Are you afraid of shopping for maternity clothes because you’re scared that all you’ll be able to see are floral sacks? Those days are gone, and there are lots of options available that can be both flattering and comfortable. Here’s a guide to picking comfy, attractive clothes while you’re waiting for the little one. Shopping for maternity clothes can be practical and even fun.

Now that you’re pregnant, you don’t want to worry too much about your clothing. But there are a lot of changes taking place, so you’ll still want to look and feel your best, even while they’re going on. You can expect to put on between twenty-five and thirty-five pounds, with much of that showing up toward the end of the first trimester. You’ll add weight from the baby, the growth of your uterus, breasts, and a bunch of other places.

Plus, you should expect your weight to shift. You might even end up wearing a bigger shoe size, as strange as that sounds. The right maternity clothes can help you keep from feeling frumpy, and they’ll adjust to the needs of your body as changes take place. Ideally, good maternity wear will adjust as you slim back down and will double as clothing for nursing. Fortunately, there are plenty of mix and match options you can choose to wear at any time of day. A few key pieces can do the work of a huge number of less appropriate ones. Take note of these tips.

As soon as you start to feel slightly uncomfortable in your old clothes, begin looking at your maternity wardrobe. You don’t want to be last minute shopping, and the sooner you start planning, the more you’ll get out of your maternity wardrobe. Don’t forget that maternity wear sizes follow your pre-pregnancy size, so a normal size ten or twelve should take the same or a medium in maternity clothing.

Of course, you need to buy with room for expansion, and stick to the right underwear, too. Choose maternity underwear and bras for greater comfort, and the right amount of support while you’re still growing. It doesn’t matter what the top layer is if you’re not wearing the right foundation, after all. You can stick to your favorite styles, too. Bikini style underwear is still available for women who are pregnant.

Look for solids or patterns that will mix and match to stretch your maternity wear budget, while avoiding clothes that will draw a lot of attention to your middle. Dark clothes are fine if you want to look leaner, but don’t feel confined to navy or black if they’re not what you like to wear. Stick to lighter weights than usual, however, since many pregnant women feel hot - even in the winter.

There are loads of trendy, comfy styles that’ll enable you feel like yourself and keep to your regular looks. The days when new mums had to feel like they were walking around in their nightgowns are long past, and that’s a great thing. Check out some of the great options currently on the market, and start your maternity wardrobe soon!