What I Wear the Most While Pregnant
Think comfy basics and lots of outfit repeats. Plus, a *really* good dupe (that's perfect for postpartum) and the two romantasy books I'm reading next.
Somehow, I’m already nearing the end of my third pregnancy. Time feels both extremely fast and achingly slow, especially when my day-to-day is mostly chasing around a toddler (a lot of waddling is involved). I’ve been wanting to share a few pregnancy-specific newsletters before we’re in newborn land (very soon), but I, of course, waited until the last minute, so crossing fingers I can at least get this one out before I go into labor.
Before we get into it, I know that pregnancy can be a sensitive topic for many (it still is a sensitive topic for me, to be honest), so if you’re feeling too triggered to read further, please skip!
In this newsletter, I’ll be discussing my favorite things to wear while pregnant. In the next, I’ll share some other random pregnancy go-to’s. In both, we’ll discuss what I’m reading, too (romance, not pregnancy books).
These are not must-have lists—in fact, round-ups like that stress me out. If you’re newly pregnant, know that there’s absolutely nothing that you must do/buy/use. My purpose here is to simply share all the things I personally love during this time as a third-time preggo lady. I love reading about what other women gravitate towards while pregnant (and postpartum) too, so hopefully this newsletter serves as a bit of inspiration if you’re in the trenches with me.
I’ll start by emphasizing: getting dressed while pregnant is extremely difficult for me, both physically and mentally. Especially now, when my belly has stretched beyond capacity, I’m finding it increasingly hard to put together outfits. Having a few staples that I can rely on not only keeps me sane, but makes me feel better about my changing body, too.
As always, let me know your thoughts—what you loved during pregnancy, favorite brands and styles, etc. And if you have any questions, I’d love to answer!
COMFY PANTS (& SHORTS)
The first one is a softball because I have an entire newsletter dedicated to my love of pants with an elastic or tie waist. Read here for a full in-depth analysis, but I thought I’d share the pants I’ve been wearing the most, especially this late in pregnancy.
Donni’s baby rib scallop pants: If a softer, more comfy pant exists, I’d love to know. They can be dressed up, too, which makes them even better.
Le Bon Shoppe’s balloon pants: Technically sweatpants, but with a more interesting silhouette. I tend to pair them with elevated pieces like ballet flats and a buttoned shirt.
Donni’s cargo poplin pants: I swear, these are the most underrated Donni pants. I can’t stop wearing them! I recently bought the black, knowing I’ll live in them postpartum, too.
As a general sizing rule (for myself), I tend to buy all of my comfy pants in my pre-pregnancy size. They’re usually pretty forgiving in the waist and will stretch with you as you grow.
Shorts! I wore them a ton in my last two pregnancies (see above!), both of which were mostly in the summer. I lived in loose, boxer-type styles (Deiji Studios were my favorite, though I feel like most brands have a great boxer now). The key here is a really stretchy waistband, one that will accommodate a growing belly and then fold over for an equally comfy style after birth.
SIZED-UP TEES
Whereas I tend to stick with my pre-pregnancy size for comfy pants, I throw those rules out the window for t-shirts. I spend a lot of time in tees though, so for me, it made sense to invest in a couple of my top favorites in one size up. During pregnancy, they fit true to size (and usually don’t cover the belly by the end, but that’s okay!)—and after, they’ll be just slightly oversized, which is exactly what I want to wear postpartum anyway.
The tees I bought one size up: Leset Margo, Perfect White Tee Harley, and a couple Donni jersey long sleeves (here and here).
MATERNITY CLOTHES
This feels like a no-brainer, but I know a lot of women try to avoid maternity clothing. I get it—it can be wasteful and expensive, but when you’re in the thick of it (and especially into third trimester), it feels so good to wear materials that are not only stretchy enough to fit over a (large) belly, but also hug and support you in all the right places. They’re perfect for postpartum, too. The key for me was investing in super basic pieces (most of which are from previous pregnancies, so I’ve had for years) that can pair with my regular, non-maternity wardrobe as seamlessly as possible.
