Maternity style: Month 4

September—weeks 12 through 16 of my pregnancy—has been exciting because I’ve started to see more “proof” that I’m actually pregnant. I know that sounds weird (the pregnancy test and two ultrasound scans weren’t enough?) but I’ve had such a smooth pregnancy, I do sometimes forget that I’m pregnant. Well, the fog of unreality has cleared, thanks to two thrilling developments.

One: I’ve started to feel the baby move! The first time was at week 14, while sitting at the dining table talking to Marlon late one evening. I suddenly felt this subtle, unusual fluttering at the very bottom of my belly. It went on for about 10 minutes and was so unlike everything I’d ever felt… and I cried. The movements—which also felt like soft little taps on the inside of my belly, or like speeding downhill in a fast car—started to get more regular through the next week, but I could only really feel them if I sat or lay down quietly.

Now I can feel the baby move a little bit every day, sometimes even while I’m out and about. It’s a wonderful feeling, and when it happens, everything else just goes quiet for me. I can’t wait for the movements to get stronger so Marlon can feel them too.

Second: I now have a little bump! I find it so thrilling because I want to be showing already… I want to have a good excuse to have a big tummy! It’s not huge (heck, heavy meals have given me a bigger belly many times in the past), but it’s exciting because now I get to start dressing the bump.

As a full-figured gal, my current wardrobe is already pretty bump-friendly. It’s way too early for maternity wear, so I’ve worn some of my regular outfits this past month, like this vintage dress from Brussels with my fall uniform tri-tone boots. To layer over it, I bought a chunky gray oversized cardigan from Zara, which I predict I’ll be wearing for many, many months.

I’ve had fun putting together outfits that show off the bump as it grows. It is so liberating to wear something tight and stretchy and not have to suck in your gut! Not that I could suck it in even I wanted to. I picked up a couple of stretch long-sleeved t-shirt dresses from Primark (non-maternity!) that I absolutely love.

To go to watercolor class, I wore it here with neon flats (Php 300/€5! Yeah!) from Landmark, tights from Marks & Spencer, neon watercolor-print silk scarf from Beijing, gray men’s cardigan from Zipia. (Yes, I’m about the size of a Korean man.)

To go house-hunting, I wore the same style with a red leather bag from Seoul, blue tights from Topshop, gray Converse sneakers, and a gray wool blazer from Uniqlo.

Much as I love showing it off, at this stage the bump is still small enough to disappear under a peplum. For a night out with friends, I wore a vintage peplum dress from , a boxy leather purse from the C4C Vintage Fair at Trouw, black tights from Hema and black ankle boots from Aldo.

Please say you see the bump! I’d be crushed if I was just imagining it, haha.