Help! 11 weeks and already showing and work issues

OctoberMommy24 · 11-01-2008, 03:30 PM

Hi, Everyone.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to hide a growing pregnancy?? I am 11 weeks along with identical twins and going out of my mind waiting for my nuchal ultrasound on November 11th. I then don't get the test results until November 18th, which is now three weeks away. No one knows about this pregnancy because DH and I wanted to be sure all the test results were fine before spilling the beans.

The problem is that I look like I'm four or five months pregnant already! This is my third pregnancy and I guess because its twins, I've "popped" sooner. I think I've done a pretty good job hiding it the last few weeks but this weekend I've noticed that I all of a sudden look considerably bigger than I did a few days ago. Is this possible and normal?? I may just be paranoid but I think I'm getting weird sideway looks at work from some people, and I don't know if they're just looking at me thinking that I've gained weight, or if they are on to my secret. Adding to this is the fact that my boss is not exactly "baby friendly" although she has one child of her own. She's made it really clear that she's not having another and expects anyone in her age group (40) to do the same. Because I'm 43, she would never think that I would try to have another child because she's voiced her opinion that people that do this in their forties are "crazy." Not sure if she just told me that to make sure I wouldn't try but I got her message loud and clear.

Sorry for the long post but I clearly needed an outlet and would appreciate any suggestions for hiding my "bump" for the next two and a half weeks, and then telling my wonderful boss.

Thanks!

OctoberMommy24

wintergirl · 11-02-2008, 09:52 PM

Well this is my first pregnancy and I have the opposite problem because I'm over 6 months and STILL waiting to look really pregnant! But I can tell you that baggy clothes hide it more. No one ever guesses I'm pregnant when I wear my loose T-shirts from Old Navy, where I've noticed that tight clothes show my bump more. Black (and all darker colors) are more slenderizing. I hope you get your good results soon so you can share your happy news!

I'm sorry but your boss sounds like kind of a b**ch and had NO right to say things like that!! She cannot control who gets pregnant or when, and if she does you'd have a great lawsuit on your hands. I felt offended just reading her comments!! Maybe it's HER opinion that for herself she didn't want to have a baby in her 40's but for SOME people (like myself) I was unsettled, had wanderlust (lived in Alaska, OR & WA just cuz) and I wasn't even ready to have a child till I was over 35 (not to mention I didn't meet DH till I was 35). I would have been a crappy resentful mom in my 20's, but now I'm ready willing & happy to devote my life to a child like I never was before. Personally I thought girls in their teens and 20's were crazy to tie themselves down with a child!

baby#2 · 11-03-2008, 05:36 AM

I am 9w1d with twins right now and look about 5 months along. This is my second pg and I was popping at 5 weeks! No real advice on how to hide it though! I tried for a while and did not do a great job as people were already asking me.

GL with your boss too! She does sound like a real biatch! She has no right to tell employees what they can and cannot do as far as getting pg!

OctoberMommy24 · 11-04-2008, 05:32 PM

Thanks for your replies, Baby#2 and Winter Girl.

I've definately been going down the "baggy clothes" route at work and I think my coworkers think I've become really slobby in the past few weeks. But it is getting harder, especially when you have to wear a suit jacket sometimes and the buttons wont even do up in the front. Now I just keep them open and wear a black shirt underneath at all times...

Baby #2 - Did you just go ahead and tell everyone when they started asking questions, or did you wait until you were ready to spill the beans?It's always so hard to decide what to do, isn't it?

Winter Girl- I wish I had your problem! Not having to worry about showing would be great for me right about now. You're right about my boss....we'll see how she responds when I tell her the news. I'm not holding my breath for a positive response but you never know.

baby#2 · 11-05-2008, 05:45 AM

October..No I just told people when they asked. It was all people who I know anyway not total strangers. There is no way I can hide it now at 9W! I am totally not joking when I say I am about as big now as I was at 5 months with my last pg! I am going to be huge huge huge by the time I actually hit 5 or 6 months! All good though and I am certainly not complaining!

Vicki41 · 11-07-2008, 03:31 PM

I started showing very early too and I only have one bun in the oven! I am 43 and had many m/c and didn't want to tell anyone at work, least of all my boss, about the pregnancy until I had the amnio results back.

My advice, fake a "makeover"

Change your makeup. (lips and eyes are the easiest with the biggest bang for your buck)
If you wear pants to work, start wearing skirts
If you wear skirts to work, start wearting pants.
Add color if you are brown/black clothes person (and the reverse)
Change your shoes... if you wear flats, start wearing heels or vice versa.

My favorite dodge was sweaters, vests, long vests, dusters, blazers.
Taking my shirts out of my skirts/pants and pairing a nice long sweater with it worked wonders.

The current shirt trend are those empire waist shirts... and even the skinniest of women look pregnant in those! You may add a couple of those with a nice skirt to your "new you".

My point is.. change your clothing! People will notice if you favorite suit is suddenly pulling at your waist and you can't button you jacket so put them away for now!

If you chose wisely you can pick out piece you can use now and after the pregnancy. stretchy skirts and pants are quite nice these days! I purchased several from Athleta and there were a lifesaver for the first 4 months!

HAng in there! Congratulation again! -vicki

OctoberMommy24 · 11-11-2008, 05:43 AM

Thanks, Vicki41.

I've been doing some of the tricks that you suggested and have also recycled some of my clothes that I had when I was larger - we all have a wardrobe with different sizes of clothes, right?

So far it's been okay, though I think some people may have caught on to my secret. Anyway, today I find out my test results from the nuchal ultrasound, so fingers crossed. Thanks for your advice!

