Posts by Jerry Bailey47

ironjackal20 said:It’s honestly driving me crazy having to wear headbands and hats all the time for the last two months. I have such bad gray regrowth, and since I really want to look put-together during my pregnancy, I’m constantly stuck using these little hair fixes.
I just don't have the guts to dye it until I'm through this first trimester.....

Wait, why? Is that actually an issue?😕 I had no idea—I've been coloring mine the whole time. I get highlights done every two months without fail. My stylist did mention I should probably hold off while breastfeeding, so I guess I'll be reaching for the headbands then, too. 😉

Jerry Bailey47 said:And here comes the skydiver—if you can even call me that.🙂 Could you tell me where you go for prenatal Pilates? Somewhere in New York City? I was hunting for recommendations on the pregnancy subforum yesterday—specifically in the "Volume" section—but I came up empty-handed.😢
Honestly, it drives me crazy when people start acting like they're suddenly incapacitated just because they're pregnant—as if being expecting makes you completely helpless.

Listen, I’m writing to you from San Francisco—and honestly, options around here are pretty slim too. As far as I know, there's only one fitness center in the whole city that actually carries it. Sorry I can't be more helpful.🤷

As for utilizing maternity benefits—thank God I’m doing alright now—though I was forced into bed rest for the first three months—having accidentally discovered my pregnancy only because my first two periods felt like they didn't even happen—but yes, I am making sure to use every bit of that leave. 🙂 I don't typically ride the bus—not my style—but whenever I do, I make sure to wait my turn like everyone else. Besides, I was more than happy to step aside for the other pregnant women in line. 😳 And if anyone dares to push my buttons—well, let’s just say I don't exactly play nice.

Joseph Richardson2 said:Yeah, I'm inclined to agree with you there.
That said, I'm actually a big fan of that Whole Foods lotion for expectant moms. It isn't overpriced considering how much packaging they use, it rubs in super fast without being greasy, and since I've always been one of those people who obsessively moisturizes right after a shower, it’s become a little ritual I actually enjoy.
The only thing is... god, this itching! It's been driving me absolutely insane for a few days now, just constant, maddening itching.🙂.

And I swear, my stomach has basically doubled in size over the last two or three days. Maybe my skin is just reacting to the stretch? Until recently, you could barely even tell I was pregnant, but now? My belly walks into the room, introduces itself to everyone, and then—finally—I show up.😁

Yesterday, for the first time ever, I actually got stuck trying to zip up my boots. Like Walker mentioned earlier, I have zero clue how I'm supposed to manage cutting my toenails for the next three months.🤣

Mine seemed to explode in a mere ten days. I suppose this is just how it goes—up until week 19, everything was slow and subtle, and then suddenly—boom!😁

Tyler Ramos said:^^ Even though I was being incredibly careful with moisturizer, stretch marks still tore right through my stomach during my first pregnancy 🙂
Honestly, even now, I’m slathering on lotion like there's no tomorrow, yet the itching is still driving me absolutely insane! 🙂

I suspect you can't really control it much—it's largely down to genetics.🤷 My mom never used a single product and doesn't have one single stretch mark—not even after being quite thin before she was pregnant. As for me? I moisturize, but let's be real... I'm incredibly lazy.🙄😁

Tyler Ramos said:^^ Well, I suppose it really depends on what your starting weight was to begin with. 😉
When I see someone mention gaining two pounds, my first thought is that they probably started their pregnancy at a slightly higher baseline, so it wouldn't even be healthy if they gained much more than that.

Honestly, I’m just feeling pretty lucky with my partner lately; during my first pregnancy, he used to give me a hard time about every little pound I put on.
But this guy? He’s different. He doesn't nag me about every ounce; instead, he actually looks at my BMI and understands that women don't just blindly follow some arbitrary rule about gaining "up to 20 pounds" during pregnancy.
That’s honestly the best part—when people who have never been pregnant, have no intention of being pregnant, and have maybe seen two pregnant women in their entire lives, suddenly decide they're experts on exactly how much weight a woman *should* be putting on. 🙄

In all honesty, it’s getting harder to deal with anyone who isn't currently pregnant and doesn't share my exact mood right now. 😬

You're right—that's exactly what my doctor told me. I started out quite lean, and honestly, I probably would have gained 3 or 4 pounds anyway if I had just stopped working and dealing with constant stress. I have friends who gained 45 pounds and were perfectly fine, returning to their original weight within a year... meanwhile, a colleague of mine is due any day now and has only gained about 13 pounds total, but keep in mind, she was always a bit curvy.

Peter Adams58 said:Honestly, those unsolicited "helpful" tips from women really get under my skin. Like, "Oh, you should have done this earlier," or whatever. I don't care what anyone else did—this is my pregnancy, and I'll do things my way if I want to. 🙂 🙂 😠
Everything is just testing my patience lately, from not being able to even trim my own toenails to feeling totally clumsy. It’s driving me crazy, but I guess there are only about four months left to go. 🤣 🤣 🤣

🤣🤣🤣

It drives me crazy when people post things like, "Oh, I only gained 5 pounds..." 😂 Just don't tell them—it's clearly all just my hormones talking. 😁

I wouldn't know anything about that—but you’ll definitely find bras at Lids. Honestly, I have a large bust too, and they've actually gotten even bigger since I got pregnant, so... yeah, I always find something there. You can also hit up C&A for larger sizes; I'm not sure how the quality holds up, but they're pretty budget-friendly! 😉

Kimberly Perez3 said:Between this year and last, I’ve been to 14 weddings. Ten of those were close family stuff where it’s always the same group of people, so obviously, I needed different outfits—and yeah, I got them all from ASOS.

