First Time Endowment Question- 8 Months Pregnant

[EdenGreen]

I am a new adult member, baptized just under a year ago. I have been numerous times to the Baptistry to perform proxy work. As my year mark approaches, I have been preparing to receive my Endowment. I will be ~8 months pregnant that first time. I believe I have found a white temple dress that will work during and after Baby, but the Garments and Ceremonial clothing- I'm drawing a blank. I do not feel 100% comfortable walking up to any women in my ward (or the male Temple Prep teacher!) to ask about these things, so hopefully this forum can help out.

Can anyone help me with advice on pregnant belly and the fit of Garments and Ceremonial Clothing? My hope was to purchase the ceremonial clothing rather than rent it. I have been told there are ties or a hook type thing, but perhaps an endowed Sister can help me with feedback on what works best during (and after!) pregnancy. As far as Garments, I was hoping feedback could help me figure out what to order, since I cannot try on anything beforehand. To help with the advice, my height is 5'6 and I am normally 130lbs. This is my 2nd baby, and I was BIG with the 1st one. my belly got lots of comments....  :-I   

Thanks for the help!

[Jane_Doe]

Congrats on your baptism, upcoming baby, and upcoming endowment!  It's all very exciting!  Oh- and of course welcome to the forums too.

They actually make maternity garments just for that purpose and well as nursing garments.  Here's how you go about getting garments (pregnant or not):

--- On the day you take out your endowment, you arrive before your session go to the distribution center attached to the temple.  Say "Hi I'm here for my endowment".  Then this nice lady helps you pick out some garments: try some on for sizing, how they fit, what cloth types you like etc.   She'll take your measurements and answer any questions-- she's been doing this a long time and has heard pretty much any question you can think of.    Still, tastes are personal, so typically you'll get a couple types to try them out.  Once you've made up your mind, feel free to buy them. 

--- If you want to buy right away, the same lady helps you try on dresses, pick things out etc.  Buy and done.  

--- If at any point you would like to order more garments or ceremonial clothing, you can in person (at the temple or a distribution center) or order them online.

--- If you're nervous about things, you're of course welcome to call the distribution center ANY time and the lady will answer any questions.  (Well... any time they're open). 

 

Also: when you go for your endowments the first time, you'll have an escort to come with you through the entire process and answer any questions.  This escort can be any endowed women you want.  The temple will also have one of their sisters come escort you as well, and you'll get a one-on-one meeting with the Temple Matron to ask ANY questions you'd like.  (The Temple Matron is women in charge of the temple along with her husband, the Temple President).  Overall... honestly I felt super pampered the entire time.  

 

 

 

[EdenGreen]

I wish it was that easy! The temple I go to does not have any distribution center. The nearest distribution center to where I am is 4 hours away, so not practical for me to go there just beforehand. All I have been told is that I will need to order everything via mail ahead of time.

From what I have been told, I am not allowed to try on Garments prior to the day of- like they are supposed to stay in their plastic package. (kinda freaking me out as far as fit!) I have no idea what fabrics will look, feel, or fit like until that time... hence my hopes of getting a little steering as far as things like that.

Any advice on what kind of closure (tie or hook) for the ceremonial clothing? Is one more likely to be easier for a big belly? or too small for a belly?

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

Edited March 6, 2017 by EdenGreen
adding a thought

[anatess2]

I went through my endowment 3 weeks before I delivered the baby, so I got some experience on this.  My mother-in-law sewed my temple dress from scratch and I rented the ceremonial clothing at the temple.  I bought 2 pairs of maternity garments from the distribution center before I went into the temple so I know exactly what size I need.

As I only had 4 weeks to my due date (the baby came a week early), I decided to only purchase 2 garments so I  hand washed the garments everyday and hang them to dry in my bathroom.  I got the silk ones so they were dry by the time I shower the next day and put on new garments.  After the baby was born, I went back to the distribution center to get nursing tops.  That didn't work out too well.  The nursing tops just didn't fit well to my shape.  So, I went back and got more of the maternity tops instead so that the top is loose around the belly, so instead of pulling down the "bra" part of the garment top, I simply lifted the garment tops from the bottom up with my sports-type bra and put it over the baby's mouth for some privacy.

Hope this helps.

[Maureen]

4 hours ago, EdenGreen said:

...I do not feel 100% comfortable walking up to any women in my ward (or the male Temple Prep teacher!) to ask about these things, so hopefully this forum can help out....

Welcome EdenGreen, can you ask your RS president for help? Let her know your concerns and if she can't answer your questions maybe she can send you to someone who's been in your situation.

M.

[Jane_Doe]

3 hours ago, EdenGreen said:

I wish it was that easy! The temple I go to does not have any distribution center. The nearest distribution center to where I am is 4 hours away, so not practical for me to go there just beforehand. All I have been told is that I will need to order everything via mail ahead of time.

From what I have been told, I am not allowed to try on Garments prior to the day of- like they are supposed to stay in their plastic package. (kinda freaking me out as far as fit!) I have no idea what fabrics will look, feel, or fit like until that time... hence my hopes of getting a little steering as far as things like that.

Any advice on what kind of closure (tie or hook) for the ceremonial clothing? Is one more likely to be easier for a big belly? or too small for a belly?

Thanks!

That is a pickle!

