Finding clothes that are comfortable and stylish throughout the pregnancy period is a challenge for many expectant women in Kenya. In most cases, they look for outfits that will fit the growing belly from the first to the third trimester. This may be easy on the budget but can be a challenge. You could decide to invest in pregnancy clothes per trimester to ensure that you always have outfits that suit your body.
First Trimester
For most women, the pregnancy bump can barely be seen in this trimester which allows you to still wear your normal clothes comfortably. However, it is advisable to select clothing that flows over your body to cover areas such as the hips, thighs and belly that tend to increase in size as you begin to gain weight. If – like most working women in Kenya – your wardrobe if filled with fitting suits, you may need to invest in some loose-fitting clothing.
Second Trimester
The practice for most women here in Kenya is to begin to prepare for the arrival of the baby during this trimester, which means that cash might be constrained as one keeps aside money to buy things and for the actual delivery within a medical facility. However, you will still need to invest in maternity clothes as your belly will grow bigger every few weeks. To stay within your budget it is advisable to buy clothes that can accommodate your growing baby belly such as wrap dresses and comfortable skirts or trousers that have an elastic band at the waist. There are both new and second-hand vendors available in the market today with a wide variety of clothing to choose from. Investing in several tops allows you to pair them up with some choice bottoms (skirts/trousers with elastic waist-bands) thus keeping you looking good.
Third Trimester
As the final stretch begins, you are probably uncomfortable because of the weight you are carrying around. In this trimester, it is advisable to invest in loose-fitting clothes such as maxi dresses or “Deras” which can easily fall over your belly eliminating the need to fasten buttons or zippers. These clothes also come in handy after delivery as you can wear them while working on shedding off pregnancy weight.
