How to Maintain Your Style While Pregnant

If you're pregnant, you're probably excited about getting all sorts of clothes for your baby, but you may be a lot less excited about the prospects of dressing your own pregnant body in the months to come. The good news is that maternity fashion has come a long way since our mothers' generation, and pregnancy style is more fashionable than ever before, no matter what your tastes are. Instead of looking like a potato sack, today's pregnant women are wearing similar styles to their pre-pregnant selves, but with a few modifications for their midsections. And if you think you have to only wear maternity clothes, think again. Today's pregnant women have lots of options; you can mix and match pregnancy clothes with regular clothes to keep your sense of style and still be comfortable. Learn how to shop wisely and stay fashionable throughout your entire pregnancy.

Use a Belly Band
Don't be too quick to buy a bunch of maternity pants the minute you get pregnant. What many women don't realize is that your regular pants can usually carry you into the fourth or fifth month of your pregnancy, depending on how high your carry and how long it takes for you to "pop." Pants that have a button and zipper can be worn under your growing baby bump with a belly band, which is basically a stretchy tube that's worn around your waist, over your pants, with the button and zipper unfastened as your belly grows. This band can take you halfway or more through your pregnancy, allowing you to still rock your favorite pair of jeans as your bump grows. The band is also great to use in those post-partum months when your belly is still shrinking after birth. There are lots of brands to choose from, both in stores and online, in all different colors and fabrics, so shop around and find one that suits you best.

Keep Your Underwear
Unless you really enjoy the security of extra fabric over your belly, maternity underwear is, in most cases, a waste of money. Your regular bikini briefs or thongs will fit nicely under your belly all nine months and keep you comfortable. And as long as you have supportive bras, you can keep wearing those too, unless you grow a cup size or more during your pregnancy, which happens to some women. But if you like the underwear you have, there's really no reason to invest in anything new until after the baby's born, when some nursing bras may be needed.

Look for Stretch
The trend in maternity fashion is tops that are worn close to the body with a little extra stretch and fabric to accommodate your growing belly. But t-shirts and other tops from your favorite store may also fit your belly for most of your pregnancy as long as they have some elasticity to them. And regular pants like workout or yoga pants can be worn under the belly for all nine months. You may be surprised at how many clothes in your closet look good on you for quite some time. In fact, depending on your growth, you might not need to purchase maternity shirts until your last trimester, when even tops with stretch may not cover your midsection.

Invest in an Empire
Waist, that is. Many tops in the regular women's section have empire waists, which are perfect for pregnancy as well as post-partum. Any waistline that hits above the belly is very forgiving as your midsection expands and also provides a lot of comfort, since it isn't as constricting as other styles. Tunics, maxi dresses and sundresses are also popular fashions that fall into this category. They tend to have some stretch, flow over the belly, and have extra fabric to accommodate your shape throughout your pregnancy. Plus, dresses are easier to wear and move around in as you get bigger. They don't constrict your belly like pants, are easy to slip in and out of, and are appropriate in almost any situation, from errands to going out to eat.

Try Before You Buy
The best rule of thumb to live by is to try on everything before you purchase it to make sure it fits your needs. Maternity stores have stuffed "bellies" you can strap around your midsection to give you an idea of how the clothing will fit as you grow; and if you're shopping in a regular store, just bring along a sweatshirt, wad it into a ball, and place it under the clothes you're trying on. This method isn't perfect, but it will give you a good idea whether or not the clothing will work with a growing belly. If you shop online, make sure you're covered under a good return policy in case the clothes don't fit correctly.

If you stay true to the types of clothes you love and open to making small changes for your growing body, you'll find that you have lots of options in clothing when you're pregnant. You may not look exactly the same as you once did, but you'll still look and feel like yourself, which can be a huge confidence booster during pregnancy and beyond.

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