A Few Pretty Linen Maternity Dresses

Pregnancy is a time for self-care as your body changes and your comfort matters. You could simply wear bigger clothes. But for maternity clothing, there are more sustainable choices, like this pretty linen breastfeeding dress. Launder with unscented biodegradable laundry liquid.

The Lullaby Trust has safety information on baby clothing (and bedding). Mostly to not over-heat (babies control temperature through their head and face).

Remove hats, socks and gardens when moving to warmer temperatures (including cars – don’t let babies sleep in car seats outside travel, due to the upright position not being as safe as back-sleeping).

Wearing natural fabrics like organic cotton, hemp and linen are not just good for the planet. But when pregnant, you’ll likely find them more comfortable too, as they let skin breathe, and keep you cooler in hot wear.

And you can safely launder them in machines, without leaching microplastics out of machines, and into the sea. Not something you wish to see in the future, your impending little one!

Like hemp, this fabric (from the flax plant) can be grown locally (mostly in Europe). It’s a bit crumply, but as long as you don’t mind a few wrinkles, this is a very comfortable fabric, that gets softer with wear. This linen pinafore dress is made with love and care in Latvia.

Made with stone-washed linen fabric, the skirt-dress has cross-back dungarees that close in front with buttons in four heights, plus two side pockets (available in various colours, order a size up if pregnant).

This pretty linen maternity dress has useful pockets, choose from several colours.

Second-Hand and Swapping Schemes

Although it’s not good to buy second-hand baby mattresses etc (due to mould risks),  second-hand maternity clothing of quality is a good buy, so search for locally-owned charity shops for bargains, or online.

Another idea is ‘swishing’, which is when local friends and neighbours meet up to swap clothes they never wear, rather than throw them away. If you belong to an anti-natal class, perhaps you could get together to do the same, but for maternity wear (some may have previous clothing, from births before).

This enables everyone to find clothes they love, that cost nothing. Other than a few non-alcohol drinks and a few nibbles to snack on!