I posted my first official bump photo on Instagram yesterday and shared a bit about how fast I “popped” this time… Without being super repetitive, I’m feeling a little insecure because – although I’m not quite 14 weeks pregnant – I have the belly of someone who is more like 5 or 6 months along right now. You guys were SO sweet with your comments about showing so much faster with the second pregnancy etc. and made me feel so so much better – thank you for that!!
Really, I shouldn’t be surprised. My stomach wasn’t flat to begin with (not even close), and I was big early even in my pregnancy with Sam. Plus, my mom is tiny and she was HUGE with both of her pregnancies – sorry girl – so it’s just in my genes to not be a dainty little pregnant gal. But still, seeing your body change (and putting up with all the incredibly insensitive and crazy things people say to you) when you are pregnant, can be tough. This time, however, I decided early on (like 8 weeks early) that I wasn’t going to go around feeling miserable in my clothes, so I made some changes to my wardrobe ASAP and have slowly but surely embraced maternity wear once again…
I can re-wear many of the things I wore with Sam but, truthfully, my style has changed a lot in the last four years and maternity options are SO much better now than they were. SO, I’ve been trying to make some practical, classic purchases that will last me the next six months (or so) but won’t break the bank or overwhelm my closet… SO, for the next couple of weeks, I’ll be sharing some of the basics I’m “investing” in to make a simple, but somewhat fashionable and very comfortable, maternity wardrobe fit for the mom who has to get up every morning and look presentable (i.e. can’t live in yoga pants and hoodies – don’t I wish).
Since I can (mostly) still wear my regular tops right now, I’m starting off with my most beloved form of pregnancy attire – otherwise known as God’s Gift to Pregnant Women – MATERNITY PANTS! There is no denying it, I love them!! Truth be told, I would wear them all the time if it was more socially acceptable (and I did wear them until I was almost six months postpartum with Sam).
Here’s what I look for when buying:
1. Can be worn for work OR play. Ain’t nobody got money to buy two separate wardrobes. I need something that I can wear to teach all day and to the playground or swim lessons in the afternoon. Heck, bonus if I can also sleep in them. (Just kidding… Kinda.)
2. Full panel if possible. You’ll notice that one of the pairs below is only a “demi” panel, and that’s just because I couldn’t find a pair I liked with a full. But, in general, I’m all about the full coverage! Rock it while you can ladies!!
3. “Skinny” or “Fitted”. Obviously, there is nothing skinny about me these days, but that doesn’t mean my pants need to look like M.C. Hammer. Since most maternity tops (or even the loose tunic tops I’m wearing now) are bigger, I think it’s important to wear something a little tighter and form fitting on the bottom. (Just not so tight that you’ve got underwear lines and/or cellulite. Just no.)
4. Versatile. You’ll notice I chose four pairs of pants in very basic colors with only one “fun” look (and even if that isn’t too wild). I like to be flashy sometimes too, but – at least for me – pregnancy isn’t the time for that. I want my wardrobe to be minimalist and, therefore, items need to go with a lot and be easy to mix and match etc.
5. Inexpensive. As a general rule, I follow the “cheaper the better” principle when it comes to maternity clothes. I’m just not going to be wearing them long enough to make it worth spending lots of money on. I think my black pants were about $40.00 and that’s the MOST I would spend on any one item. The other pairs were less than 30 – now we’re talking.
And, here are four pairs I consider “must-haves” for the (pregnant) working mom:
Gap Demi Panel Skinny Pants (True Black) – Black pants are ESSENTIAL for work. In all honesty, I will probably wear these three out of five days most weeks.
Old Navy Maternity Full-Panel Skinny Cords (Winter Wine) – I love wearing skinny cords in the fall/winter when I’m not pregnant, so these were a must for me. Plus, I like that the color is fun, but still neutral enough to wear with lots of tops, etc.
Old Navy Maternity Full-Panel Skinny Jeans (Dark Wash) – Obviously. I will LIVE in these things every Friday thru Sunday from now until at least next September. 😉
Target Maternity Over Belly Skinny Pants (White) – Because I’m not afraid to wear white after Labor Day, and these go with so much. I found mine on clearance about a month ago and have already worn them TONS.
*I also plan to wear A LOT of leggings with very long sweaters/shirts and boots as it gets cooler. I just ordered these from Old Navy, so we’ll see.
So, there you have it.
What do you consider “basics” when it comes to pants? How early did you wear maternity?
E