For most women the thought of losing their figure during pregnancy is bad enough, yet the thought of wearing boring or uninspiring maternity clothes are much worse. Perhaps it is because we are not fully comfortable about our new shape; many women lose their confidence during pregnancy and feel that they are unattractive.
It is a genuine problem, yet at the same time it is completely irrational. Having a baby is a wonderful experience, our change in shape and size is simply a result of us being pregnant. It happens to all women, so why we have a belief that just because we are pregnant we are not attractive, is a complete mystery.
Needless to say, there is a great selection of maternity clothes available for the modern pregnant woman. These include the more traditional long and wavy dresses or indeed the more modern clothes that have been tailored to suit our changes in body shape. The point is, we should embrace our pregnancy and changing weight and shape, maternity clothes are a way of doing that.
There are a number of points to consider when buying maternity clothes, and although high fashion might be one of them initially, these thoughts will quickly change to comfort and practicality, trust us! We've provided more tips below on choosing the right maternity clothes.
Practical is better than fashionable - Comfort is the order of the day. Don't worry, looking good and wearing maternity clothes is possible. Also consider that it may take a little time for your body shape to return to what it was pre-pregnancy, so you may still wear your maternity clothes for a short while after the baby arrives.
Cotton is best - Being pregnant can be hard enough at times, so it is best to wear cotton maternity clothes as this will reduce itchiness and allow your body to breathe. Many women complain that during pregnancy they experience rashes or other reactions to man-made fabrics.
Support a growing body - Buy your maternity clothes for the future. Your body will continue to grow right up to the very last moment, make sure that you have plenty of room to grow into. If you prefer trousers, try to make sure that they have sufficient room to expand across the waistband.
Remember that you're growing - It's not just across the belly that you will grow, so you may need to consider more than just maternity clothes. Your breasts are likely to grow in size as they prepare for breast feeding, so our advice is to consider a maternity brassieres for additional support and comfort.
In summary, you should consider maternity clothes as just another part of being pregnant. If you have high fashion standards, it is definitely possible to find appropriate wares, however we're sure that you will replace your need to be fashionable with a greater desire to be comfortable. We hope that you found this page useful, embrace your pregnancy, and make maternity clothes a secondary element to this. Your health and that of your baby should be the most important thing to you.
When should I start wearing maternity clothes?
Each pregnancy is different and every woman is unique. Normally, women start to wear maternity clothes when their pregnant bodies experience a significant change making their old clothes uncomfortable. There are women who change into maternity clothes right after the first trimester, while some women can go with their pre-pregnant wardrobes for months.
Body changes that are recognized by the expectant mother during the first three months are not likely to be recognized by people around her. At around the 2nd month of pregnancy, there is slight roundedness around the abdomen but it is not significant enough for people to take notice. But by the end of the 3rd month, the pregnant woman’s belly starts to protrude and become more evident.
The real physical body changes appear between the 14th and the 15th week of pregnancy when the uterus is moving up fast and ends approximately 3 inches below the bellybutton. By the 4th month, the woman’s waist disappears and her abdomen becomes bigger and rounder. Most women wait until the 4th month before wearing maternity dresses.
Maternity Clothes Alternatives
Are you pregnant but not looking to wearing maternity dresses? You don’t have to wear them if you don’t want to because you can wear regular clothing that is larger in size. You can even wear your favorite street clothes but choose appropriate styles for your pregnant body.
Knit shorts, stirrups and stretch pants are good choices as well because they can be quite comfortable and look nice. Jogging pants that have a drawstring waistband is perfect for day-to-day wear. On special occasions that you need to dress up, you can try wearing loose-style pants that also have a drawstring waistband. You can make your own by using jogging pants that are one or 2 sizes larger as pattern and opt for a more elegant choice of fabric.