When you first find out you are expecting a baby, it can be really hard to keep your pregnancy a secret, especially when that tell-tale bump starts to show. Particularly when you are expecting your second child, you may find that your bump starts to materialise much quicker than it did with your first and that your tummy may start to look a little rounder and firmer within just a few weeks of that positive pregnancy test!
Many Moms to be prefer to wait until they have had their first scan before they start sharing their exciting news with friends, family and colleagues. You may have taken a while to get pregnant, experienced baby loss or miscarriage in the past, be worried about your boss’s reaction and the impact on your career, or simply be nervous about celebrating too soon. Whatever your reasons for wanting to keep your pregnancy a secret, when you aren’t shouting your happy news from the rooftops, the first trimester can be pretty challenging; learning to cope both with morning sickness and your changing body shape.
Should you wish to disguise your rapidly growing pregnancy bump, here are my hints and tips on dressing to hide your pregnancy in the first trimester.
- Layers, Layers, Layers
If the seasons allow, such as during Fall or Winter, you can conceal your bump by wearing extra layers such as a cardigan, jacket or blazer over a T-shirt or tank. The variety of textures and lengths of the different layers results in less attention being drawn to your waistline, and therefore your friends and colleagues are far less likely to notice the slightly rounder tummy!
- Accessorize
Bright or fun accessories can be an easy way to draw people’s attention upwards – focusing more on your neckline and bust instead of your tummy. Items such as a contemporary statement necklace or a pashmina or scarf work really well, and can be a great way to brighten up an otherwise plain or boring formal outfit.
- Avoid touching your tummy
This goes without saying, but one of the really obvious signs someone is expecting is when they keep cradling their growing bump or resting their hand on their tummy. Whilst this can be really instinctual, wanting to protect your bump, it is a really obvious sign for those in the know!
- Bold patterns and designs
Darker colours and shades of black, navy and grey will make you look slimmer which is ideal if you normally have a formal dress code at work, however bold printed patterns such as floral and polka dots and block design patterns can also distract from your changing body shape.
- Loose Dresses
Don’t buy clothes that are MASSIVE just to hide your bump, chances are these will completely swamp you and be far more likely to arouse suspicion. Instead if you’re expecting in the Summer or warmer seasons, empire style flowy maxi dresses that are fitted on the bust but hang looser over the bottom half are ideal. They will skim over any lumps and bumps, yet highlight your other assets!
- Wear a belt extender
If you tend to live in jeans or have a more casual dress code at work, a hair band fastened around the top button of your jeans or trousers can keep you in your pre-maternity clothes for as long as possible! With a top pulled down to cover the waistband, no one will know that they aren’t fastened as normal!
- Peplums or Ruffles
Tops with a peplum hem or strategically placed ruffles can quickly become your fashion best friend; and are great for hiding the rounded tummy underneath. They are also very on trend at the moment, so your friends and colleagues will be more likely admiring your purchases rather than wondering what’s going on underneath!
- Avoid drastic fashion overhauls!
Finally, as tempting as it may be to go out on a maternity wear shopping mission, don’t suddenly change your entire wardrobe! Unless you’ve come into lots of money recently, a sudden wardrobe overhaul can be another obvious sign that something is amiss and lead your friends and family to focus more on what you are wearing and potentially your figure!
