If you find skinny jeans and a top your go-to every day, you may be worried about how wearing tight jeans during pregnancy will affect you. If tight jeans are your thing, then you might be concerned during your pregnancy about your baby in the womb. You might be scared that it will harm the baby. You may be lost as to what kind of maternity wear you can wear as a replacement.
Well, you’re on the right page! This article sheds light on this rarely discussed subject to put your mind at ease.
Is It Bad To Wear Tight Jeans While Pregnant?
While wearing tight jeans during pregnancy won’t harm your baby, it’s generally not recommended due to potential discomfort and other negative effects. The regular jeans that you wore before you got pregnant will start to become pretty restrictive when you get pregnant. This is because, before your mirror shows you that you have gained weight, your clothes recognize it. As the pregnancy progresses, this restriction increases.
Our panel gynaecologist Dr Ankita Patel Tayal advises that it is very important not to restrict your abdomen too much during pregnancy. There is no scientific proof to date that shows wearing tight jeans during pregnancy hampers the baby’s development. But it can create many unwanted discomforts during pregnancy.
According to MedPage Today, wearing tight jeans during pregnancy could increase the risk of meralgia paresthetica, a condition characterized by tingling, numbness, and burning pain in the outer side of the thigh.
This happens due to the restriction induced by tight jeans on a particular nerve connected to the thigh. As the pregnancy progresses, these discomforts also increase. You wouldn’t want to create unnecessary nerve pain during pregnancy, which is already a time when you go through a lot of other pains and aches.
Ideally, you should switch to pregnancy-friendly pants as soon as your regular ones start to feel uncomfortable. You may be pleasantly surprised when you browse through comfortable yet fashionable maternity wear online as well. All those roomy pants and loose tops are just a click away.
Can Tight Pants Cut Off Circulation To Baby?
No research has come out with a result that wearing jeans during pregnancy can cut off circulation to the baby completely. However, wearing tight jeans during pregnancy definitely hinders blood circulation. More often it affects the blood circulation to the lower part of the body creating pain and numbness in the legs.
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However, when blood vessels in the pelvic area are pressed for long time it may decrease the blood circulation to the baby. But as said earlier no studies have proved wearing tight pants during pregnancy completely cuts off circulation to the baby.
Can Tight Pants Cause Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy?
Wearing tight jeans during pregnancy can cause pain in a number of areas of the body during pregnancy. Anything that puts pressure on the abdomen can cause abdominal pain during pregnancy. There is no scientific proof that wearing tight jeans during pregnancy directly affects the baby in the womb.
However, wearing tight jeans during pregnancy is very uncomfortable and can cause abdominal pain during pregnancy. I could not carry on with tight jeans during my gestation period after just a month or 2. The skin used to get itchy and I always felt uncomfortable. I switched to maternity jeans but the lose dresses of flowy gowns were most comfortable to me.
During pregnancy, in the abdomen starts to stretch and easily gets irritated. You can’t tuck your tummy inside too, so that’s another reason. While sitting, the abdomen stays out and the waistband could hurt. Wearing tight clothes thus causes skin irritation on your bump.
Along with stomach ache and other pain in the area wearing tight jeans during pregnancy can bring about some other issues as well, such as the ones listed below-
1. Increase the risk of yeast infection
According to many studies, wearing tight clothing is a contributing factor to vaginal yeast infections. During pregnancy, vaginal secretion increases incredibly. If the jeans are too tight, it can further increase the vaginal secretion and make the environment perfect for the yeast to flourish.
Wearing tight jeans during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimester, increases the risk of yeast infection.
2. Wearing tight jeans during pregnancy can affect blood circulation
Blood circulation is another factor that gets adversely affected while wearing tight jeans during pregnancy. From early pregnancy onwards, the blood vessels start to expand to accommodate the increased blood volume.
Wearing tight, skinny jeans can press the blood vessels in the hip, thighs, and legs, thereby hindering the easy flow of blood. According to studies, in extreme cases, it could cause extreme muscle damage as the blood circulation to the leg and feet are severely blocked.
As the pregnancy progresses, even if you are wearing normal loose clothes, the blood flow may get slower due to various other reasons. So now you know wearing tight jeans during pregnancy can aggravate these issues and trigger swellings in the feet.
