LEGGINGS. You can't have too many leggings (plus, they go well with almost everything).
It's been 9 months now since I've given birth to my beautiful son. I barely remember how heavy my tummy felt, how stiff my hips and joints were, or how uncomfortable I generally was. It probably helped that there were a few things I was very particular about in trying to stay as comfortable as possible during the entire pregnancy. Number one: CLOTHING.
Growing up, I remember my mom wearing very loose dresses she probably inherited from my lola. While I understood pregnant women need to feel comfortable, I also wondered how women felt about ditching their normal clothes just so they can wear the more comfy maternity pieces. Personally, I like to dress myself up. And while I don't follow one specific fashion style or genre, I know what works for me and what doesn't. So when I got pregnant, I promised myself I won't lose myself and my sense of fashion behind all those breezy maternity clothing.
It pays to invest on clothes that offer both flexibility and style
I didn't buy any piece of maternity clothing. Not because I didn't want to, but because I had more than enough clothes in my wardrobe that fit my growing belly. How that's possible: even before getting pregnant, I always preferred buying comfy clothes over tight-fitting ones (eg. over-sized sweaters, dress-shirts, stretchy leggings). I've always had a lower belly pooch even before getting pregnant that's why I never really liked wearing jeans, belts, and body-hugging clothes (basically you can say most of the clothes I wear normally are pangbuntis because of my poofy belly situation LOL). Because of this, most of the clothes I had in my closet fit perfectly as my baby bump grew! But I also had a few maternity hand-me-downs from my cousins that I loved too much I still wear them today ♡
From over-sized jackets, dress-shirts, to blouses. I even snatched a Rolling Stone shirt from my husband's closet and IT LOOKED GOOD! Loose, flowy, stretchy pieces have always been my fashion go-to even before I got pregnant, and I can say it paid off as I didn't have to buy more clothes even when my belly got sooo big.
over-sized kimono blouses that double as cover-up, an over-sized shirt that doubles as a dress-shirt, an over-sized denim jacket, and an over-sized hoody = my style pregnant or not
I refused to dress up as a pregnant woman—I dressed up as ME
The way I dress myself up is something I hold very dear. I love styling myself and I love shopping for clothes, shoes, and accessories. A lot of people - with the kindest of intentions - advised me to dress a certain way when I was pregnant. Some even lent me maternity clothes without me asking, which I truly appreciated. However, ultimately, I chose to dress according to what feels good on my skin and what I think looks good on me and my bump ♡
my outfits reflected my mood ✿ I dressed down when I felt like it, and I dolled up when I needed additional confidence boost
I generally felt very comfortable and FREEEE when I was pregnant. I wouldn't have done it any other way as it helped make my overall disposition positive during the entire pregnancy. Just a few tips especially for ftm's:
1. LEGGINGS. You can never go wrong with buying LOTS of leggings. LEGGINGS IS THE WAY TO GO, GIRL. They're soo comfy and you can still use them post-partum!
2. Wedges. If you need a bit of height, go for wedges instead of stilettos. They more comfy and safer for you and the baby.
3. Comfy shoes in general. Speaking of shoes, wearing comfortable footwear is the secret to happy days during pregnancy. It does a great deal of difference when you're out wearing comfy shoes versus when you're pretending everything's fine with your super heavy baby bump and all while your feet are screaming for help.
4. Snap those #OOTD pictures with your bump. It's true what they say: despite how heavy it gets or how uncomfortable you feel, you'll miss the baby bump after you give birth. So just go for it, dress yourself up and take those pictures so you have beautiful memories to look back to and you'll be reminded that it was indeed an amazing time - also something to show your kid in the future to let him/her know how gorgeous his/her momma was 😂
Being pregnant means having to deal with a lot of hormonal, physical, emotional, and mental challenges every day. Feeling pretty and confident about my clothes has helped me cope with these challenges and reassured me that I am still me and I am never losing myself in the transition of becoming a mother. I believe that as long as you dress properly - like you don't overexpose your body, and you wear safe and quality clothes and footwear - just do you. In the end, this is your pregnancy journey, and the way you'll remember it after your baby's born will partly depend on how well and confident you felt while you were dressing up the bump.
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