How to be Fashionably Pregnant

Pregnancy is a beautiful time in a woman's life, so it's important to celebrate this momentous chapter of your life by making sure you not only take care of your health and body during those nine months, but also be sure to look beautiful on the outside too.

I'm currently 7 months pregnant with my second child, and I have received more compliments now, as a pregnant woman, than I did pre-pregnancy. So many people have commented that I am the most beautiful pregnant woman that they have ever seen. I often think to myself that they must be exaggerating, but I know that I do take special care to look nice whenever I step outside of the house. I have seen too many pregnant women sport baggy sweatpants and huge tops as their maternity wear. Then there are those who refuse to purchase anything even slightly resembling a maternity outfit. They stubbornly continue to wear their pre-pregnancy clothing, resulting in too tight clothing that just does not flatter them in the least.

There is hope, and it's not all that difficult. In fact, I haven't purchased any maternity clothes during this second pregnancy. I just bought cute clothes in a larger size. Here are some items that have worked beautifully for me:

Dresses

Stylish dresses, mainly non-maternity dresses, have been my staple pieces during my pregnancy. I buy them a size or two larger than what I normally wear. The key is to buy a dress with the right fabric and style. Most of my dresses are baby doll dresses and sundresses. The dresses are of material that will stretch, which will have at least 5 % spandex. I have 80-90 % modal, cotton, rayon and polyester dresses, that have around 8-10% spandex as part of the fabric. They work wonderfully with my expanding tummy. So, before you purchase, make sure that the fabric will stretch. If it doesn't, I would not suggest buying it.

Blouses/Tops

I generally stay away from T-shirts, because they do not flatter my pregnant body. I usually wear blouses or nice shirts that are made of the same material as the dresses that I buy. Again, I purchase them a size or two larger than what I normally wear.

Capris

I love capris. Maternity capris are usually best, because they will fit you where it's supposed to, and provide support for your expanding abdomen. I would not suggest wearing a larger size, because then your clothes will look baggy, and the goal of fashionably pregnant is not to camoflouge pregnancy, but to accentuate your new body, while still looking feminine and fit.

Looking fresh, feminine, and stylish while pregnant does not have to be a difficult or expensive choice. Choose clothes that look great on you, and that you feel beautiful in. Enjoy this exciting chapter of your life and celebrate it by accentuating your new body with clothes that will make you feel like a fashion forward mother-to-be.