u/-Konstantine-

I’m looking for a nice spring/summer dress that will also make my bump look nice. Im around a size 24 and have an apron/B belly prior to pregnancy, so my bump isn’t super glorious. I’ll be 30 weeks by the time I need it.

I’m just not sure what cuts/styles are most flattering on plus size bodies. I don’t want a tight body con dress, but flowy dresses that I have make my pregnancy disappear? I do use a belly band, which helps shape things a little. Any guidance would be much appreciated!

I’m just feeling a lot more self conscious this pregnancy bc I have another family member attending the event who’s only like 4 weeks further than me, but has a very different body, and has looked 9 months pregnant since she was like 20 weeks. Meanwhile, I’m barely showing at 28 weeks. Comparisons have already been made, not by her (she’s lovely), but by other family members.

My FIL made a comment about what “normal people” do vs what our plan is. So now I’m just curious, what are other people planning on?

Interested to hear where you’re from as well, as I know maternity/paternity leave varies *greatly* based on where you live and your job.

This is our second kid (due in July), so we’ll have an almost 3yo in addition to a newborn (with no daycare for 2 months bc of summer), so bonus points on your plans with 2+ kids.

Also maybe the size of your village, like if you have parents who will be staying with you or not, and if that impacts your decisions.

I’m not sure what I hope to gain from posting this. I just feel so sad and lost and alone. She lives across the country and I went to see her right after it happened, but it’s going to be a very long recovery and I don’t know if I’ll ever get my mom back or not. We had plans for her to come visit and help us when I was late in pregnancy and then after baby came. But obviously that’s not happening, and I feel so selfish and worthless for even being upset about, considering everything. I don’t really have a village where I live, and the people I do have here I’m not like cry in front of or ask for real help close with. I’m a SAHP with our toddler so it’s like mom friends and my husband’s family. And my husband, who is wonderful and means well, seems to either be scared of making me cry (bc I had a breakdown the other day) or coming to me with a new problem that he needs help with. And I just have no patience or empathy for him. I just don’t know what to do. I feel like I’m either going through the motions and avoiding thinking about it (so I seem okay), or drowning in grief about all the futures that aren’t going to happen anymore. There’s no in-between. Just so lost and alone.