Pregnancy is a very tender life stage and the expecting mother has to be cautious about diet, take prevention against infections and diseases and also decide on what type of clothes to wear. To that end she might need to sacrifice a few things from the normal living habits, but not too much. Some of the tips on the pregnancy clothing are given below:

1. The only thing that is of utmost importance is that the clothing shall not be so tight as to stifle the abdomen. Whether it is the top or the bottom wear, it is better not to use tight clothing during this stage.

2. The best part is to use the comfort-fit pregnancy clothes which will take care of the style and fashion aspect as well as not have any adverse impact on the baby.

3. It is better to buy knitted tops for casual wear especially made in the stretchable fabrics like the knitted jersey or elastic (lycra) blended fabrics.

4. If it does not look too odd, you can check for one size bigger than the size you normally wear. This can be done for the first trimester and as the pregnancy progresses, you might have to either go for bigger sizes, or opt for alternative pregnancy clothing.

5. While wearing the bottom wear like jeans, skirt, pant, etc, the belt shall not be tight on the under waist.

6. It is always suggested that clothing made of 100% natural fabrics are used like cottons, linens and silks instead of the man-made artificial fabrics like nylon and rayon. Further, the fabrics which can cause skin allergies shall not be used.

7. One can always try the specially designed maternity clothing. The designers bring out the specifically cut and stylish pregnancy clothing which will not make you look odd. This maternity clothing could be available on stores for casual home wear as well as party wear purposes. However, caution is advised against wearing very heavy dresses or dresses with long trains since it might be difficult to handle and carry them. If these get entangled in your feet, then there is a real danger of falling.

8. The shoes or sandals shall be flat based. High heel or even moderately low-heel footwear are not advisable.

One has to be cautious about falling down since this trauma could be more harmful to the child than the pregnancy clothing that you would be willing to wear. So, it is not just the selection of right fit clothes but also the way these are worn and carried that is important.

Pregnancy is an important phase in a woman’s life. During this phase, she experiences various types of physiological changes. Some of these changes have been complied below:

1. Sleep Pattern changes: In the first and second trimester, women need more sleep whereas in the third trimester, this sleep pattern is reversed. The disruptions in sleep may occur due to positional discomfort, cramps, frequent urination and gastric problems.

2. Hair changes: Hair changes on head as well as body due to increased levels of male hormone production by ovaries.

3. There are more chances of formation of gallstones because the concentration of cholesterol in bile increases during pregnancy.

4. Respiratory Changes: There are increased chances of mucus accumulation in the nose.

5. Heart beat and Blood Pressure Changes: There is an expansion in the blood volume by 30-50% during pregnancy. This leads to increase rate of heart beat by 10-20 beats per minute. The lower B.P. increases and the higher B.P. shall remain normal.

6. Ocular changes: There could be dryness in the eyes and the women have a tendency to be far sighted.

7. Skin pigment changes: There is a visible darkness of skin reported in most of the pregnant women. Hyper-pigmentation could be the result of increased levels of melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH).

8. Appearance of stretch marks: Some women have genetic tendency to either gain or lose weight quickly. The stretch marks get manifested with these changes. These are not likely to fade away.

9. More UTI infections: Pregnant women are more prone to urinary tract infections due to the physiological changes that they witness during this period.

10. Back pain: Due to the increased size of the womb, there is increased pressure on the back spine which can lead to back pain.

11. Beginning of lactation: Usually, lactation begins after the delivery of child. But, it can also happen even before the child birth.

Apart from these physiological changes, the pregnant women also face some temporary attitude and temperamental changes. During this phase, it is important that she receives support from her spouse and family members. The meditation and yoga pregnancy exercises are very helpful in attaining mental peace and controlling the attitudinal or emotional changes. A positive outlook towards life will lead to happiness and this state is proven to be extremely beneficial for the health of mother and child.

Appropriate pregnancy nutrition support and careful and less strenuous exercises can go a long way in managing adverse health changes during this period.