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Dressing the Bump: Tips and Tricks

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Whoo-hoo! You got a pink line, shared the baby news with friends and family, and are making it through the early pregnancy fatigue and nausea. Now a cute little baby bump is starting to pop out, and while it’s so exciting to see the baby growing, that precious bulge makes getting dressed a little difficult. While you might want to invest in some maternity basics, you don’t want to break the bank for a ton of new clothes you’ll need for only a few months.

I’ve been pregnant twice and in different seasons. I found that with some creativity, I could mix in my current wardrobe items to use while pregnant, so I didn’t have to spend a lot on maternity clothes. Read on for some tips and tricks to help you use items you may already have in your closet when you’re dressing the bump!

Leggings: You can often wear your favorite leggings throughout most of your pregnancy! Leggings are by far my most worn non-maternity piece while pregnant. An oversized t-shirt, tunic or a flowy peplum top looks so cute styled with leggings in the early days. Later on, you may need to size up from your usual size or purchase maternity ones, but they are so easy to wear throughout the whole pregnancy and still feel and look great!

Stretchy dresses: Don’t be afraid to show off your baby bump in a form fitting dress! If the fabric is stretchy, it will grow with your bump and accentuate your new form. If the top of your dress isn’t fitting so great because of a growing chest, or if you simply want more coverage, throw a shirt on top and knot it above your bump. Or pair it with a denim jacket or a cardigan you already have.

Maxi dresses: Flowy maxi dresses are also great for pregnancy! I had my son in July, and I wore maxi dresses all the time in the months leading up to his birth. As a matter of fact, I wore them right up until the day I had him because they were so flowy. If you don’t have many now, you can buy some knowing you will wear them postpartum and beyond.

Oversized blazers and cardigans: This tip really helped me when dressing my bump for work days. I found I could put on a base, like a long, tight tank top or a flowy top I already had, and a blazer would give me the professional look I needed. A duster or other cardigan also works to provide more coverage over the bump. The goal isn’t to hide the bump (pretty much impossible after a while!), but to give a slimming effect and look more pulled together.

Jeans: Okay, I can’t promise you’ll be able to wear your jeans all through your pregnancy, but there are ways you can extend the time you can wear them! Wear your jeans unbuttoned and use a hair tie to loop through the button hole and around the button. You just need to wear a top long enough to cover the button. When that doesn’t work, buy a belly band that you can put over your jeans and still leave them unbuttoned as you grow. I loved wearing my regular jeans as long as possible because I found actual maternity jeans were usually too large for some time.

Button-up tops: These are so versatile throughout pregnancy and come with a bonus: wear now and later for a nursing-friendly top! There are so many ways to style a button-up top! Wear a stretchy, form fitting dress and tie your button-up shirt around your waist, just below your belly. Or, wear it open over your dress or leggings. You can also wear it buttoned, but knot it just above your belly for another cute, bump accentuating look! You may already have some of these tops in your closet, but if you don’t and want to buy some, know they will be something you can comfortably wear later too.

Elastic waistbands: Do you have skirts or pants in your closet with elastic waistbands? These are also easy to wear when pregnant! I had a floral, pleated midi skirt I loved that I could still wear. I tucked a top under it and pulled the skirt up over my bump—such a cute look!  Jogger pants you already own are also a great option that are easy to wear and so comfortable, both during and after pregnancy.

More tips for dressing the bump:

  1. Have a go-to outfit for days when you just don’t know what to wear. You’re going to have mornings where you seem to have blown up overnight, and nothing in your closet is working for you. Be prepared for this moment and have an outfit you know you’ll feel good in at your fingertips. This could depend on the season and your personal style. It may be a black maxi dress with cute sandals and a denim jacket. Another classic pregnancy look is black leggings and a long, tight tank top paired with a kimono or cardigan and booties. I promise it will save you a lot of future heartache if you find a pregnancy uniform that works for you.
  2. When you do need to purchase new things to wear, you don’t always have to go to the maternity section. Try on some regular pieces but just size up one or two sizes. This can save you money, and you may find these pieces will still work for you in the postpartum period too!
  3. Invest in some maternity basics that you know you’ll wear on repeat. I did my best to wear things I already had, but when I was pregnant the second time, I knew there were some maternity essentials I needed to buy. Some maternity pieces I consider must-haves are

These tips will help you utilize your current wardrobe and style pieces you already have in ways that work with your growing baby bump. I hope they help you look and feel great during your pregnancy!

Emily Cline is a freelance writer and instructor of education at a local university. She lives in Lenexa with her husband, son and daughter.

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