Keeping Belly & Baby Warm this Winter

From the ground up, your belly (and you) must find a way to stay warm this holiday season. Many midwives have told me the stories of Inuit Elders who claim that mothers whose bellies are cold will have breech babies. That is, if the bottom of the belly is cold, the baby will try to get warm by flipping around getting into a head-up position. Although, I could not find any scientific backing for this tale, I can appreciate its lesson. Keep your baby warm!

When it comes to the specially branded “maternity” clothing, most budgets mean opting out of buying those expensive items. There may be a few key pieces to invest in, like one pair of nice jeans and a few nursing tank tops at the end of pregnancy. Most mamas are able to get away with leggings and knitted or long stretch tops paired with sweaters, cardigans or blazers. 

As December creeps further along, and the snow begins to pile up, we must find some ways to keep those growing bellies safe and warm. 

Good Boots
When heading out on the sidewalks, a pregnant lady must have good footwear. I don’t just say this because my brother makes awesome shoes. I say it because, mamas-to-be have a clumsy way about them and tend to loose their balance in late pregnancy. When slippery conditions are added to that equation, it can make for some trouble. Make sure to take your time walking and wear a warm, comfortable, slip-proof boot. Bonus points for a boot that can slip on because we all know that putting on socks, let alone lacing up a boot is a near impossible task in the last trimester.

Pants/Leggings
As mentioned above, maternity clothes are not really my thing. They do not fit most budgets, and for some reason the just didn’t fit my body. I found best to pick up a pair of low rise leggings to sit just under my belly. Most stores have a fleece-lined winter legging which can keep you nice and warm. As for jeans, I actually went for a jegging, a regular non-maternity, super stretchy, low-rise jegging. For me it was a 12$ pair from Forever XXI. They have a wicked amount of stretch to them so much so that they were actually my first pair of postpartum “jeans.” For a long time in my pregnancy, I was able to use the elastic trick with these. At the end, I actually sewed some elastic bands into the side seams making it just wide enough for my belly.   
For long periods of time spent outside, some low-rise or unbuttoned snow pants might be a requirement to keep you warm. We all know Montreal winters can be quite the chilly affair. 

Layering Tops
Any long tops or tunics, even some dresses can be worn over those growing bellies. In the winter months, coverage and warmth are the priorities. Layer those tops. Tank top, shirt, sweater, jacket. A stretchy fabric or a knit are often comfiest on those bellies and softest against a most itchy skin area.

Sweaters
A Nice long cardigan or (my favourite) a wrap sweater are great options for keeping baby toasty. I personally like an open sweater as opposed to a pullover because mamas are able to customize the wrap around their bellies. A nice tight wrap keeps baby snug. 
A cool idea that I had gotten from another mama is to cut the bottom off of a sweater (just the bottom tube) and wear it under your jacket. It keeps just the belly warm so that mama doesn’t overheat. I have had friends who have actually knit a wide tube which amounts to the same thing as a sliced up sweater. The end result look like a really giant neck warmer. And it does the trick.

Jacket+Jacket Insert
A new product has come on the market in the last few years that mamas, especially winter-baby mamas are loving. It’s a jacket inset that zips into your winter coat making it larger to accommodate a growing belly. It can also be worn upside down when baby wearing in the postpartum period. With variable zippers, sizes and lengths it fits most winter coats. Kokoala, MakeMyBellyFit, and BellyCoat Ltd. are some Canadian companies that make this product which retail for about $50-100 apiece.
I was lucky enough to have a empire waisted winter coat for the early months, and a very lovely, giant coat of my husband’s for the end of pregnancy.

​Hope all of this helps. 
Remember, take your time and know your limits. When outside for long periods of time, make sure you are staying warm and keep check in with yourself and baby. Fresh air and walks are great for mental and physical health, so bundle up and get moving! ​