How to choose maternity clothing & maternity cosmetics that protect and honor you

Pregnancy stretches more than your skin.

It stretches your sense of identity, comfort, and beauty.
It asks: Can I still belong to myself while becoming someone’s mother?

One way to say yes to that question is through how we dress and adorn our bodies—gently, intentionally, and safely.

Because your body isn’t just growing life.
It is a sacred landscape that deserves care, respect, and beauty.

Clothing as a Ritual, Not Just a Requirement

Maternity clothing isn’t about hiding your belly or “making do.”
It’s about choosing fabrics, cuts, and textures that let you breathe, bloom, and belong to your body—not battle it.

Dr. Dee’s Feminine Systems Tips:

• Choose natural, breathable fabrics
  • Go for cotton, muslin, linen, or bamboo—especially in warmer climates.
  • Let your skin breathe, sweat, and expand with ease.
• Flow over fit
  • Avoid overly tight elastic bands over the belly.
  • Empire-waist dresses, soft wrap-around styles, and kaftans allow grace and movement.
• Layer with intention
  • A long shrug, scarf, or robe-style outerwear can help you transition through body changes while still feeling “put together.”
• Make dressing a ritual
  • Set aside 5 extra minutes to oil your belly, bless your breasts, and choose colors that match your emotional tone for the day.
• Invest in post-birth versatility
  • Choose pieces that double as nursing-friendly later (e.g. button-down kurtas, wrap tops, feeding gowns).

Cosmetics During Pregnancy: What to Watch Out For

Pregnancy is a time to simplify and purify your skincare and makeup.
Not because beauty must be sacrificed—but because your body (and your baby’s) is absorbing everything.

Common Ingredients to Avoid

(According to ACOG & Dermatological Safety Guidelines):

• Retinoids / Retinol – Found in anti-aging creams, can affect fetal development
• Salicylic Acid (in high concentrations) – Often in acne treatments
• Hydroquinone – Skin-lightening agent
• Formaldehyde / Phthalates / Parabens – In nail polish, hair dyes, and some shampoos
• Chemical sunscreens – Choose mineral-based (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) instead.

Dr. Dee's Clean Beauty Favorites (India-friendly options)

Category	Safer Choices
Skincare	Juicy Chemistry, Earth Rhythm, Daughter Earth, Ilana Organics
Makeup	Ruby's Organics, Asa Beauty, Just Herbs
Haircare	The Switch Fix, Arata, Vilvah
Belly Oils	Forest Essentials Mother's Oil, Ma Earth Botanicals Stretch Oil

A Feminine Systems Reminder: You Are the Altar

Pregnancy is not a time to disappear into functionality.
It’s a time to reclaim your senses.
To choose fabrics that feel like prayer.
To wear colors that evoke softness or fire.
To touch your skin like it’s sacred ground.

Let getting dressed be an act of returning to your changing body with kindness.

You are not just carrying a baby.
You are carrying your evolution.

So, wear what lets you breathe.
Adorn what makes you glow.
Choose cosmetics that align with purity and pleasure.
Let your comfort, not consumer trends, guide you.

Because every layer that touches your skin during pregnancy—should feel like love.