Some women dread them; other women joyfully anticipate donning them. Regardless of your attitude about pregnancy clothes, you’ll need to wear them sooner or later during gestation. Knowing important facts about clothes and pregnancy can help you dress fashionably and comfortably during pregnancy without breaking your household budget.
Time Frame
During the first trimester, most women can typically wear their regular non-pregnancy clothing. As the second trimester begins, many women might begin to experience discomfort because of an increasing belly size, with most women opting to start wearing maternity clothes during the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy. Many women also adapt their regular clothes at this point so they can wear them a bit longer. Nancy Hall, author of the book “Balancing Pregnancy and Work,” suggests that you wear loose-fitting tops and loop a rubber band through the button hole in your pants to allow them to last a bit longer by accommodating the growing belly.
Features
Although you might want to go out and purchase all your pregnancy clothes at one time, hold off. Kimberly Danger, author of “1000 Best Baby Bargains,” says your best option is to acquire basic, simple pregnancy clothes first, such as jeans, khakis and shirts. Slowly expand your selection of pregnancy clothes as your body continues to change and your unborn baby increases in size. Many pregnancy pants and skirts contain a stretchy band that completely covers and supports your abdomen; others have a low rise that allows them to remain below your baby belly. Try on the various styles ahead of time so you can determine which one works best for your body.
Size
Wearing appropriately sized clothing during pregnancy helps ensure that you look and feel your best, even when you’re nine months pregnant. In general, your pregnancy clothing should be the same size as your non-pregnancy clothes. For example, a woman who wears size 10 pre-pregnancy jeans should look for size 10 pregnancy jeans. If you’re interested in getting a bit more wear from non-pregnancy clothes, Danger says you should look for non-pregnancy clothing that is one size larger than your regular non-pregnancy attire.
Cost
Keeping costs down during pregnancy is key for many women to stay within a reasonable clothing budget, which allows them to save money for important big-ticket baby items, such as a crib, car seat and stroller. Maureen Bard, co-author of “Getting Organized for Your New Baby,” suggests checking with family and friends to see if they have any maternity clothes. Other low-cost options for clothes include shopping at second-hand or thrift stores, as well as garage sales, where you can often find name-brand maternity clothes at a fraction of their original cost.
Considerations
For most women, mid-pregnancy clothes will provide the bulk of their wardrobe during the first two to three months after delivery, so keep that in mind when you go shopping. Avoid very stretchy or tight-fitting pregnancy tops during mid-pregnancy; although they show off your baby bump beautifully, you most likely won’t be as pleased when they highlight postpartum bulges. If you’re planning to breastfeed your baby, look for loose-fitting or button-up tops that you can discreetly open if you need to feed your infant in public.
References
- “Balancing Pregnancy and Work”; Nancy Hall; 2004
- “1000 Best Baby Bargains”; Kimberly Danger; 2005
- “Getting Organized for Your New Baby”; Christine Zuchora-Walske & Maureen Bard; 2004
