How to Wear a Saree When Pregnant

Whatever stage of pregnancy you are in, you can wear a saree with freedom and ease. You can wear a saree when pregnant and still look and feel good. You just need to choose the right material of sarees, have comfortable blouses and petticoats, go a little easy on the accessories, and take on a pregnant-friendly draping style such as the Bengali, Gujarati, or Coorgi styles. 

Learning how to wear a saree is important, but you also might be wondering if you can wear a saree while pregnant. The answer is yes, you absolutely can. And, it’s a comfortable option for maternity clothing, especially if you’re in a warmer climate. But there are definitely some things to remember to wear a saree when pregnant.

Perhaps you have always worn sarees, or perhaps the saree is a new outfit for you. Either way, your pregnancy does not mean you have to wait till after childbirth to wear, and look fantastic in, a saree. You can confidently wear the graceful garment while staying at home, going to work, or attending a party. Keep reading to know how you can flaunt yourself in a saree while keeping yourself (and your baby) safe and comfortable.

Can You Wear a Saree While Pregnant?

The answer here is of course, yes. Later, we’ll share the proper way to wear a saree while pregnant. But there are some things to keep in mind when you’re wearing a saree. Being pregnant means lots of changes for your body, so there are certain challenges to overcome while wearing a saree when you’re pregnant. 

One of the Major Obstacles of Wearing a Saree While Pregnant

Adjusting your saree to fit your growing belly and changing body is a fairly simple process, more on that later. But it’s important to consider the logistics of wearing a saree while pregnant, before you commit to putting it on. 

Let’s face it, most females need to clear their bladder out more often than most males. Now, as a pregnant woman, especially if you are over six months of pregnancy, you will probably need to head to the toilet a lot more.

Some women complain about how it is harder to elegantly come out of the car seat or tread up the stairs in a saree, but the biggest complaint is always going to the bathroom with a saree on.

The pleats and drapes of a saree take time and effort, so it is disheartening when an action called by mother nature ruins the hard work of putting on a saree. Additionally, it is a big hassle to go over and fix all the small fallouts of the saree after using the bathroom.

To reduce any issues with your saree whenever you need to use the toilet, remember the following tips:

• Do not touch or play around with the front part of your saree beneath your waist. Naturally, we try to neatly fold the bottom front of our saree to keep it in place when we visit the bathroom. However, this only increases the chances of messing with the tidy pleats.
• Tie up the draping pallu if it is not pinned up. Tie the draping pallu around one hand or your waist. The last thing you want is for one end of your saree to be dripping wet in toilet water (yuck!).
• Pull the bottom of your saree and petticoat from the behind only. Reach down to the sides and behind of your ankles, and then pull up the saree. Then you will be free to use the toilet, and your saree pleats will stay unbothered.

Once you are done, quickly check up on your saree. Do a fast scan to see if all parts of your saree are in place, and be relieved that this method of using the bathroom leads to little to no fuss when wearing a saree.

Find all the Things You Need to Wear A Saree While Pregnant

The saree is one of the most recognized and oldest garments of India and other parts of South Asia. This cultural outfit is worn in pretty much all events, from wedding celebrations and professional ceremonies to a relaxed day spent at home. 

The saree, at its core, is a feminine attire. So why should you shy away from the sexy saree during a very feminine chapter of your life – pregnancy? The growing baby bump might make you feel doubtful and awkward when trying on a saree, but with the proper style and guidance, you will have nothing to worry about.

Though each saree is basically a long piece of rectangular fabric, there is so much variety in choosing a saree. Various regions of India have multiple kinds of fabrics for their sarees. Then there are the myriad colors and designs that sarees have. Then play around with numerous draping styles, and you can see how the saree fashion trend is rather versatile.

For your comfort and safety, you will need to be more cautious of the materials and items you select when wearing a saree. Comfort and safety are always important, but as a pregnant woman, warily choose your saree and the other pieces. The following tells you everything you will need.

Choose the Right Blouses 

For peace of mind and physical comfort, many pregnant women prefer to keep their belly bump covered. To make this easy, always opt for longer blouses.

Choose looser and lighter blouses with little to no embroidery. Pregnancy causes weight gain in the breasts, back, and arms. Hence you should wear better-fitting blouses even if that means getting new blouses.

