Being pregnant for the first time, I have no idea what to wear. I didn’t have any idea prior to being pregnant and still don’t now that I’m in my third trimester. I did learn a few things about my own style while I’ve been pregnant though and if you are just as dumbfounded about getting dressed while pregnant as I was…ok, still am, hopefully some of this can help!
I didn’t buy anything for pregnancy right in the beginning. I waited to see how my body would react to pregnancy, what would gain weight, etc. first before going all in on buying a maternity wardrobe. I also didn’t really want any true maternity clothes.
Pants
I read somewhere in the beginning of pregnancy that you’ll know if you like pants over the bump or under the bump. I wasn’t sure why there would be a preference but now I do. While I really can’t explain it, I’d much rather have pants lay under the bump. All of my work pants fit over up to about my belly button and while they aren’t uncomfortable, I do look forward to putting on low sweatpants as soon as I get home.
I’ve bought 3 pants while pregnant. 1 pair of petite dress pants that just have a stretchy waist band for work, 1 pair of regular straight jeans, and 1 pair of straight maternity jeans that go over the belly. I am usually a size 00 or 0 (23 or 24) in pants and have no idea how maternity pants work. I got a size 25 in Abercrombie maternity jeans and they were slightly big on me until about 31 weeks. The jeans themselves stop very low and a stretchy material is attached that goes over the belly. They now fit me really well as long as I have a top that covers the stretchy material. The regular jeans I got were also Abercrombie in a size 28 and they are high-waisted. They worked in the second trimester for my waist but were really wide in my thighs, and now I just don’t want jeans laying over my belly and couldn’t for a long time with my incisions. My dress pants I got in petite for the length in a size 6 and they still fit nicely in my third trimester around my waist so I can continue to grow into them but are also very wide in my thighs. Again, now that I’ve tried them, none of these options are my favorite for my pregnancy.
While I did not think that I’d want my bump out and about as much as I do, I also did not think twice about how I’d feel wearing pants that were not loose such as workout leggings. I thought that wearing leggings would keep my legs feeling compressed and put together and having a soft, comfortable, stretchy waistband would be the best during pregnancy and that I would live in my leggings. I honestly don’t want to spend more than a couple hours in them. Having something tight on my legs from my thighs all the way down to my calves is just a weird, uncomfortable feeling for me that I again cannot explain. It truly is only a feeling thing! My bike shorts are much more comfortable but it’s still not bike short weather outside so I can only lounge in them at home if I want to feel more put together than sweatpants. Basic sweatpants and Vuori joggers have been my go to all pregnancy and my normal size still fits me under the bump, so that really is what I wear the most while at home or going for walks.
Tops
The difficulty with tops is trying to figure out what pants to pair them with. All of my tops luckily still fit me but I never know what pants to wear them with. For work, I have found that I do need longer, basic fitted tops. I found some great, inexpensive short sleeve tops on Target (seriously they were $6 each!). I got them in an xs and at 30 weeks they are all still large/loose on me so I know I can continue to grow into them. I wouldn’t wear them any other time not pregnant but to pair with my dress pants and a sweater or a blazer, they work perfectly. I also grabbed some basic ribbed tanks on Target and they are great everyday tanks for being pregnant or not. My other tops are too short for maternity jeans because of the attached band the jeans have so I really only plan wearing tops for everyday with either my joggers or leggings. Honestly do not know how to dress in a top and pants going to a restaurant anymore so we just don’t go or go somewhere I can wear joggers/leggings LOL.
At about 20 weeks I definitely started to pop and from there on my belly has grown. My second trimester was the entire winter and soft, comfortable sweaters were the best to wear at work or when I’d be out of the house. Now that it’s getting slightly warmer out (and my belly is getting bigger), I find that light material, fitted tops feel the best on.
Dresses
I did not expect to LOVE wearing dresses as much as I do. Being pregnant for much of the winter, I wish I could always be wearing a dress, especially basic fitted ones. I can wear a sports bra or scoop neck bra and be so comfortable in them! Nothing is constricting on your belly or your legs. I’d highly suggest getting basic ones from Amazon!
Dresses are also something I can feel put together in and go to a restaurant or out somewhere without feeling like I’m not dressed appropriately if I am in joggers or leggings. If you live in a climate where dresses can be year round or most of the year, try out some dresses you already own and if you like wearing them, definitely get more! I have bought several inexpensive dresses during pregnancy and it’s definitely the clothing item I have purchased the most while pregnant (now I just need the weather to cooperate!). I try to get dresses that I can wear during pregnancy and post-partum.
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Bras and Underwear
I very rarely wear a regular bra now. I try to wear a stretchy comfortable sports bra or scoop neck bra even to work! The sports bras I regularly wear for everyday are not ones that I would necessarily work out in because there isn’t enough support but they are so stretchy and cozy to lounge around in. I have two from Morgan Stewart Sport a few years ago (no longer sold sadly) that are always my go to. I also absolutely love the Skims fits everybody everyday scoop bras. Most of my running sports bras and regular underwire bras are small on me now but those ones still fit nicely and comfortably with my growing chest without having to buy larger sizes. When I am home, I usually just lounge in my sweatpants under my belly and a sports bra. It really is the most comfortable for me!
I have not noticed any difference in underwear and still wear thongs daily. I will say that the Skims fit everybody thongs are also amazing and should be essential for everyone, pregnant or not.
Workout Clothes
Oddly enough, workout clothes have not been an issue for me. My running sports bras are very tight but since my chest is larger, the slightly smaller feel actually keeps them from moving whatsoever. On the flip side, other sports bras that weren’t the best for running are now tighter and fit nicely to support running, so I haven’t even gotten new sports bras.
My workout shorts have also been fitting me well. My go to running shorts (Lululemon speed up shorts) started to feel a bit tight so I got one pair in a size 4 rather than a size 2. I workout in the Lululemon hotty hot shorts and have 2 pairs in a size 2 which still fit me great and feel so comfortable to workout in or lounge around in! I have some older random shorts that are stretchy and they fit well around my legs and under my belly as well so I’ve been sticking with those for regular workouts too.
My workout tops still fit over my belly or if they were cropped workout tops, they now fit above my belly so no issues there. I workout at home daily and I just wear a sports bra and shorts, which I did prior to pregnancy too.
Since it’s still cold or cool outside, I wear sweatpants or leggings for outdoor walks. Leggings still aren’t my favorite but for an hour or walking around I can deal with it. My go to during pregnancy has been the Lululemon align leggings because they are so soft and buttery and the waistband is not harsh like normal leggings. I also got a new pair of Vuori leggings that fit nicely around my belly too!
So basically what I learned about myself is that I do not like things constricting my legs and would rather have my bump out than covered. (Truly never would have thought I’d want my bump out as much as I do!) And I love dresses, especially soft, fitted ones.
Dressing during pregnancy is definitely something you will need to test out for yourself when you are pregnant and I would highly suggest not buying anything until you start to get a feel for what dressing while pregnant is like. You could be completely opposite from me!