Getting dressed in pregnancy can feel surprisingly hard. Your jeans stop doing up, your favourite dresses get shorter at the front, and by the third trimester you want everything to feel soft. The good news is that you don't need a whole new wardrobe.... A handful of well chosen pieces, mixed with what you already own, will carry you through!
Here's how to dress for comfort and style through each trimester, with a few tips from our osteopath about looking after your body at the same time.
First trimester: work with what you have
Most people don't need maternity clothes yet, but you might start to feel bloated and want less pressure around your waist.
- Choose relaxed waistbands, wrap dresses and stretchy fabrics.
- A hair tie looped through your buttonhole buys you a few more weeks in your favourite jeans.
- Soft, supportive bras help, as breast tenderness is often one of the first changes.
- Long, loose layers are great if you're not ready to share your news.
Second trimester: invest in your key pieces
This is usually when your bump appears and you'll get the most wear from maternity pieces. Focus on a few versatile basics:
- A great pair of maternity tights or leggings that go over your bump. They pair with dresses, long shirts, jumpers and blazers, from the office to the park.
- Stretchy midi and maxi dresses. Ribbed knits and jersey grow with you.
- Longline tops and oversized shirts that cover your bump and can be worn open later.
- Bike shorts under dresses in warmer weather to stop thigh chafing.
Third trimester: comfort comes first
Your bump is heavier, your feet may swell, and bending down to put on shoes becomes a challenge.
- Choose soft, breathable fabrics and layers you can take off as you heat up.
- Slip-on shoes save you a lot of bending.
- Look for gentle support under and around your bump, which many people find more comfortable as the weight grows.
- Choose tops that open at the front, so they'll work for feeding later too.
An osteopath's tips for dressing your changing body
Shoes matter more than you think
As your bump grows, your center of gravity moves forward and relaxin loosens your ligaments, so your balance and your back are working harder. Supportive, flat or low-heeled shoes with a good grip are kinder to your back, pelvis and feet. Some people find their feet grow half a size in pregnancy, so don't squeeze into shoes that are too tight.
Choose waistbands that support, not squeeze
Tight waistbands that dig in under your bump can be uncomfortable and restrict your breathing. Look for wide, soft bands that sit over or smoothly under your bump.
Help your legs on long days
Swelling in the feet and ankles is common in pregnancy, especially in hot weather or after long periods on your feet. Graduated compression is designed to be firmer at the ankle and gentler higher up, which many people find helps their legs feel lighter and less achy. Read more in our guide to swelling in pregnancy. Sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet can be a sign of a serious condition called pre-eclampsia, so contact your midwife or doctor straight away if that happens.
Sit down to get dressed
Standing on one leg to pull on pants or tights can flare pelvic girdle pain. Sit on the edge of your bed or a chair instead. It's a small change that many of our patients notice straight away.
How Continuall fits into your pregnancy wardrobe
We designed our pregnancy supportwear because we couldn't find anything that looked good and felt supportive. Our pregnancy tights and shorts are designed with gentle support for your bump, hips and legs, and they work just as well under a dress for a wedding as they do on a walk. Our support socks are an easy option for tired feet on long days.
Many people also keep wearing their pregnancy pieces in the early weeks after birth, then move into our postpartum supportwear as their body changes again.
Easy outfit ideas
- Work: maternity tights, a knit midi dress and a long open blazer.
- Weekend: support tights, an oversized shirt, a denim jacket and sneakers.
- Warm days: a jersey dress with bike shorts underneath and supportive sandals.
- Special events: a stretch wrap dress, sheer supportive tights and a low block heel.
- Hospital bag: a soft front-opening top, high-waisted postpartum support pants and slip-on shoes.
The bottom line
Buy a few key pieces that stretch, support and layer, choose comfortable shoes, and let comfort lead as your pregnancy goes on. You deserve to feel like yourself, bump and all.
This article is general information only. If you have pain, significant swelling or any concerns during pregnancy, please speak with your midwife, GP or obstetrician.
