What I Wish I Knew About Dressing Comfortably During Pregnancy and After

When I found out I was pregnant with my first, I had all these romanticized ideas about my style: the effortless bump-friendly dresses, the cute oversized button-downs, the matching loungewear sets. What I didn’t know was how much your body changes during pregnancy and long after. I wish someone had told me that dressing for that in-between stage (pregnant, postpartum, nursing, fluctuating sizes) is an entire journey of its own.

Now, two kids later (and plenty of “nothing fits” moments behind me), I’m breaking down everything I actually learned about getting dressed during pregnancy and the year(s) after.

Comfortable pregnancy outfits

1. Your Style Doesn’t Have to Disappear But It Will Shift

In the beginning, I thought I had to completely reinvent my wardrobe. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to stop being you, you just have to adapt. I lived in my oversized crewnecks and bike shorts during the first trimester, then gradually shifted into bump-hugging dresses and stretchy yoga pants as things grew. The key was finding ways to feel like myself in clothes that didn’t make me constantly tug or adjust- here are a few of my amazon favs:

2. Invest in Basics That Grow With You

Everyone says “stock up on maternity jeans,” but honestly? The real heroes were:

• Black seamless leggings

• One really soft ribbed tank dress

• Long cardigans

• Button-downs (for later, when nursing was involved)

4. Postpartum Bodies Are Not “Back to Normal” and That’s OK

Even after your baby is born, your body is still very much in transition. I wish I’d had more stretchy, forgiving pieces that weren’t technically “maternity,” but still worked for the soft, squishy months. A few staples I lived in:

• Flowy matching lounge sets

• Soft pajama pants that worked for both day and night

• Oversized tees (bonus if they made me feel cute in the chaos)

If I Could Tell Newly Pregnant Me One Thing

Don’t rush to figure out your style again. You don’t lose your identity, you just evolve. You’ll get dressed again, you’ll feel confident again, and you’ll surprise yourself with how resourceful (and stylish) you can still be in the middle of all the changes.

If you're a pregnant or postpartum mom reading this, know this: you’re not alone, and you don’t need a whole new closet to feel at home in your body. Just a few smart, comfortable, feels-like-me pieces can go a long way.