Maternity Wear Basics: Looking Great And Feeling Comfortable

You’ve spent years wearing clothes that highlight your best features while minimizing the effects of others. You feel comfortable and confident, whether you’re dressing for the office or for a night out with friends. When you become pregnant, however, everything changes. Your body will begin expanding in earnest once you reach your second trimester. Your favorite clothing will slowly begin to feel tight and restrictive against your skin.

A lot of moms-to-be dread having to set aside their preferred clothes, and replace them with maternity wear. But pregnancy clothing has come a long way. Tent dresses have given way to stylish maternity jeans, cute stretchy tops, and office wear that accommodates a pregnant woman’s growing body. This article will provide a few tips for making the transition to maternity clothes that help you look great and feel comfortable.

A Little Help From Your Friends

Shopping for a new pregnancy wardrobe is fun, and less expensive than many moms-to-be realize. Today’s designers have stocked stores full of affordable, chic, and playful tops and bottoms that give you a chance to express your personality while staying comfortable. The downside is that you’ll outgrow many of them within two or three months.

Ask your friends who have had babies whether you can borrow a few of their old maternity clothes. Unless they’re planning to have another child in the near future, they’re unlikely to need them. This is a good way to conserve your budget, so you’ll have the funds to purchase a few special outfits down the road.

Raiding Your Partner’s Closet

Every pregnant woman’s closet should have at least two or three white button-down shirts. They offer a clean, classic appearance, and can be worn untucked with the sleeves rolled up. Your first option is to buy them. An alternative is to raid your partner’s closet, and claim a few of his shirts as your own.

From Normal Clothes To Maternity Wear: A Smooth Transition

There will be a short period – usually between the first and second trimesters – where your old clothes fit tightly, but pregnancy wear may be unnecessary. During this in-between stage, you’ll need a few tops and bottoms to help you make the transition. Buy a few items that are a size above your normal size. You’ll quickly outgrow them, but you’ll be able to wear them again during the weeks following childbirth.

Think In Layers

Avoid the temptation of buying a closet full of tops made from heavy material. Buy lighter tops that can be layered. While you’re pregnant, you’ll find your body heats up quickly – more quickly than others around you. This means you’ll often feel hot when friends and family feel fine. Lighter tops give you the flexibility of wearing multiple layers when you’re cold, and stripping a few off when your body temperature rises.

During the winter, a stretchy top worn under a button-down oxford and cardigan will help keep the chills at bay. When warmer months arrive, leave the cardigan in your closet.

Don’t Neglect Your Feet

Many moms-to-be are surprised when their feet start to swell. This is due to a couple of factors. First, your body retains more fluid when you’re pregnant; some of it ends up in your extremities. Second, a peptide hormone called relaxin is produced during pregnancy. This hormone has a relaxing effect on your pelvis and joints. This contributes to the swelling.

It’s important to buy shoes that fit your feet comfortably. The problem is, a lot of pregnant women neglect to move up a shoe size because they’re uncertain whether their feet are truly growing. Swelling is common during pregnancy. If your feet swell, buy a bigger pair in order to accommodate them.

Stocking your closet with maternity wear can be an enjoyable – and affordable – experience. The suggestions above will help you save money while buying clothes that offer comfort and a great look.

Maternity Months