• Choli blouses are long blouses that cover up till the midriff.
• Short Kurtis is another option that is very comfortable and substitutes for a long blouse.
• Jacket-style blouses are modern and hold a professional aura. They are a comfortable choice for the pregnant body.
• Your pre-pregnancy regular blouses are fine if you want to show your growing belly. Just make sure they are not too tight.
• Maternity belly bands are tube-like elastic fabrics. These are gently fastened around the stomach and come in many colors. Belly bands, matching your saree color, are an easy way to make your blouse look longer.

Choose Your Petticoats

Petticoats have the responsibility of keeping the saree snug and in place around your core. As important as it is for your saree to stay in place, make sure your petticoat isn’t too tight that it leaves marks on your stomach.

• Find elastic-band petticoats instead of string petticoats. These will prevent unsightly marks.
• Palazzo pants or leggings are good replacements for petticoats if you cannot find elastic-band petticoats (but wear this only if you won’t need to use the bathroom while you are wearing your saree).

Choose the Right Material of Saree 

The type of material you wear matters when you are pregnant. Whether a saree, blouse, petticoat, or any other attire, make sure you are wearing clothes that are lightweight and comfortable.

The sarees that are best for pregnant women are light, loose, and have little to no embroidery. Heavy, puffy, or highly decorated sarees will weigh you down, make you look bigger, and cause you to itch unnecessarily.

The following saree materials are fit for maternity wear:

• Cotton: Cotton comes to the mind first when comfort is necessary. Cotton sarees are commonly worn in both informal and formal settings.
• Georgette: This fabric is lightweight, sheer, and clings wonderfully with body shapes. This material also makes sarees very easy to manage once worn.
• Chiffon: This gauze-like fabric is shimmering, thin, and lightweight. That hint of glimmer makes chiffon sarees look gorgeous, especially on sunny days. It might be see-through, but this gives you a chance to show off a beautiful blouse. 
• Linen: This fabric is very lightweight and very strong. Linen sarees come in plain designs or heavily detailed designs. The durability and breathable nature of linen sarees make them a popular choice in India.
• Silk: Luxurious and always having a pretty sheen, silk is a favorite choice of saree for vibrant colors. Silk is a great choice for parties. There are many types of silk sarees too, such as Assam silk or Sambalpuri silk.
• Satin-silk: Glossy and glam, this fine fabric will feel as good as you will look when wearing it. The satin-silk sarees also are a great choice for bright and vibrant colors.
• Net: Net sarees can turn heads whether at a small party or a catwalk fashion show. What’s great about wearing a net saree when pregnant is that net sarees tend to be very detailed in exquisite designs and details. 
• Liva fluid fashion fabric: This one is quite unheard of. That’s because it is a modern form of fabric made by LIVA. This man-made fabric has unique fluidity, is lightweight and organic too. Liva fluid fashion fabric promises great comfort, especially in hotter weather. 

Avoid these materials when picking your saree:

• Synthetic: These fabrics, such as crepes, chiffon, rayon, and more, look great. However, you want to skip these types of sarees while you are pregnant. They can be irritable towards your skin.
• Tissue: Though this is a light fabric, it is also crisp and may result in rashes.

Choose Your Shoes and Accessories 

Shoes, bags, and accessories can truly glam up even the plainest outfits. The same holds true for sarees. For maternity wear, however, you want to make sure you are safe and comfortable first.

You can always choose your jewelry, bags, hair decors, and other accessories after you have spun yourself up in a saree. The shoes, however, must be chosen long before.

Whenever you wear a saree, you wear the undergarments and shoes first. Then you start draping the saree around you. This is because the crucial adjustments made when putting on a saree are dependent on the shoes you are wearing. 

