...did you announce your pregnancy anyway or wait? I'm only 5 weeks and very obviously pregnant if I don't try and cover it up. We want to wait until my appt in 4 weeks (we've never announced before 12 weeks with our other 2) but I really have no idea how I'll hide such a huge bump for 4 more weeks.
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I don't know -- I only have one child, and I think this is probably more of an issue for second/third/etc. pregnancies -- but I am sympathetic and hope you find a solution. I am super skittish about sharing pregnancy news when I am pregnant! (I have been pregnant more than once but only one sticky baby.)
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I would do everything possible (clothes to hide it??) to hide longer.
I hid until 18-21w with my three, so know I am the extreme. I was very calculated in how I hid mine!
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@sunnyday: I'm trying! I am wearing maternity tops and cardigans to hide the fact they are mat tops. I wore jeans today with a belly band but the zipper is digging so I'm about to have to go into maternity pants too.
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i would definitely keep trying to hide for a while longer. and what's obvious to you, probably isn't to others!
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I'm in the same boat. I didn't show until after 20 weeks with my daughter. But I'll be 9 weeks tomorrow with this pregnancy and I have a very clear bump. I haven't told anyone yet, because we've had 3 losses in the last 6 months. I'm wearing the absolute baggiest clothes I own, and lots of layers to attempt to at least keep people from asking outright. I'm trying to wait until I'm 12 weeks.
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@LindsayLou: same! It's very obv there's a baby bump.
I'm about the same size at 5 weeks as I was at 15 and 12 with my other 2.
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@birdofafeather: I agree.
Just wear blousy tops/layers if you can.
I would not announce until I was comfortable regardless of how many weeks. Only people with poor boundaries or people close to you should be inquiring about your status before you have announced.
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I had a lot of bloat from weeks 5 to 7 so maybe it will go down a bit.
I definitely wouldn't announce so early and just keep trying to hide it. If someone asks, just blame it on too many tacos or something
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@matador84: do you have a hiding clothes pic? Agree it looks noticeable for sure with what you're wearing there. I wouldn't want to announce so early either.
You could just let people think what they think. Probably no one will outright ask you-at work-unless they're close to you and then I guess you could quietly tell them and say you're not tears to tell people yet. As for people outside work you tell them I guess or just don't see people for a while...which is what I did with certain people
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@Mrs. Goose: this is what I put over the camisole the day I took the first pic. It was a super drapey tunic 2 sizes bigger than what I normally wear.
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The biggest factor is how flat your stomach was before you got pregnant. If you went from Cameron Diaz abs to that, people will probably ask but if you already had a bit of a belly then I'm sure no one will notice.
I hope this doesn't sound rude because that is not my intention! -
@matador84: hmm, yes definitely still noticeable. Also, agree with what @mrskansas just said. But if you're wearing something two sizes bigger than normal then I assume you usually look smaller. I would just not say anything if you don't want to, continue wearing loose stuff, and hope people feel too awkward to ask!
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@matador84: I have no advice, but wanted to say that sure is a cute baby bump!
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I would try layering with open cardigans/sweaters? I used scarves too to try to hide it some too depending on how they hang. I'm sorry you're struggling with hiding! I couldn't hide my 3rd pregnancy long at all and was showing like you are at a similar time. Thankfully, I work with family so I was okay with telling them earlier on.
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So I just had to do the same thing for a completely different reason - I got very sick about a month ago and had to go on a medication that caused me to gain about 15 pounds in less than a week, almost all in my belly (stupid med!). I looked about 20w pregnant (and a lot like the pic you posted) and even pulled out my maternity pants and wore them. I was freaking out, but NOBODY noticed!! it was a good lesson in just how self absorbed people can be, lol! I've lost most of the weight in the past week, and when I commented on it to coworkers, they were like, what?? And they weren't being kind.
So, I wore baggy tops, and maternity clothes and only the people closest to me (basically my husband and best friend) seemed to notice. Fingers crossed you have the same experience...for a much better reason! I also wore lots of statement necklaces and earrings with dark shirts to keep the attention up by my face, which helped, I think.
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My trick was always to wear a blousy top with a belt and a cardigan and scarf. Worked for awhile. I started obviously showing around 6-7w for my 2nd. Here's an example from when I was still hiding at 10w.
ETA: I still waited until after 12-13w to announce at work.
