5 months

Okay, here it is: the pregnant belly around 5 months, clothed in a top from Japanese Weekend that's already a little snug (I've only had it for about five weeks or so, but fortunately, it's also a nursing top so I think it'll get plenty of use postnatal). The pants are from Gap Maternity...one of their "demi-panel" styles, which, as my belly expands, I'm finding less comfortable. The denim part goes up to about a couple inches below my belly button (whereas my pooch seems to start an inch or two lower) and the 3 or 4-inch elastic band doesn't have as much give as I'd like. I think it's time to upgrade to a roll or full-panel style that won't divide my pregnant belly in half. It makes me feel less like the Pillsbury Dough Boy, but a little more like the Michelin Man.


On the topic of maternity clothes, the two pairs of pants I've bought so far - both from Gap Maternity - including the previously mentioned demi-panel style and a "hidden panel" variety of cords - are both a little uncomfortable now. Again, though, I think they'll get some more use after delivery. Fortunately, I borrowed a couple of pairs of pants from a friend that she bought while pregnant at Old Navy. The panels on those are only a couple of inches, but they sit much lower on the belly so that when I sit down I don't feel like I'm compressing my uterus as much. Those, sadly, are getting a little snug in the hip and thigh area. I don't understand why everything expands. Not that I've been as consistent about eating right, but still. Indeed, ironically perhaps, I've been obsessed with two related things lately - food and how my clothes fit. I've never been into velour, but I could just live in one of those Juicy Couture pantsuits right about now.

As far as tops go, fortunately, the other two I ordered from Japanese Weekend (thanks to a gift certificate from the same friend who loaned me the Old Navy pants) are much roomier and the four or five tops I bought at Gap are pretty generous and stretchy. I also have a couple of more blouse-style tops from Motherhood/Mimi Maternity, which will be great once the weather finally warms up in New England. I thought I'd hit Old Navy to try and fill the pants void. Or maybe iMaternity. They have that "Secret Fit Belly" that looks so comfy. I didn't think I'd be into the over-the-belly approach, but as mine expands, that particular style is looking awfully tempting.

Perhaps addressing the cause-and-effect relationship between my two obsessions lately (well, you know, other than the fact that I'm growing a human being in here) is the ongoing quest to find the perfect pregnancy workout. I received and tried out the Gabrielle Reece workout late last week. It's not bad. The entire program is designed for the first two trimesters, divided into six 15-minute workouts, one for each of the first six months, meaning it's essentially a pretty short workout that includes some iffy moves (for me, at least), plus a warm-up and cool-down. Some of the upper body moves I really like. But the workout requires a couple of sets of weights (I used 3 and 5 pound sets), a resistance band, an exercise ball, a chair (and one much wider than the chairs I own), and preferably a personal trainer/partner. Some of the moves that used the resistance band I could do with weights, but even if my exercise ball was inflated at the moment, I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable doing exercises that involve modified crunches and balancing skills that I'm temporarily lacking. So I'll try to squeeze it in a few times over the next month, but it seems my staples will continue to be walking and yoga.