How soon in maternity clothes?

[blushingmare]

Can I ask at what stage did people start buying maternity clothes?
This is my first baby and I'm only 12 weeks, but this week really starting to feel I have a tummy. Many of my trousers don't feel comfy anymore and my usu leggings/tunic top combo is making me feel huge and very obviously pregnant (haven't told anyone yet so still trying to keep bump under wraps - although will probably go public at the weekend, so maybe I'll feel more at ease with my clothing then anyway!)
I don't know if maternity clothes would fit me now, but to buy a size up seems like such a waste of money as I won't be in it for very long!

Congratulations! At your stage I think I bought some jeans with a small bump panel just for comfort really, didn't need any maternity tops as such as I had quite a few loose fitting ones already. I didn't feel like I needed to buy proper maternity clothes for everything until I was about 16ish weeks but the jeans early on have definitely been one of my best buys!

I'm 13 weeks and haven't put on much weight,However all my trousers are all a lot tighter, especially when i'm sitting! I'm like you - seems no point in buying new trousers only to expand further in a few weeks, so have started buying maternity clothes!

Congratulations!

I started wearing some maternity clothes around 12 weeks as I just got really thick-waisted really quick! I went for wrap dresses and that kind if thing as they last a good while. I usually wore quite tailored form fitting things like pencil skirts and I did also buy a couple of size up skirts, to let me still look the same for as long as poss.

If you do buy a few not maternity but size-up items you might be grateful for them on the way back down after you've had your baby for when you're not quite into your pre-preg clothes yet - I know I was!

I was in maternity work trousers from around 14 weeks, as sitting all day with a waistband cutting into my stomach was dreadful. Tops, I could get by wth my normal ones, but did buy a couple of Mat blouses for work.

Do not underestimate maternity jeans, try an under-the-bump style this early. Upping a size in jeans will just make them saggy everwhere else.

I also decided that with most tops, as im a t-shir girl anyways, to simply wear my normal ones as long as possible (buy from H&M so long in the body to cover bump) stretch them, then after baby, treat myself to new tops that I can keep for years. Maternity wear is so expensive!

About 10 weeks for work trousers / leggings / combats. Like the others have said, it's uncomfortable having a waistband digging in so may as well put the right clothes on.

i've just started wearing maternity jeans - am around 15 weeks. I haven't fitted into my other jeans for a while though.

i did find that once I told people, I felt more comfortable strangely - it's difficult hiding it from everyone ime.

Agree with other posters that the trousers are the priority - I got Gap maternity jeans at 12 weeks and the relief at putting them on was amazing. Lots of back support from the elasticated panel as well.

Some of the maternity places (Mamas and Papas definitely) have bump-shaped cushions you can strap round your waist to see how stuff will fit in a couple of months' time.

I managed with one pair of maternity leggings and a 'bump band' to expand my jeans/trousers from 10 until about 18 weeks, after which my normal trousers were unbearable!

So far I've only bought a couple more pairs of leggings (Topshop), two pairs of jeans (H&M, Gap) and pair of work trousers (Gap) and a few long maternity tops (H&M, Gap, Mamas & Papas).

I'm trying to make my 'normal' dresses, smocks and stretchy jumpers last as long as possible before buying more as I don't know how much I'm going to grow and the more flowing styles look awful on me - I'm definitely displaying the bump, but if you don't mind that after the weekend I'd recommend making your normal clothes work as long as they are comfortable. People have kindly given me quite a lot of maternity clothes and they are massive, and at the moment really unflattering. Sure they will work for later but it seems that some mat clothes you can't just grow into - you have to wait until you need them!

I'm 12 weeks today with DC2 and have finally put my maternity jeans on - I had forgotten both how comfy they are and also how annoying it is having to hoik them up every time I move. But my normal jeans were falling down all the time too, as I couldn't get the belt done tight enough to keep them up, and have lost a load of weight with morning sickness.

