One day maternity wear will be so widely available that mums-to-be need never complain again, but in the meantime, we have to work with what is available in the marketplace.
As depressing as that may sound to you, if you’re expecting a baby and are fit to burst in your current clothes, here are some tips to help you look fab for the rest of your pregnancy.
Do you really need maternity clothes?
It might sound like a bit of a ‘doh’ question, but being pregnant does not mean you need to buy maternity clothes – honestly. You may be able to get away with some smart shopping, and buying a size or so up. This means you can wear the same clothes as you slim back down to pre-pregnancy weight after your baby is born.
Get the timing right
While it may be tempting to go all-out for new clothes t drape your bump, you probably won’t need maternity clothes until your bump is showing. At this point, you’ll probably find that you need to adjust your wardrobe a little.
If you can leave the maternity wear until till the third trimester, when you’re going to grow to your biggest, you’ll save a lot more money. Roomy tops and shirts, elasticated trousers (yes, very sexy!) can be good at bridging the gap.
Once you’re ready to hit the shops, you can use your high street stores to gauge the size you need to buy, then look at online deals. Our ‘Where to buy maternity clothes during your pregnancy‘ feature will come in handy.
Get the size right
Maternity clothes are made to marry up to the size your would normally be. So, if you’re usually a size 12, then your maturity clothes (in theory) should be the same size. However, if you’re an experienced shopper, you’ll know that the cut and fit of clothes can vary depending on where you buy it, so always try clothes on before buying.
This is especially important when buying workwear – there’s little worse than exposing your bump to important clients when you’re trying to be taken seriously because you’ve bought ill-fitting maternity clothes.
Take care of your feet
Expectant mums will get swollen feet at some point during the pregnancy. All that walking with the extra weight you’re carrying, and the hormonal changes can take its toll. SO, be sure to have a pair of low, comfortable (and wide) shoes at the ready for when you need it. Pumps are great for this because you can slip them on without much hassle, and you can buy them cheaply, too.