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I waited until 12-13 weeks last time around and this time more like 15. I wore poncho sweaters and open cardigans and literally huge stuff until we were ready to announce. I think if you are clearly trying to hide something people will not ask, even if they suspect. We are always way more keyed in on it than others though! I was huge this time at even 8 weeks - like you pretty petite! This was me below at 14 weeks. No one started asking me until I wore fitted maternity clothes out and about.
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@matador84: I really only look "bumpy" towards the end of the day and I'm relying on the fact that I'm not close enough with my workmates for them to say anything! Having said that I did have TWO friends ask me yesterday if I was pregnant!
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@winniebee: we look like we are probably about the same size. I have tons of ponchos and sweaters and I am just being crazy because I think people will really think I'm trying to hide something. 4 weeks is forever to wait!
It is pretty mind blowing to me how many people have point blank asked me if I am pregnant or not over the last year or so. Between having 2 kids close together and then a belly that went away but was shaped like I still was carrying a child, I'm screwed!
@madisonbee: thank you!@mrskansas: not offended, i think it is funny! def not cameron diaz abs, but I had just lost 13" total since July!
@pregnantbee: thanks for the pic. I wore a maternity shirt today, with a cardigan and a blanket scarf. I felt pretty hidden, but I'm so paranoid! People are going to start calling me the scarf lady.
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With DD I showed at about 4-5 weeks as well. I distinctly remember having a debate at 5 weeks with the OBGYN who was pushing me to go out and buy maternity clothing and I felt ridiculous doing so. To make things worse, I was high risk - the reason I showed so early was related to the other hormonal stuff going on so I really didn't want to announce.
I wore a lot of loose clothing and a lot of empire dresses. I waited until we were declared no longer high risk (10 weeks). I had a friend find out because she popped over for a visit and I wasn't wearing clothes that hide it. She flat out asked within 5 minutes. The only other place people figured out was at the gym pool, where I would have strangers comment and give belly rubs. I would lie about how far along I was because I felt so embarrassed to be so huge so early (seems silly now). Things evened out around 25 weeks.
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A couple people guessed that I was (boobs grew, face glowing) before I was ready to announce with my first. When asked, I confirmed, but said it was too soon to discuss. They understood and we moved on quickly literally not another thing about the baby. The only reason I confirmed was because I didn't want to jinx anything, but man not hearing a heartbeat already and people calling you out is so nervewracking!
@matador84: It's going to be hard not notice your cute bump and even harder for people not to be gleeful about seeing it and saying something.
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I wasn't actively trying to hide my bump, but I met with clients weekly through my pregnancy and one client (who saw me regularly pre pregnancy and saw me the day before I had my son) called our office when the email was sent out that I'd had my son because he was so confused. He had no idea I was pregnant. A lot of clients said they wouldn't have known until 36+ weeks - many of them citing that they just don't notice things like that.
I wore a lot of Jcrew cardigans, statement necklaces, pashminas, and didn't wear the typical maternity shorts (shirring, empire, etc).
I personally would not feel comfortable being forced to tell due to people noticing changes in my body. Good luck!!
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This isn't me, but similar to what I would wear:
In the picture you posted with the outfit you wore, I would have worn a fun necklace with a cropped cardigan. The Jcrew cardigans are a perfect length for hiding any pooch.
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It's still cool/cold most places right? Cardigans and layers is what I would do. And trying to keep the bloat in check as much a possible for time being. I would be hesitant to switch to actual maternity unless the style was pretty generic.. but only because I'm paranoid and would think everyone knew it was maternity.
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@matador84: I work with a gal who was 26weeks pregnant with her third- we are all remote and I knew of her pregnancy but others didn't. At our meeting no one even asked or commented until day four when she said something about maternity leave! I thought it was very obvious but clearly people don't scrutinize as much as we think.
*also these people didn't see her everyday so maybe not quite the same situation!
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I have an event tonight DH and I are going to--I'm wearing a button down denim dress and a pendelton shawl. Hopefully no one notices the bump, but I'm sure people will notice me not drinking.
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@matador84: can you order a drink to make it look like you're drinking? Or privately order a faux drink so it appears that you are?
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@Boopers: I might just hold it and fake sip on it!
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@matador84: that's what I would do! Good luck!
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I'm also still hiding at 12 weeks and have found non-ruched, flowy maternity tops to be a lifesaver the past few weeks. I've gotten a few from Gap I really like that hide things pretty well - I think the materials help to not hug the bump:
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=6053&vid=1&pid=390203052
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=6055&vid=1&pid=390192032
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@matador84: too late now I'm sure, but drinking a mock tail in public wasn't too hard. Order something close in color at the bar when only the bar tender can hear you and no one will be the wiser.
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