So you’re pregnant, now what?

Something I’ve learnt during the short amount of time I’ve been pregnant is: you simply can’t compare your situation to others. As much as you can consult Google, read blogs and look to the internet for answers, everyone’s journey will be unique.

There’s a couple of things that most people go through, however, and one is the changes your body experiences. Whether you like it or not, you grow!

So what do you do, if like me, you want to hold on to a modicum of fashionable style while trying to deal with various body parts (it’s not just your tummy!) expanding at an exponential rate?

So far I’ve not seen a lot of maternity fashion I like, or love here in Australia so have looked online, and overseas, for options. The main thing I’ve tried to do, so far, is incorporate my wardrobe to fit with the changes taking place, while still trying to be me. Here are some things I’ve been doing:

• Shopping second hand. A valuable tip from a new mum was: Don’t spend $$$ on clothes you might only wear for a couple of months then throw away. That’s not how I dress in the first place, so hitting up Savers and my local Salvos store for stretch dresses has been a godsend – $10 for a flowing TALLULAH dress? Yes please!

• Go up about four sizes. I’m usually an AUS size 10, so have been looking at an AUS 16. I’ve only done this for tops, but at four months pregnant, I’ve got plenty of room to grow into them while still feeling like I look like ‘me’.

• Invest in maternity jeans. Another girlfriend, who’s a new mum, said that she had bought her maternity jeans early on, and then just worked in her own tops, scarves and jackets with them through-out. You might not want to feel the restriction around your belly later in pregnancy, but it means, for as long as you feel comfortable with your ‘belly stretch’, that you only have to dress around the jeans and not buy an entire new outfit.

• Buy a maternity bra. I’m not going to go into the ins-and-outs of this one! Trust me when I say that lingerie is still the most important foundation garment for you, even when pregnant.

If you think about it, these tips could just as easily be followed for times in your life when your body experiences major changes, not just during pregnancy.

I’m beginning a new platform where I’ll be able to bring you content like this, while Lady M carries-on as normal. I was just a bit excited about the announcement yesterday and couldn’t help myself on this one!

I’d love to hear your ideas about where’s good to buy great clothes for pregnancy and beyond, they might just inform future blog posts!