What to Wear When You’re Pregnant
What to Wear When You’re Pregnant
If you’ve found out, you’re pregnant, congratulations. Even if you’ve been planning to have a baby, it can be daunting and unexpected to find out you’re pregnant. All women go through so many different emotions when they’re expecting a baby. You might feel scared, anxious, excited or overwhelmed; each of these emotions is completely normal. Once your baby starts to grow, you might find you no longer fit in your current clothing. This can be a wonderful experience for some women; others feel uncomfortable in their changing bodies and aren’t sure how to adapt and change their wardrobe to suit. We have a few tips about what to wear at each stage of your pregnancy.
First trimester
Some people want to wait to announce their pregnancy, whereas others choose to tell friends and family straight away. If you choose to wait until you’ve had your first scan, you will need to continue to dress as you usually would to avoid sparking any suspicion from your family or co-workers. Try to avoid anything too tight or clingy, you might not have a visible bump yet, but the first trimester can come with bloating, feeling sick and tired. Relaxed, comfortable clothing and items that don’t cling too much are good options.
Second trimester
Your second trimester starts when you’re around 14 weeks pregnant. At this point, your bump will start to show as your baby grows. You might find some of your current clothing no longer fits, and you need some alternatives to accommodate your growing baby. A belly band is a great investment that you can use throughout the second and third trimesters. Belly bands allow you to continue to wear your current trousers with the zip or buttons undone. The belly band covers everything so no one can tell you your trousers are undone. Belly bands can also provide support and help ease back pain, although the support offered is only considered light support. The main reason to get a belly band is you can keep wearing your clothes for much longer. You might also want to buy some maternity clothing at this point that you can wear throughout your second and third trimesters.
Third trimester
At this point, your bump will be much bigger, and you will want to start wearing all the nice maternity clothing you purchased. There are many options for maternity clothes in Australia. To make the most of a tight budget, you should choose a few staple items that can be mixed and matched to create several different looks. A pair of maternity leggings are essential during the third trimester; they’re comfortable, easy to wear and flexible. They can offer light compression around the hips and legs and also some support under the belly. This takes some of the pressure off your hips and pelvis. Look for leggings that can be worn over and under the bump; these will fold down to provide extra support if you want to wear them under your bump or stretch over your bump if this feels more comfortable. In addition to maternity leggings, a couple of nice maternity tops, a few maternity dresses and some high-quality maternity underwear should see you through your third trimester. One tip is to choose items you can continue to wear after you’ve given birth. If you plan on breastfeeding your baby, opt for easy-access clothing to make it easier to breastfeed at home and when you’re out in public.
At this point, you might also want to think about what you’re going to wear during the birth; many women choose to wear a birthing gown that covers their body but opens at the front to allow skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding once their baby is born. Having a delivery or labour gown ready can help you feel more prepared for the birth of your new baby; they can also be used afterwards to sleep in at night and provide easy access for night feeds. Once you’ve given birth, you might also need extra support; get prepared and buy some postpartum support leggings and pants to help in the recovery stages after giving birth. The main things to remember when choosing clothes during pregnancy and postpartum is comfort and support.