Did you shop for post-pregnancy clothes, while pregnant?

[DuckeyP]

I'm nearly 39 weeks, and VERY much looking forward to getting back into 'normal' clothes. I know things aren't going to spring back to how they were before or anything but i've not exactly rocked the pregnant look and would like to feel like a human again asap!

Did you or are you shopping for clothes that you think will fit after the birth now? Or are you going to wait until the baby is here.

Only reason I ask really is that I think I will feel a bit silly shopping for and buying non-maternity clothes whilst looking so obviously pregnant lol

Ta

[Xcountry]

Nope, I lounged about in my maternity gear for aaaaages. I would leave it until you and baby are settled, I had that much to do after DS1 that getting dressed was the last on my list of priorities and maternity is sooo comfy. Think about how you intend to feed too and your boobs will be massive after your milk comes in so that size will change too.

[bearwithspecs]

Wait until a few weeks after as your body may change size and shape even if not bf. Breast feeding also means you need to think about tops etc.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

I would wait until afterwards.

It's not just about if you keep the baby weight, your boobs may be huge from bf, and you may find you're a different shape!

Although I'm the same size, I'm more hippy and my waist is less defined so what suited me pre pregnancy doesn't necessarily suit me now.

You may just spring back, but until you given birth you can't tell so I'd leave it.

[EnidB]

I could barely walk at week 39, I'm impressed you can even contemplate shopping! Is this your first? I didn't realise how blobby my stomach would be or how big my boobs would get! When all the pregnancy bloat went I'd lost over a stone from my pre-pregnancy weight (woo hoo) so if I'd bought anything it wouldn't have fitted. Ultimately do whatever makes you feel good - keep the labels and receipts? In hindsight I wish I had worn something pretty the first time "we" went out. But then I was too sleep deprived to care.

[Pregnantagain7]

I am shopping for normal clothes however I'm under no illusions, I know it's going to be a while before I get to wear them! I'm currently 23 weeks with dc4 and have will have 3 under four (plus a nine yr old) so have spent a lot of time pregnant over the last four years! This will be my last baby so iam really looking forward to getting my body back, as soon as I feel ready I will be joining slimming world and slowly start exercising. A wardrobe full of new clothes is my incentive to stay away from the cake

[squizita]

I'm not because I don't know how long it will take to get back to my normal size and even then I might have different body shape (e.g. some women get massive boobs forever, some have their boobs shrink, some have wider ribs or even wider feet!).
Will give me something to look forward to when baby is old enough for a little trip out in the pushchair! :) Have already reccied the local centres/malls for ones with clean changing rooms and coffee shops which look baby-friendly.

[Roxie85]

I didnt buy anything and at 6 months post birth i am still in maternity things as i refuse to buy clothes until i have lost weight and am at a size i will stay at. I have been heavier before (not due to pregnancy) but my pregnancy fat has gone in different places than normal (my thighs are like logs) so i expect to be a different shape in the end.
You have no idea what it will be like for you after birth and its easy enough to get things when you feel ready so id wait.

[ch1134]

Buy breastfeeding clothes now! While you have time. It's so depressing wearing a baggy t-shirt and jeans every day. Find anything stretchy/ buttoned/ zipped/ wraparound!

[TheBookofRuth]

No, but I didn't wait till I'd lost all the weight either, I found being in maternity/loose, unflattering clothes too depressing. DD was born in January, by springtime I bought a pair of jeggings in a size larger than I was pre-pregnancy and some pretty shirts in bright colours that skimmed over my baby belly and that I could breastfeed in.

By summer I was back to my original size and I went shopping for a summer wardrobe that was more appropriate to my new "role" as a mum.

[hubbahubster]

It's very difficult to second-guess what shape and size you'll be post-pregnancy. With DC1 I didn't get back to a size 12 for over a year, and even then I was a different shape and didn't feel comfortable in my usual low-cut skinnies and snug shirts. I wanted everything longer and looser around the tummy. This time, three weeks after DC2, I'm already on my size 12 trousers and as BF is going miles better, I need tops that will allow me to whip out a boob discreetly. I'm wearing the long vests I wore while pregnant with loose tops over.

Also - my feet are permanently wider since DC1, so beware buying any pretty shoes if you've had any swelling in your feet. You may not get back into your usual size...