• Flat shoes are a must. Your balance must be good for you and your baby’s safety. This is why high-heels are a major no-no during pregnancy. You can pick plain sandals or fancy flats to match your saree. Some pregnant women may feel comfortable wearing block heels, so they can be taller without arching their feet. You can opt for block heels too, but try to stick with flats.
• Minimal jewelry and accessories are your best bet. Pregnancy means fluctuating hormones and body temperatures. To avoid rashes and discomfort, always pick comfortable pieces of jewelry and accessories. 
• Floral ornaments are always feminine and sweet. As flowers are bright, big, and lightweight, they make an emphasized yet safe accessory for you. This is perfect for a summer party, Haldi party, or any other wedding event. Plus, real flowers smell great, so that they will work as a floral fragrance on you too.
• Bags with straps are a better choice than clutches. When your hands are free, you will have a much easier time controlling your balance. A bag hanging off your shoulder will make balancing yourself in a saree much easier. Moreover, choose a small bag and only carry a few essentials. You feel more comfortable and freer when you are not weighed down by heavy things to carry.

Put on Your Saree

Sarees tend to take time and effort to wear. Putting on a saree is a little risky for a pregnant woman. These next tips are helpful to keep in mind as you’re getting dressed in your saree:

• Never be afraid to get help. You will need to fold out pleats and drape the end of the saree around your upper body; this means having to bend, twist and turn. Help yourself by asking someone to help you put on your saree. 
• Have a long mirror to check yourself. Even when you are not pregnant, a full-body mirror makes it easy to put on a saree perfectly. As a pregnant woman, a lengthy mirror will help you perfect your saree out with a few simple glances.
• Wear it higher than usual. Any chance for tripping is dangerous. Wear your petticoat and saree high enough that your ankles are exposed.
• Try different draping styles. You may want to show off your baby bump with the typical saree draping style. If you want to conceal your baby bump, they are a few fashionable ways to drape your saree (read below).
• Make time for a trial run. Give yourself an hour or more to wear your saree around your home. See how you feel walking, sitting, going to the bathroom, and so on. A trial run will help prevent any mishaps or discomfort from happening when you want to wear a saree for longer periods.
  

Drape Your Saree Accordingly

The folded “pleats” and the draping “pallu” are the keys to making a saree look elegant and gorgeous. Here are some draping styles that compliment the pregnant body.

Bengali Draping Style

Bengali Draping Style is a very loose and comfortable style of saree with a sophisticated touch. There will be only a few pleats in the center, which makes walking and maintaining a saree easier. The pallu will have a few pleats in it too. The pallu will fall over your leftover shoulder in a way that it creates a U-shape at the chest and will be brought to your front under the right arm. This easily stylishly covers the belly. 

Try This Look

Pair a minimalist short sleeve blouse or Kurti with a patterned saree. The patterns of the saree will contrast beautifully with the minimal blouse design. (you can switch to a patterned blouse with a minimally designed saree too). 

The wrap-around pallu look can be kept sturdily in place by attaching a trinket, like keys or a string jewelry, to one corner of the pallu’s end.

Add some light earrings, necklaces, and bangles. If you want to go heavier on accessories, add flowers to your hair for a lightweight glamor. Wear kolhapuri shoes, which are cultural and open-toed, so walking can be a breeze without sacrificing style.

Gujarati Draping Style

Unlike the typical saree style, the Gujarati style is put on in an anticlockwise direction. The pallu drape will go over your right shoulder in a way that covers the chest and the stomach fully. The pleats of the pallu will be spread out to achieve this covered look. The ending edge of the remaining pallu that is hanging above your stomach can have one corner neatly pinned behind your waist.

Try This Look 

Wear a highly designed and patterned saree in this style. The drape over your chest will showcase the saree patterns in full view. Add big earrings and an Indian tikli to ornate your face. You can avoid necklaces, so the saree draping at the front gets full attention. Put on some mojari shoes, which are embellished yet easy to walk around in.

Coorgi Draping Style

This saree style is draped across the upper torso, with the pleats being placed on the backside. The Coorgi style hides the stomach fully without being too snug on the stomach. The draping of the Coorgi style begins at the backside, with one end being tucked into the right side of the petticoat. 

The pleats are made at the backside and tucked in as well. The remaining portion of the saree will be placed into the front through the right side and will horizontally cover the chest and stomach. This style is perfect for women in their third trimester.

Try This Look

A jacket blouse with the Coorgi saree style is very fashionable and professional at the same time. Dark and neutral colors with little to no patterns are pretty and businesslike. Add a decorative brooch to secure the saree at the right side of the chest. You can wear simple flats or even wear oxford shoes like Sonam Kapoor.