Open Thread

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Something on your mind? Chat about it here. But first… our working mom clothing picks, below:

A collage of CorporetteMom style recommendations

Pictured above:

  1. For the pregnant and nursing mama:  This looks like a great layering piece if you’re nursing — pumping friendly, nursing friendly, cardigan friendly, blazer friendly… It’s $55 at Nordstrom (available in three colors). BOOB DESIGN Organic Cotton Maternity & Nursing Tank
  2. For everyone: I got two of these last year, and loved that they were a modest but flattering length in a washable, easycare fabric. I wore them well into my pregnancy, and am now finding that they’re great for nursing too. Word to the wise: they definitely need a camisole underneath. (Also, I preferred the petite fit on my 5’4″ frame, but that may be me… Lands’ End has a variety of colors and sizes on sale right now for $29-$69, in regular, tall, petite, and plus sizes. Women’s Sleeveless Pattern Cotton Modal Fit and Flare Dress
  3. For everyone (especially the nursing mama): I first got addicted to jersey cardigans when I had my first son — I wanted something very washable (nothing kills your spirit quite so much as having spit-up on a good cashmere or wool, amiright?), and something without any zippers or buttons to press against my baby’s face. After almost three years of my addiction, my favorite type of cardigan to buy is a t-shirt (for summer) or terrycloth (for winter) cardigan — but they’re tough to find. I’d seen these jersey cardigans on No More Rack a ton, and, drawn by the bright colors and wide variety available, finally bit and bought one a week or two ago — and I’ve been pleasantly surprised. For $16 I got a beautiful purple cardigan (which, in my 3 years of obsession, I haven’t seen a similar color available anywhere) in a very lightweight t-shirt fabric. It isn’t as high quality as my t-shirt cardigans from Splendid or Three Dots, but for $16 I’ll take it. (I’m even considering going back for another color or two.)  Note that they seem to have a different variety of colors available for purchase than what is displayed — the one I got, Eggplant, is a slightly darker purple than any of the ones pictured.) Open-Front Draped Cardigan – Assorted Colors
  4. For everyone: The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is on (workwear picks here and here) and I’m ogling these low wedge heels — they look comfortable but with a bit of height, and they look like they’d be good with a sheath dress at the office or jeans on the weekend. They’re currently $230, but the price will go back up to $365 after the sale ends on August 4. Attilio Giusti Leombruni ‘Oval’ Wedge Pump (Nordstrom Exclusive) (Women)
  5. For the pregnant / babywearing mama:  Ok, ladies, don’t judge me: I own (and like) a backpack purse. When I started babywearing a few years ago I wanted something super-lightweight that helped me carry the few essentials I needed for myself (wallet, cell phone, tinted lip balm) plus a few things for the baby (like another outfit and diaper). This smallish bag worked great for that purpose — it’s all nylon/canvas, has nice interior dividers, and, best of all, is very easily converted from a backpack to a shoulder bag. Is it as attractive as anything in my beloved leather bag collection? Not by a long shot — but it is very functional. I rediscovered it in this last pregnancy when some pelvic issues made the doctors and physical therapists all suggest I wear a light backpack instead of, say, a heavy tote bag, and now that I have a little one to babywear again it’s been great. (Even if you are that rockstar wearing your 35 lb toddler, it’s a bit small for all the snacks/toys/outfits needed as they get older.) The bag is available at Zappos for $138 in eighteen(!) colors. Mosey Convertible Backpack
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I am getting very mixed opinions about when I should tell my law firm that I’m pregnant. I’m worried that if I tell too early that I will get pulled off cases and not make my hours (and other typical big law fears.) I was planning on waiting until I was 5-6 months. Friends who don’t work in law firms think I should tell earlier and that I’m not being fair to the firm and it will look bad, etc. When did everyone else tell?

Any advice on taking pumping breaks during a deposition? I’m going to have to do it, but it seems incredibly awkward to make everyone sit around waiting for me while I go pump.

Whoops, this is a reply for JEB!

I interviewed for my current job at a federal agency at 22 weeks. I wore a maternity black pencil skirt, non-maternity but over-sized silk blouse, and a regular blazer unbuttoned. I brought up the pregnancy at the end of the interview. I asked about their timeline for hiring and said something like, “I’m pregnant, due X date, planning to take Y-Z weeks of maternity leave.” I went into the interview undecided about whether to say something, but it just felt dishonest not to. They hired me and I started 2 weeks before my due date!

Hi all! What the heck do I wear to an interview while 24-25 weeks pregnant? I’m definitely showing, so hiding it isn’t an option. Should I purchase a maternity suit? Simply wear a nice black dress? If I wear a dress, should I wear one of my regular blazers over it, unbuttoned (and clearly too small at this stage)? Also, should I bring up the elephant in the room on my own, rather than ignoring it?

To give a little context, I currently work for a federal government agency. The interview is with another section within the same agency, so they follow all of the same leave policies, but they are completely separate in terms of hiring. So when I ask about bringing up the fact that I’m pregnant, I don’t mean for the purpose of discussing their leave policies…more just acknowledging the fact that I would be taking some leave later this fall/winter, which would have an obvious (but temporary) impact on their own staffing needs.

So we’re going to start TTC soon, and I’d like to have some infrastructure in mind for once we do have a baby…it looks like traditionally infant care starts at about 3 months…

If I want to start going back to work before that, what do I do? What have others done? Hire a nanny, something like that?

I have no family (none, I know) in the area so this could get really interesting.

Hi, I am new in the Corpor*tte space and love reading this site, such a helpful resource!
I was wondering whether there are any readers here that have had a baby during MBA studies? My husband and I are trying to conceive, but I am wondering whether I should put that on hold because I will start MBA studies in the fall. Any suggestions, personal insights, encouraging stories?
TIA!

Hi Moms! I know society requires you be ever vigilant about your listeria consumption, so FYI-
FDA listeria recall on nectarines, peaches, plums, pluots (I don’t know what pluots are): http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm405943.htm

I bought three of that exact Land’s End dress this summer. Post twins NONE of my regular clothes fit. This dress is perfect. It’s very forgiving in the middle and makes me feel pretty (which is something I don’t feel so often right now). Love it.

Ooh, love the open cardigan – ordered it! If nothing else, it will a good “leave in my office for when the AC is crazy” cardigan.

Guys, how do you keep your mind off TTC? We’ve been trying for 3 months and lately all I can think about is that this may take a lot longer than we expected. Every time I see a baby my heart melts. And I am basically useless during the “two week wait” because I cannot focus. This is very out of character for me. We have been mulling over having a baby for a while and it never affected me. I use to be a strong biller at my BigLaw firm, but this month has not been a good month because of my singular focus on becoming pregnant. Any tips?