Although deciding what to wear during pregnancy can be tricky, pregnant women don't have to sacrifice comfort for fashion. Many department stores and designers make stylish maternity clothes for mothers-to-be, and some pregnant women are learning ways to use their pre-pregnancy clothes in new and interesting ways.
Regular Clothing
Although buying a few key staple items of maternity wear may help make women more comfortable, many regular clothing items can work throughout pregnancy as well. Empire or a-line tops often are flattering for pregnant women, and stretchy or oversized tops can be stylish and comfortable. Pregnant women may also wear pants or skirts with elastic waistbands throughout the pregnancy. Instead of having the elastic waistband around the waist, they can just place the waistband below the belly bump. Unbuttoned cardigans or jackets also often can be worn throughout the pregnancy.
Pregnant women who are reluctant to give up their pre-pregnancy jeans have a couple of options of extending their use of them. Belly bands are stretchy bands that pregnant women wear around their unzipped jeans and pants. They provide an extra inch or two of breathing room around the waist and increase the length of time the pre-pregnancy pants will fit. Looping a rubber band through the buttonhole of the jeans and wrapping it around the button can provide an extra inch or two around the waist, and it provides the same effect for free.
Maternity Clothes
Designers create maternity clothing specifically to accommodate a growing baby bump. Although some women may worry about the cost of buying a wardrobe that they'll wear for a short time, investing in a few key pieces may help them feel more comfortable and stylish throughout the pregnancy. Women can mix and match good pair of maternity jeans, black pants, a skirt with plain T-shirts or tanks and create several looks from a few key pieces. Those still concerned about the price should consider borrowing maternity clothes from a friend, hitting up thrift stores or shopping online for bargains.
Sizes
Pregnant women who are buying regular clothing most likely need to look for clothing that's several sizes larger than what they normally wear. However, most maternity clothes work on a pre-pregnancy size basis. Because each woman is shaped differently, try on the clothing and select the items that look the best and feel the most comfortable instead of relying too much on what size is written on the label.
Time Frame
Some women, particularly those who have previously given birth, may find themselves outgrowing their clothes at the end of the first trimester; others may not need to make dramatic changes to wardrobes until the very end of the pregnancy, says Dr. Marjorie Greenfield, contributor to DrSpock.com. Many women, however, usually make the transition to maternity clothes at some point during the second trimester.
Style
Although it never hurts to try new styles, women often find that they're most comfortable when they stick to the colors and styles they wore before they were pregnant.
Considerations
A pregnant woman's metabolic rate increases by approximately 20 percent, according to BabyCenter.com. This often causes pregnant women to feel hotter than others. To avoid overheating, pregnant women should consider layering their clothing. Wearing a thin tank top under a T-shirt with a cardigan or sweatshirt jacket enables pregnant women to peel off or add layers to keep them at the most comfortable temperature. Clothes made of natural fabrics, such as cotton or jersey material, are good options during pregnancy because they're less likely to make pregnant women too hot or uncomfortable. Natural fabrics are also less likely to irritate sensitive pregnancy skin.
