Cute coat. Hopefully she is wearing layers underneath it.

You know how it goes when you are pregnant in the winter.  You bundle up for a trip to the store/restaurant/visit a friend/(insert your destination here).  You arrive at said destination only to find that the occupants seem to be suffering from some ailment (ie: not pregnant) that renders them incapable of holding body heat and therefore, they have turned the temperature up to what feels to you like the burning fires of hades, or 72 degrees…which is basically the same thing.  You are horrified to discover that you have only a long-sleeved shirt on under your bulky cute maternity sweater, and the thick tights you are wearing under your sheer-ish skirt really cannot come off unless you want to give the people around you a peek at your backside.  So you suffer.  And sweat.  A lot.

What is the solution to the above dilemma?  Dress in layers, dear pregnant one.  Dress in layers.

Start with a bottom layer similar to how you would dress in the summertime.  Because, as we carriers of internal heaters know, it sometimes feels like the summer even when it is 30 degrees outside.  A light t-shirt underneath your long-sleeved shirt or sweater gives you an option to toss the heavier top if you start heating up.  If you are wearing tights or leggings underneath other pants or a skirt, make sure that you could take them off without feeling naked.  Heavy socks sometimes feel nice at first, but carry a lighter pair with you just in case your feet start to heat up.  I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand it when my feet are hot.

Plan your outerwear carefully.  You don’t want to get caught in the conundrum of only having a heavy coat that, when you have it on, makes you feel like you are in a sauna.  Build your outfit from the inside out and have several layers on top so that you can adjust to fit your environment.  You might cover a sweater with a lighter coat and a vest, along with a hat, scarf and gloves.  This will keep you toasty, but allow you to shed some of the layers if you start warming up.

Discover the magic of hats and scarves.  A lot of heat escapes through the top of your head and covering that heat loss up is one quick way to make yourself more warmer.  A thicker and bigger scarf, in addition to being cute, can keep you warm by covering your neck, upper body, and even head.

A little bit of foresight and planning goes a long way when you are pregnant in the winter.  Know that your temperature comfort level is going to be different than most of the people around you and plan accordingly.  At least you are not pregnant during the heat of the summer!

Image: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Lenscap