The categories I invest in specifically:
Leggings: I’ve probably tried every maternity legging that exists, most of which aren’t great. Through all of my pregnancies, it has been hard to find pairs that don’t gap in the crotch, stay above the belly, and aren’t super restricting. The only ones that check all the right boxes for me are Beyond Yoga, CRZYOGA (Amazon link), and a really old Girlfriend Collective pair that they no longer make.
Onesies: The most comfortable garment to wear while pregnant is undoubtedly a onesie/jumpsuit (and yes, you have to strip all the way down to pee, but worth it). I tend to wear them on their own around the house, but add a shirt or sweater when out. Bumpsuit’s version is topnotch, somehow unrestrictive and supportive at the same time, but I also think this $24 Target one is just as good, if not better. Beyond Yoga’s is another favorite, ideal for long walks or prenatal yoga classes.
Tees: This Target three-pack has been a staple for when I need something long enough to cover my full belly (and I’ve had them for years so they last awhile, too). I size up since they’re quite fitted, but really appreciate their stretch and overall quality. Target also makes a great boatneck.
OVERSIZED BUTTONED SHIRTS
Oversized buttoned shirts are a staple in my non-pregnant wardrobe—truly what I wear the most in my day-to-day—and I love that I can still wear my favorites throughout pregnancy, knowing they’ll fit well and look good. They’re also so perfect for postpartum/breastfeeding, too. I almost always buy men’s shirts, especially vintage Ralph Lauren (from ebay or etsy) and Mango (I’ve worn the same Mango Men’s linen shirts for years). For sizing, I still opt for large (or better yet, extra large) because I want it to look almost obscenely oversized. In women’s, Gap’s Big Shirt is my favorite, followed very closely by Donni’s shirting and Sezane’s. I size up in all. Go big or go home.
OVERALLS
While I probably should’ve opted for maternity overalls, I still got a lot of mileage out of my favorite non-pregnancy pairs, even when I needed to unbutton the sides (totally acceptable, in my opinion). My favorites have been Carhartt, which I’ve had for years, and a random Free People pair that I stumbled across in store.
NIGHTGOWNS
I haven’t worn a ton of dresses this pregnancy, though I lived in them in my previous two. This time around, I’ve gravitated toward loose, cotton nightgowns, specifically by If Only If Nightwear (the Harling Ross Anton collaboration is so good) and Eileen West (especially this one as seen in a shoot from my last pregnancy). I love that the IOI ones tie at the neck (aka breastfeeding friendly!). They make for really great swim cover-ups, too.
SWEATERS/SHIRTS TIED AROUND THE WAIST
As you can see from nearly every selfie I’ve included here, I almost always wear a shirt or sweater tied around my waist. I do this for several reasons. For one, if I’m wearing an elastic-waist pant, the tied shirt acts as a belt, holding the pants up if they want to roll down. Two, it discreetly covers a belly support band, which I wear often. And three, it defines the waist, while also acting as a visual distraction in case I want more of my lower half covered.
COMPRESSION SOCKS + SNEAKERS
I have zero shame about my love of compression socks, which I wear more regularly than any other garment on this list. I mostly wear them under pants, so that you can’t tell they’re knee-high. I tend to swell, especially at the end of pregnancy, so anything I can do to lessen the severity is high priority. Hot tip: most pilates grip socks have a good amount of compression in them, so they’ll work in a pinch (and look much cuter).
My favorite compression socks here and here (Amazon links).
SIZED-UP JEANS
For me, this mostly applied to the first half of pregnancy, but I love getting a few pairs of my favorite denim in a size or two up. Not only do they feel great with an expanding belly, but they’re also ideal for postpartum. I don’t go near my pre-pregnancy denim during this time (and if I have one piece of advice, it’s: DON’T GO NEAR THEM EITHER!). This is not the time to be squeezing in stuff that doesn’t fit. And even sized-up jeans will eventually not button—for that, I used one of these or just left them unbuttoned below the belly.
I always look to Levi’s first, not only because they have my favorite styles (I did a full round-up here), but also because they’re usually on sale. For nicer jeans at a higher price point, I love Amo and Agolde.
