All about pre- and post-natal wear - fashionable to suit your changing body shape -

Have you ever heard of the term "prenatal and postnatal wear"? Literally, it refers to clothing for before and after giving birth. What kind of things are there, how are they different from maternity wear, when should I prepare them, and are they really necessary in the first place? We will answer your questions by introducing the features and variations of pre- and post-natal wear, as well as the changes in your body shape before and after giving birth.

What is prenatal and postnatal wear?

Prenatal and postnatal wear, as the name suggests, refers to clothing specifically designed for before and after childbirth.

The underwear and clothes you wear when you become pregnant and your belly grows are called maternity wear.
Before giving birth, that is, during pregnancy, your belly gradually grows. The characteristics of maternity wear are that it can be adjusted to fit your body as it gradually changes, and that it is made from soft, stretchy fabrics.

Even after giving birth, your body will not return to its original shape immediately after birth, but will gradually return to its original shape. Also, after giving birth, you will have more habits such as breastfeeding and pumping milk that you did not have before giving birth, so it is helpful to wear clothes that are designed for breastfeeding and pumping, such as clothes that open easily in the chest area.

Many pre- and post-natal wear are designed to accommodate these needs as well as size changes. ``Prenatal and postnatal wear'' is a general term for highly functional clothing that is compatible with the various changes that occur before and after childbirth.

How does your body shape change before and after giving birth?

In the first trimester (~13 weeks), your belly is not very noticeable, but in the middle trimester (14-27 weeks), your belly starts to grow, and your breasts start to get bigger and firmer. As your pelvis opens up due to hormone secretion, your butt will start to look bigger.
In the second half of pregnancy, after 28 weeks of pregnancy, the size of the abdomen and the opening of the pelvis progresses, and the breasts become even larger as the baby becomes ready for breastfeeding.

After giving birth, the pelvis will open up in about 3 to 4 months, and the sagging skin on the stomach will return to its normal size in about 6 months.

Subcutaneous fat and weight increase during pregnancy, so you may be tempted to go on a diet right away, but you should wait at least 1.5 to 2 months after giving birth before starting any exercise such as muscle training.
The ``puerperal period'' is a time when the enlarged uterus and other organs that have been pushed up due to its influence return to normal, and this is a period during which efforts should be made to recover, and overdoing it is prohibited. Pregnancy and childbirth place a huge burden on a mother's body. It is necessary to allow sufficient time for recovery.

When breastfeeding, the mother has to take in the energy for the baby, so she must eat well. Even with milk, caring for a baby requires more physical strength than you might imagine, so there is a risk of running out of energy. Avoid diets based on dietary restrictions as they increase the burden on your body.

Do I need prenatal and postnatal clothes?

In conclusion, although it is not essential, it is recommended that you prepare it.
There are two reasons.
One is that even if your stomach, breasts, or buttocks grow larger, it won't tighten and is comfortable to wear. Another thing is that the design is designed to prevent the silhouette from collapsing due to changes in body shape, such as when the hem rises due to a large protruding stomach, so you can wear it beautifully.

I often hear people say, ``It's a waste to only use them for a short period of time,'' but prenatal and postnatal clothes can be used for a long time from the second trimester to after childbirth, so the cost performance is not bad at all. In fact, I think being able to spend time without the stress of worrying about how comfortable your clothes will be or how they will fall apart is priceless.

When is the best time to buy?

We recommend preparing this at the beginning of your pregnancy, or at the latest by the middle of your pregnancy.

These days, many brands and manufacturers sell prenatal and postnatal clothing, and if you search for ``prenatal and postnatal clothing'' on the Internet, you will find many sites. There are so many different products on display that you'll be spoiled for choice.

In addition, the number of chain stores that handle baby products, women's clothing manufacturers, mass clothing retailers, and department stores that carry prenatal and postnatal clothing is increasing. You can feel confident in your shopping as you can actually touch the material and try it on.

Before your body shape starts to change significantly, it's a good idea to do some research and prepare.

It doesn't seem fashionable, so I'm reluctant...

A few years ago, maternity wear was mostly uniform and poorly designed maternity clothes, but times have changed.

Many of the dresses have highly fashionable designs with transitions at the waist or under the chest, as well as slim pants, beautiful bottoms perfect for office casual wear, and denim.

Some tops are designed to cover your body shape in a subtle way, using things like lace and drapes. In consideration of breastfeeding and pumping, there are clothes with buttons that open in the front, clothes with a design that allows the shoulders to be exposed so you can easily expose your breasts, and clothes that are loose throughout and easy to roll up. There are many variations, so you can choose according to your needs and preferences.

There are many clothes that you can choose from for daily life, as well as for work, going out, and other TPOs.

I often hear about mothers who are worried about not being able to find maternity clothes that suit their tastes, but as times have changed and a lot of clothing has come out with a focus on design and functionality, it's nice that you don't have to give up on being fashionable just because you're pregnant or postpartum. Make use of ``prenatal and postnatal wear'' that will keep you comfortable during pregnancy, when your body shape changes significantly, without putting any strain on your body.

BABY&Me's ``prenatal and postnatal wear'' is introduced in detail here.