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Bump on the Trail | An Outdoor Motherhood Clothing Guide

Bump on the Trail

An Outdoor Maternity Wear Guide

Past Amy Montemerlo Roberts

Information technology'due south no secret that major outdoor retailers take all simply ignored the needs of meaning and nursing outdoorswomen. Not ane carries maternity or nursing-friendly clothing, a sorry fact I discovered while hiking in my second and tertiary trimesters.

The writer, Amy, pausing for a photo on the trail wearing some of the gear she institute that fabricated her comfortable and supported.

Every bit my pregnancy progressed, my favorite hiking pants became way too snug, and my trusted base of operations layers no longer stretched over my baby crash-land.

I rapidly ran out of feasible wear options for my prenatal outdoor adventures, and I found myself growing increasingly frustrated with the outdoor industry every fourth dimension I striking the trail.

Outdoorswomen tin can go on to encourage major outdoor retailers to sally from the nighttime ages and blueprint some maternity and nursing options – along with additional plus-size options for both motherhood and everyday gear, which is another gap in outdoor retail and problem unto itself. In the meantime, what can you do to stay comfortable and feel supported while meaning in the great outdoors?

With a piddling improvisation and creativity, information technology is possible to outfit yourself for your pre-or-post-baby adventures, regardless of your budget. This is what I've establish that works for my body:

Technical Tops and Outer Layers

Pregnant hikers need tops that stretch with our growing bodies, wick away excess sweat, and proceed u.s. cool and dry. Unfortunately, most mass-market maternity activewear tops are designed for low-intensity sports.

It was hard to find whatsoever that were durable enough for the trail and didn't feature the telltale mark of a maternity superlative: side ruching. Ugh. I wore a mass-marketplace acme on a hike in early pregnancy and I was a hot, sweaty, and smelly mess in minutes.

Afterward doing a piffling more homework, I establish two quality base layers for the trail: Mountain Mama'southward Marni Movement Maternity Tank and Championship Nine's Live Wire Tank . Both are first-class options for growing bellies, fabricated of brightly-colored fabrics that stretch and aggrandize without losing their shape. They don't accept side ruches, making them both great transition pieces for postpartum hikes. Marni is cut longer in the front to provide additional coverage where pregnant women virtually need information technology. Live Wire's odor-control feature makes information technology a powerhouse tank for the trail.

"We wanted something that worked equally a true agile tank for sport but was feminine plenty to vesture every day," said Kristina Casey, Director of Production Development Pattern and Merchandising for Championship 9. " We worked particularly hard on getting the fabric perfect — super soft, wicking, anti-scent, and easy care."

Nigh of my pregnancy hikes were summertime ones, so I didn't demand multiple layers up peak. On libation days, I layered United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland company Mother & Nature's super comfortable and stylish microfiber motherhood fleece over my baselayers. This fleece has zippered side panels, so information technology grew with me over the summer. Information technology is as well the softest fleece I've ever owned, and at $38 USD, information technology's a great deal.

Providing affordable, stylish, and practical maternity clothing options for outdoorsy women beyond the world is Mother & Nature's number one goal, said Managing Director Samantha Jenkins, who founded the visitor in 2015.

"I think it's terrible there are no options out in that location for the active mum-to-be," said Jenkins. "Merely because you have a bump doesn't mean the end to beingness active and getting outdoors."

Pregnant hikers in libation climates can bank check out Mother & Nature'south maternity waterproof jacket , which is both applied and super chic. I run cold on the trail, so I loved the fleece particular around the collar. The jacket is fully waterproof and comes with a hood, and so it will keep hikers warm and dry. At $124 USD, it'due south an investment piece, just the expandable side panels can exist securely tucked away for postpartum habiliment.

If you already have a favorite hiking jacket or want to work with your existing wardrobe, you lot may want to try a jacket extender. MakeMyBellyFit is a Canadian company that makes soft shell and fleece panels that nix into your existing jackets. I only wish I had discovered this product, which retails for $68 USD, before an early-pregnancy camping ground trip, during which I struggled to nix upward my go-to hiking hoody and favorite fleece. A few actress inches of cloth would have gone a long way.

Bottoms

Whether you're a fan of shorts, skorts, tights, or pants, meaning outdoorswomen need hiking bottoms that fit and experience great and can support a growing crash-land. Bottoms made of breathable, technical fabrics wick away sweat and continue hikers cool and comfortable on the trail are cardinal. Unfortunately, these pieces can prove to be near impossible to find, equally no major outdoor retailer carries hiking bottoms in motherhood sizes. Most mass maternity retailers merely sell activewear yoga leggings, which, while slap-up for the gym, are definitely non suitable for the trail.

Mountain Mama, a California-based maternity outdoor habiliment company, offers dozens of fashionable and durable clothing and gear options, including maternity hiking pants and, my current favorite exercise bottom, the Riley Maternity Running Skirt . This skort is made with a technical fabric that's breathable, quick-drying, and designed to stretch around a growing belly bump while retaining its original shape.

The author, Amy, sporting her Riley skirt and Marni top (mentioned to a higher place)

"We worked actually hard on the perfect proprietary blends that combine wicking, stretch, shape retention, and colorfastness with a small environmental footprint," said Teresa Delfin, founder of Mount Mama.

