Pregnancy has made me think about dressing so differently.

Before this, I thought pregnancy dressing was mostly about “how to dress the bump”. But now that I’m actually going through it, I’ve realised each trimester is its own little dressing crisis.

Sometimes it’s not even about the bump. Sometimes it’s nausea, bloating, sensitivity, or the waistband suddenly feeling like a personal attack.

So this is not really a traditional maternitywear guide. It’s more of a “how I’d dress a changing body” guide — especially for work days, office days, meetings, events, and the moments where you still want to feel polished and comfortable, even though your body is doing its own thing.

It has also made me see As Intended pieces a little differently.

We’ve always designed around stretch, movement, polish, and comfort. Before pregnancy, As Intended helped me feel comfortable through a work day. Now, I’ve been surprised by how some pieces can also adapt with changes in my body.

These pieces were never designed as maternitywear. But some of them have worked surprisingly well through different stages of pregnancy because they were already designed to move with the body, not fight it.

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First Trimester: No real bump, but somehow also a night-time bump

The first trimester was not really about dressing a proper bump yet.

In the mornings, I still looked pretty much like myself. But by night time, I look super bloated. I'm nauseas all day so pressing on my tummy feels like a crime.

So this stage was less about dressing the bump and more about dressing for how much my body could change from morning to night.

I wanted silhouettes with a little give. Not oversized, but enough ease around the waist and tummy so that when I got more bloated as the day went on, it would not feel uncomfortable or look too obvious.

For first trimester work outfits, I’d reach for:

  • Dresses that skim without clinging tightly at the tummy

  • Tops with a little drape or ease around the waist

  • Soft fabrics that feel gentle on the skin

  • Outfits that look intentional, but have some secret room to expand

My first trimester rule was simple: no tummy pressure, no clingy waist, and enough ease to survive the 6pm bloat.

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Second Trimester: The bump is coming in, and stretch becomes your best friend

The second trimester felt very different.

The bump was starting to come in, but I was no longer as nauseous, so dressing became more enjoyable again. I could tolerate waistbands better, and surprisingly, stretchy waistbands started to work in my favour.

The right stretchy waistband helped to hold everything in place a little. It smoothed out my silhouette and made the bump feel more supported, especially during the in-between stage where I did not always look obviously pregnant yet.

This was when I really appreciated waistbands with stretch and good recovery.

Good recovery means the fabric can stretch with you, but still bounce back and hold its shape. So as I grew a few inches, the waistband could grow with me without becoming loose, warped, or sad-looking.

Honestly, I was surprised by how long some pieces continued to look good, especially separates. To distract from the bump, I played a lot with proportions — loose tops with tighter bottoms, or wide-leg bottoms with a more fitted top. No one could really tell.

For second trimester workwear, I’d look for:

  • Stretchy waistbands that smooth without digging in

  • Pants and skirts with enough recovery to hold their shape

  • Tops with enough ease around the midsection

  • Separates that let me play with proportions

This is also where I started seeing some As Intended pieces in a new light. The design details we care about — stretch, recovery, clean lines, waistbands that do not cut too harshly, and fabrics that hold their shape — became much more obvious when my body was changing week to week.

The goal was not really to hide the bump or show the bump. I just wanted the outfit to make sense. Held, smooth, still me. Not squeezed. Not swallowed.


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Third Trimester: The waistband has given up, so dresses it is

By the third trimester, the bump is fully here.

At this point, I’ve had to rely a lot more on the full stretch of the fabric, not just the waistband.

Separates do not work as well for me anymore because my waist has gone beyond what most waistbands can comfortably allow. Even if the fabric of the pants or skirt still has stretch, the waistband is usually the limiting factor.

The fabric can still grow with me. The waistband? Less so.

So I have been reaching for dresses a lot more.

Dresses make more sense in the third trimester because there is no separate waistband cutting across the bump. The whole garment can stretch, skim, and move with the body in one continuous line.

For third trimester workwear, I’d look for:

  • Dresses with full-body stretch

  • Fabrics that stretch across the bump without pulling strangely

  • Breathable materials for long, hot days

  • Skimming silhouettes that define the bump without squeezing it

  • Pieces that still feel polished enough for work, meetings, or events

This is where fabric quality really matters.

At this stage, I need the fabric to do the heavy lifting. It has to stretch, recover, breathe, and still make the silhouette look clean.

Basically, if the waistband is fighting for its life, I’m choosing the dress.


What pregnancy dressing has taught me

Pregnancy has taught me that dressing a changing body is not just about size.

It’s about sensation.

How does the waistband feel when you sit? Does the fabric breathe? Can you move? Can you eat? Can you get through a full work day without wanting to rip everything off the moment you get home?

It’s also about identity.

There are days where I want comfort above everything. There are also days where I still want to feel polished, feminine, capable, and like myself.

That’s why I’ve started appreciating adaptable pieces even more. Pieces that don’t only work for one exact body moment, but can move with you through pregnancy, bloating, weight changes, long work days, travel, recovery, and real life.

Because our bodies are not static.

And honestly, our clothes should stop acting like they are.



How I’d dress each trimester, in short

First trimester was about softness, no pressure, and surviving the evening bloat.

Second trimester was about stretch, recovery, and trying not to look like my clothes were glitching.

Third trimester has been about full-fabric stretch, breathability, and letting the bump do its thing.

Fourth trimester is still unknown, but I imagine it will be about ease, recovery, and slowly feeling like myself again.

At As Intended, we’ve always talked about clothes that move with you — through work, travel, long days, meals, body changes, and real life. Pregnancy has made that feel a lot more personal.

These pieces were never meant to be maternitywear. But some of them have carried me through more than I expected because they were designed with stretch, recovery, softness, and polish in mind.


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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear to work in the first trimester?

In the first trimester, I’d prioritise soft fabrics, gentle waistbands, breathable pieces, and silhouettes with a little give around the tummy. There may not be a real bump yet, but bloating can change how your body feels and looks through the day.

How do you dress for work when you are pregnant but not showing yet?

In the in-between stage, proportions and stretch matter. Longer tops, stretchy waistbands, and pieces with good recovery can help you feel polished without making the outfit feel tight or awkward.

What makes good pregnancy workwear?

Good pregnancy workwear should feel comfortable, breathable, stretchy, and polished enough for meetings, office days, and long hours. The best pieces move with the body instead of restricting it.

Do I need to buy maternity clothes for work?

Not always. Some non-maternity pieces with stretch, drape, breathable fabrics, and forgiving waistbands can work through different stages of pregnancy, depending on your body and comfort level.