I’m Pregnant! What should I wear?

Don’t go overboard buying maternity clothes as soon as you get the great news. Spread your purchases throughout your pregnancy. You won’t know how big and how quickly you are going to grow. No sense in buying maternity sweaters if you will be at your largest in the middle of summer.

Buy wardrobe staples that allow for the most options: basic black pants, a skirt and a comfortable pair of jeans. Fill in with fun stuff, like colorful tops and dresses.

The most comfortable pants to wear during pregnancy are the ones with the wide elastic waist band that fits under your belly. The old-fashioned panels that reach up your rib cage can be a bit tight and itchy around your middle.

When trying on maternity clothes use the “faux” belly pillows that strap around your middle. You can get a feel for what your future holds. Invest in maternity underwear, you won’t realize how uncomfortable your panties have become until you try the ones made just for pregnant women.

Don’t buy maternity bras, buy nursing bras with cups that open. You can wear them as our chest starts to blossom and continue wearing them after you have the baby and you are breast feeding.

Maternity boutiques will have the greatest number of options from top designers, but don’t shy away from the large retailers like the Gap, Old Navy and Target. These stores are great for wardrobe basics.

Still another alternative is the resale store. They specialize in gently-used clothing from a wide variety of designers. This is a great choice for outfits you will only wear once.

There is a great new product called the Bella Band, a tube that stretches around your middle and can be used for a number of things. You can wear it like a bandeau bra or strapless top. You can wear to cover that gap between your shirt and the top of your pants. And much more! They are available at most maternity clothing shops.

Picture from Maternal America.