Being pregnant is a beautiful thing but weight gain, fluid retention, bloating, swelling and frequent urination can wreak havoc with your wardrobe!

To help you get through the whole nine months with ease, Angel Maternity has pulled together some top tips for buying maternity clothes.

  1. Look for maternity clothes that have features to see you right through from conception to birth – these features include pants, shorts or skirts with an adjustable or eIastic waistband for your growing belly.  When buying tops, look for ruching or gathers on the side of maternity tops that will accommodate you right up until delivery day. When buying tops, also consider length. It needs to be long enough  to cover your bump, even if you’re expecting twins – or triplets!

  2. Look for clothes that are breastfeeding friendly – if you’re going to buy new clothes, you want to get as much use out of them as possible. It’s worth making sure you can use as many items both before and after bub’s arrival. When buying tops, look for ones that have easy nursing access or have buttons down the front. Angel Maternity’s nursing tops are designed to make feeding as comfortable and discreet as possible. If you don’t want to buy specific nursing tops, look for  items that have straps that can easily be pulled down, a low neckline or side access.

  3. Invest in nursing singlets and/or tanks – that way you can still wear all of your favourite tops even if they aren’t breastfeeding friendly. Wear your singlet or tank underneath and that way, if you have to hike up your normal tee, your tummy still remains covered and you have easy nursing access.

  4. Consider buying reversible clothing – reversible clothing is great as you essentially get two items in one. Angel Maternity has a great range of reversible clothing including tops, skirts and dresses. A great way to create the look you want with minimal items. It’s also a great space saver in your wardrobe and will mean less washing – hoorah!

  5. Invest in the essentials – the one thing definitely worth investing in is a good pair of maternity jeans. They can be dressed up with some heels and a gorgeous top or dressed down with flats and a tee. Angel Maternity has a great range of jeans and jeggings in a variety of colours and cuts. It’s also a great idea to invest in a quality pair of back pants, particularly if you are working throughout your pregnancy. A good quality  dress will see you through any special occasions, like weddings or Christmas parties. If you keep the dress relatively plain, you can really change it up with different accessories and shoes.

  6. Buy your size – sounds simple, but lots of women end up buying maternity clothes a size or two bigger thinking they’ll need the extra room. Do not do this. You’ll end up with clothes that will fall down and not flatter you or your bump at all.  Buy maternity clothes in your regular size for the best fit.

  7. Fake it ’til you make it – if you go shopping in the early stages of your pregnancy, before you’ve ‘popped’, you may not be buying clothes that’ll fit you in the later stages of pregnancy.  Ask if the maternity stores has a fake belly that you can strap on. Angel Maternity has one in-store for you to try. That way, you can really see how the clothes will fit you by the last trimester.

  8. Shop for all seasons – given you’re pregnant for nine months you’re likely to go through a few seasons and vast weather changes during your pregnancy.  Ensure you have enough clothes to adequately keep you and your bump warm during the cooler months and enough summer clothes to stop you from sweating it out. Save money by shopping during the end-of-season sales. It may feel strange buying summer clothes at the start of winter, but planning your maternity wardrobe ahead of time can be a great time and money saver.

  9. Stay cool – there’s no doubt creating a baby is hard work. You’re less likely to feel the cold when you’re pregnant because of all the extra blood being pumped around your body. A pregnant woman’s core body temperature will often rise to almost a degree warmer than usual –  about 37.8°C, when it is normally 37°C. Make sure you have enough sleeveless tops and shorts to keep cool.

  10. Cotton is key – with the extra heat you’ll be generating, you’ll want to look for fabric that breathes easily, like cotton. You’ll also need clothes that have stretch, so look for items that contain spandex. Polyester base fabrics have their benefits, including less creasing and greater durability, but you’re best off keep it for special occasions or cooler days to avoid sweat marks.

  11. Scarves, wraps and shawls are crucial – not only are scarves great for adding a touch of pizzazz to your outfit, they are great stain disguisers. Once bub arrives you’ll often be covered in a mixture of milk, baby vomit, puree and random sticky substances all at once! Having a wrap or shawl handy to cover up the most offending stain at the time will ensure you get longevity out of your outfit and don’t have to change every five minutes.
Michelle Ruzzene