Now that I’m pregnant I wanted to continue wearing my regular jeans. After listening to my sister who now has an 8 week old baby talk about how my body is going to start changing shortly, I’m not so sure.
We all know a woman who proudly states that she wore her regular jeans all the way through her pregnancy and she was just fine. There are others who set a benchmark and are determined to wear their pre-pregnancy clothes until they are six months or seven months along. Invariably these woman announce to all and sundry how comfortable they were; how tiny and fashionable they remained.
Can I Wear Regular Jeans While Pregnant? Answer: Until You Are Uncomfortable
I question just how comfortable women who wore their regular jeans till advanced in their pregnancy actually were. Sure, their regular jeans may have fitted and they looked fabulous but did they also get more constipated? Were they plagued by thrush? Did they get more swollen with water retention? Most of us get it at some stage but can I limit the severity by what I wear? Most of all, will it look like I am a pregnant woman trying to desperately squeeze into my regular jeans? I want to look beautiful and relaxed because that’s how I feel about being pregnant.
Is Wearing Regular Jeans When Pregnant Uncomfortable?
Without a doubt, being pregnant comes with being uncomfortable. While I am glowing and excited about the birth of our little one, when I’m carrying my bump on board I’m going to feel uncomfortable at times. I believe changing what I wear is going to change how I feel.
Now that I am pregnant, I want to be comfortable. My belly has already started to grow, not enough for people to rub my belly in the street – now that is something I am not looking forward to! The changes, however, are enough for me to notice that I am not exactly looking like I used to. I don’t think I am going to be wearing my regular jeans much longer.
What Happens To Your Body?
Your skin may be more sensitive; if you’ve already waxed while pregnant you may notice that it is more painful than normal. You may find that as your skin stretches it becomes dry and itchy. Your breasts may increase in size and be painful. Your nipples may swell and become darker.
Your blood volume increases as well as the amount of overall fluid in your body. A lot of excess fluid ends up in your feet due to gravity. Have you noticed that your feet are swollen? Over the period of your pregnancy you may find that you go up a shoe size.
As everything expands and stretches to accommodate the growing baby wearing loose clothes means nothing is rubbing annoyingly on your sensitive skin and your blood can circulate more easily. Its easy to pick up a few items online if you’re busy or to drop in to a department store. I found some great bargains and it was easy to mix and match because I got it all on the one eBay store. As long as you can move comfortably!
Pregnancy Side Effects
Are you getting acid reflux or heartburn? While many people blame what they eat including spicy foods, it might not be the only cause. How tight are your pants? Tight pressure against your stomach can increase abdominal pressure, and as we grow regular jeans can contribute to this pressure. An increase in abdominal pressure can cause acid to go back into your esophagus which gives you heartburn. You’ll get a burning sensation in your stomach and chest and a bitter acidic taste in your mouth.
Constipation during pregnancy is something we all experience at some point. It’s a common concern and not a readily discussed topic. During pregnancy our digestion slows down; the body is trying to absorb as many nutrients as it can for our developing baby. Wearing jeans or any article of clothing that is too tight can be impacting on your already slowed digestion. Do you know what long term constipation can increase? Your chances of hemorrhoids. Regular jeans which squeeze my tummy aren’t going to stay in my wardrobe that’s for sure.
Are you fainting? Tight and restrictive clothing can prevent your lungs from fully expanding. Your breathing will be shallow and your oxygen intake will decrease. If you regularly find it hard to breathe or you are feeling dizzy have a look at what you are wearing as well as seeking medical advice.
Have you got numbness or tingling in your legs or back? Wearing regular jeans or pants that are low riding and too tight can be responsible for tingling thigh syndrome. If your legs are tingling with no explanation its something to consider. Nerve compression causing the tingling may rarely be permanent but it’s always uncomfortable.
Yeast infections go hand in hand with pregnancy for some women. But did you know keeping your vagina tightly enclosed makes a perfect breeding ground for bacteria? If you find that your vagina is itchy and irritated try wearing looser pants – less heat and more air means a less convenient environment for yeast bacteria to grow. I’m already feeling warmer than usual - if regular jeans are going to increase my chances of a yeast infection then I will be happy to wave them goodbye. Thrush was the first indicator I was pregnant and I don’t want a repeat of that.
So if you’re pregnant, congratulations! We’re on a magical journey and I look forward to every step of the way - even the constipation and the painful bikini waxes. I’m also looking forward to being pregnant and showing off my bump as it grows. I know maternity clothes can be expensive and that sometimes wearing our regular clothes makes economic sense.
After listening to my sister and reading up on how squashing my body into my current jeans can potentially affect how I feel I think more about my health than saving a few dollars. I know wearing my jeans won’t affect my growing infant; the amniotic fluid is going to protect my growing baby from being a little squashed, but what about me?
For me, I know what I am going to do. I picked up a few basic pieces of maternity wear off eBay and once I get uncomfortable I am going to start wearing them. We are literally spoilt for choice these days – no apex dresses like my Mom wore. I’m not going to risk getting hemorrhoids earlier than I have to or giving myself unnecessary heartburn, so look out for an updated post on my maternity gear once my little bump gets a little bigger.
Love Em