You order them online from store.lds.org .  Do you have an account there?  If not, you can make one from your LDS.org account.  If you don't have an LDS.org account, contact your ward clerk for your membership number.   Once you're logged on there's a page to help you take measurements and the corresponding sizes.   There's also lots of options for which ones you want to purchase.  If you need help finding the page, that's not a bad question for your Temple Prep instructor or a visiting teacher or your future escort. 

I'd recommend getting one of several types to try things out.  Calling your local distribution center is also quite helpful (the ladies know their stuff!).  

I also wouldn't worry too much about ceremonial clothes specifically for pregnancy (after all, you're nearly due).  I would more go general so you can use the same ones post-baby.  

 

[my two cents]

6 hours ago, Jane_Doe said:

The temple will also have one of their sisters come escort you as well, and you'll get a one-on-one meeting with the Temple Matron to ask ANY questions you'd like.  

Wow - that wasn't the case for me at all so it probably depends on the temple.

[Jane_Doe]

1 hour ago, my two cents said:

Wow - that wasn't the case for me at all so it probably depends on the temple.

Interesting.  Mind if I asked where you got endowed?  I was in Denver just last summer.

[Guest]

I worked as a service missionary for the distribution center, so I can tell you what was most popular ( at least from what I observed). The hook was most popular for ceremonial clothing. Although I like the tie better. The sheer fabric is the most popular for women, but the illusion is also a nice material. I have never been pregant and I never measured anyone who was pregnant while I worked there so I don't know what to suggest on that matter but I would personally suggest you rent for your first time. That way you can get the correct measurements after the baby come. It also will give you an opportunity to see what the different materials look like and which one you would prefer. I think the temple rents the ties but I'm not certain. 

Everyone is so different with garments it's hard to know how advice. But cotton-poly material was the most popular matierial, followed by DriSilque. Drisilque is a silky nylon matierial. Carinessa was just introduced when I worked there and seemed to be popular for the younger crowd. They didn't make them in tops then, but I see that they do now. They fight closer to your body. They do have maternity tops but only on cotton-poly and Drisilque. Garments are a trial and error, it really depends on what you feel comfortable. I have help a couple of people get what they need for the first time and always suggest cotton-poly to begin with. Afterwards you can try the other materials and see which one you like through trial and error. 

They have changed the measuring since I worked there so I don't know how they measure but call them and there where tell you where and how to measure to get the best fitting garment. But even with measuring sometimes you don't get the right fit. Or sometimes you might like them looser or tighter the  measured. I know my first tops where a little to big. As you go along you will find what works and what is most comfortable for you.

There are a lot of choices and can seem overwhelming especially if you can't go to the store to talk to someone. I hope.my advice has helped alittle.

Edited March 7, 2017 by miav

[my two cents]

10 hours ago, Jane_Doe said:

Interesting.  Mind if I asked where you got endowed?  I was in Denver just last summer.

Salt Lake

[EdenGreen]

Thank you, Anatess2- you brought up some good points to consider.

Thank You, Miav. Your post was very helpful.

Thanks to everyone who weighed in on the ceremonial robes- sounds like it may be best to rent and get something after Baby's arrival.

It is interesting to hear how different the local culture can be within the church. Some of the resources that have been mentioned I should utilize are simply not an option where I am. Another factor is each individual's comfort level with asking questions of their local ward leadership or membership.

 

Edited March 9, 2017 by EdenGreen
of topic wandering

[anatess2]

13 minutes ago, EdenGreen said:

Thank you, Anatess2- you brought up some good points to consider.

Thank You, Miav. Your post was very helpful.

Thanks to everyone who weighed in on the ceremonial robes- sounds like it may be best to rent and get something after Baby's arrival.

It is interesting to hear how different the local culture can be within the church. Some of the resources that have been mentioned I should utilize are simply not an option where I am. Another factor is each individual's comfort level with asking questions of their local ward leadership or membership. It may sound shocking, but in my year of membership, I have had three visits from my VTs. I am looking into having no escort, or at least having a total stranger from among the Temple Workers there that day. in my circumstances, that feels least stressful.

 

When I went through my temple prep class, the teachers were this 2 elderly couple (used to be our Stake President long time ago).  I asked all my women-questions from the elderly lady who was a hoot!  She gave me practical advice on everything (my questions were inexhaustible) including how husbands think garments are sexy.  Hah hah.  I was big-pregnant so I was not at all thinking about being sexy.  At all.  LOL.  I loved my temple prep class.

[Bad Karma]

Experiences from Mrs. Karma. 

Get a few different styles in the size your wearing now for maternity purposes, you'll fit those for a small amount of time after you have your baby.

An easy way to go about this (As previously recommended) is choose your favorite sister in RS to sit down with you when you go on to the church's website to order. When you do, you'll create an account with your member record number (and baptism date irrc), their system is already updated that you have a recommend, you brows the styles, get input from your RS sister, use the sizing chart, you're good to go. 

Over a period of time, you'll find what you really like, with that confidence, you'll eventually order 7 tops and 7 bottoms as needed. Your non church women's unmentionables can be comfortably worn under your garments. After that, it's all a cake walk.  Don't give the garment process anymore concern, it's only natural to be confused about the unknown, but you'll have this figured out in a snap. 

Hey, wait until you get sealed! It just gets better from here on out! 

 

[EdenGreen]

Anatess2- what a riot!

 

Bad Karma- thank Mrs Karma for her input!