https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 05 Apr 2026 02:43:33 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-1268221 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:31:24 +0000 Thistle 1268221@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I second Angie on the feet swelling!&nbsp; Half of my sandals just don't fit anymore, particularly the strappy ones I love so well.</p> <p>I love lounging in maxi dresses. Cool, comfortable, and no pressure over the tummy. </p> <p>Trying to figure out how to get dresses to work at work, too (darn you arctic AC!). They are just perfect on a tummy, and easy too&nbsp;:) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-1268168 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 13:59:20 +0000 rute 1268168@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great post, but I'm glad I don't need this information anymore ;)&nbsp;</p> <p>I could have used it some years ago, I was not stylish at all when pregnant!&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-1268153 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 13:41:11 +0000 Anonymous 1268153@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Patience, you are spot-on with all this advice. Personally, I find the late second trimester much easier to dress than early on, when I just look chubby instead of pregnant. ;)&nbsp;</p> <p>My only other advice: Buy some bigger, stretchier&nbsp;pajamas and lounge wear! It's easy area to neglect, but I personally feel (and rest) better when there's nothing straining against the bump or cutting into my hips. You'll keep using&nbsp;the larger size for at least a&nbsp;few months after giving birth anyway.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-1268089 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 12:39:37 +0000 ann 1268089@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is so helpful! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-96085 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:58:52 +0000 anne 96085@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Patience - it was a beautiful, detailed post. Which I had seen it during my preggers days; I would have been much more stylish! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-96082 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:53:32 +0000 kimlee 96082@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Patience - Thank you so much for this post. The hubby and I are going shopping this weekend, as the number of items that fit me properly is dwindling day by day. I will be printing off this post and referring to it as we shop. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-96081 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:49:15 +0000 Patience 96081@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm so tickled that all of you liked the post. It's as good as getting a killer rating on an outfit and I'm smiling from ear to ear. Thank you.</p> <p>Thank you, Angie and Shana for pushing dresses, shoes, accessories and coats.</p> <p>Dresses - Dresses really are ideal and easy.</p> <p>Shoes - I will definitely speak more to this when I finish the third trimester. I guess I didn't focus on it too much because my experience has been that swelling is more a third trimester thing and I have always had minor swelling only at the end of the day. My feet also tend to shrink lengthwise in pregnancy if they change at all which I'm doubtful of. I will admit that with my son, I just wore sneakers for the last 1-2 months because I had issues with with my arches. This was pre-YLF and I've now got a much better toolbox to deal with such issues. </p> <p>Accessories - I can't believe I forgot to mention them. And I just treated myself to this for fall:</p> <p><a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3065540?Category=&#038;Search=True&#038;SearchType=keywordsearch&#038;keyword=barse+in+All+Categories&#038;origin=searchresults" rel="nofollow">http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....rchresults</a></p> <p>Coats - I'm going to have to defer to others on this one since like Shana all my babies are fall babies (yay!) and I live in a warm climate. A jacket or wrap cardigan has always been sufficient.</p> <p>Going back to regular jackets and fit, I realized that I have a little test as to whether it works or not. If I can comfortably hold a jacket closed at that narrowest part of my torso without anything looking or feeling too weird, it passes. Of course, I still wear the jacket open.</p> <p>Sandy, I am still wearing my blue dress. I expect it will last me till the end and beyond. My husband always calls me his blueberry when I wear it though. ;P</p> <p>Ruchi,<br /> 1. If you are at the beginning of your 2nd trimester I would definitely allow room for growth in the bust. Since you have been pregnant before, you should have a good guess as to how large you will become. My personal experience is that I grow one cup size before baby and end up a second cup size right after. However, this is distributed by going up 1 cup and 1 band total. Normally I'm kind in between xs and small but most often go with xs. Once pregnant I go for the small and sometimes medium.