My cousins and friends have asked me a million times where I got my dresses, and on average, I’ve paid about $20 per piece. Just to be clear, I’m far from skinny—I’m not an XXL or anything—but things don't just "fit perfectly" on me, and the hunt is a marathon. Around here, I know my size, I don't hesitate, and I just buy. Even if I do have to get something altered (like that maternity dress I bought once—it was gorgeous and only $20, but it was huge in the stomach), the tailoring ends up costing me $6.75 more, and honestly, you wouldn't find a dress like that for that price in any Zara or any local boutique around here (a formal dress under $67 is basically a myth!).

So, there's no way we can compare our prices to online shopping, especially when you factor in the customs fees and shipping they tack on.

Let's get real here—just because something has a higher price tag doesn't mean it isn't cheap junk. I've wasted so much damn money on jeans from Esprit and S.Oliver only to have them stretch out two sizes between breakfast and lunch. Now, I just pick up stuff at Target for $50 and they don't lose their shape no matter how many times I throw them in the wash. It's not a universal rule, but hey...

I’m right there with you. Personally, I grab my jeans from Tally Weijl because they actually fit me right—low expectations, sure, but they last longer than anything else I've owned (and I've tried Levi's, Guess, Mustang, and LTB). I throw them in the machine, and they don't fall apart. They run about $67. 😳

lonedrifter15 said:Jerry Bailey47, if you're really passing up a $200 dress because of the price tag, then yeah—I totally get why online shopping feels like such a massive headache for you 😉 Honestly, I would have loved 😁

ASOS actually has a crazy amount of different cuts and fabrics—like, seriously, there’s something for everyone if you bother to look.

In the last two years alone, I've picked up about 15 dresses, and not a single one has had crappy stitching, even though the materials vary all over the place—cotton, viscose, polyester, or those silk blends—and I got them all for a steal. $50 (Two of them actually went for a full $13 🙂
And honestly? It's such a rush when I get a compliment on a dress, especially when people act shocked once they hear how little I actually spent on it. 😁

Anyway, that's my two cents—hopefully, you guys will eventually just bite the bullet, try shopping online, and be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is. 😉

You completely missed my point. Believe me, I would love nothing more than to shop online constantly, but unfortunately, I just can't. 🙂 What I meant was that the dresses I actually like on ASOS—the ones that would actually look good on me—tend to run in the $100-$200 range (which is basically what I ended up spending on the one I finally bought). Look, weight isn't the issue for me, but I'm busty, and finding off-the-rack pieces that fit properly without trying them on first is an absolute nightmare. It’s even tougher if you’re plus-sized. I was trying to say that you have to account for way more variables than someone with an "average" build; you have to obsess over the cut, the fabric, and—for instance—making sure my bra straps don't show. Since I can't wear a strapless bra to save my life, I’m stuck with spaghetti straps or one-shoulder styles, which narrows my options significantly. And once the selection shrinks, you lose all control over the price point. Last year, I struggled so much looking for this one specific dress—hunting for two whole months both online and in stores—that I seriously considered skipping meals for a month just to afford something that actually fits and makes me feel comfortable. You have to understand that when you carry extra weight, the cut and how the fabric drapes (or holds you in the right places) is everything. That is incredibly hard to judge online, let alone on a budget. And what’s the point of spending $20 if the dress doesn't even fit? Then you're stuck dealing with returns—and *that* is the real hassle. 😉

You mentioned things being cheaper—and sure, they are—but at what cost? I get that you can stumble upon a steal during a massive blowout sale on ASOS, but let’s be real: most of those budget finds are cheaply stitched or made from bottom-tier materials. This past summer, I was hunting for a wedding guest dress—literally just two months before the big day—and anything that actually looked decent and used decent fabric (say, viscose, instead of polyester or acrylic or some other absolute garbage) came with a price tag ($130–$250). If it was on sale, my size was nowhere to be found. In the end, I went to a reputable boutique and picked up a 100% silk dress for about $200 after trying it on first; I knew exactly what I was getting. Especially when you're carrying a few extra pounds—it's even harder because you don't fit into standard "off-the-rack" sizing—the material and the drape are everything. You can't know that until you try it on, and there's a huge chance you'll end up needing alterations, which brings us back to the same old question of how it will actually turn out (or if it even 🙄). I'm speaking from experience here, since I know exactly what it's like to deal with extra weight and an awkward build. My take? Online shopping isn't for everyone. And don't even get me started on the customs, shipping fees, sales tax, and the sheer stress that comes with it all... 😉

Amy Jones4 said:It's at that big department store—the one in downtown Chicago, first floor, just to the right of the escalators. They carry them in black and red... I think they might still have a few sizes left, though who knows these days. The price was around $100, but they’re likely marked down by now.

If you aren't local to the area, we could always coordinate—I wouldn't mind picking them up for you if your size is actually in stock.

Best,

Thanks! I'm actually based here in Seattle—that's why I asked—but I'll go check it out! 😉

VestaWhere did those shoes from the first studio shot come from? The black and silver ones? Thanks. 🙂