Second Trimester Summer
Five Fine Things to Get You Through a Second Trimester Summer
I am pregnant with our second child and wanted to do a letter all about the clothes I’ve relied on this summer. With my first pregnancy, I was dressing with a bump (and boobs!) in the winter which was very different than dressing for pregnancy this time around, in a hot summer season. In both pregnancies, I shared the experience of a pretty debilitating first trimester where my nausea was all consuming - so, I have a few thoughts and tips on that at the bottom. Otherwise, the pregnancies have felt different - not sure if it’s because I’m 2 years older, have a toddler, or am possibly having a girl? (we’re waiting to find out!), but the toll it’s taken on me has felt so much stronger than the first time around. That said, I have had more fun getting dressed and have bought no maternity clothes, so that’s a win!
I saw a reel on Instagram about one gal’s philosophy for dressing when pregnant that I really agreed with. She broke it down simply: 1st Trimester: loose on top and loose on bottom. 2nd Trimester: tight on top or bottom, loose on the other. 3rd Trimester: tight on top and bottom. I agree that this is the general way I feel most comfortable.
Here are some of my thoughts on second trimester dressing, specifically in the summertime, and the pieces I’ve relied on most! None of these are maternity, and I will use and love most next summer too, so may be worth browsing even if you’re not pregnant!
Dresses:
My favorite dresses with a bump I’m really picky about dresses in pregnancy. I need ones that allow me to wear a bra. And I personally only like a short dress. Once my bump is bigger I can do a tight maxi style but anything with extra material at this stage is not for me. A few that I’ve loved recently include: Black Silk Cutout Dress from Natalie Martin (this is an XS and I’ll continue to wear through summer even as I get bigger), Brown Linen Dress from JCrew (this is from pre pregnancy so I linked something similar), this Deiji Studios very light plaid dress (it’s easy for the super hot days of summer and not too night gown-y in style which is not for me), this JCrew print tie dress (something fun, bought recently has plenty of room, but will wear sans a bump). The next two on my wishlist are this simple jersey black cotton dress from Leset, a brand I always love, and this A line style dress in white. And, I’m eying this black and white stripped dress for my upcoming beach babymoon!
Low Rise Pants:
The pants I've been loving Okay let me vent for a minute about the issue I take with all maternity pants - the cut is always so lame. In the elastic side ones I feel like a frump and in the elastic belly band ones I feel bulky. Then, if I wear a non maternity style that’s elastic or drawstring and wear it under my belly, the crotch always hangs way too low. I have no interest in starting a maternity brand but I think there is a huge opportunity for someone to design ultra low rise, ultra short inseam pants with stretch for all pregnant women. I need a low rise because I never wear something over my belly or I feel like Winnie the Pooh. So, I have made it my mission to find pants that work best, though none are perfect. My favorites for this stage have been: Pistola Denim Sabrina Pant (my favorite of all! Bought 3 sizes larger than my usual), Rag and Bone Denim Logan Trackpant (got my usually size and they’re still a bit big), Nelle Atelier Miri Baggy Jeans (have three sizes bigger than my usual), Abercrombie Linen Drawstring Jeans (I searched for ultra low rise and have been happy with these! I got the petite size which means a shorter inseam too! I got two sizes larger than my usual), J.Crew Cosmo Pant (got these in 2 sizes bigger and the petite for the shorter inseam, plus I had to get them hemmed so they don’t drag too low when I wear them so low on the waist).
Tight, Long Shirts:
The shirts I've relied on most I like a more fitted top, with a lower rise bottom for most days, so here are the shirts I’ve relied on most: The LeSet Pointelle tee shirts in Large (I usually wear small), this Abercrombie “Essential Tuckable Baby Tee” that is longer than most t-shirts I’ve tried. Uniqlo built in bra tank tops in Medium - these are the best I’ve found and I have tried and returned a lot!
The Right Bras:
The bras I love most right now I have bought and returned way too many bras recently in search of ones I like with boobs at least 2 cup sizes bigger. I’m so picky about bras and have liked very few. Typically my daily go to bra is The Scoop Bra from Cupp - but it’s not lined and has underwire and in pregnancy I want something lined because you’re nipples are bigger (sorry just giving you the facts!), and underwire is less comfortable when your rib cage has expanded so much. The ones I’ve liked most are the Commando Butter Bralette (light and unpadded) which you can get on Amazon. It’s tight enough that you can avoid lining- which is my preference, and so comfortable. The other I’ve liked is the Cuup Wireless Plunge Modal. Again the higher stretch fabric can replace a lining and I like it easier on my ribs. I get both in 2 sizes bigger than usual. The Uniqlo built in bra tank tops (on sale) I mentioned above are amazing and my preference over a bra at all.
Accessories:
Fun accessories! My personal style when I’m pregnant tones down a bit because I find that I don’t want to accentuate too much. Frilly tops, bold patterns and more interesting drapes all feel a bit too much, so I have found my philosophy is to dress simply and then wear some more statement-y accessories, which makes summer time a good one for pregnancy since my accessories are more fun in this season anyways. I’ve relied on these wide strap red sandals I’ve had for years or my other red sandals from Zara that are sold out but I’m tempted to get these great strappy sandals (on major sale) next. You really can’t have too many red sandals! I love the black woven Margaux flats for dressing up. And I love the my J.Crew jelly fisherman sandals (on sale) which make me nostalgic for the ones I wore and loved as a kid in the summertime. I’ve loved wearing colored necklaces. This from Zara kids (now $5! I clip off the cheap looking long chain in back), this shell necklace from this vintage store I love (someone get this silver shell!), and this shell from Lizzie Fortunato, and these precious stones with a gold bail and diamond that we just launched at Fewer Finer.
And while I have you, If you’re in your 1st trimester and suffering from nausea - which was all consuming and totally flattening for me in the beginning of both of my pregnancies - here’s my advice to you: First, know it will pass but it will take time (week, months) which is hard to cope with but the reality. Second, know not much helps to actually relive it (it really is a trial in patience and acceptance), but these few things (five in fact!) were the ones that brought me some relief:
Accupuncture - I saw a prenatal accupuncturist when I was trying to get pregnant (I do think it helped!) and then continued to see her through my 1st trimester. She would do some points that were nausea specific and I noticed a difference in the hours and days afterwards.
Apple Sauce Pouches - Random but important. I relied on these big time. For some reason they were all I could stomach and the convenience of the portable pouch that you can eat the minute you feel you need to (no prep, no utensils) was helpful.
Magnesium for Sleeping - Sleeping is tough when nauseous. My first pregnancy I was up throughout the night often needing to eat. This second one I slept better but still woke up very early, needing to eat immediately. Taking magnesium before bed did help me to sleep longer and deeper. (The Unisom doctors tell you to take didn’t make a difference for me).
Lemon Iced Tea - I was told that sour foods are used in many cultures to combat nausea and that drinking as much water as possible is important too. I found being nauseous made it almost impossible to drink wanter at all, but when I would make an herbal iced tea with a little honey and a ton of lemon, I could drink it more easily throughout the day and this really did help!
Walking - Movement was so hard because everything felt like a big ask, but I walked to and from work for about 25 min almost everyday and on the weekends tried to take one walk a day. It helped get my mind off of feeling awful and definitely gave me some much needed endorphins.
On a lighter note, I am feeling much better now, very thankful to be pregnant and growing our family, and loving dressing with a bump in summertime!
Hope this gave you some ideas if you’re also pregnant in this season, to just love loose, easy clothes!
xx, Madison
You are so cute! Hope the rest of the pregnancy is smooth.
Your pregnancy style is everything!