Baby on Board! Costume Ideas for the Mother-to-Be ~ Guest Post

You’re anxiously awaiting the arrival of your new baby, but it takes 40 weeks for a baby to develop and you need to live your life in the meantime. This means there’s a good chance you’ll have the opportunity to dress up for a costume party at some point during those 40 weeks. Since you probably won’t be able (or want) to wear the sexy bunny outfit that was your go-to choice before you got pregnant, you’ll want to find a costume that works with your new shape, and maybe even highlights the new life growing inside of you.

Early Pregnancy

If you’re in the early stages of pregnancy, you’re in luck, as most Halloween costumes for adults will still fit you. You might need to go up a size or two, but you should still be able to dress up as whatever you choose. If the timing is right, you might be able to use your costume as a means to announce your pregnancy. A lightweight foam or cardboard “oven” worn over a simple top can announce to the world that you have a “bun in the oven,”; your spouse or partner could join the fun by donning a chef’s outfit or apron emblazoned with “Bun Maker,” to make the point clearer.

Dressing the Baby Bump

When you’ve “popped” and you have a clear baby bump, you have many options for costumes that incorporate your new shape, ranging from simple to elaborate. Try dressing as an “8 Ball,” by wearing all black and adding the number eight in a white circle on your bump. Or put a yellow “Bump” sign on your belly and yellow stripes along your sides to go as a speed bump. If you want to have fun with your belly, attach doll arms and legs to your shirt to create the appearance that the baby is busting out of your belly a la “Alien;" for fun, have one of the arms holding a small bucket to collect some candy at a Halloween party.

Painting your belly is an ideal way to incorporate it into your costume. Cover your belly in orange paint to turn it into a pumpkin and don overalls and a straw hat to become a pumpkin farmer. Paint your belly white, add a face and attach a box painted to like a brick wall with legs hanging over to get a few laughs as Humpty-Dumpty.

Of course, you don’t have to paint your belly to have a great costume. Try dressing as a well-known pregnant woman: Juno from the film of the same name has a distinctive look, while celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Duchess Catherine (Kate Middleton) have been endlessly photographed in their maternity looks. Or try historical dress: The empire waist gowns from the Regency period — the time of Jane Austen — are elegant, comfortable and trendy.

A Word of Caution

While there is no reason that you can’t dress up when you are pregnant, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you have a good time and don’t inadvertently hurt yourself or the baby.

The most important thing when choosing a costume is to make sure that you can walk around in it safely. When you’re pregnant, your center of gravity is different than usual, so falls are more likely. Avoid costumes that make it hard to see or that have long hems or trains that could trip you up. You’ll also want to avoid costumes that are too tight around your abdomen. While you probably won’t hurt the baby, you’ll be exceedingly uncomfortable.

Because pregnancy also tends to make you feel warmer than usual, choose a costume that won’t cause you to overheat. A costume that has layers or pieces that you can remove if you start to feel too warm is ideal. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and don’t be afraid to sit down and rest if the festivities start to wear you out.

Dressing your baby bump for a costume party might seem like a challenge, but it’s actually a great opportunity to have some fun and be creative. Take advantage of being pregnant and create a costume that turns heads.

About the Author: Blogger Jody Hennessey is the mother of three and was pregnant twice during Halloween. She loved brainstorming costume ideas for her changing body and continues to share her ideas as they come.