
Cup of Jo reader Niurka is expecting her second child in the spring (it’s a surprise!), and as her bump grows, she’s trying to figure out what to wear. So! We invited her to Hatch to play around with some clothes…
BEFORE:
When I was pregnant with Toby, and then Anton, I wore a lot of basics from Gap, Old Navy and Target, but I also splurged on a few beautiful pieces that made me feel pretty and glowing and not-so-bloated. For those, I turned to Hatch, the gorgeous maternity collection with clothes you can wear before, during and after pregnancy.
First, Niurka tried on this red dress. “I love the color,” she said. “I felt instantly more beautiful when I wore this.”
Here, Niurka wore a tweed sweater with faux leather leggings. “These leggings are my favorite!” she said. “It’s hard to find something edgy in maternity wear.” Plus, the sweater had such a pretty neckline; “it feels surprisingly sexy,” Niurka said. Ariane, the founder of Hatch, pointed out that as pregnant as you get, you still have nice collar bones!
Then she tried the Highline Dress. “Most maternity pieces on the market are basics,” she said, “but this asymmetrical hem feels very fashion-forward.”
Fourth, she wore pink overalls with a long-sleeved tee. “This is incredibly comfortable,” Niurka said. “I’ll wear these to run errands and chase around my toddler.”
Finally, she wore a thick Cécile Sweater with sweet details, like an exaggerated cuff, wide neck and notch hem, along with the Isabel Pant. “The sweater feels amazing against my skin,” she said. “It’s really comfy wrapped around me. The pants feel like sweatpants, but they’re slim, so you can dress them up or down.”
While Niurka and I were chatting, she also shared six things she’s learned about pregnancy…
Cravings: Lucky Charms.
Helpful parenting book: Simplicity Parenting. There are so many things out there you can be tempted to buy, but that book was a reminder that you didn’t have to buy so much.
On choosing a name: We don’t agree on any! I’d love to have a French baby name, but my husband won’t sign off on any. We have to pick a name that sounds beautiful in both Spanish and English because I’m Dominican and he’s Colombian.
On sharing her baby news: We found out that I was pregnant at home, and my husband and I were celebrating but trying not to be too obvious about it because we didn’t want to tell Nora until I was further along. But she came over to sit next to me on the sofa and put her hand on my belly and said, “Mama, do you have a baby in your belly?” She just picked up on it. And I said, “Yes,” and she said, “I know.” I was so touched, I had tears in my eyes.
Advice for new mothers: Try not to take on everything by yourself, even if you’re feeling energized. So many mothers came before you, it’s nice to built a support network before you need it. Originally I was relying on so much of the literature and books, and I reached a point where I felt very isolated. Nothing beats someone touching your hand or stroking your back and telling you it’s going to be okay.
Thank you so much, Hatch!
If you’re pregnant (or have been), what did you like to wear? Any pregnancy tips for Niurka or other mamas-to-be out there?
P.S. My pregnancy survival guide, and the funniest website for moms-to-be.
(Photos by Nicki Sebastian for Cup of Jo. This post is sponsored by Hatch, the maternity collection we have loved for years. If you’re curious, here are Niurka’s shoes, from top: strapped oxfords: similar; nude healed booties: similar; contrast sandals: similar; brown wrap sandals: similar.)