Becoming pregnant is one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life. The anticipation of welcoming a new baby into your family brings so much joy and excitement. 

There is so much to look forward to! The first time you hear your baby’s heartbeat, the first time you feel that little flutter in your belly, your first ultrasound, and watching your belly grow and expand before your eyes. One of the challenges that come with your body changing and expanding is figuring out how to dress while remaining comfortable at the same time. 

Each new trimester brings new challenges to the wardrobe department. In this blog post, I am going to give you some tips and tricks for dressing your growing belly! 

First Trimester: Dealing with the bloat

Most women would agree that the first trimester can be rough. Between dealing with morning sickness, being absolutely exhausted, and feeling so bloated that you could burst, it's hard! 

Most people aren’t quite ready to share the exciting news of their pregnancy during the first trimester, so the challenge becomes trying to hide all these symptoms while keeping yourself as comfortable as possible. 

The one thing that many women do not talk about is the extreme bloating that you usually deal with in this trimester. It is so uncomfortable and can make wearing any sort of pants impossible. Luckily, there are a few things you can try to help get you through this period if you aren’t quite ready for maternity clothes.

The elastic & button loop trick

If you aren’t quite ready for maternity jeans or pants this trick is a lifesaver! All you need is an elastic band! You simply loop the band through the buttonhole of your pants and use the other side of the elastic to secure it to the actual button. Now all of a sudden your jeans don’t feel like they could burst and you can finally breathe again! Simply wear a longer top and a blazer or cardigan and you're all set!

Stick to dresses

When you feel bloated one of the last things you want to do is wear tight-fitting clothing, this is especially true if you are in the early part of your pregnancy and you do not want people knowing you are pregnant! Dresses can be your best friend in those early days. Not to mention it is so much easier to plan your outfits. Try to stick to shift dresses or anything A-line in terms of fit. If you are pregnant during the colder months just add a pair of comfortable tights or leggings and you are ready to go!

Second Trimester: The world of maternity clothes

Generally, by the second trimester, most women are finally starting to feel back to themselves. The nausea subsides, the extreme exhaustion starts to go away and the bloating starts to disappear. That beautiful pregnancy glow finally starts to show up and you feel human again. The second trimester is really where it's at! This is by far the most enjoyable part of being pregnant! 

The second trimester can also be the perfect opportunity to start to purchase maternity clothes. Likely by this point you are completely out of your normal clothes and ready for some new options.

Purchase Maternity Staples

It may surprise you, but maternity clothes can be quite expensive! When you factor in the length of time that you will actually wear the garment, the cost can add up very quickly. This is why I would recommend investing in staple pieces that can carry you through to the end of your pregnancy. The great thing about purchasing staples is that you can even use them for your next pregnancy, and they won’t be out of style! Items such as a pair of dark denim jeans, tank tops in neutral colors, a simple dress in either a wrap style or form-fitting if you choose, denim shorts (if it is the summertime) and dress pants (if you work in an office setting).

Shop second-hand

Not only is this tip excellent for the environment, but it is also great for your wallet! As I mentioned above, maternity clothes can be expensive! Shopping second hand is an excellent way to go if you are looking to save a buck or two. The great thing about thrifting is that most items are very gently used with little to no wear. Check out Facebook Marketplace or Poshmark to see what gems you can find!

Third Trimester: Comfort is key

Once you get to the third trimester all bets are off! Dressing yourself genuinely becomes a challenge and slip-on shoes are your best friend. Comfort becomes the most important thing and you start to ask yourself if you can really get away with wearing leggings every single day. Aside from a lot of rest and relaxation, there are a few things you can do to help get through this last little bit of your pregnancy.

Bra extenders

This is quite possibly one of the best products ever invented! One of the biggest challenges during pregnancy is dealing with your growing bust and trying to figure out what size bra to wear. The size of my breasts fluctuated so much during my first two pregnancies! I struggled with what to do in terms of a bra for most of my third trimester until I discovered bra extenders. Essentially all they are is a little clip that you attach to the clasp of your bra that allows you to extend your band size without having to buy a new bra- pure genius! I purchased mine from Amazon and they were so helpful!

Leggings to the rescue

One of the best pieces of clothing that I invested in during my pregnancies was a high-quality pair of black leggings. I honestly lived in them during the final few months! I am especially partial to the Align Leggings from Lululemon. What I love most about these pants is that I can wear the same size that I normally wear! They are perfect for postpartum as well! Regardless of which brand you choose, just ensure that the waist is high enough and that they are comfortable of course! 

I hope you enjoyed my tips for dressing your bump! I would love to know what some of your tips are in the comments below.