Maternity Shapewear: Must-haves for confidence and support

Pregnancy can be a beautiful time, but let's not kid ourselves - it's hard, too.

When you're pregnant, sometimes you don't feel like yourself. Up to 85% of pregnant women experience morning sickness, which can include both nausea and vomiting. As if that wasn't enough, you might also have to deal with headaches, fatigue, cramping, heartburn, mood swings, and other unpleasant symptoms. Weight gain is also a side effect of pregnancy - although it's perfectly natural to gain weight during this time, your changing shape might also leave you feeling uncomfortable in your own body.

Growing a human is difficult and you might feel compelled to do everything for your baby. But don't forget to take care of yourself, too! As the old adage goes, you can't pour from an empty cup, so it's important to put yourself first whenever you can. Maybe you've been told to make sure you're staying on top of your prenatal care appointments, taking all your vitamins, getting plenty of rest, doing gentle exercise, and taking steps to stay calm and content. But even if you're doing everything right, sometimes you still won't feel 100%.

Even if you're getting plenty of rest, eating well, and exercising, it can still be hard to watch your body change as the months of pregnancy progress. You might even look at yourself in the mirror one day and not recognize the person staring back at you. How can you feel like yourself again during pregnancy?

One quick, easy solution to regaining your confidence is maternity shapewear. Also known as pregnancy shapewear, these pieces comfortably compress your body to smooth and shape your curves while you're carrying your baby. A body shaper or belly bands can help support the weight of your growing belly while also providing a smoothing effect to your curves, lifting and streamlining in all the right places. These pieces can help you support the weight of your growing baby. They can even provide back support to keep you comfy and help you maintain better posture. Maternity shapewear can make you feel more comfortable and confident than ever before. You might find that it makes it easier to fit into your favorite clothes!

Is pregnancy shapewear dangerous? Not if you don't push it. We recommend staying away from shapewear that's extra firm, inflexible, or not designed to be worn during pregnancy. You want the fabrics to be comfortable, stretchy, and breathable so that you can stay comfy. We also recommend that you stay away from anything that's super tight or uncomfortable. You should be able to fit at least one finger width between your body and your shaper. Pregnancy shapewear should be flexible enough to allow you full freedom of movement. If you ever feel uncomfortable while wearing pregnancy shapewear, take it off! Try a different size and remember that all this is temporary.

Where can you buy pregnancy shapewear? Right here, as a matter of fact! Leonisa offers several different styles, so we're sure to have something you'll love.

This Maternity Support Panty offers full coverage and has a supportive band to support your belly as it grows. The high-waisted design covers your entire tummy but won't flatten it. This panty is made of soft, comfy fabric and has smoothing style all around. It's also designed to provide back support, which can help prevent lumbar pain. This Panty is even comfy enough to sleep in. It's perfect for the advanced months of pregnancy! It's step-in style with no hooks or zippers for total comfort and ease of use.

Our Seamless Maternity Support Panty Short features our trademark SkinFuse ® super comfy compression fabric to smooth out your curves. It covers your entire tummy and hits midway down the thighs for streamlined smoothing. Targeted compression offers comfort and support below your belly, on the waist and hips to smooth out your curves, and under the butt for a bit of a lift. The sheer fabric back there also prevents flattening. This specialty Short is designed to be invisible under your clothes with its ultra-flat seams, waistband, and leg bands. The short bottom also prevents thigh rub so that you can comfortably wear your favorite dresses. Its step-in design makes it comfy and easy to wear.

These are our best options for maternity shapewear that you can rock during your pregnancy. We designed each of these pieces to shape your curves while supporting your belly and back. Most importantly, they're as supportive and comfortable as they are effective.

But what about after you have your baby?

We've already covered how your body can change during pregnancy. These changes can last for quite a while. Although your body will probably never be exactly the way it was before your pregnancy, there are things you can do to bounce back and fit into your favorite jeans again. Exercising regularly and eating healthy foods can bring your body back to your pre-baby size, but the most important factor is time. It can take six to eight weeks for your stomach to shrink back down after you give birth, so try not to worry about it. Be patient with yourself, honor the body you have, and appreciate the fact that your body is capable of creating life!

While you're bonding with your baby and adjusting to your new life, you might want to invest in some postpartum shapewear to help you feel more like yourself. We have a broad selection of shapewear to wear after giving birth, such as this High-Waisted Postpartum Panty with Adjustable Belly Wrap that uses an inner layer of our signature PowerSlim ® firm compression fabric to comfortably flatten your tummy. This shaper has adjustable Velcro sides so that you can wear it as tightly as you want to. Just like with the maternity shapewear we talked about above, make sure you're comfortable while wearing your postpartum shapers!

If you plan to breastfeed, you should also invest in a nursing bra that's specially designed for this moment in your life. Our Super Comfy Nursing Bra is made of soft fabric and has wireless cups that clip down so that you can feed your baby or pump with ease. A helpful reminder clip helps you remember which breast you nursed from last.

What helps you feel like yourself when you're expecting? Have you tried maternity or post-partum shapewear? Leave us a comment below to let us know!