The Trend Towards Maternity Fitness Wear
By Laurie Bagley

Recently, I was asked, "Why would a retail store want to carry fitness wear for expectant moms?"There are several reasons for this trend's continued growth.

In the past, physicians did not necessarily encourage fitness as a part of a woman's healthy pregnancy. Today, fitness is more accepted and encouraged during a woman's pregnancy. I do not see this trend changing, and I expect this aspect of a healthy pregnancy to grow.

Expectant moms that choose to workout should be encouraged and supported. Research is showing that a moderate level of exercise creates and increases benefits to the mother and unborn baby in several ways: Women who workout have an increased level of functioning in their cardiovascular system. Often women who workout during pregnancy gain less unnecessary weight. A woman's stamina can increase which is a benefit during labor. Women who workout during their pregnancies tend to recover faster after delivery and return to their pre-pregnancy size. Of course, before a pregnant woman undertakes an exercise program she should check with her doctor for guidelines and/or restrictions.

I began my business a year ago because I am an avid athlete and was not planning on giving that up while pregnant. My doctor was completely supportive of my decision to modify my normal exercise routines which included running, cycling, mountaineering, river rafting, swimming and cross-country skiing. By modifying my routines, it meant listening to my body and adjusting speed and duration of activities to the point where I was feeling comfortable instead of overtaxed.

During my pregnancy, finding workout wear to fit my activities was a huge challenge. There were and still are few choices. I personally used all the products we carry and tried many others to come up with a formula for what to offer in our mail order catalog.

This trend, of course promotes a need for comfortable, properly designed maternity fitness wear-and an opportunity for you.

The basic items you might want to consider carrying: a short unitard, long unitard, tights, bike tights, and a very supportive sports bra. I have found these items to be our top sellers. Another consideration would be a maternity sports swimsuit designed for pool workouts.

When deciding which basic products to carry, look consider the following criteria:

• A stretchy, quality cotton/lycra fabric, simple design and basic colors such as black or navy.
  
  
• Since women will most likely only be able to wear these pieces during their pregnancy, cost should be taken into account. However, I have found that the price of the items is of less concern to the buyer than the quality and fit of the clothing.
  
  
• When considering a sports bra, look for wide comfortable straps, maximum support and a range of larger sizes. Basic colors like white and gray seem to be more popular.
  
  
• Stay away from trendy designs (like a thong unitard) and bright patterns or colors.
  
  
• In swimwear, women working out in the pool will be wanting a functional style such as a racer tank style. Quality fabric is a must here because often the suit will be worn 3-5 times a week for workouts. Basic colors seem to be the most popular-black or navy.

Laurie Bagley is the owner of a mail order business called "Fit Maternity and Beyond." In the past ten years, she has been a competitive runner, mountain biker and tri-athleteas well as a river guide for many years. She is currently a mountain guide for "Shasta Mountain Guides." These activities have allowed her to experience the benefits of exercise and try different products. She worked out through her entire pregnancy and feels that it made her recovery very quick. She can be reached at 530-926-5551 or on the web at www.fitmaternity.com.