Help! I've changed size and shape!

[susiemj]

I've got a 6 week-old baby and find myself a size 18 / 36f bra. I was a size 12 / 32d when I got pregnant. I had to spend most of my prgenancy lying down and then had a cs. I know the weight may go quickly (or may not!) but I'd like to buy a couple of cheap things to allow me to get out of maternity gear and feel a bit nicer and smarter in the meantime. Trouble is I've no idea what suits this size and shape (big post cs tummy mainly) . I've been shopping a couple of times and it was not an uplifting experience.

I've only a few shops here - Evans, Matalan, Dorothy Perkins, New Look, Monsoon.

I'd welcome any suggestions. Please!

ok. maybe that was a bit vague (shuffles off looking at her feet).

Hi Susiemj
I think a good fitting bra goes a long way to making you feel good and uplifted if you excuse the pun! Go to the cheapie shops or even ebay or for sale on here and see what you fancy. Primark,Matalan etc are great for bargains. I think wrapover tops are great if you have big boobs and a bit of a tummy and can be dressed up or down

Thanks Big Spender!

anyone know where is good for big size trousers?

er how about maternity trousers??? I wore mine for about 3 months after having DS....they are just the ticket for a big tummy...

I recently discovered this site for big bra's at reasonable prices and, if you quote GOOD28 at the checkout you get an extra 20% off

www.brastop.com/Default.aspx

Matalan do good jeans and jean-like trousers and they're only about £10-12.I find their waists quite generous which is always good for the morale.

Thanks for the tips, ggirl, fym and time for me.

I'm in jersey maternity trousers atm, size 12 but when I go to the normal shops I'm now size 18. I'd like to buy a new pair of maternity smrt trousers but I'm not sure what size to buy. ????

I'd stick to your maternity gear (if you're in a 12 now, stay with that...) Don't be too hard on yourself - the weight/tummy will need some work to lose (bf helps a lot if you can) but I'd say give it 3-6 months then gradually move back to 'normal' clothes.

M&S? I bought a lot of stuff from there post-section (also went from a size 12 to an 18-20 and had big tum for a while).

Mrs Mattie - what size did you buy from M+S?
Did your size go down again?

Thanks for reassurance fym. I may get a smart pair of maternity trousres to tide me over.

I bought size 18 and size 20 stuff from M&S. They do a fair range of clothes in plus sizes, so I ended up shopping almost exclusively there for a while (never found much in Evans, to be honest). I was a size 18 for 6 months post section. I had a fairly slow recovery, as I had really bad SPD for the last 2 months of my pregnancy and was almost completely immobile. Also suffered very bad back and PND after my son was born, and didn't get out much, so my weight loss was slow. I was a size 16 6 months post-natally, then a 14 for about a year, then back to a 12.

p.s. you may lose weight much more quickly, that is just my story. I would advise gentle exercise like walking and swimming as soon as you feel ready. Don't push yourself though :-)

Thanks Mrs Mattie - it's good news! I was similar in pregnancy - hyperemesis and SPD. GP advised me still to eat 2000 calories, which I had to do with meal replacement drinks because of hyperemesis. I ballooned!