The Lack of Maternity Fashion for Plus Size Pregnant Women

Is there some reason why fashion designers don't think that big women can get pregnant? We are not too big to engage in such activities as making babies. Plenty of us have managed to make the necessary connections. Still, when I have gone shopping for maternity clothing, I have come away from the experience with a newfound lack of self-respect and confidence. Are they serious when they put a 2X on the rack and call it maternity? What about those of us who are a 3X on a normal day? Do we really not deserve fashionable clothing simply because we aren't invited to the runway?

In fear of having to wear sweatpants and baggy t-shirts for nine months, I decided that I would try to find something along the lines of a peasant blouse. There had to be a style of clothing that allowed some leeway for my growing belly. Scratch that, evidently there did not actually have to be anything of the kind. I got lucky and found two shirts that I alternated whenever I had to leave the house. Otherwise, I wore the largest size of t-shirt I could find. It wasn't pretty, but at least it was something.

Though my initial complaint lies in the lack of plus size maternity wear available, I should note that my sister, who is a mere 120 pounds on a given day, also had difficulty finding clothing that fit. She gained quite a bit of weight during pregnancy and had to resort to wearing the same big, black skirt in varying combinations throughout her pregnancy. She was able to find larger clothing at thrift stores and so forth, but it wasn't actually in her style.

While the stars can get away with wearing things that may not fit well, we average Jane's don't have the luxury of starting a trend by letting our bulging bellies hang out. Well...maybe we do start a trend, but it doesn't garner the same positive feedback as say, Demi Moore's exposure of maternal flesh. In my town, I think it is greeted with varying levels of disgust and outrage since many of us do not even remotely resemble Heidi Klum.

I guess my point is this, it is normal to get bigger when you get pregnant. So why isn't it perceived as normal for plus size maternity clothing to reflect this increase in girth? I can think of no more appropriate time for clothing to fit well and be comfortable than when a woman is experiencing so much discomfort with the changes pregnancy brings.