This post may contain affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ladies, what is/was your favorite button-front blouse while pregnant? Did you skip them entirely, or go for a wrap look like this nice one from Eva Alexander, or do you have another option that you absolutely love? Did you avoid “iron-free” ones because of the chemicals? (I have no knowledge about them either way!) I mostly just wore dresses and t-shirts (albeit nice ones) for my maternity wear. This blouse is available in sizes 4-12 for $108 at Nordstrom. Eva Alexander London Wrap Maternity Shirt Building a maternity wardrobe for work? Check out our page with more suggestions along both classic and trendy/seasonal lines. (L-2)Sales of note for 4.18.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off full-price dresses, jackets & shoes; $30 off pants & skirts; extra 50% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything; extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – 50% off select styles; 60% off swim; up to 40% off everything else
- J.Crew – Mid-Season Sale: Extra 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off spring-to-summer styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Spring Mid-Season Sale: Up to 50% off 100s of styles
- Nordstrom: Free 2-day shipping for a limited time (eligible items)
- Talbots – Spring Sale: 40% off + extra 15% off all markdowns; 30% off new T by Talbots
- Zappos – 29,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Up to 70% off baby items; 50% off toddler & kid deals & 40% off everything else
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off spring faves; 25% off new arrivals; up to 30% off spring
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Up to 60% off sale styles; up to 50% off kids’ spring-to-summer styles
- Old Navy – 30% off your purchase; up to 75% off clearance
- Target – Car Seat Trade-In Event (ends 4/27); BOGO 25% off select skincare products; up to 40% off indoor furniture; up to 20% off laptops & printers
See some of our latest articles on CorporetteMoms:
Click here to see our top posts!
And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
TK says
I have an HSG scheduled for Friday to see if c-section scar tissue from Little TK (or anything else) is preventing the conception of his sibling. We’ve been TTC for a year, I’m 38, and we had no problems the first time around.
Anywho, I was planning on having the scan done in the morning then coming right in to work afterwards, but I made the mistake of googling “HSG” last night and now I’m wondering if I should plan to work from home or just take the whole day off. What’s reasonable to expect? I was told by my doctor to take a few Tylenol ahead of time and to bring a pad. Anything else I should be aware of?
Btw – TBK, I saw some of your posts on this on the main site from a few years back, and it made me very happy to know that you made it to the other side with those two boys of yours.
CHJ says
I had one a few years ago and it was fine — for me it wasn’t worse than bad cramps. I went back to work afterwards. I think I had some light spotting that day, but nothing more than that.
anon says
I also made the mistake of Googling and was freaked out. It hurt for less than a minute (I teared up but am a scaredy cat and much of it was mental). I was totally fine for the rest of the day.
Edna Mazur says
Mine was fine. I scheduled it for like 6:30 AM, had breakfast out with my husband and experienced some cramps that were much lighter than the average period.
I thought it was kind of cool seeing my Fallopian tubes, but I might be weird like that.
buffybot says
Just another reassuring post that while I certainly googled and heard all the horror stories, I just had one and it was a complete non-event. Certainly an odd and not entirely comfortable sensation during the process, but I went back to work afterwards with no issues.
Pogo says
I was fine with the HSG (cramped for a minute and then pretty much OK), but with the saline sonohysterogram I had as a follow-up I was in extreme pain for the duration (which was admittedly short, 1-2 minutes). I was moaning/crying and yelled at my husband, “Hold my hand or something, that’s what you’re here for!”
But that was I’m sure because I’ve never given birth and my cervix is teeny tiny and prying it open was a shock to the system. People I know who’ve had something similar after kids were like, yeah it’s nothing.
You can totally go to work after, even if the experience itself is very painful.
Amelia Bedelia says
I absolutely don’t mean to scare you; however, I will add a contrary post. I had some blockage, etc., from scar tissue from other surgeries. So, maybe that was why my experience was different? but it was. I was in quite a bit of pain and took the entire day off (which was unfortunately, as I was due to be in court that afternoon). I;ve had high pain tolerance in other areas (broken bones/prior surgeries), so I’m not sure whether I was just a weenie or if it was that bad?
but, I would recommend that you not schedule anything important that day. If it is no big deal, great. go into work. But be prepared to call out just in case.
anon for this says
My HSG test was more painful than anything else involved with infertility and IVF. However, the pain didn’t linger and I went to work after with no problems.
TBK says
Glad my posts helped! My experience was just like this. Painful, but the pain was completely limited to while the procedure was going on. Also, I took the max ibuprofen the nurse would okay. I might do that over Tylenol. And be sure to take it about 30 min before your appointment, so it’s fully kicked in by then.
Betty says
I’ve had two (and done the unfortunate googling beforehand as well). For me, both were mildly uncomfortable in that moment but I was absolutely fine to work after. I would definitely take motrin/Tylenol ahead of time, but it really wasn’t that bad for me. I’ve heard, though not experienced, that an HSG is more uncomfortable if you do in fact have a blocked tube.
Betty says
Argh. Clearly meant as a reply to TK. I should do nothing before 10am on Mondays.
Amelia Bedelia says
yes. I think that might be why my experience was harder. both tubes were blocked.
And that’s not really something you can plan for (!), so just be prepared to take off work just in case.
AIMS says
I had a Loft tunic style button down I loved while I was pregnant. I ordered it mostly to get to a free shipping minimum and didn’t think I would like it at all but it was super flattering and became a total go-to piece for me, which was surprising because it that style of shirt (no collar, round crewneck) doesn’t usually look good on me non-pregnant.
Anonymous says
Just delivered. Was very happy with GAP white maternity oxfords. Had to move from size maternity small to maternity medium for the last trimester (and the size medium maternity was a bit tight in the stomach in the last month). The shirt has to be ironed, but I like that for pregnancy. I think it’s a GAP staple – it was available my entire pregnancy.
Sally says
Anyone have major dental work done while nursing? I just came back from the dentist and it looks like I am going to need some dental surgery and will need antibiotics after. I’m thinking I can pump and dump for the day of the procedure so no anesthetic gets into milk but what about the week after for when I am on antibiotics? I put in a call to pediatrician but wondering if anyone has experience.
JJ says
Talk to your doctor/pharmacist (my pharmacist was usually the best source of information for this). Some antibiotics are safe while nursing, and for others you will need to pump and dump. I ended up needed to use both kinds while I was nursing my second child.
Meg Murry says
Call the dentist’s office and see if you can get the exact name of the antibiotic they would prescribe, and then call the infant risk center. (806) 352-2519, Monday – Friday, 8am–5pm Central Time Zone . They do research on what drugs pass through breastmilk and the risk associated with them. Or you can download their app – Mommymeds or look at their webs!te infantrisk dot com or Mommymeds dot com (terrible name but super useful).
Also plan to take probiotics and eat a lot of yogurt while on the antibiotic, and be super vigilant about signs of thrush in you and your baby – every time I take antibiotics it does a number on my digestive system and I get terrible yeast infections. Depending on baby’s age you should ask the pediatrician about giving him/her probiotics as well, or if s/he is eating solids give full fat yogurt.
MomAnon4This says
I had a broken tooth or broken filling or something repaired while pregnant. Easy-peasey. Only took an hour. So glad I did it then instead of waiting.
Spirograph says
Outdoor toy storage question:
We have an inordinate number of balls and various other outdoor sporting equipment. No garage, kids are not allowed in the garden shed for obvious reasons. Looking for suggestions how to contain all the stuff. I don’t really care if it gets wet, but don’t want any container that will hold water because mosquitoes.
I’m thinking of something like this, but I’m not sure how it would hold up outdoors. http://www.containerstore.com/s/storage/bins-baskets/view-all/toy-barrel/123d?productId=10000536
My other idea is one of those deck chests intended for patio furniture cushions. I’m kind of worried about the kids trapping each other in one of those, but maybe that’s silly of me.
Thoughts?
rakma says
We bought an outdoor deck box to store cushions, but the cushions don’t fit (oops) so it’s slowly becoming toy storage. Ours doesn’t have a latch or anything that would allow locking in, and DD can totally open it herself, so I’m sure if she climbed in she could push the top open.
In House Lobbyist says
Do they hold spiders? I keep wanting to get some for toy storage and my husband is convinced they will be full of spiders.
Anon in NYC says
This just sent shivers down my spine. A box full of spiders! Ah!
rakma says
No spiders yet, and it’s opened at least daily, so it’s not a quiet undisturbed place (like our shed, which is full of them)
Anonymous says
We have deck boxes for all of our ourdoor storage. The ones we got are high enough that my 4.5 year old can’t climb in. I think we got the Suncast wood and resin box, which was a PITA to build but seems water tight.
lucy stone says
Kat, is it possible you or Kate could do something about professional plus-size maternity clothes? Out of your last few months of maternity Monday picks, I could wear a scarf, a hoodie, or one blouse…and I don’t think I can wear a hoodie to work.
