Top 10 Tips for Shopping in the 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy

Look modeled by me, Christina Chitwood, at 35 1/5 weeks pregnant. Photos taken by my husband, Tom Parkin. Photoshoot in San Diego, California.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Top 10 Tips for Shopping in the 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy

The 3rd trimester of pregnancy can be the most difficult to shop for, which is why I’ve put together my top 10 tips for shopping for this trimester. It’s also extremely exciting because as your tummy grows, you get that much closer to meeting your baby!

Here are my top 10 tips for shopping for your 3rd trimester:

1. Shop for maternity clothes before your 3rd trimester or right at the beginning of your 3rd trimester that you will be happy wearing your last 4 – 6 weeks of pregnancy or even postpartum. I bought maternity clothes early on but actually didn’t want to buy them once I was further into the 3rd trimester (when I needed them the most) because there was such a short time of use left. So, the maternity clothes that I got early on had already had so much use that I was kind of bored with them.

2. If shopping after the start of your 3rd trimester to the middle of your 3rd trimester, shop for non-maternity clothes that are loose and maybe one size up from your pre-pregnancy size. It can be nice to look for items that will work for nursing as well so you can wear them in the postpartum period.

Some of the best non-maternity items of clothing I found:

• Loose dresses
• High-waisted dresses with full skirts
• Loose tops
• Long tops

I really enjoyed buying non-maternity clothes that were inexpensive. Most were on sale at the point in the 3rd trimester where I really needed more clothes but didn’t want to buy maternity clothes any more. It felt fun to shop in places like Nordstrom and Bloomingdales in the regular sections, and I felt better getting something that could work for longer.

3. Go for a little longer dresses than you normally would pre-pregnancy. Your growing bump will make dresses shorter, and you don’t want to risk your dress riding up in the front or back. You can still wear short dresses; just make sure to account for some tummy growth shortening your dresses quite a bit.

4. Maxi dresses are very comfortable in pregnancy since there are no waistbands. Maxi dresses were a favorite of mine throughout my pregnancy. They were a go-to during the 2nd and 3rd trimester. Keep in mind that they are tough to nurse in if you don’t get maxis with v-necks, low, or loose necklines.

5. Consider nursing-friendly clothes, such as v-necks, loose necklines, and button-up tops and dresses. This makes it easier when you leave the hospital and in those postpartum weeks.

6. Handbags are fun to shop for and can be an area to splurge more if you want since they will last you during and after pregnancy. Just keep in mind your current and upcoming lifestyle. I love handbags! Remember, your body will be recovering and you aren’t supposed to lift much until your 6-week checkup postpartum. So, lighter may be better. You can always put extra items in the diaper bag.

7. Thigh-high boots can make you feel fabulous. I loved wearing thigh-high boots during my pregnancy. I especially liked wearing them in my 3rd trimester with shorter dresses. They add extra style to many fashion looks.

8. When shoe shopping, I recommend going for flats. Flats are great throughout pregnancy but are especially good later on in your pregnancy. If your shoes still fit after pregnancy, flats are much safer when carrying a baby.

9. Invest in at least one pair of high-quality maternity jeans earlier on in your pregnancy. I bought some inexpensive maternity jeans early on in my pregnancy. They worked at different times in my pregnancy but for the most part were not comfortable in my 3rd trimester. I wished I’d invested in one more expensive pair rather than a few inexpensive pairs. At that point, I didn’t want to spend more on a pair of jeans I was only going to wear for a short period of time. I think if I’d invested in a more expensive, higher-quality pair from the beginning, it may have lasted me throughout the pregnancy and gotten more use. I had low-waisted (below belly) jeans and high-waisted (stretchy band that went to above belly) jeans. The below-belly jeans were more comfortable most of the time. However, once my bump got pretty large, even those pressed in too much for comfort. The elastic band worked early on and a little later, but didn’t feel as good with pressure (gas or larger baby bump). Looking back, a higher-quality pair with a lower waistband (perhaps with stretchy inserts on each side) may have lasted the best and been most comfortable throughout pregnancy.

10. Don’t leave your shopping until the final few weeks of your pregnancy. You may want to shop then and feel great. If so, go for it, but you don’t want to “have” to go then. You will most likely find you have the fewest clothes you can wear in those final few weeks and will need new clothes the most. However, walking especially longer distances can be challenging and uncomfortable at certain points in your pregnancy. So, I recommend getting more of the clothes you will need earlier on. Then you don’t “have” to go to the mall on a certain day or week and instead can choose to go when you’re feeling at your best. I actually found walking most uncomfortable later in the 2nd trimester and early in the 3rd trimester. As it got closer to the end of the 3rd trimester, walking got easier. For most people, I hear that isn’t the case. Plus, what you experience in pregnancy really is individual and varies from person to person.

Enjoy Your 3rd Trimester

Have fun shopping and enjoy this special time! You really can feel and look stylish in your 3rd trimester.

Do you have a favorite tip above? If you’ve been pregnant before or are in your 3rd trimester, do you have a shopping tip to share that isn’t listed above?

Have fun!

Connect with me, @ChristinaChitwood, on social media: