Congratulations! If you are reading this it is likely you are pregnant and anticipating a new addition to your family. You are probably excited to start shopping for your little one. However, if your baby bump is growing you may also need to so some clothes shopping for yourself. Maybe you are excited to dress your baby bump, or maybe you are daunted by the prospect of finding stylish and well-fitted clothes. Either way, a lot of women who are dressing their pregnant body find it difficult to find maternity jeans that look good and fit comfortably.
What to Consider Before Shopping for Maternity Jeans?
Fortunately for you, there are more and more options for affordable and stylish maternity clothes. You don’t even have to leave your house to buy them. Online consignment retailers are becoming increasingly popular, and most only select clothes in good condition from well-known brands. Online retailer swap.com has a whole section devoted to maternity jeans. Shopping for jeans online might also be a good option if the stores near you do not have an extensive maternity section. Be sure that online stores have a flexible return policy, since finding the right jeans for your shape may take a little bit of trial and error.
Finding maternity jeans should be a combination of style and comfort. This is a time to celebrate your body, so make sure you feel confident in your clothes. However, don’t completely forego comfort because pregnancy can be uncomfortable enough. When considering what kind of maternity jeans to buy, keep in mind that your body will continue to change throughout the pregnancy and your jeans might need to change too.
What Makes Maternity Jeans Different?
On the outside, most maternity jeans look like normal jeans. They come in a variety of cuts and washes. So feel free to choose a style that suits you. You might choose to wear the same styles you wore before pregnancy. It might not hurt to make sure your jeans have a little bit of stretch in order to accommodate any weight fluctuations, even if you typically wear 100% denim jeans.
Maternity jeans differ from regular jeans in that there are a variety of methods retailers use to make sure the jeans will fit you and your bump. Your body type, how you are carrying your baby (low or high), and what stage of pregnancy you are in will all work together to determine which solution best suits you.
For your convenience, below is a list of the most common solutions to fit jeans over your baby bump.
Over the Bump
Over the bump jeans are made with a large, soft, stretchy panel that pulls completely over your baby bump. The plus of this style is that the panel helps hold up your pants, and can accommodate your belly throughout the entire pregnancy. Before your bump gets very big, you can just roll the panel down. A negative with this style is that some women might find it either too constricting or too warm. Another con is that if it is dark it can be seen through light colored shirts.
Low Panel
This popular option is simply a low elastic panel that replaces a traditional waistband. It is designed to sit below the belly. A positive is that it feels more like normal jeans than full panel, and can’t be seen through light colored shirts. A negative is that it may produce a muffin top look because of where the elastic cinches in.
Front or Back Panel
You can select jeans with an elastic panel only in the front so that from behind it looks like you have normal jeans, or you can select jeans with a panel in the back so that the front looks normal. According to The Mom Edit website, back panel may not work well if you have a low baby bump since there isn’t any give in the front. Either way, these partial panels fit a little more like normal jeans than a full elastic waist would.
Side Panel
Side panel jeans function like regular jeans with a button and zipper in the front. However, the elasticity is in the sides, with stretchy panels. This fit gives the surety of comfort and style throughout the pregnancy period
No Panel
This could mean the jeans either have elastic in the whole waistband, or no elastic but a shape meant to fit under the belly. The nice thing about these maternity jeans is that they don’t look like maternity jeans. This may be ideal earlier in your pregnancy or if you want to tuck your shirt into your pants, which isn’t an option with the other styles.
Final Thoughts on Choosing Maternity Jeans
While each style will appeal to different women, Baby Centre emphasizes it is good to consider the trends for different styles of maternity jeans. Which style suits you better depends on your body shape and personal preferences. It wouldn’t hurt to buy a pair or two in more than one style, since your preferences might change as your belly grows.
It may be tempting to buy the same jeans you normally buy, but a few sizes bigger. While that may work for a while, it is unlikely to work for the entirety of your pregnancy and the unforgiving waistline will likely become uncomfortable after a while. Maternity jeans are designed to accommodate your growing belly without needing to wear loose jeans that don’t fit your legs.
Most of all, give yourself grace when choosing maternity jeans. Your style is personal, and your body is unique. Your body may even react differently between one pregnancy and the next; so, don’t be discouraged if you need to try something new the second time around. Pick a few pairs of jeans that make you feel comfortable and confident so that you can focus on enjoying your pregnancy.
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