MomAnon4This says
+1 at least options. Not just 1 special post to archive that’s, like, a year old :(
Kat G says
There are VERY, very few options for professional plus-size maternity clothes — it’s a huge gap in the market, I’m sorry. I’ll try to throw one in (or at least one with larger option sizes) once a month or we can do an alternate like we’ve started doing on the main site.
lsw says
Loft has 40% off tops today – which is great for me because I had several maternity tops sitting in my cart, waiting for a sale. It has been surprisingly hard for me to find non-t-shirt maternity tops, and they have at least a few professional-adjacent options.
boots says
Reusable swim diaper recs? I didn’t like the iPlay swim diaper for my oldest, but don’t remember why. We’ll be taking him to the pool a lot this summer so reusable makes financial sense. Recs?
HSAL says
We’ve used the AppleCheeks swim diaper just once, but I liked it. It has two or three rows of snaps for adjustability. Lucie’s List also has a bunch of recommendations.
AEK says
I do like the iplay (especially the one with over-shorts), so we might not be on the same page, but my little guy also has a Charlie Banana swim diaper that is great.
Anonymous says
We didn’t have much luck with the iplay because it the sizes were way off- my kid was 8 months old “, very average sized, and even the 25 month diaper didn’t fit right- tight in the leg and didn’t cover her butt. We switched to disposables and they were great.
boots says
this must have been what I didn’t like!
CHJ says
I really like the Bummis Swimmis, but Amazon tells me they’ve been discontinued! But they still have a lot of sizes and patterns left in case you can find one that works for you.
Anonymous says
Imse Vimse!
ANP says
So, this could be totally gross behavior, but I learned — from a more experienced mom than I — that you can machine-wash swim diapers that have only been peed in (all bets are off with poop). We reuse “disposable” swim diapers all the time now that I’m aware of this!
RDC says
Mind. Blown.
Pogo says
Two of my friends posted recently on Facebook about being forced to throw out frozen milk at Heathrow, because according to their Homeland Security equivalent, you can’t bring breast milk on a plane if you don’t have the baby?!?!
How does that make ANY sense? The point of pumping is because you need to feed a baby… who is not currently with you. And also, it’s frozen milk, not liquid – when did they start banning frozen stuff?
Has anyone experienced this? Is it better domestically at least? I’m not a mom yet but I travel quite a bit for my job and I doubt I’ll be able to make it more than 6-8 months without travelling, at which point I will still have a nursing infant.
Maddie Ross says
I’ve not had any issues domestically, and that includes both small and large airports. Depending on the place and time of day, they may give you a bit of a hassle about unpacking it, but I’ve never had to dispose of any at all.
shortperson says
i dont know about heathrow, but it’s totally fine domestically. TSA is only nice to me when i’m traveling with breastmilk.
AIMS says
Haven’t experienced this but FYI you can ship frozen milk, which may be a solution to avoid any potential issues. FWIW, when I travelled domestically, getting milk through was not a problem but I did have to put it through the xray, which may or may not have affected it a bit (went in normal, came out sort of clumpy; could have been passage of time, but never happened before or since except for at airport; baby still drank it).
Amelia Bedelia says
I had this issue at Heathrow and in Zurich. I pitched a RIDICULOUS fit, to the point where I caused a scene and perhaps they could have chosen to throw me out of the airport, but I guess they wanted to avoid the bad publicity? Zurich let me through quickly and Heathrow let me through but only after I tasted each bag in front of them.
gross.
the things we do for this “liquid gold” that is probably so not worth it . . .
BKDC says
http://www.heathrow.com/more/help-with-this-website/faqs/security-and-baggage
It looks like it is Heathrow’s policy to only allow a limited amount of breastmilk if you are traveling without an infant. Amazing.
Maddie Ross says
Which is crazy, because when I traveled with an infant, I never actually dealt with bringing pumped milk. Traveling with the infant was hard enough!
Amelia Bedelia says
wow. this is, without a doubt, the stupidest thing EVER. But thank you for posting, as I am nursing and heading back to London next month.
Spirograph says
This is crazy to me — frozen breastmilk is a solid, not a liquid, so it shouldn’t be forced to comply with the rules about liquids. I would throw a fit if someone told me to throw away a week’s worth of pumping!
I haven’t tried bringing breastmilk back from international travel, but also have had zero issues with a whole lunch cooler full of frozen milk, domestically. I just opened the cooler, showed the contents, and the TSA agents waved me right through.
Anonymous says
This has been Heathrow’s policy for a while. Alyssa Milano tweeted about it to vent about it a few years ago I think?
It’s totally crazy. Like – if there was a baby with me, I would nurse the baby/feed the expressed milk to baby – the fact that there is no baby traveling with me is why I have the expressed milk on hand!
