New-Mom-of-2 Strategy #3 - Go Shopping!

First. If you are one of those women who did not look pregnant until 35 weeks and lost all your baby weight within 2 weeks postpardum, please keep this to yourself.  Those of us who were showing at 3 months and lost a grand total of 5 pounds after giving birth do not want to hear about your good genes. It's like listening to swimwear models casually discuss how they can eat whatever they want, never exercise, and have trouble keeping on enough weight. Really.

If you were not blessed with immediately losing all you pregnancy weight within a few weeks of giving birth, I know that you may be reluctant to go shopping to buy new clothes post-baby. But chances are your post-baby body is too small for your maternity clothes and too big for your non-pregnancy clothes. It seems "reasonable" to wait until you've lost the baby weight to buy new clothes. Perhaps you underestimate the length of time that it will take to lose the weight. (Rule of thumb is 9 months to put the weight on and 9 months for it to come off.) Perhaps you don't want to face the "new" body in full length mirrors. Perhaps you dread moving into "misses" or "plus sizes" even temporarily. Perhaps money is a concern. No matter the reason that you hesitate, get over it and get shopping. Wearing maternity clothes past the first few weeks postpardum can really get you down. Trying to squeeze into jeans 2 sizes too small and muffin-topping out of them? Bright side - yes you can fit in them. Down side - yes, it does look that bad.

This time around I got smarter. Instead of wearing pjs and sweats for months on end and wallowing in self-loathing, I went out and purchased a few basic items at Target. A few skirts with elastic waists and a few nice shirts that all coordinate with one another. They flatter my larger-than-normal figure, conceal the fact that I still look about 4 months pregnant so I can leave the house without my newborn and not fear being asked when the blessed date is, and will wear well as I do lose weight. Total cost was about $150. Well worth it to feel confident and look reasonably put-together. Can afford to spend a little more? Accessories! Can't afford quite that much? Goodwill Stores or consignment shops are another great place to get some low-priced wardrobe staples to wear while you downsize.