<br /> 2. The short answer is that a pencil skirt is probably not practical for sitting on the floor. However, if you are willing to sit on your heels, this is actually really good for circulation (swelling and varicose veins) and digestion. I still think it's worthwhile to get a denim pencil skirt but make sure it's really stretchy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-96005 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:15:36 +0000 Ruchi 96005@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>**hugs**Thank you for taking the time to write such a comprehensive post.I have also started showing quite early this time around.I had stopped wearing a top that was fitted below the bust as it made me look pregnant.But now its looks good with the growing baby bump.I will look for some comfortable footwear as my current selection of sandals don't feel so comfortable anymore.I have become a fan of jersey skirts.It drapes well and is really comfortable.<br /> I have two questions for you.<br /> 1.I have been looking for dresses but am unsure whether the current fit will accomodate my growing bust.<br /> 2. I have to sit on the floor a lot with my son at the library.Will a denim pencil skirt work?Pardon me for asking a silly question.I have recently started wearing skirts on a regular basis.</p> <p>Ruchi </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-95998 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:59:27 +0000 taylor 95998@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>WOW...I could have used your insight 27 years ago!!!</p> <p>VERY, VERY well done!!!! No wonder you are such an adorable and stylish mommy to be!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-95995 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:54:40 +0000 Anonymous 95995@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fabulous info Patience. I wish I had this way back when I was going through pregnancy. I just love how women accentuate the bump now. We used to hide it and looked like little girls in ruffles and bows.<br /> Patience, are you still wearing the beautiful blue dress you wore when we went to Gruene TX. That was amazing on you and your adorable pregnant shape. I love it and I know you still turn heads even pregnant because you accentuate the positive. And because you are so beautiful!!!<br /> It's really good to hear women enjoying having a pregnant body! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-95985 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:43:32 +0000 shana 95985@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great tips, Patience! The second trimester is the time to glow. By this point you've told people (or it's obvious) about your pregnancy; for most women, the morning sickness and nausea is over and the hormones make you feel great, the bump is small &amp; cute and you don't feel like a lumbering giant just yet so it's just a great time to celebrate your body and your new curves. </p> <p>Both my children were born in fall/early winter so my second trimesters were in the summer months. I wore lots of dresses (maternity &amp; non-maternity) and sandals - I did have to get a pair half a size bigger than my normal shoe size. I liked tops that featured side ruching so that they still defined the belly (rather than hanging like a tent off of it) but allowed for some room to grow. Remember accessories for special occasions! I had two formal sort of affairs to attend in my 8th month and I was able to get away with two simple inexpensive dresses that I picked up at Old Navy - I just jazzed them up with fabulous statement jewelry. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-95962 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:14:16 +0000 medusa 95962@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Patience, this is interesting! I don't have any tips myself, but thanks for posting this. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-95956 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:00:11 +0000 Angie 95956@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Patience, you ROCK. Thank you so much. This is KILLER information. </p> <p>I’ve noticed that feet swell too so you might need a little collection of new shoes. Wooohooo! Don’t forget to wear accessories either. </p> <p>I’m helping a pregnant client look her best at the moment too. It’s a fun body type to work with :0). We are sticking to frocks, boots and coats over the next three months. A great look for anyone, and especially a pregnant lass. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maternity-second-trimester-tips#post-95874 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:02:01 +0000 Patience 95874@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Second trimester style is a little tricky for two reasons.<br /> 1. Some women won't really show much at all till the end of the trimester. Some women go through an awkward stage of looking like they are carrying some extra weight around the middle rather than pregnant and other women have a well defined bump from the very beginning.<br /> 2. Your perceptions about your body will be changing a lot over this trimester. When you look at your reflection in the mirror, your focus will start to shift from your face and your overall look to your torso-- chest and belly. At the beginning of the trimester you may still be buying and tempted by regular clothes but by the end you may not want to even look at regular clothes. Keep in mind that this means you will be adjusting to a new body image which can be a struggle.