I didn’t do maternity jeans this time around because I haven’t had much luck in the past, but my best friend loved these Mango ones for her pregnancy. I’ve also heard great things about Ilouity, but haven’t tried them myself.
Linking to everything noted above here, in case that’s easier to navigate!
If you made it this far, I’ve got a real treat for you. I (like many) am a huge fan of the Negative Underwear whipped collection. I wear the bras everyday (they’re my top top top favorite) and live in the pajamas most nights (henley and pants). The price point is fairly high for lounge (I’ve bought all of mine during sales), so the items feel more precious to me—which means I’ll be avoiding them during postpartum. Staining them with milk (and who knows what else) would truly break my heart.
I recently discovered that Aerie makes a really good dupe of the collection, so I stocked up for post-birth. Let me tell you, it’s incredible—soft and stretchy and just so comfortable. I’ve only washed them a few times so far, so I can’t comment on the longevity yet (whereas my Negative styles have been worn and washed a hundred times and still look great), but I’ve found that Aerie products in general are quite sturdy. The best part? I won’t mind when they get destroyed in the postpartum period.
Here’s what I got: bras (they are 10/10), shorts, pants, henley, boy short undies, and a few tanks. While you’re on Aerie, don’t forget to toss these sweatpants (and these ones, too) into your cart.
(I normally would never support a big brand duping a small one, but I’m justifying this for postpartum, knowing that I’ll go back to my favorite NU pieces after.)
[If you’re reading on email, the rest of the newsletter will likely cut off, but just click through at the bottom to read the full post!]
Thanks to an intense bout of nesting, I sadly haven’t been able to read as much as I normally would, instead focusing on annoying tasks like cleaning out the pantry and folding a hundred pairs of tiny socks.
I did read the newest Emily Henry, which I thoroughly enjoyed, despite a lot of people complaining about how different it felt than her other books. I’m all for authors evolving, so I didn’t mind. The heart and beauty of her storytelling is still there, which makes it a worthy read in my book. Plus, I personally love reading about writers!
Up next, I have two romantasies on loan:
Silver Elite by Dani Francis: This debut dystopian fantasy received lots of chatter in the book world thanks its unconventional release earlier this month. The *new* author chose to remain anonymous (supposedly writing under a pen name) and yet the publisher spent a ton of resources and effort on the book’s release, even including spray edges on the hardcover, which is usually only spared on seasoned authors. Because of this, many believe the author to be a well-established bestseller (unconfirmed). It’s all very mysterious. Anyway, I just started it, so I’ll report back soon, but I haven’t read a dystopian romantasy (same genre as Divergent) in so long. Read the synopsis here.
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry: I’ve read many Devney Perry romances (remember my cowboy era?), so I was excited to learn she’s dipping her toes into fantasy for the first time. I’ve heard mostly good things about the new release, so I’m looking forward to getting into it after Silver Elite. Synopsis here. And note that it’s on Kindle Unlimited.
Thanks so much for reading. I know that I don’t publish regularly, but I truly appreciate every subscription, like, and comment. In between posts, you can always find me on instagram (janellletaylor)!
*I occasionally use affiliate links and will receive a small percentage of a sale linked through this newsletter. For books, I always advocate to borrow from the library (Libby!) or buy in your local bookstore. If you’d like to buy online, consider bookshop.org
Hi Janelle! Substack sent me an email with recommended posts and this was one of them. I was pleasantly surprised to see it was you! I used to follow you on IG years ago (I’m not on it much anymore)! This post is truly inspirational and SO helpful. I’m pregnant with baby #4 and my body has changed so much. And for some reason, each pregnancy and postpartum it’s like I don’t know how to dress myself lol It’s so fun to see how you style everything — I especially love all the donni pants (need some) and tying a sweatshirt around the waist.
I also saw you lost your first baby and I felt so devastated to read your story. But then I immediately thought, “Wow, they’re so strong and brave” since I see you had another baby afterwards and now pregnant again! I can imagine there’s so many triggering things but you are truly inspirational and I will be praying for you daily! There is peace knowing we are participating in God’s will for us and He is never outdone in generosity!
why oh whyyy wasn't I on substack when I was pregnant!