Exclusive: 'Pregnant in Heels' Star Rosie Pope on Pregnancy: Don't Make These Mistakes!

By Erika Rasmusson Janes - April 1, 2011

Photo Credit: Miranda Penn Turin/Bravo

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Designer of super-stylish clothing for pregnant women, maternity concierge, mom and soon-to-be-reality TV star -- the only mistake you could accuse Rosie Pope of making during her second pregnancy would be not relaxing enough!

We asked the phenom behind Bravo's Pregnant in Heels (which premieres Tuesday, April 5) about the biggest mistakes pregnant women make -- and her advice on how to fix them.

The Mistake: Not wanting to invest in maternity clothes and buying bigger sizes of non-maternity styles.
Rosie's Fix: "For most people it's a budget thing, which I totally understand. But being pregnant is a special time in your life, and ... it's nice to have some special things." Rosie's advice: Invest in a few key, versatile maternity pieces -- a little black dress, a great pair of jeans -- and wear them to death. "You can get away with that when you're pregnant!" she says.

The Mistake: Going "Grecian" too soon.
Rosie's Fix: Loose, flowing frocks and tops "look phenomenal" when you're in your third trimester, "but when you're just starting to show it only makes you look bigger," she says.

The Mistake: Waiting too long to arrange for childcare.
Rosie's Fix: Whether you're looking to hire a nanny or find a daycare center, begin the search well before baby is born -- ideally in your second trimester, Pope says. She also recommends trying to hire a nanny who's been with a family for a long time; one who may be looking for a new post because the kids will be going to school soon and will no longer need her care. That scenario may offer more flexibility and help ensure that you don't fall in love with a nanny who needs immediate work.

The Mistake: Registering for the wrong stuff (like uber-adorable, itsy-bitsy newborn sizes and you-don't-need-it-yet items like activity gyms). Or not registering all!
Rosie's Fix: Many mamas-to-be are lucky enough to get the baby shower treatment, but aren't smart about registering for gifts. "Really try to think about the items you'll need," Pope says. "Diapers are incredibly expensive, but a lot of people don't think to register for them." Another tip: Even if you're not having a baby shower, register anyway. Some stores offer a discount on unpurchased items, so you'll save money on anything you buy yourself.

The Mistake: Packing too much into those last weeks.
Rosie's Fix: "It's important to be completely prepared [early on], so that in those last few weeks you don't have anything to do," she says. "Most of the time, you just need to rest. And once you have the baby, there's no more time to rest!"