to think of course you can hide a pregnancy with Spanx?

[Zezet]

Genuine question.

When I was pregnant with my first child I showed very late. And no-one was worried about the baby growing properly, doctors and women just (correctly, I suppose) assumed stomach muscles are still strong en keeping the baby in place. Only in the sixth month or so could people tell.

If the baby won't be harmed by stomach muscles constricting him, how could a second/third/... child be harmed by Spanx doing the same level of constricting for the same length of time? (I wouldn't wear them in the third trimester of course.)

I agree women shouldn't have to feel like they have to hide and so on... but what medical reason could there actually be not to wear Spanx for baby three if first time mum stomach muscles were fine?

Thus is coming across as me insisting on hiding the belly, which isn't really the point... I'm just stuck a bit on trying to understand what would be so harmful

Because you’ve just said you want to keep it low key at work so is basically hiding your belly?

(Also for the record I have never tried out any Spanx, pregnant or not, so maybe I am underestimating how uncomfortable they are?)

Strong abs are very different from constricting clothes.

When your muscles develop, they do so quite gradually, and your whole body responds; the blood flow is not compromised. If you put a piece of elastic around your body ... not so much.

I'm not sure why you think your lips, fingers or toes would be harmed by wearing spanx on your belly, unless you have very peculiar anatomy?

No, poor circulation could lead to dizziness or falling which is obviously not good for anyone but especially not when you're pregnant. When you're pregnant the 'map' inside you that your blood pumps around changes a lot anyway and your blood levels increase drastically to support the placenta I wouldn't think a change in circulation caused by an external factor like that is the best idea. There's also studies into the increased risk of blood clots with repetitive wear of extremely restrictive clothing (spanx included).

I actually did wear Spanx when pregnant with my first baby, once. I was 11 weeks pregnant and not really showing but was generally a bit heavier and I had the early pregnancy bloat going on and I didn't want people to know because I hadn't had my scan or told my family yet. It was a for a wedding, abroad in the heat.

Boy did I regret it! I was so uncomfy. By the time everyone was pissed in the evening I took them off in the toilet and hid them in my bag No one noticed or if they did they were too polite to say.

I definitely wouldn't do it to a proper bump! I don't know if it's dangerous (although anything that constricts your breathing is dangerous) but it wound feel horrible and you'd probably end up having to be cut out of them anyway.

To SarahAndQuack, I was thinking about fingers and toes because some people mentioned Spanx causing bad blood flow.

I am super surprised by the amount of quick replies. Thank you though. Hadn't really thought of something several people here pointed out, that your body knows when to adapt and Spanx doesn't.

Thank you :-)

@SquirtleSquad, thank you, that makes a lot of sense!

We'll strong abs wouldn't constrict blood supply. Spanx are going to squash bits of you surely, but strong abs are you, without squashing. I'd trust my actual body to be doing what it should I've the spanx.

Good luck with your pregnancy OP, floaty tops and distracting jewellery may be your friend

I'm ashamed to say I wore Spanx with my first baby. I was only 20, at university, working PT in a crazy physical job and knew I'd be sacked (no proper job security back then) if people found out. I wore 'sucky in pants' til 7 months and I physically couldn't any more.

It was incredibly uncomfortable and I had constant wind/gas and marks from them digging in. They did the job and nobody knew but it took a huge mental and physical strain. Baby was also born back to back and wouldn't move as much as I tried... I'm convinced it's cos I forced her as flat as possible. Luckily she was healthy but I was an idiot for doing it.

Spanx are going to squash bits of you surely, but strong abs are you, without squashing.

Yes Spanx are designed to squish you in a bit whereas abs don’t.
I also wore them once when I wasn’t pregnant and after eating and drinking it made me have terrible acid reflux so being pregnant I would assume that would be even worse.

I had super strong abs so my pregnancy didn’t show for a long time. I understand what you are saying. I am private and I didn’t want people at work knowing I was pregnant.

I wore dark tops and had a folder or similar in front of me a lot of the time. People don’t notice much I can tell you. I left for mat leave without many knowing I was pregnant.

@Zezet

(Also for the record I have never tried out any Spanx, pregnant or not, so maybe I am underestimating how uncomfortable they are?)

Yes. They are VERY uncomfortable. And tricky to get on.

I can’t see why Spanx would harm a baby but I also think it’s unlikely to hide a pregnancy as quite honestly a bump is different to pulling in the fat/wobble that Spanx does. I think it’d just be really uncomfortable; I had a body con style pencil skirt I wore when pregnant as it was the only smart item I had for a particular event and normally it sucked me in but while pregnant it felt like I couldn’t breathe

My NDN didn't look pregnant until the 8th month. And that was her third child. She always wears loose clothing.

I did this when in early pregnancy with number 2 and 3 - I hate that part where you just look bloated. Personally if that’s what you want to do then go for it. I didn’t wear proper Spanx just cheap versions which aren’t quite as tight.

You can buy maternity spanx designed for pregnant woman. Normal shape wear isnt good as it can effect the growth of the baby

I had really bad problems with my back and then one of the points where your ribs join while I was pregnant - plus incredible oedema (no knees let alone no ankles) - and ended up with tubigrip from under boob to my toes.

DH said I looked like a caterpillar trying to get in and out of it, but none of the specialists I was seeing ever suggested there might be a circulation problem caused by wearing them - and that was for several months.

I doubt the level of compression would cause any real harm, but I’d be more worried about the risk of overheating.

I also think you might be overestimating how effective Spanx are!

I wore a bump band for comfort and support in the later stages. I’ve had two and thanks to strong abs both bumps have been modestly sized.

Just wear loose dark clothes. I often twig that women I know are pregnant by changes to their bust before I notice their stomach.

@TiptopJ

I'm sure I saw pregnancy spanx when I was shopping for maternity clothes. It actually made me quite sad that they're even a thing tbh. God forbid our hips and thighs expand a bit when preparing to birth another human.

I had the mama spanx with my first - they're different to normal spanx in that they don't compress the bump area. They're more for still smoothing out the rest of you, which was useful as so many maternity dresses are otherwise very fitted. I had no problem with my bump but being pregnancy didn't suddenly make my thighs and ass look good in lycra without help.

My godmother had horrific curvature of her spine due to her mother’s corsets during pregnancy.
Utterly ridiculous.

I had strong abs with my first. I am a Pilates instructor. I still looked like a whale at 4 months so I don't think strong abs have much to do with it. I think it's not to do with genetics and size of baby. My mum was huge with me. Compressive underwear could increase lymphatic drainage and affect blood supply etc. I really wouldn't wear anything like that when pregnant. Just wear looser clothes. If you were small last time round you'll likely be small this time round but may show earlier. I was obviously pregnant at 12 weeks with my second.

More not 'not'