This was my first experience wearing a brim running and hiking, and while I was initially skeptical, at present I may never get back to shorts or pants. The Riley skirt features internal shorts and a roll-down waistband with side ties you can article of clothing under or over your bump. The skort looks cute either fashion, but I call back that the nether bump way looks much smoother when paired with a fitted tank top or tee. So, how does the Riley hold up during a hike or trail run? Like a champ. Two words: no chafing.

If you prefer the look and fit of leggings, the New York company goodbody goodmommy makes a fashionable and comfortable motherhood running tight in a high performance, silky smoothen, matte fabric that's also wicking and UV protective . The small company started in 2014 after co-founder and marathon runner Erin Howard grew frustrated searching for maternity running gear during her 2d pregnancy.

"My belly was big, and my hips were big, and zip fit right. I felt ignored, and I didn't desire other athletes to feel that way," said Howard, who teamed up with midwife Melissa Peard to found the company. The duo is at present making giant strides in the area of loftier-quality active maternity and athleisure clothes.

goodbody goodmommy Maternity Leggings

I wore these leggings on hikes, runs, and at the gym during my third trimester, when my bump grew the virtually and I needed more back up to keep moving comfortably. The leggings are stylish and soft, but their very best characteristic is the built-in, adjustable velcro support belt that yous secure nether your bump.

"My abdomen was large, and my hips were big, and null fit right. I felt ignored, and I didn't want other athletes to feel that way."

You only don't see this level or intendance or detail in mass-market place maternity activewear, and information technology makes a huge difference.

The belt provides ample bump support and lift without adding excess bulk. I will definitely wear these when I render to the forest and the gym postpartum.

If y'all prefer the expect, feel, and functionality of a classic hiking pant, check out Mother & Nature'south h2o-resistant maternity walking trousers , which are mesh-lined for breathability and feature expandable side panels.

I could accept used these pants on a few early-pregnancy hikes, when I got caught in a few showers on the trail and had to hike in sopping moisture yoga leggings. These pants feel and look great, and they are applied, affordable, and super durable. They are my top choice for a longer or multi-day hike. Jenkins is besides currently working on a version that will feature zip off legs, so the trousers could easily be converted into a pair of shorts.

Mother & Nature's H2o-Resistant Maternity Walking Trousers

Underwear and Sports Bras

A lot of mass-market motherhood bras and underwear are made out of cotton, the absolute worst fabric for whatsoever hiker, let alone significant ones who sweat a LOT more than usual.

Outdoorsy mamashoped-for need lightweight, moisture and odor control fabrics that can stretch. I live in Patagonia's Active Briefs ($24) and Barely Bikinis ($22) on all of my hiking trips, and I was relieved to see that they worked similar a charm during pregnancy. They won't stretch out all the way over your crash-land, but they have seamless waistbands, so they aren't tight-fitting or restrictive and they won't whorl. The constructed fabric is soft, quick-drying, and sweat-wicking.

I besides loved the wicking backdrop of Patagonia'south Barely Bra ($49), which is so comfortable and soft I article of clothing information technology fifty-fifty when I'thou not on the trail. The bra has lightly-padded cups (emphasis here on calorie-free ). The support is pretty minimal and it'southward well-nigh advisable for smaller bosom sizes.

If yous need a little more support, Championship Nine sells several stylish and functional maternity and nursing-friendly sports bras, including the Fits-To-A Tee bra ($50), which I wore on several hikes and trail runs this summertime. This racerback bra features velcro straps for easy admission and removal. I love this bra, just be warned, it is a compressive bra and it runs modest. I grew out of information technology at the start of my third trimester. You lot should definitely size up in either the ring or the cup if you program to habiliment it throughout your pregnancy or while nursing.

Takeaways

Afterwards a few false starts, I was relieved to finally find some comfortable, applied, and stylish motherhood options to wearable on the trail throughout the later stages of my pregnancy.

Smaller outdoor and activewear retailers are obviously working hard to accost the needs of pregnant and nursing outdoorswomen. In this surface area, they are outpacing larger outdoor companies who have pretty much ignored this demographic. I spent hours combing websites and researching unlike clothing options, and I wish that it hadn't been quite so hard.

A woman's passion for the smashing outdoors shouldn't have to be put on hold during pregnancy and early motherhood for lack of clothing and gear options. Major outdoor retailers should recognize their oversight, expect to smaller companies for inspiration, and work on providing pregnant and nursing outdoorswomen with some bones clothing and gear options.

This is 1 mount that outdoorswomen shouldn't take to climb.

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Amy Montemerlo Roberts is a high school dean and English teacher who loves hiking, surfing, and writing almost women and the great outdoors. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and their one-eyed beagle. They are expecting a baby girl whatsoever day now. Y'all can check out her blog at havebabywillbackpack.com and follow her on twitter @AmyMontemerlo.

Editor's Note: Hiking photos courtesy of Amy Montemerlo Roberts, and gear images sourced from linked page of products mentioned. Follow the hyperlinks to observe out more than about the products listed. This mail is not sponsored and all opinions are true recommendations of the writer based on her personal experience.

This article contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase, She Explores receives a modest commission at no charge to you lot. Thanks for your support!

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