The second trimester: when your bump arrives and your shorts quit
One minute you’re doing up your favourite shorts, the next minute your button is flying across the room at 40km an hour. Welcome to the second trimester. The bump is out, the ankles are (mostly) still visible, and your wardrobe is officially confused.
Picture this: you’re in the park, sun’s out, trees doing their best “relaxing nature” thing, and there you are in a black sports bra and black maternity bike shorts, boxing glove on one hand, other hand on your hip like you’re about to tell someone off. You’re not training for a title fight. You’re just trying to move your body without your belly falling out the bottom of your top or your shorts folding down like a dodgy camping chair.
That’s the whole second trimester vibe: you want to stay active, but you also don’t want to spend the whole walk yanking your waistband back up and pretending you’re fine.
What “being active” actually looks like in the second trimester
There’s this idea that pregnancy fitness means glowing, bouncing around a park, lovingly holding your belly like you’re in an ad. In real life it’s more:
- Walks where you mainly scout for toilets and benches.
- Stretching because your hips now click like an old ceiling fan.
- Light workouts where the main achievement is that you put a bra on.
And that’s fine. Movement doesn’t have to be dramatic to be useful. A slow walk around the park, a bit of boxing (mostly air, occasionally your partner’s annoying comments), or just standing in the sun in your shorts, breathing and not carrying a handbag that weighs more than a toddler – that all counts.
The bit no one warns you about is how much your clothes can make or break your mood. If your shorts are digging in, rolling down, or trying to become a thong, suddenly “gentle exercise” feels like a full contact sport.
Why the right maternity shorts matter more than the workout
When you’re in the second trimester, your body is basically changing shape every week. Your bump is out, your hips are renegotiating their contract, and your old activewear is clinging on for dear life. Comfort stops being a luxury and becomes: “If this waistband digs in one more time, I’m going home.”
That’s where decent maternity shorts earn their keep. You want:
- A high waistband that actually reaches your bump, not halfway up it.
- Gentle compression that feels like support, not punishment.
- Fabric you can wear outside the house because you will absolutely end up at the shops afterwards.
Our emama maternity shorts tick those boxes, and here’s the sneaky bonus: they play very nicely with pieces you can keep wearing after the baby arrives, like the Body Shapewear Shorts.
From bump to after-baby: shorts that don’t retire at birth
Here’s the thing about pregnancy clothes: you blink, and you’re suddenly in the “after” part. That’s why planning a tiny bit ahead isn’t the worst idea you’ve ever had.
The Body Shapewear Shorts were originally designed with high waisted compression support for after pregnancy. They’re shapewear that is actually activewear, which means:
- You don’t have to hide them under clothes like some embarrassing secret layer.
- You can wear them for daycare runs, supermarket dashes and those heroic five-minute walks.
- They give you light shaping and support without that “I can’t breathe but at least my thighs look smaller” feeling.
They start at around the $35 mark, which, given how often you’ll wear them, works out to roughly “about 3 cents per meltdown” over time. Not bad.
There’s also the Body Shapewear Shorts - Pockets version, because obviously someone finally realised we need somewhere to put a phone, keys, and 47 emergency snacks. Same idea – shapewear that doubles as activewear – but with pockets so you’re not stuffing everything down your bra.
How to actually use them in real life (not just in cute photos)
1. Your go-to park outfit
Copy the park scene: black sports bra, bump forward, maternity bike shorts, and a pair of boxing gloves if you’re feeling dramatic. You don’t have to be doing a full workout – light boxing, a walk, or just standing there enjoying feeling like your shorts actually fit you for once is enough.
2. The “I might exercise, I might just get coffee” uniform
Throw on your emama shorts, chuck an oversized tee or hoodie on top, and you’re sorted. If you end up walking, you’re comfy. If you end up sitting on a park bench scrolling for 40 minutes, still comfy. No one needs to know which one you chose.
3. The future-you outfit
Pair your maternity pieces with something you’ll keep using after pregnancy, like the Body Shapewear Shorts or the pocket version. They’re designed for post-pregnancy support, but plenty of women wear them well beyond that because they’re simple, high waisted and behave themselves. Future you, running around on two hours’ sleep, will be quietly thankful you thought ahead.
Listening to your body (not random strangers)
Second trimester advice comes from everywhere: walk more, walk less, do squats, don’t do squats, lift light weights, lift nothing heavier than a grape. Here’s the only bit that really matters:
- If it feels okay in your body and your care provider is happy, you’re probably fine.
- If your body is saying “absolutely not”, you don’t need to argue with it.
Movement should feel like support, not punishment. The same goes for your clothes. If your shorts are cutting in, rolling, or making you want to swear at them, it’s not you. It’s them.
Wrapping it up (before your waistband rolls down again)
Second trimester is this weird little window where you’re visibly pregnant, occasionally energetic, and still able to see your feet. It’s a good time to find a couple of outfits – like a solid pair of maternity bike shorts – that make moving your body feel like an option, not a chore.
If you want something you can keep wearing after baby, have a look at the Body Shapewear Shorts or the Body Shapewear Shorts - Pockets. They’re not magic, but they do stay put, support what needs supporting, and won’t complain when you wear them three days in a row. Accidentally, of course.
