What to Wear During Pregnancy

As your bump becomes prominent and gets bigger and bigger it’s time to turn your thoughts to your wardrobe. Your pre-pregnancy favourites will fit for a while, then you’ll grow out of them, so you’ll need to stock up on some maternity clothing. Thankfully gone are the days when you’ll find yourself stuck wearing baggy, sack-like, unflattering dresses to hide your bump – maternity wear these days has gone fab and funky! If you’re unsure of what to wear, here are some ideas to get you started.

Tops

There’s a huge range of maternity clothes in the shops, so you’ve got plenty to choose from. It’s hard to predict how big you’ll get, but for the early stages of pregnancy you’ll probably be able to get away with your old favourites – unless they’re ultra skimpy or cropped, which isn’t the greatest pregnancy look. As your bump expands, it’s good to invest in some new clothes. If budget is an issue and you can’t warrant spending money on something you’ll only wear for a short time, check out online auction sites, as you can usually pick up some great bargains.

Simply designed wrap tops are ideal for pregnancy, as they skim your bump and can be adjusted as your size changes. Specially designed maternity wear tops have cleverly designed panels that expand with you, yet don’t compromise the design, and dark colours such as black are flattering if you don’t want to stand out in the crowd.

If your top priority is comfort, you can’t beat baggy t-shirts and cosy jumpers. You may need to invest in bigger sizes, or perhaps borrow your other half’s offcasts. Likewise, long tunic tops, whether light and floaty or thicker and warm, are ideal if you prefer your bump covered.

Dresses And Skirts

With a protruding bump, dresses may seem a complete no-no, but don’t give up on the idea too quickly. Maternity dresses these days are no longer ugly, unflattering sacks – there are plenty of great designs, made to flatter your shape and help you look great during pregnancy.

As in the case of tops, you’ll find many wrap-style dresses, which are flattering on your stomach. Loose floaty dresses that flare out from under the bust are also great, but do make sure you pick a long style, as otherwise the front hemline may be prone to rising higher than the back.

Skirts with elasticated or drawstring waists offer the perfect way of coping with expanding waistline and you choose from maternity wear, or larger sizes in the usual high street shops.

Trousers

For the bottom half, leggings, jogging bottoms and elasticated maternity trousers are perfect for comfortable wear. The maternity versions usually have great built in panels that can be adjusted as you grow. You may hate the look of the huge waistline, but if you’re self-conscious about how you look, it can easily be hidden with a loose tunic top.

But don’t despair – if you’re a jeans lover at heart, you can still get some great jeans designed for pregnant women.

Footwear

It’s a good idea to think about your footwear too. As pregnancy progresses, and particularly in the third trimester, you’re likely to get achey, tired feet and ankles prone to swelling. Because of this you’ll need something comfortable to wear, that won’t be tight around your feet. High heels will be out for many people, but you may find flat ballet-style pumps very comfortable as an alternative.

If you’re suffering from swelling in your ankles, look for sandals or shoes with adjustable straps, so you can release the pressure and tightness around your ankle. Alternatively, for really comfy walking shoes you can get styles with Velcro straps, so you can easily loosen them to suit your needs.

Underwear

Don’t be remiss and forget to think of your underwear! You’ll need bigger sizes here too and should aim to get measured for a maternity bra by about seven months.

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