After the recent birth of my son, my brain is still well and truly in baby mode. It's amazing to think that this tiny human becomes the centre of your universe in an instant. Luckily he's such a massive cutie so I totally don't mind! I figured I'd role with this train of thought to create a maternity themed post for anyone who is currently pregnant or plans to become pregnant sometime in the future.
Dressing when pregnant is hard. And when I say hard, I mean really bloody hard. It's such an exciting and unbelievable time when your body completely changes while this little life is growing inside you. Until you are pregnant, it's impossible to imagine how much your body will change and the daily challenges you may face. Your newfound girth means that it's impossible to look at your toes (no pretty pedicures for me!); you all of a sudden bump into benches and door frames all. the. time; and you may stare aimlessly at your wardrobe each day with the devastating realisation that you literally have nothing to wear! The latter was certainly my situation in the final few weeks when my body had expanded to it's maximum and I was literally ready to pop.
I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of the whole 'maternity fashion' trend. I'm not even entirely sure of why I steer clear of it to be completely honest. I think I'm mildly skeptical of a lot of the maternity clothes because it does seem like the price is increased because of the word 'maternity' on the care label. I think it's important for expectant mums to know that you don't necessarily have to purchase something from the 'maternity' section of the stores or online boutiques. There are lots of suitable styles that will work with your prego bod, you just have to know what to look for.
I purchased very few new clothes throughout my pregnancy because I was adamant that I would make do with what I had as much as I could. I figured that spending a stupid amount of money on new clothes that would only fit for a 9 month period wasn't the smartest way to shop. It did work in my favour that I'm a big fan of layering clothes and mostly prefer looser fitting garments (with the exception of jeans, which caused me the most grief throughout my Winter pregnancy!). If tight fitting tops and dresses is more your style, then it's safe to say you may need to purchase a fair few more pieces then I did.
So what are my top 5 pregnancy purchases to add to your wardrobe?
1. MATERNITY BRA
This is a bit of a no-brainer as everybody has heard of maternity bras. For the ladies who wear underwire bras normally, it's especially important for you to consider switching to a great maternity bra (or two) earlier in the pregnancy. The underwire in normal bras sits directly on the milk ducts and can cause problems with milk supply or perhaps even lead to painful infections later on. I started wearing maternity bras from about 3 months in. We are so lucky to have a range of pretty maternity lingerie in stores this day and age compared to the plain, nude, extremely unsexy styles of decades past. The best bras I found were by Chloe & Lola from Myer. I even purchased during a 'buy 2 get the 3rd free' sale.. score! Plus I received lovely compliments from the midwives in hospital who declared my bras were WAY too nice to be maternity. Trust me, when you're so sleep deprived and your body feels like it's falling apart at the seams, a compliment like that makes you feel ahhhmazing!
2. BELLY BAND
This was without a doubt the best thing I purchased all pregnancy. I found mine at Big W for around $25 and probably should've purchased 2, but was able to make do with 1. I was bursting out of my skinny jeans pretty early on and this band was an absolute lifesaver! As I was pregnant throughout Winter and my 'work uniform' consisted of pretty much jeans every day, I would've been lost without this band. It's pretty much just a stretchy bit of fabric, similar to a bandeau, that holds your jeans in place when the button and zip are completely undone. It's so simple and so discreet and a MUST to get through pregnancy wearing your usual jeans or pants. By the end of the pregnancy, jeans were a no-go zone altogether, but I was very happy to have a good 7-8 months of regular wear without needing to purchase a pair of 'maternity jeans'.
3. TUNIC DRESSES
This style of dress looks great with or without pregnancy. The loose, shapeless style through the body means the size of your stomach is irrelevant. I'm a big fan of tunic dresses with tights and boots for a fun Winter look, or team them with a hat and sandals for a fresh Summer outfit. Anything works. I purchased a couple of tunic dresses from ASOS (in the normal women's fashion section, not the maternity page) and they worked so well right up until my due date. I'll definitely continue to wear them post-pregnancy because they are so dam comfortable.
4. ANYTHING BUTTON-UP
If you're planning to breastfeed your new bub, this is a really important one. Having button-up garments means less time fiddling around awkwardly trying to undress while your new baby is crying for a feed. I have to admit that I didn't even consider this until my trusty Mum said I should look at getting a button-up nightie (especially handy for the hospital stay!) as well as anything else with buttons to make my life easier. I purchased a beautiful nightie from Peter Alexander and once again, it's totally suitable for post pregnancy/breastfeeding. Button-up shirts will also make breastfeeding easier, although loose t-shirts have so far been ok for me.
5. JERSEY
Having tops or dresses made from jersey fabric is so handy during pregnancy. They are lightweight and have a beautiful stretch which means they can grow with your body. Not everybody is comfortable showing off their baby bump in all it's glory, but I personally think it's so beautiful. I usually had mine covered up because it was Winter, but a couple of jersey dresses I owned worked perfectly in the later stages of pregnancy when I just wanted something easy and comfortable to wear. It's lovely to be able to enjoy your new shapely figure while it lasts. Your core body temperature also feels about 10 degrees hotter then it ever did pre-pregnancy, so breathable fabrics are super important.
So there you have it, a few things I couldn't live without during my pregnancy. There are plenty more ideas and suitable styles out there to help other mums-to-be. Just remember to spend money wisely and before going on a shopping spree, try to go right through your current wardrobe to see exactly what can and can't be worn. There may just be a dress or two that had been banished to the back of your wardrobe that would be perfect for your prego bod. Be inspired by your beautiful new shape and enjoy every minute.
Dee x
