The Baby Bump - to flaunt or not to?

Gold Member Joined: Jan 03 2011 Posts: 1503

Oh, and men don't have to be tznius. We do.

Silver Member Joined: Mar 26 2009 Posts: 947

The shape of a belly button isn't tznius?

Moderator Joined: Jun 05 2011 Posts: 3378

Silver Member Joined: Jun 12 2011 Posts: 707

I am in my early 30's pregnant with my 5th, bli ayin harah.

I am pretty careful when not pregnant not to wear tight clothing, and that doesn't change when I'm pregnant. It's not that I want to wear a "tent", but I do make sure that the tops I wear hang a bit loose around my belly. I am not "hiding" my bump, but I don't wear clothing that "hugs" my body pregnant or not.

My real problem, however, with tight fitting maternity wear is that many if not most of the outfits that "show off" your bump are also fitted above your bump, if you get my drift. Smile

So I am actually more concerned that tighter fitting maternity tops are accentuating other curves besides my baby bump, which I think almost everyone would agree involves issues of tznius. I know this isn't directly the question of this thread, but I think in actuality the two are very linked, and many women who would never wear clothing that is tight fitting around their chest when not pregnant somehow feel that it's fine when they are pregnant, as part of the pregnancy figure.

Gold Member Joined: Jan 03 2011 Posts: 1503

Gold Member Joined: Mar 23 2007 Posts: 1877 Location: NY

My belly button has never popped and this is my 6th pregnancy. Just wanted you to know lest you think I'm being more tsnius than I am. I'm not. It just doesn't pop.
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I'm not the popular Mama Bear. I'm "the other one."

Gold Member Joined: Feb 08 2012 Posts: 1042 Location: USA

you got lucky mamabear!

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Diamond Member Joined: Dec 21 2009 Posts: 3162

Gold Member Joined: Jan 03 2011 Posts: 1503

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 21 2009 Posts: 3162

Gold Member Joined: Mar 23 2007 Posts: 1877 Location: NY

Whether a popped belly button is unattractive is subjective. I would never walk around with unpainted toenails but many women do. I think it looks ugly and unkempt.

There are clearly different styles of frum attire and that usually doesn't change during pregnancy. I don't wear baggy cardigans and calf length aline skirts with tights ever, pregnant or not. And when I wear a fitted (not tight) maternity shirt I am not flaunting anything. I'm happy to be pregnant but I hate my figure when pregnant; I feel lumpy. I'll take my normally flat tummy any day - especially in the middle of the night when I can't get comfortable!

I am 21, on my second pregnancy, BH, and I am soo careful how I dress in pregnancy. I might also have self concious issues, but I hate that tight look- uchh. When I am not pregnant and have my figure, I am also careful not to dress like that. And I am no "frumie" either, just a regular frum girl. I think its important to be tsnius always, I guess women just find it harder when pregnant, bec their clothes dont fit, they feel fat, etc. We just have to do the best we can so we feel good about ourselves I guess.

Diamond Member Joined: Aug 07 2006 Posts: 2556

Re: belly buttons

It isn't a good idea for body parts which we typically keep covered to show through your clothing. I guess that's related to tzniut. I don't really want to know what the details of your body look like. Yes, pregnancy-related body changes are normal and beautiful (in some ways) and all that, but your body is private and not my business. Your rounded figure doesn't bother me; there's no need to disguise the "bump" (I don't think most of us could if we tried), but please don't show me your belly button. And I don't want to see your moles or underwear or cellulite through your clothing either.

This isn't necessarily related to modern stretchy clothing. Pregnant women's navels were sometimes unexpectedly visible through their loose tent-like clothing when I was pregnant in the 1990's. This reminds me of the visible panty-line thread of a few months ago. Some fabrics, even thicker ones, show every little ripple, while others are more forgiving.

To be fair, the belly-button phenomenon can take some women by surprise well after purchasing maternity clothing. At that point it might be inconvenient and irrationally expensive to replace your wardrobe for things you might wear for two months.

Diamond Member Joined: Jan 24 2010 Posts: 3400

There was no way in the world I would have been able to hide my popping belly. People thought I was due when I was only 6 months Laughing

Diamond Member Joined: Mar 17 2008 Posts: 3561