what i've learned:: rocking the bump

Over the past 8.5 months, I've really had a lot of fun with the challenge of styling my Silas bump. But I'm not gonna lie, it can be so frustrating and even tears-inducing to stand in front of the closet and feel like nothing fits your growing body anymore. There were several times I broke down in tears as I got used to my changing body and the way clothes fit me. I have slowly but surely discovered my style as a pregnant woman (which is really not at all different from my non-pregnant style!) and what things did and did not work. 

Before Silas arrives, I wanted to share what I've learned about maternity style. These are some things that worked for me and I hope they help you in rocking your bump! 

-Purchase a Bella Band (or a Be Band, or other knockoff). I personally like the Target brand- Be Band- the best and it's a bit cheaper than the Bella Band. This will help those jeans and shorts continue to fit when you can no longer zip or button them. I used mine up until about 32 weeks, when it became too much to squeeze into pre-pregnancy/non-stretchy bottoms. 

Bra extenders. These things were life-savers for me. Pregnancy does crazy things to your body and some days I could literally feel my ribs expanding to make room for baby. If you're not quite ready to purchase new bras (ie. the cups still fit, but the bra is tight), you can buy some bra extenders for about $8 at places like Target and Walmart. No more back-ache, hallelujah!

Work with what you've got. Especially in the first trimester, and even second trimester, there's no need to go out and purchase armfuls of maternity wear. At 37 weeks, I'm just getting to the point of consistently wearing the few maternity pieces I bought (I literally have one pair of maternity shorts and three shirts), but I'm still working with about 98% non-maternity clothing. Most of these pieces can be used post-partum and I'm looking forward to re-styling them for my non-pregnant bod!

Some ideas for using what you already have::

Maxi dresses that become too tight (or just don't fit right) can potentially become maxi skirts worn under the belly using these tricks. 

Short dresses you wear in the beginning can be worn as tops later--with shorts, leggings, skinny jeans.

Tanks and tops that are a bit too short can be worn under skirts that come up over the belly. 

I'm constantly flipping through my closet thinking "How else can I wear that besides the obvious?" If you do this, I promise you'll find some great "new" outfits. 

- Accessorize and Experiment. As with any outfit--pregnant or not-- a little accessorizing can go a long way in making you feel not so frumpy. A statement necklace, fedora, floral headband or punchy sandals give personality to your look. And don't be afraid to try new fads or trends. I think pregnancy is a great time to go out on a limb with style. People already think you're an adorable pregnant woman-- you might as well rock those colored skinnies or try out a happy color combo you'd never wear otherwise.

- Wear what makes you feel good. Don't try to squeeze into clothes that no longer fit. When I did this- not only was I uncomfortable, but I felt awful about my growing body. Make sure you are wearing clothes that don't pinch or suffocate you. What works in the beginning may not work as you grow, but be flexible.

For example-- I loved wearing belts to accentuate that belly during the first trimester and into the second. But the third trimester-- no way. The belt got lost between my boobs and belly and was too uncomfortable. Most of my belts have been relocated to a dusty shelf for now.

A few trends I noticed in my own maternity wear::

I often cardigans (short ones worked best!) and vests to frame and highlight my baby belly.

I developed an obsession for stripes on a baby bump and love how they accentuate that ever-growing curve.

As my belly got bigger, I became more and more fond of small prints. Florals, herringbone, and yes, stripes! I found that large prints made me feel huge and overwhelmed me, but small prints added the punch I wanted.

And when all else failed, I went to Pinterest and searched some variation of "maternity style" to gather inspiration. So many beautiful and stylish mamas out there!

So, friends, what worked for you in your own maternity style? Let's keep the tips flowing in the comments below!

  lindsay