at 33 weeks along, i have finally come to the realization that not only will i need to give in and buy a few more maternity pieces, but i will also have to dramatically alter my wardrobe once the baby arrives! i’ll probably be breast feeding for at least six months (how long do people breast feed for? i don’t even know yet!). and that means that i will need attire that can either be easily pulled down or easily pulled up. so all of those cute mini dresses with high necklines? yeah, those are going to have to retire to my closet for much longer than i realized. instead, i’m going to have to embrace separates in a way that i never have before, and more than that, i think i might need to accept that many of my tops will need to be either stretchy or low-cut. the horror! but i’m glad that i’m figuring that out sooner rather than later because it gives me time to pick up a few pieces of clothing before the big day.
the problem i have with most maternity clothes that i’ve seen is that they all focus on somehow emphasizing your belly. i can’t tell you how many times i’ve seen the exact same button front tunic with an empire drawstring. i’ve also seen many a side-ruched top and plenty of stretchy jersey dresses with impossibly high empire waistlines. i know it’s probably the most practical thing for many women, but it’s just not something i can ever see myself wearing. in fact, i still plan to continue wearing an array of non-maternity wear that will be most practical: button front blouses and pinafore dresses still have easy access. and i’m sure a plain t-shirt and sweatpants is all you really need when you’re going to be spending the entire day indoors with an infant.
but thankfully there are other options. for my entire pregnancy, hatch collection has been on my radar. i haven’t bought anything yet, but now that i’m realizing my needs a bit more, i’m really starting to appreciate their style. the concept behind the clothes is that they are designed to be worn before, during, and after your pregnancy. it’s much more casual that what i might normally wear, but when you’re carrying around an enormous basket ball-sized belly, you’ll begin to understand why comfort suddenly becomes the most important function of your wardrobe. and hatch collection is all about creating fashion-forward basics, so most of the pieces can easily be translated to just about any style. the prices are not as budget-friendly as some, but as i realize that i’ll probably be wearing a lot of this stuff for a long time to come, i don’t mind investing a bit in my comfort and sanity.
