How to dress well during pregnancy without spending more than necessary

BarcelonaDressing during pregnancy, showing off your stomach, not spending too much, and doing so with sustainability and comfort in mind isn't easy, but it's not impossible either. Although a woman's body undergoes significant changes during pregnancy, it's not necessary to change your entire wardrobe to wear clothes that are flattering, skin- and environmentally friendly, and, above all, long-lasting. During the first trimester, nothing extra is needed, and everything can be purchased as your belly grows, taking into account your needs. "The belly starts to become considerable after eighteen or twenty weeks," warns midwife Meritxell Gómez, "that's a short time to spend a lot." Therefore, she recommends avoiding buying "excess" clothing.

The first point to keep in mind to meet all these requirements is to get over the fact that you need to renew your wardrobe. "We have to look at what we have because it's very possible that we have clothes that we can use," says Laia Pajuelo, owner of the childcare and pregnancy store La Mamavaca. Secondly, she recommends looking for growth-friendly clothing, that is, clothes that can be used during the last part of pregnancy, breastfeeding, if you choose to do so later, and you do. "In general, mothers want clothes to last as long as possible," Pajuelo points out, in addition to ensuring that the clothes "do us justice."

This idea is at the heart of this store in Barcelona's Gràcia neighborhood. Therefore, despite the wide selection of baby products and early childhood clothing, the space dedicated to expectant mothers is small. They prioritize local production and avoid brands that manufacture far away for quality reasons. "If we go far away, the fabric is not respectful of either the skin or the planet," says Pajuelo. She also appreciates being able to connect with manufacturers and share trends, request changes, and other related efforts from a more personal perspective. "It's nice to be able to have these exchanges with the brands," the shopkeeper adds.

On breastfeeding in the last trimester of pregnancy

Lilac is one of the brands Pajuelo works with. Its founder, Gisela Gatuellas, saw the need for breastfeeding and wearing dresses and set out to design nursing dresses that women could feel good in. "The philosophy is that women who have just given birth don't feel like they're in a costume to breastfeed, after nine months of body changes," explains Gatuellas: "We all deserve to like ourselves and feel comfortable in the clothes we wear."

From these first outfits for nursing women, which she began to conceive as a "three-in-one" with a suit, top, or sweater, Gatuellas completed the project by going back a few months and continuing for as long as she wanted in the future. That is, the same outfits she wanted to wear for breastfeeding could be used long afterward. She is aimed at women committed to "conscious motherhood and respectful parenting" who also value the quality of the fabrics. For Gatuellas, this is a fundamental issue, and she takes great care to ensure the fabric is good for the mother's skin, but also for the baby, who will be closely watching over it when it is born.

Macropus was born in a similar way, driven by Queralt Haro's first pregnancy. It's the heart of a zero-mile project in Manresa that distributes to other similar establishments. Haro saw that it would be ideal for babywearing and needed a jacket that could be fastened with the baby hanging in a sling or backpack. From there, she began designing jackets and coats that met these requirements and, little by little, all the garments she missed on the market during her two subsequent pregnancies.

After the jacket, she realized she also needed a sweatshirt to keep her warm while breastfeeding, and she invented two zippers so she could open them all the way around. The great thing is that none of the pieces become obsolete after this stage. leggings Maternity clothes or dungarees, mostly made of cotton with small percentages of elastane that facilitate this durability. "I prioritize that they be comfortable for pregnancy and breastfeeding, with elasticity, but they are garments that can continue to be worn," explains Haro.

She is self-employed and practically manages the entire business alone, which is developed entirely in Catalonia. This is one of the values that she sees most taken into account by her audience. Both Gatuellas and Haro are aware that the big brands face fierce competition, especially due to their price, but they know they have their audience. Both reach those who value well-made products produced in the country. "The expense is not much greater and the pieces are forever; they won't stay in the closet," says Haro.