[MelMc73]

With DC1 I wore my maternity clothes for about 2-3 weeks after - it takes a wee while for your bump to "deflate"! I think you'd be wasting time and money shopping for clothes now. Wait to see what your body does first

[DuckeyP]

Thank you all for your posts.

I didn't really think about being a different shape as well as being a different size.

I guess I'm just looking for something to do as I'm going out of my mind with boredom! (I know that I won't have time to be bored when he comes, but i've been at home for 9 months after a previous life of working full time so i'm sooooo ready to get on with being a mummy!)

EnidB I know what you mean, I'm not exactly in a fit state for walking round town lol! and i'm scared that if i go out on my own very far i'll come unstuck if anything were to 'start'! haha

I think i'm being a bit ambitious, maybe i'll stick to making online shopping 'dream baskets'.

Thanks again >.<

x

[GingerRodgers]

I'm 28 weeks and have 'treated' myself to some breastfeeding tops, new pjs and some comfy leggings.
After dd was born I still wore my maternity stuff and as I'd scrimped with that I felt absolutely awful.
This time I've got nice new maternity clothes and clothes for 6 months after so I don't feel too horrendous!

[Foxeym]

I has to wear my maternity jeans for a good few weeks after as I had a caesarean and anything else just really hurt the scar. Also although my top half shrunk down really quickly my hips and thighs stayed chunky for ages. Only now wearing my pre pregnancy jeans and DC3 is 8 months today!

[mewkins]

Buy some cheapish loose fitting but flattering tops now. I had to send dh out to get some as all my maternity ones were clingy, uncomfortable and just highlighted the fact I still looked pregnant!

[Plateofcrumbs]

I've bought a few things for post-birth.

-slouchy jersey joggers/harem pants that I can wear as PJ bottoms or for trips out . Black/dark colours in case of leaks down below.
-cheap loose vest tops that can be pulled down for BFing, and won't care if they get stretched/covered in milk etc.
-some kimono style long loose shrugs - to wear with above if cooler and for modesty if BFing.

Expect that to be my uniform for first few weeks at least. Idea was to have things I can sleep/nap in but that are decent enough that I can have visitors or pop out to shops without having to worry about getting dressed.

[weebairn]

Postnatally I wore the same sort of stuff I wore in weeks 16-20… inbetweeny stuff, skirts with elasticated waists, my slightly bigger jeans, baggier tops.

Maybe it was silly but I just could not bear to wear maternity clothes after the baby was out. For the first week I think I still wore my mat jeans and then I just didn't want to.

Buy yourself a lovely new pair of pjs a size or two bigger than your usual - lovely for post birth to have new pjs! (Dark colours probably sensible!)

At 3 months I was maybe one size up from my usual, boobs still bigger as well. I bought a few new bits then. I bought some jeggings because I found having anything buttoned or fitted across the waist annoying still.

My 6 months my normal clothes fitted ok and by a year they were a bit big on me. It was lovely rediscovering my bras… then I got pregnant again, oh well!

ps. I breastfed for 20 months and never bought any breastfeeding clothes, I found them all really boring and frumpy. I mostly wore skirts or skinny jeans with loose-ish tops and just fed baby under them.

[hartmel]

I wouldn't. When I give birth to my son I lost so much weight it was crazy. Went from size 16 to size 9/10.. Lucky me I still had some clothing in boxes from the time I got married. As at that time I was a size 9/10..
My son is 9 month old and I'm pregnant with dc2 (20 weeks) and I had to go and buy a complete new wardrobe as my old maternity clothing are way to big now.. But I only bought used maternity clothing as I didn't want to spend a fortune on them..

I would wait till after baby is born. As as other posters said, your boobs will get bigger once milk come in.. I didn't really noticed a difference as I lost so much wait..

[mandbaby]

Yes! I saw the most beautiful dress online yesterday and just HAD to buy it. I have no idea if it will even fit me post-pregnancy, but when it arrives I will hold it next to my other, pre-pregnancy dresses and if it looks the same size, I'll keep it and keep my fingers crossed that I'll fit into it.

I'm on my third pregnancy and, luckily and with a lot of breastfeeding I managed to get in my pre-pregnancy clothes after my other two pregnancies pretty quickly. I'm hoping this time will be no different.