OctoberMommy24

11-01-2008, 03:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
OctoberMommy24 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 13	Help! 11 weeks and already showing and work issues Hi, Everyone. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to hide a growing pregnancy?? I am 11 weeks along with identical twins and going out of my mind waiting for my nuchal ultrasound on November 11th. I then don't get the test results until November 18th, which is now three weeks away. No one knows about this pregnancy because DH and I wanted to be sure all the test results were fine before spilling the beans. The problem is that I look like I'm four or five months pregnant already! This is my third pregnancy and I guess because its twins, I've "popped" sooner. I think I've done a pretty good job hiding it the last few weeks but this weekend I've noticed that I all of a sudden look considerably bigger than I did a few days ago. Is this possible and normal?? I may just be paranoid but I think I'm getting weird sideway looks at work from some people, and I don't know if they're just looking at me thinking that I've gained weight, or if they are on to my secret. Adding to this is the fact that my boss is not exactly "baby friendly" although she has one child of her own. She's made it really clear that she's not having another and expects anyone in her age group (40) to do the same. Because I'm 43, she would never think that I would try to have another child because she's voiced her opinion that people that do this in their forties are "crazy." Not sure if she just told me that to make sure I wouldn't try but I got her message loud and clear. Sorry for the long post but I clearly needed an outlet and would appreciate any suggestions for hiding my "bump" for the next two and a half weeks, and then telling my wonderful boss. Thanks! OctoberMommy24

11-02-2008, 09:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
wintergirl 500-599 post 7 of hearts Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 505	Well this is my first pregnancy and I have the opposite problem because I'm over 6 months and STILL waiting to look really pregnant! But I can tell you that baggy clothes hide it more. No one ever guesses I'm pregnant when I wear my loose T-shirts from Old Navy, where I've noticed that tight clothes show my bump more. Black (and all darker colors) are more slenderizing. I hope you get your good results soon so you can share your happy news! I'm sorry but your boss sounds like kind of a b**ch and had NO right to say things like that!! She cannot control who gets pregnant or when, and if she does you'd have a great lawsuit on your hands. I felt offended just reading her comments!! Maybe it's HER opinion that for herself she didn't want to have a baby in her 40's but for SOME people (like myself) I was unsettled, had wanderlust (lived in Alaska, OR & WA just cuz) and I wasn't even ready to have a child till I was over 35 (not to mention I didn't meet DH till I was 35). I would have been a crappy resentful mom in my 20's, but now I'm ready willing & happy to devote my life to a child like I never was before. Personally I thought girls in their teens and 20's were crazy to tie themselves down with a child! __________________ Cari: 39, Tod 49; Sammy born 1/16/09

11-07-2008, 03:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Vicki41 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 149	I completely understand! I started showing very early too and I only have one bun in the oven! I am 43 and had many m/c and didn't want to tell anyone at work, least of all my boss, about the pregnancy until I had the amnio results back. My advice, fake a "makeover" Change your makeup. (lips and eyes are the easiest with the biggest bang for your buck) If you wear pants to work, start wearing skirts If you wear skirts to work, start wearting pants. Add color if you are brown/black clothes person (and the reverse) Change your shoes... if you wear flats, start wearing heels or vice versa. My favorite dodge was sweaters, vests, long vests, dusters, blazers. Taking my shirts out of my skirts/pants and pairing a nice long sweater with it worked wonders. The current shirt trend are those empire waist shirts... and even the skinniest of women look pregnant in those! You may add a couple of those with a nice skirt to your "new you". My point is.. change your clothing! People will notice if you favorite suit is suddenly pulling at your waist and you can't button you jacket so put them away for now! If you chose wisely you can pick out piece you can use now and after the pregnancy. stretchy skirts and pants are quite nice these days! I purchased several from Athleta and there were a lifesaver for the first 4 months! HAng in there! Congratulation again! -vicki __________________ vicki- 43 DH- 43 DD- 5 DD-born January 2009

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11-03-2008, 05:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
baby#2 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 3,963 Blog Entries: 51	I am 9w1d with twins right now and look about 5 months along. This is my second pg and I was popping at 5 weeks! No real advice on how to hide it though! I tried for a while and did not do a great job as people were already asking me. GL with your boss too! She does sound like a real biatch! She has no right to tell employees what they can and cannot do as far as getting pg!

11-04-2008, 05:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
OctoberMommy24 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 13	Thanks for your replies, Baby#2 and Winter Girl. I've definately been going down the "baggy clothes" route at work and I think my coworkers think I've become really slobby in the past few weeks. But it is getting harder, especially when you have to wear a suit jacket sometimes and the buttons wont even do up in the front. Now I just keep them open and wear a black shirt underneath at all times... Baby #2 - Did you just go ahead and tell everyone when they started asking questions, or did you wait until you were ready to spill the beans?It's always so hard to decide what to do, isn't it? Winter Girl- I wish I had your problem! Not having to worry about showing would be great for me right about now. You're right about my boss....we'll see how she responds when I tell her the news. I'm not holding my breath for a positive response but you never know.

11-05-2008, 05:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
baby#2 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 3,963 Blog Entries: 51	October..No I just told people when they asked. It was all people who I know anyway not total strangers. There is no way I can hide it now at 9W! I am totally not joking when I say I am about as big now as I was at 5 months with my last pg! I am going to be huge huge huge by the time I actually hit 5 or 6 months! All good though and I am certainly not complaining!

11-11-2008, 05:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
OctoberMommy24 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 13	Thanks, Vicki41. I've been doing some of the tricks that you suggested and have also recycled some of my clothes that I had when I was larger - we all have a wardrobe with different sizes of clothes, right? So far it's been okay, though I think some people may have caught on to my secret. Anyway, today I find out my test results from the nuchal ultrasound, so fingers crossed. Thanks for your advice! OctoberMommy24