When you are trying to figure out how to look your best during your pregnancy, there is a great deal of truth to the saying, ” Don’t mess with a good thing.” That great-fitting maternity bra, that perfectly tailored pair of maternity trousers, the maternity T-shirt that doesn’t ride up in the back, the maternity wrap dress that fits just right. Buy them in a few colors and you can be all set on basics for 9 months and beyond.
However, when you’ve been pregnant or nursing for the better part of four years, boredom sets in and you feel compelled to try new things, even when you know you should stick with what you know works. Such was the case when I spotted Fit2bMom’s new line of maternity workout wear and decided that the very cute multi-colored Athletic Tank was simply a must-have here at USD$60. Fit2bMom is a Connecticut-based business that launched its first workout line in Spring 2009. Since I was first pregnant with James, I have been using Bella Materna’s black maternity/nursing sports bra and I truly love it. I have no reason to be looking for another one to buy…except sometimes I can’t help myself. While Bella Materna’s sports bra provides all of the support a pregnant woman or a nursing mom needs at the gym, it’s not the most attractive look at the gym. I can’t wear that bra without it being fully covered my another T-shirt or tank top. And Fit2BeMom’s newest sports bra is available in two colors…with matching pants! A coordinated maternity outfit for the gym is a very rare and therefore irresistible find. So, I gave in, ordered the Fit2bMom top a couple of weeks ago and sent it directly to my 18-weeks pregnant sister in Connecticut for her to test it out. I should point out that my sister, Jane, is definitely a better candidate for trying out maternity sports bras than I am. The genetic lottery was more generous to her in the bust department.
Poor Jane. I made her promise she would wear the new bra at least a few times to make sure she gave me a full report. After the first wear, she made clear that this sports bra was fine to sleep in, but that she found she couldn’t actually exercise at all in it because it provided virtually no support for her newly enlarged chest. But she promised to try a few more times and then, she sent me the brief description below:
“On my first wear, I attempted a low-impact jog in my new neighborhood, hoping to get a little exercise and scope out some neighbors to befriend. However, my jog was quickly cut short once my pace increased from a slow walk. The Fit2bmom Athletic maternity tank top offers such minimal support that even a low impact jog actually hurt. Although the lycra/spandex blend is comfortable, the 360 degree shelf bra offers little support for expectant mothers sporting over a B-cup. With no adjustable straps I was unable to tighten it, which made the experience even more unbearable. Luckily, no potential neighbor friends witnessed what I am sure looked like a pregnant woman jogging with no sports bra on, a public embarrassment that might scar my local reputation forever. My new Fit2bMom Athletic Maternity Tank is now strictly for hanging out around the house, and will no longer be worn in public when there is any possibility that I might be exercising, even a little bit. That Bella Materna Sports Bra you sent me, although frightening at first glance, is supportive and comfortable. I am going to stick with that one here on out.”
Lesson learned, yet again. Fit2bMom’s new Fall 2009 line looks good, but don’t fall for the advertising that the Athletic Tank provides “amazing support.” Take my advice (and Jane’s). Buy the Bella Materna black Maternity/Nursing sports bra. It doesn’t look as good, you’ll have to wear something else over it, and it is more expensive here at USD $82. But it is worth the extra money many, many times over. This woman at the right is wearing it without anything over it but she is very obviously not pregnant (I find that so annoying, why do maternity designers hire models with six-pack abs???). 
Plus, the Bella Materna bra is also a very accessible nursing bra, so it will be useful all the way through breastfeeding. Bella Materna is currently offering 20% off orders of USD $100 or more if you type promotion code “MOM2009″ when you check out. Bella Materna’s sports bra is also my “Maternity Item of the Week” this week on TheBump.com. Click on the icon to read my posting.
Happy Labor Day to everybody, by the way. We had a nice holiday weekend that included the boys’ first cable car ride over Jericho in the West Bank and our usual weekend pony riding. Here is Tristan doing a bit of showboating off on his pony. I nearly had a heart attack when the trainer let him do this, but I was across the ring and I am also working hard on being more laid back about the things that go on around me here in the Middle East. ”Mish mushkila,” as the Palestinian trainer said to me when he saw my face…
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I didn’t remind everybody about the Yummie Tummie online sample sale yesterday because I’ve come to the conclusion that their tops are not only uncomfortable, but also useless when it comes to concealing one’s postpartum tummy. I agree that as far as shapewear goes, Yummie Tummie’s are nice looking and can be worn as layering pieces, rather than hidden underneath other garments. Even the nursing tops look like regular camisoles. And as far as a camisole goes, they offer as much support as a nursing bra, which is great.
Designers simply should not make maternity pants with slit pockets, as no matter where they seem to put them, as they buckle when a seriously pregnant woman puts them on. Last night, I wore a pair of my new trousers out to dinner, and not only did the rear pockets keep buckling, but the buckle was so bad that the lining of the pockets kept popping out. These Olian Wide Leg Maternity Pants even had a button on the pocket, but it didn’t matter–that button was no match for my pregnant posterior. And if the maternity designer has thought to remove the lining from the pockets, it doesn’t seem to matter–the buckling still happens. I will acknowledge that I am 32 weeks pregnant and I am certainly not small. And of course, everyone’s body is different. But these trousers were the correct size and I was wearing them properly underneath my stomach–no matter how I adjusted the elastic in the waistband, the rear slit pockets would not lay flat. 
I have sadly concluded that without a proper waist, a truly pregnant woman can’t get away with this cut in a trouser–maybe in the early stages of her pregnancy when there is still some discernible difference between her waist and hips, but not once the third trimester hits. And the more forgiving the fabric of the trousers (i.e. silk, rayon, polyester, wool), the worse the problem becomes–jeans seem to be an exception due to the rigid texture of denim. These Chiarakruza Stephanie Maternity Pants at left are a very nice idea, but if you’ve passed 20 weeks, I’d abstain. I don’t think this model is in the least bit pregnant.
No worries, there are lots of other options out there. I suggest staying away from the styles pictured above and opting for tried and true styles without pockets, without buttons, nothing. These Noppies Over-the-Belly Maternity Trousers are a very reasonable, reliable option and are available 
I received my Nordstrom package containing my Liz Lange 2009 Spring items and I immediately rushed to a full-length mirror to try them on. Then I immediately rushed to this computer to let you all know not to buy the Maternity Tuxedo Blouse I blogged about 