</p> <p>With my first child, I didn't show much in the second trimester and went through the awkward stage at the end. With my son and this baby, I have had a well defined bump all along. So here is my break down for what has worked for me over the second trimester.</p> <p>Angie says sleek is better for the pregnant body. I agree, and in particular I think there are two areas that you can highlight to accomplish this task. Ideally you should always try to define at least one of these star areas and preferably both.<br /> 1. That area underneath the bust and at the top of your belly-- your new waist. This is the smallest part of your torso, so flaunt it. Even if you don't feel like it's all that small, it will be relative to your belly and chest.<br /> 2. The curve on the underside of your belly. This helps to define your belly as a cute pregnant bump.</p> <p>In light of these two basic principles here are my tips for second trimester style.<br /> - Watch your posture! Chances are you are starting to recover from morning sickness when you were often hunched over with nausea. It's good for your back and helps keep that narrow part of your torso visible. The idea is to avoid having your breast just resting on your belly by the time you get to the third trimester.<br /> - Get a new bra if necessary-- by the end of the trimester you will probably have experienced some natural enhancement.<br /> - Highlight your growing chest. Cleavage is inevitable if it wasn't before so you might as well embrace it. Busty women already know the tricks. I'm not busty usually so I can't really speak to this too much but I hope everyone can have a positive attitude about it.<br /> - Correct me if I'm wrong but my theory is that pregnant women can get away with more tight fitting clothes. Obviously, you want to be appropriate, but I think showing off the shape of your hips, behind, or a little cleavage is somehow counterbalanced by having a belly. And it also seems to be a natural manifestation of your current state.<br /> - Tops - I used a mixture of regular and maternity tops during my second trimester. Look for those that are fitted below the bust, below the belly (banded bottoms) or both. I also like to start looking for tunic length tops because I know that by the third trimester, no top will seem long enough especially when the fitted ones seem to ride up all the time. Non maternity tunics also provide a wider selection.<br /> - Dresses - I'm finding that dresses with fuller skirts don't work as well as straighter skirts. Having lots of fabric hanging from your belly makes for a more bulky look<br /> - Skirts are tricky because I really think you want to be defining the under curve of your belly. Pencil skirts seem to work as well as a skirt that drapes well enough to show the curve. This is the reason I like my jersey skirt. Even though it's rather full, it's very light and drapes close to my hips.<br /> - Stretch is your friend. No matter where it is it makes garments more comfortable and more fitted or sleek.<br /> - Pants - I find that I have to go up a size in pants during my pregnancy, towards the end of the second trimester. You will probably want to stick with sleek styles and be sure to pay close attention to leg line. A growing belly means visually lengthening your torso so you will need to compensate in the leg line.<br /> - Jackets and cardigans-- I've heard that the general rule of thumb is that you can wear regular jackets and cardigans, but I think you have to be careful about this. Don't forget that your bust is also growing so you may at least have to size up. I haven't worn too many jackets and cardigans this summer but going through my closet some of my jackets and cardigans look a little too shrunken on my growing belly. Plus, they're uncomfortable because they tend to tilt forward at the neck and shoulders as they are forced open to allow for my belly. Since I have broad shoulders, I'm finding going up a size works for me. Also, the unfitted styles (but still tailored through the shoulders) like trapeze give my belly a little more room.<br /> - Get some maternity work out wear if you've outgrown your regular stuff. I actually find that I can just get regular yoga pants a size up because they are stretchy and usually low rise. Then get some exercise like walking. It will help you feel good, help with digestion, prepare you for birth and make you think about your posture.<br /> - If you have a special occasion and want to make do with something less dressy than you would normally wear simply because you don't want to purchase for one time use, consider having your hair professionally styled for the occasion and go all out with make up. It occurred to me (from Angie) that your hair can really take the ensemble up a notch for these situations.<br /> - Make sure you have some really cushy shoes. Your feet will be supporting a lot more weight in a short period of time and they need a break at least sometimes. Having the right shoes can also help your posture.</p> <p>I feel like this is not at all comprehensive so please jump in and add your own tips </p>