Hi, I can't tell whether it's my bump that is showing or I'm just suffering the side effects of having chomped on two bags of crisps! :) But when you try on maternity wear, do you see what fits you then and there? Or further along the way? I'm 7 weeks, so if I go try on clothing, would I be estimating how big I'll get later? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I'm 27+3 n got maternity jeans n top a wk or so ago. They are mile too big. I have to have the internal belt as tight as it will go and wear a belt over them too. Frustrating cos my normal jeans were only feeling a little snug

I managed to make black work trousers last a bit longer by leaving them partly undone, and looping a black hair bobble through the botton hole and over the button, and covering up with a longer top. That bought me a few extra weeks. It was also a lot more confortable sitting down! You might want to wear black pants underneath, though, in case of breezes...

I found 'normal' maxi dresses great early on as they dont cut into the bump(just wear a baggier top over them) and also H&M do lycra pencil skirts for about £7.99 so I just got one of them in a larger size to tide me over for work. I couldnt wear my normal jeans from about 6 weeks so I feel your pain! I am 21+2 weeks now and its such a relief to be able to wear maternity clothes. The maternity jeans though i still have on the smallest setting and they are only just ok. Maternity leggings are a god send (new look again).
You will feel loads better after you have told people though as you won't be trying to hide the bump - at least that was my experience. You do have to be prepared though for everyone feeling the need to comment on your bump size on a regular basis!

I waited until nearly 17 weeks. At which point I tried to get dressed in the morning and suddenly nothing would fit. I ended up leaving the house in a t-shirt, leggings and a full length coat which wouldn't button up (I'm tall so none of my t-shirts ever cover my bum) and having to have an emergency shopping trip because i was going somewhere that needed smart clothing. So get something you can wear to work at least, rather than ending up in my posistion...

I would recommend Topshop leigh and baxter maternity jeans, they look just like normal skinny and straight leg jeans and are sooooo comfy! I'm just over 13 weeks and they are perfect and I will be able to wear them until I get whale-like. I went maternity shopping mad (any excuse) and got heaps of nice tops from topshop, new look, mammas and pappas and dorothy perkins. Topshop especially has really good maternity stuff online.

Yup - I was in trousers from about 10-12 weeks. I had actually lost weight, but my tummy was still larger - mainly water, I think. At 20 weeks I am still in my pre-pregnancy tops for the most part, but as people have said, this is largely due to the fashion for longer tunic-style tops, which makes it a lot easier.

I found Matalan good for less expensive maternity wear: after all, they don't need to last ages, so cheap and cheerful works for me!

Agree with an earlier poster about buying some things in a size up from your normal clothes - I didn't and really regretted it after giving birth, it was lovely to have some non maternity clothes I could wear when I was no longer sporting a bump but couldn't yet get back into my pre pregnancy clothes! I know a lot of people who resisted this stage and just squeezed into things that weren't very comfortable, then ended up having to buy them anyway on the shrink-back-down postnatally!

Ugh, must try not t get distracted while posting! Should say I did buy stuff and never regretted it, but friends who didn't buy regretted it!

My maternity jeans never fitted, they were huge. Both DDs were 6+ lb born at 39+ weeks. Mostly wore leggings and baggy tops I had already.

I'm only 9 weeks and have already been considering whether it would be ridiculous to get some maternity trousers already - this is after 2 of my work trousers split when I knelt down . It's not that I'm huge, I don't even seem to have put on any weight yet and have quite a slender waist still - it's just my trousers don't seem to agree with me on this, and I really don't want to buy new ones that will potentially become redundant within a few weeks.

Hi Blushing ...

woah ... a little over eager there!

Er, what I meant to say was:

Hi Blushing, I'm currently almost 20 weeks with little or no sign of a bump, but I've been living in these www.amazon.co.uk/Skirt-Trouser-Jeans-Button-EXTENDERS/dp/B005FFUHWG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1322066995&sr=8-5 for the past fortnight and they're working fine! (under longish, baggy tops - strictly not a good look with crop tops, but then what is!)

I guess if you're clothes are starting to get tight the a couple of quid on these is a sound investment until 'proper' maternity clothes fit?! Definitely cheaper than buying a size up!

Hope you find something suitable!

Bread x

Thanks for the advice everyone. Great tip about getting clothes for the post-birth period! Oh dear, an excuse to go shopping.....
Told DH's parents last night - they were over the moon