 2008, studied Fashion Design at IADT Chicago, and earned a degree. It led me to form my own business (A Common Thread), and opened my eyes to a whole new world. A world where terms such as "seam allowance," "understitching," and "pin tucks" became part of my daily vocabulary.

In other words...I finally learned how to sew.


Two years have passed since my first classes began, and I am now making weekly trips to Vogue Fabrics in search of knits. The reason: I'm Taking Matters Into My Own Hands (literally). My hope: creating a functioning maternity wardrobe that is figure-flattering, cost-effective, and very personal.

So when I say Taking Matters Into My Own Hands, I mean just that; I've started using those skills I learned in design school to sew and create pieces I can actually wear, both now (at 28 weeks pregnant) and afterwards!

Yes, sewing a garment can take hours, and it might be more time-effective to just pop into A Pea in the Pod and stock up. That's certainly the case when it comes to tee shirts, jeans, etc. But if you're like me, and dressing up is a joy instead of a chore, you want looks that are flattering to your growing shape in colors/styles you love. And if you can create a look for the price of 3 yards of fabric (plus time for construction), why not try it?

Maternity wear has come a LONG way from the days of I Love Lucy and her polka-dotted circus tents. And while I do, in fact, love Lucy, I don't necessarily want to dress like she did while pregnant with Little Ricky.



Even if the last time you held a sewing needle was junior high Home Ec, there are some easy styles you can create that will flatter your burgeoning belly. Some suggestions...

Fabric Choices: stretch knits, jersey, and poly-jersey, stretch suede (!)

Patterns: I highly recommend Kwik-Sew or Burda for these styles; they both use fairly up-to-date clothing trends, and they are pretty affordable as far as patterns go ($9.99 and up).

1) Knit tunics--By adding extra room in the side panels and around the belly, you can make a chic staple work for you and baby.


2) Cowl-neck tops--often, these will be found under "Knits" in a pattern book, not necessarily maternity. However, if you chose an empire-waisted style, leave some room at the sides, and it will fall over your bump pretty naturally.


3) Asian-inspired kimono dress--my favorite so far. I really wanted a raspberry-colored dress (not beret!) for our first baby shower, and didn't find anything I really liked in the stores. I ended up finding a Kwik Sew shirt pattern (see below) and awesome stretch suede fabric, and with some sleeve modifications and extending the length, A Dress Was Born!!!





Have any of you readers had luck with making your own pieces for maternity wear? What recommendations can you make for those ready to embark on their own "ready-to-wear" line? :)