Also, wearing tight genes for a prolonged time during pregnancy can cause not only numbness or tingling sensation but also can ultimately lead to muscle degeneration and nerve damage. This could be avoided at any cost.
3. Tight jeans during pregnancy can cause back pain
A recent study by BCA (British Chiropractic Association) found that among 73% of women with back pain, tight jeans are the number one fashion item that causes back pain. Daily wearing tight jeans during pregnancy end up in regular restriction of hips and knees’ free movements.
This could trigger back pain during pregnancy. To make things worse, pregnant women are already prone to back pain. Wearing tight jeans during pregnancy could also aggravate existing back pain.
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4. Increase the risk of varicose vein
Many women found to develop varicose veins & spider veins during pregnancy. Many factors contribute to this. Wearing tight jeans during pregnancy is one of those factors.
The pressure applied by the tight jeans can deform and swell veins. Many health sites state wearing tight jeans increase the stagnation of the blood, thereby worsening the varicose veins.
Here you should remember an important fact. Varicose veins increase the risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis), a condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins of your legs. Considering all these risks, it is better to stop wearing tight jeans during pregnancy.
5. Causes leg pain
Wearing tight jeans during pregnancy increases the risk of leg pain and cramps in calf muscles. Tight genes also increase the risk of edema in the legs.
Can Wearing Tight Pants Cause A Miscarriage?
There is no scientific evidence that proves wearing tight pant during pregnancy increases the risk of cause miscarriage. However, according to various studies, sufficient evidence is present to indicate that wearing tight clothing (no matter whether pregnant or not) can have an adverse effect on the health of women.
Some Scientifically Proven Ill Effects Of Wearing Tight Jeans During Pregnancy
- One of the studies on the effect of tight clothing on health in ordinary adults has found that clothing-induced constriction may delay bowel movement and decrease faeces’ quantity
- Thus, wearing tight jeans during pregnancy aggravates or increases the risk of constipation, one of the most common minor problems experienced by pregnant women
- Another study results indicate that wearing tight jeans can have an inhibitory effect on the absorption of dietary carbohydrate in the small intestine. This is not at all allowable during pregnancy
- Another study shows that wearing tight jeans decreases trunk musculature activity and increases the risk of lumbar problems. This is also not good for a healthy pregnancy
When Should I Stop Wearing Tight Jeans During Pregnancy?
Dr Ankita Patel Tayal, practising obstetrician for last 10 years, advises pregnant women that during the initial weeks of pregnancy, you can wear the jeans you normally wear. During the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, the womb will be inside the pelvis. The answer to the above question lies in observing and listening to your body.
As long as you are comfortable, you don’t have to change your clothing style. But stop wearing tight jeans as soon as you feel slight discomfort.
However, as you enter the second and third trimester, the baby bump becomes very prominent. During this time, it is wise to avoid wearing anything too tight. Not only tight pant, but any tight cloth can also hinder blood circulation. Wearing tight belts can also affect blood circulation.
Tips For Choosing The Right Pants During Pregnancy
Wearing tight jeans during pregnancy is generally safe for short periods, but there are some considerations expectant mothers should keep in mind.
Choose maternity pants that fit you well and provide ample space for your belly to continue growing. If you do not want to go shopping, you can even opt for online shopping.
When it comes to fitting, make sure the maternity jeans feel firm yet comfortable. There should be no feeling of pressure on your belly at the same time should not feel it may fall down. More often, maternity jeans are made with stretchable fabric to increase the comfort level.
Maternity jeans that have a built-in belly band is available in stores. These bands comfortably cover the pregnancy bump. As these bands are stretchable, they will not put any pressure on the growing belly.
If you don’t like to cover your belly, then you can choose low waist maternity jeans. Choose the style depending on your comfort level.
Conclusion
You want to be in your most relaxed and comfortable state during pregnancy. Right clothing plays a vital role in making you comfortable. Wearing loose pants and tops definitely helps to enhance your comfort level throughout pregnancy.
Nowadays, many online sites provide a range of pregnancy wears that covers different purposes. Each and every product you find here is designed, especially for expecting mothers. You can find good quality and pregnancy-friendly loose pants and tops and undergarments here.