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Maternity Wear - Do I Really Need It?
Leisa Sanderson
Maternity clothing is manufactured to cater for your expanding
bust, hips and waist that naturally occurs during pregnancy.
Obviously it also caters for your bump that will be sitting out
in front before you know it.
Many women wonder if they really need to purchase maternity
clothing at all, the answer is pretty simple. If you want to look
good and stay comfortable, Yes.
If you do decide that you do-not want maternity clothing you will
find pants, shirts and shorts are the hardest garments to get
away with this in. Normal clothing just does not allow for a
belly to poke out the way your bump will!
There is an item called a belly belt that can be very useful and
some mothers manage with these for a majority of their pregnancy.
It consists of various size elastic strips that have a button at
one end, and a button hole at the other. It comes with different
colour belly panels to insert depending on the colour of your
outfit. The idea is to place the belt between your normal button
and button hole allowing you to wear your normal clothes for
longer into your pregnancy.
Pro- Great for the first few months. You can wear your own
clothes for longer.
Con- Can only be used for clothes that have a button and zip at
the front. Often as your pregnancy progresses you will still find
that your normal pants, skirts or shorts end up tight in the legs
and hips as these areas are the natural place for your body to
store fat as it prepares for the birth of your baby. Maternity
clothing is designed with this in mind.
Maternity clothing is designed to be more flattering these days
then what it once was. These days most women are extremely
excited about their pregnancy and want to show their 'bumps' to
the world. You will achieve this better and remain more
comfortable throughout your pregnancy by carefully selecting a
few quality maternity wear garments. As most tend to do with
their normal wardrobes you will have your favourite outfits that
you wear constantly so you will want garments that wash and wear
well. There are two main things to consider prior to making your
new wardrobe purchases:
How much wear will I get out of this item?
Consider the style and think about what stages of your pregnancy
you will be able to wear it. Look for garments that will look
good and feel comfortable regardless of if you are 3 months
pregnant or 9 months. Many are also suitable post pregnancy while
you are working on getting your shape back, these are a great
choice.
How comfortable will this be on my stomach?
If this is your first pregnancy it maybe a little hard to imagine
what you will feel like at 8 months pregnant, but roughly it is
like someone has placed a basketball inside your belly. It isn't
very flexible, doesn't like to bend to much and doesn't like
pressure on it. So the last thing you want is something that cuts
across your belly.
The good news is that you don't have to spend a fortune on you
maternity wardrobe. By carefully selecting some basic mix and
match items you can keep your budget in check. Recommended must
have basics would be one or two pairs of comfortable pants, a
skirt - length dependant on personal preference, and depending on
time of year a pair of shorts. For tops you often can get away
with your own for longer then with your pants however eventually
you will require more room. Although it maybe tempting to just
buy larger sizes you will find they look too big around the
shoulders and will be firm around the waist. Maternity tops
generally are designed fuller in the bust area and have longer
front hemlines to allow an even look as your bump expands, so a
couple of Maternity tops and you have your wardrobe set.
Leisa Sanderson
Mother of two. Owner and Operator of Bumps and Bundles -
http://www.bumpsandbundles.com.au
Online article and resource
directory for 'all things maternal' and Bump and Bundles
Maternity - Online retailer of Maternity baby and toddler wear,
and baby gift items.
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