So now you are dressing for two. Your mind is frolicking with the perfume of fresh baby swaddled in Ralph Lauren layettes. But let us not prematurely initiate resentment between you and your incubating fetus by dressing yourselves solely in patterned pavilions and overstretched sweats. Below is a concise little guide to get you started:
At 15 – 20 Weeks your belly is finally starting to bump. While fashion architecture is traditionally executed to draw attention away from a broad area, this is not the case in pregnancy. Your expanding arched abdomen is a glorious line. And it is unmistakable physical evidence that you are very desirable to the opposite sex.
But it does require care. First, you and your seed will need to analyze your entire closet. Perhaps you already have a few empire waist tops, long fitted tees, or stretchy lounge pants that continue to serve you and your growing empire. As you evaluate, remember you are not a packaged sausage. If you can see your belly button or any excessive details of your figure metamorphosis, it is not serving you. And your child should never fall below the line of blouse. Baby will be angry if he finds you left him exposed to the public.
Next identify items that might work with slight modifications. If you have pants and skirts that still fit nicely around your thighs and seat, try purchasing a Bella Band, Belly Belt Button Up, Belly Band to keep your southern garments in their station.
Your goal is to acquire at least this minimum wardrobe: 3 bras (yes you do need to go in for a fresh fitting), 10 panties, 3 neutral camisoles or other underpinnings (look for the long ones), 10 shirts, 5 trousers (including 1 pair of jeans), 1 skirt, 1 dress. All of them should be good servants, faithful servants. Servants who flatter you .
And actually, that’s all we want in your wardrobe. Clothes that fit you now. Only put in front of yourself items that you could wear in the next week. Put everything else in storage or at least push it to the darkest side of the closet.
Next, make a list of the essentials you still require. But hasty one, proceed with wisdom. Buy slowly. Re-wear each garment in as many combinations as possible. Glutton yourself on the intoxication of well fitting pretties because as it turns out you two may only have fleeting weeks to enjoy each other.
Finally, make a point of re-evaluating your closet every couple of weeks, and pushing to the side what no longer accommodates you and baby, then replace as needed.
Tomorrow we move into advanced pregnancy with Fitting Room Friday footage. See you soon my fertile friends.
Oh, here we go! Me…on film…in all my largeness on Cardigan Empire. I can feel it imminently. Please go easy on me—the camera adds 5 pounds (but the baby adds 20 more). 🙂
I like to have a few more camisoles or undershirts in my wardrobe because layering is my best friend in pregnancy, and they always help to smooth out any lines from stretchy waist panels or belly bands.
And just like Reachel said, put those pre-prego clothes out of site. I put all of mine in a clothing storage tote and then stash them for much later.
Keep all of your first trimester (and some second trimester) shirts and pants organized separately after you outgrow them. They are just what you will need post-baby’s-birth when you body is still not quite “your own.” And most of the time you are wearing larger sizes of normal clothing in your first trimester/beginning of second. So you won’t have to cringe at the thought of wearing something that says “maternity” on the tag once you are, indeed, post maternity.
My favorite nursing bra that looks like a normal bra, but has wonderful support (worth the $$): http://www.bellamaterna.com
(The “Lightly Padded Nursing Bra”)
Those are some great tips! Of course, these days the maternity clothing is so cute, I often find myself wanting to buy it all and I haven’t been pregnant in 4 years. 🙂
Nursing Bras