How to Dress For Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting experiences that a woman can go through, but whilst there are thousands of books on the subject, they are usually more concerned with topics such as health of mother and baby, pre and post-pregnancy issues, labour and the run up to giving birth. Often overlooked is an issue which actually affects many women - how to dress during pregnancy?

Maternity dressing can be a minefield - firstly, adjusting to the changes in your body shape takes some getting used to. It can be disconcerting to find that you just don't know what to wear anymore; your old clothes may no longer fit, the maternity clothing you've seen may not suit your lifestyle. How you'll need to adjust will depend on a few things - bump size being the most obvious one but other bodily changes, such as breast size or fluid retention around the ankles will also need to be accommodated. However, it doesn't need to be this way. New fabric technologies mean you won't be restricted to just Lycra or tent dresses, and many fashion companies have developed maternity ranges to suit all styles.

Bump - to show or not to show? It's down to personal preference whether you want to show off your bump or not - some women find the idea horrendous, whilst others love the way it looks. There's no right or wrong way to dress it, except to stick to the rule that you should be comfortable. The great thing is that lots of shops now have maternity ranges that whilst encouraging comfort, still look fashionable. Well known high street names such as New Look now offer a stylish range of maternity clothes. If you want to hide your bump, wear tops and dresses that skim it - floaty jerseys, cottons and silks look best. However, do make sure that these items aren't completely shapeless; just choose to emphasise something else. Empire line shapes which draw a line under the bust are great for this. If you want to show off your bump, make sure your tops and trousers have high lycra content so that they stretch comfortably over the bump.

Remember to keep your clothing simple. Fussy clothing can be difficult to carry off even when you're not pregnant, and it's doubly hard if you are. Lots of bells and whistles and frills will usually have the effect of making you look bigger than you are, and will probably make you feel uncomfortable too - for example it's rather frustrating to be wearing a shirt with lots of buttons if you're susceptible to hot flushes and will eventually need to take it off. If you feel like the outfit needs a little pizzazz, add extra details by using accessories. Statement necklaces, gorgeous bracelets, great shoes - these will provide the personal accents needed and the great thing is, your old trinkets will still fit!