When I traveled with expressed milk and a baby I had to taste it. Makes no sense why they can’t offer that possibility to moms without babies – or at least some kind of place where moms can register in advance and get a special exemption or something.
RDC says
I think you could also put the BM in your checked bag, right? I did this on an international flight – not London, though – and it was totally fine. Got a super insulated cooler, filled with (refrigerated, not frozen) milk in bags, then big ziplocks of ice. The ice was still frozen on arrival so it probably would have been fine to freeze the milk, too. (I was afraid of it thawing.). The whole thing went inside a large, checked suitcase and no one was the wiser.
In the US, print out the TSA regs on breastmilk and bring them. They have various ways of testing the milk but none involve throwing it out and they’ve always been super nice about it.
BabyThighs says
I would love some advice on responding to a comment from the woman who runs my baby’s daycare center. (For the record, I really like this woman, generally.) Because my girl is a 15 month old chubby baby, her thighs often show in her onesies or rompers. The woman who runs the daycare will comment on how glorious and adorable they are. (They ARE!) But then, the woman will, invariably, say something about how “being a baby is the only time when chubby thighs are a good thing.”
And it makes me sad because I don’t want my kid to be exposed to that attitude at daycare. And because like, I have chubby thighs (and so does this woman!) and why are we talking about ourselves (and our perfect children!) this way?
I haven’t said anything when she’s made this comment before (I just change the subject), but I’m wondering if I should come up with a response for next time? I would want to keep it light, I think, but I can’t figure out what to say.
Jen says
I would ignore this. Is this someone who will be the primary caregiver for your child when she is 15 mos- kindergarten? Or just the director who pops her head into a classroom every once in a while?
In the grand scheme of daycare battles to fight, I’d not even come near this one. She’s probably just making small talk, and I seriously doubt she’s making comments to your daughter on the changing table other than “i want to eat up your pudgy little thighs.”
Pigpen's Mama says
I had a similar reaction regarding a comment like that about my toddler’s adorable potbelly as she’s quite proud of it and shows it off at any opportunity. It only happened once, and kinda caught me off guard, but I felt the same way. I think I made some off-hand comment about how she should always be happy with her body, no matter what.
Maybe something about strong thighs are a good thing, no matter what age or size, because they let you do so many things?
It makes me sad as well that my kiddo may never be as proud and happy about her body as she is now.
Samantha says
Can I just digress here to say I LOVE baby thighs! :) Those rolls! I could feel them up all day – though for the sake of non-creepiness I restrict myself to my own babies (alas! babies no more! turned into beanpoles!).
Anyways. This is a battle I personally wouldn’t fight, unless there were other (worse) statements she is making. I’d give this statement the benefit of the doubt.
But since you say it’s come up more than once, maybe “hey thighs can come in all shapes and sizes, having a healthy life is what matters!”
MomAnon4This says
Say something like, “I love strong thighs!”
They might not look good in a short skirt, but they get me places and have carried 3 pregnancies :) Not bad.
AIMS says
It is sad how even babies don’t get to escape societal judgments about size. I have an adorably chubby little girl and more than once someone has said, “wow, she’s so big/chubby/whatever” and then immediately turned to me with an apologetic look to say “oops, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t say that!” One person even said, “Sorry! I know you’re not supposed ever say that about girls!” I couldn’t believe it, I just said, “Why?” Usually I say, “I think it’s a good thing – we’re very happy she’s a great eater.”
Lkl says
I have very large 14 month old boy and people are constantly commenting and then saying “Oops! I didn’t mean he is fat!” He’s totally chubby and gorgeous and I really don’t care how you say it – stop apologizing.
SoCalAtty says
I’m battling this, but from my MIL / SIL. “He’s so chunky, mama’s milk must be all butterfat!” Um….thanks? No advice though, just commiseration about the way people try to inflict this stuff on babies.
Maddie Ross says
I’m definitely not as big an engager as some other women on this site, but in my opinion, I probably would ignore it. At most, she’ll get your child till she’s 5, and you don’t even know if she says things like that around children that can really comprehend the comments (obviously, my opinion would change if she is outright telling 4 yo’s not to eat snack or something). It’s likely just an off-hand remark, probably a bit self-deprecating and made in jest. At most, I might respond “healthy thighs are always a good thing,” or something similarly light-hearted.
Maddie Ross says
Meant to be a reply to “Baby Thighs.” Oops!
JJ says
I agree completely. I’d probably mention the workout tank that I bought the other day that says “Thick Thighs Save Lives” and laugh it off.