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Obviously the most noticeable change in pregnancy is the weight gain and the emergence of the sweet little baby bump. Besides being a time fraught with new, shall we say, ‘bodily functions’, pregnancy is also a time when women seem to develop an entirely new list of ‘must haves’ in order to get them through the days. How quickly we go from having four-inch sky high stilettos on our list of ‘cannot live without’ to desperately clinging to enormous noodle shaped pillows and flat shoes with elastic give.
But none of this means that we can’t still be sexy and confident as ever. As I near the end of my second trimester, I’m sharing my new ‘must have’ list of things that have helped me navigate this stage of my life.
Here’s how I’ve been cladding my bod for the past 27 weeks.
Yes. This is an entire brand that I now adore. Perfect for weekends, DIY projects, grocery shopping and the like, this pregnancy and nursing sweater is super soft, comes in a variety of colours and has the exact right amount of support for those days when you feel like your bump is growing like gangbusters. I have it in a soft teal colour, but will be looking to expand my selection once Baby arrives. The doubled-down front means it’s perfect for discreet nursing and easy access too. If you are going to invest in a few casual pieces, I definitely recommend at least looking at Boob Design.
Also in the double duty category (and yes, also referred to as the Double D category), I can no longer live without this nursing bra from Thyme Maternity. A little bit of style, a little bit of lace, a whole lot of support for the growing and changing girls and an awesome price point. I have a couple of these now and will invest in a couple more once Baby arrives and my girls double down in size again with milk production. They have an easy access clasp and a built in nursing pad holder. Plus, pink. I mean, come on.
I was never really a belt person before. But once I got pregnant, I realized the value of having something that accentuated the only waist I had left. For those of you sporting early baby bumps, your ‘waist’ will become that tiny space between your under boob and the top of your bump. With plenty of stretch and snap-up clasps, skinny belts on plain ruched t-shirts, sleeveless dresses, or even over cardigans, up your style quotient and enhance your bump without making you look bigger than you are. Just do it. You’ll love it.
After my twelfth week of pregnancy, I put my stilettos back on my shelf and said ‘goodbye for now’. Since then, I’ve invested in a few pairs of inexpensive flats that suit my style (a white leather pair, a navy and cream stripe and a bejewelled gladiator style.) All of them have one thing in common - elastic around the opening. When my feet started to swell, I was ever so thankful to be able to put them comfortably into my shoes.
As I’ve learned, pregnancy has a tendency to expand your ‘assets’, and as such, some women feel the need to bring attention back up to their face. I am loving the look of a solid colour shift dress or t-shirt, with a giant chunky necklace to draw the eye up and away from my enormous knockers. A nice alternative if you aren’t a necklace kinda gal, is to invest in a few fun scarves that you can use to stay warm and accessorize all at once. Focus on my glowing face, people!!
I’m sure I’m missing out on some fabulous pregnancy fashions too! What have you loved through your ‘bump’ days? I’d love to know!
Erin Trafford is a former radio and television broadcast journalist turned DIY blogger; who's obsessed with all things paint and power tools. She's made over entire rooms for less than $500, is frequently seen hauling dilapidated furniture off the curb, and is incredibly proud of the day she decided to nail her old back yard fence to her basement wall.
She love dogs, cats, Han Solo and pie – probably in that order. Erin and her (incredibly patient) husband Dan bought their little house by the sea in 2013, just outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia. They have been working tirelessly since then to turn it into a castle, one project and one blog post at a time. You can find all their bloggy and house adventures over at DIY Passion. This year they are adding a baby into the blogging and DIY mix, expecting the arrival of their first child in the Fall.