Heyyyyyy again! I’m just going to preface this whole post by reminding you that I am by no means an expert, but this is what I have been recommended & have found true in my own pregnancy.
First, you can always size up. Some maternity clothes are hard to wear again unless you are pregnant. If this is your first and you’re planning on many kiddos, then have at it, girl. Buy a new wardrobe. But for those of us who either don’t have this extra money orrr who are growing a baby bump a little slower than others, my first recommendation is to size up.
I spent my first 22 weeks so far living in oversized tees & leggings/biker shorts or the next size up athletic shorts (needed these about week 18). I figure I wont bounce back to my prebaby body for a while, and I live in Florida. We walk the dogs outside every day, so I will need athletic shorts and a size up will fit me longer in the month post partum. Plus I have something comfy & the right size to not pressure myself back into those size smalls. I have pretty much lived in these items and been very comfy. Lululemon aligns or even my amazon Lulu dupes stretch well to fit over my little bump so far and are still very comfy to workout in. In the coming weeks, I plan to size up in these also for the same reason as the shorts.
Buy a new bra or 3 in multiple sizes up. The one thing that seems to never stop growing are your boobs. I waited SOO long to ditch my little bralette because I have always been a B cup and couldn’t fathom the need for something bigger. But after basically ripping the fabric between my boobs one evening, I decided I needed to do better. For someone like me who still has “smaller” boobs, I went to Aerie & got some of their comfy bras. Light or no padding & supportive. I used to be able to walk around the house braless, but now I am wayyyyy more comfortable in a comfy Aerie bra. If you’re someone who always wears a regular bra, ignore this because you probably just want to invest in a real bra, but I’m not that girl. I’ve also heard to skip maternity bras & go straight to nursing bras or what you plan to nurse in to save some addition monies.
Okay, now for when you actually need maternity clothes (because there will probably be a time when you do) — choose a handful based on what your life consists of. Maybe its one pair of jeans, two pairs of leggings, a handful of tees/tanks, and a dress for your showers & maternity pictures. If you work in the professional world, choose a few pencil skirts that you can mix & match tops with. Tie your normal size tops in a little knot over those pencil skirts to switch up your outfits. If you are looking for inexpensive maternity choices, try Shein, Target, any second hand baby store (they usually have maternity clothes) or a friend who is done having babies. I recommend Pink Blush or Motherhood Maternity for a few staple items or for those shower dresses with pictures. Besides that, buy the basics that make you feel gorgeous & are also functional for your life.
Click on either of the above pics to shop those looks. But that’s all the advice I have for now. Maybe later in my journey, I can share more. But I truly believe there are no rules and you just need to pick what makes you feel good in your own sin!
XOXO,
Hil
hrmarciano 