Cute and Comfy? It’s Possible!

When you first get pregnant, you decide that you are absolutely not going to be one of those pregnant women who runs around in stained sweats and t-shirts all the time. You are going to put effort into your appearance. You’ are going to wear only adorable maternity wear and proper shoes and people will admire your ability to find a way to be pregnant and fashionable at the same time, just like all of those pregnant women in sitcoms.

Then your pregnancy progresses and you learn just how uncomfortable pregnancy is. Suddenly wearing the same pair of sweatpants and the same t-shirt every day seems like the only thing you can do. You fight against the feelings of disappointment as you see your dreams of being simultaneously super fashionable and pregnant disappear.

But what if they don’t have to? What if you could be cute and comfortable at the same time? It’s possible! Here are some tips.

Invest in a solid bra. Or a few. It’s okay to start wearing your nursing bras early if you grow more quickly than you thought you would. Nursing bras are incredibly comfortable! If you’re not ready to break in the nursing bra yet, don’t worry. There are a lot of great and adorable bras out there for pregnant women who want to feel pretty from their foundations up. While you’re at it, invest in some good and paneled panties to help provide support.

Spend money on shoes. Yes, your feet are going to swell up. This doesn’t mean that you have to limit your footwear to sandals and flip flops. On the contrary!Most of the cheap flip flops toward which you are likely to gravitate might not have sides to confine your feet, but they also do not offer the right type of support for your knees and hips. It might cost some extra dough but if you’re willing to spend it, you can find shoes that are comfortable, offer the right kind of support and have room for your feet to swell and de-swell as needed. With the right support you might even be able to manage to walk on (low) heels, if that is something you want to do.

Yoga pants are your salvation. Yoga pants are incredibly comfortable. Some people think that they are even more comfortable than sweatpants. They certainly feel better on your skin! Moreover, yoga pants are more fitted whereas sweatpants are baggy and bulky and can actually be uncomfortable during the warmer months. Yoga pants let your skin breathe so they’re easier to deal with when it is hot out. Most importantly, yoga pants are way cuter than sweat pants and you can find maternity yoga pants for very affordable prices!

The empire waist is no longer your enemy! Many women avoid empire waisted dresses because they make even the willowiest women out there look pregnant. You’re already pregnant so why not embrace the only time when an empire waist will actually look flattering on you! Empire waists are great in shirts and dresses because they give your body space while still keeping you covered in beautiful fabric. Unlike more fitted clothing, empire waisted shirts and dresses give you room to move without ever coming close to resembling muumuus.

Wear cute tights and socks. Doctors often tell pregnant women to trade their regular socks and tights for compression clothing. Compression clothing is great for pregnant ladies’ legs. They improve your circulation and help your legs feel more comfortable. Unfortunately the socks and tights your doctor offers are industrial (aka ugly) looking so don’t limit yourself to those samples! Finding cute and affordable maternity compression tights is easy! Treat yourself!

In addition to finding cute clothes that allow you to maintain your desired comfort levels, it is important to treat your body right! Keeping clean and pampering your body can help you feel adorable even if the clothes you wearing aren’t your favorite.

Shower regularly–at least once a day. If you’re a bath person (many pregnant women switch to baths as their centers of gravity start shifting out of fear of slipping in the tub), that’s great! Keep the water cool (very hot baths raise your body temperature too high) and indulge in some high end soaps. Afterwards, make sure to lock in moisture with some creamy lotion–in your favorite scent, of course!

Makeup is your friend! If you like putting on makeup, keep making time for doing that. You’ll feel better sticking to your skincare routine! Makeup is also a great way to mask skin issues that commonly plague pregnant women and lower their self esteem.

There is real truth to the cliche “look good to feel good.” Making time for yourself and attention to your appearance is important!