Maternity Dressing – 6 Do’s & Don’ts for Moms-to-be

When you’re pregnant, you’ve got plenty of things to worry about, ranging from baby names, cravings, and swollen feet, to backache and doctor’s appointments. With all this going on, it’s no wonder that personal style can so easily fall by the wayside. And that’s okay – it happens to the best of us. But if you find yourself wearing your husband’s baggy t-shirt and stained track pants day after day, it might be time to take some action. Here are couples of do’s and don’ts to help you along the way.

DON’T assume that continuing to buy regular clothing, but a size or two up, will work when you’re pregnant. This is a one-way ticket to looking like a blimp instead of the beautiful mother-to-be you really are. Avoiding maternity wear simply means that your clothes will hang wrong, and the proportions will be off. Tight around the belly and loose everywhere else is not a flattering look.

DO show off that gorgeous bump! Rather than trying to hide it beneath tent-like shirts, embrace it. Certain cuts and materials will flow beautifully over your belly and flatter your pregnant figure. Anything A-line, wraparound, or rouched at the side is your new best friend. Light, flowy fabrics work best for this look. The wraparound shirt or dress is the well-dressed mom-to-be’s best-kept secret – it’s infinitely adjustable, so you’ll get a lot of wear out of it throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

DON’T forget about updating the basics of your wardrobe – like underwear. You need supportive maternity underwear that is also comfortable, soft, and breathable. Without underwear that is specially structured to fit your changing body perfectly, your too tight or too loose underwear will create unsightly lumps and bumps beneath your clothing. With all this going on, you’re unlikely to look (or feel) put together. And even more importantly: in maternity underwear that properly hugs your new shape, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable.

DO feel free to experiment. Wearing a tight dress while pregnant is said, by some, to be a no-no, but celebs have shown us that “gorgeous” and “pregnant” don’t have to be mutually exclusive concepts.

DON’T feel that you suddenly have to look a certain way just because you’re pregnant. Stay true to your own style. If you’ve always been a bit of a tomboy, being pregnant doesn’t mean you need to ditch the jeans and live in floral print. Likewise, if your style is classic and understated, don’t feel that you suddenly have to dress in dungarees. There is a vast range of options for maternity wear, ranging from high-stretch maternity leggings to loose-fitting pregnancy tops, with something to suit every personality.

DO resist the urge to give yourself a hard time if you have a sloppy Sunday every now and again and end up reaching for those old track pants. When it comes to maternity wear, the bottom line is this: the most important thing is that you feel relaxed, happy, and comfortable. Whatever that means for you should be a guide when selecting maternity wear, whether it’s a suit that’s impeccably put together or simply a pair of bump-friendly maternity pants you can slip in without thinking.

What’s your go-to outfit? Share your own tips for a stylish pregnancy!