Maternity clothes - sizing help

[huffpuff75]

I'm 16 weeks pregnant with my second and as is the way I am showing earlier than I was first time round. Problem is I am way too big for my normal clothes at the moment and my old mat clothes are just falling off me. I think I am quite a bit skinnier than when I got PG the first time. I have loads of things that fit in my wardrobe but they are all light and summery. Struggling on with belly belt and bump bands but it isn't comfy.

So my question is twofold - a) if my mat gear doesn't fit me around the hips and bum now, does that mean I am too skinny for it?
b) I know with mat clothes you buy 'normal size', but I have no idea what normal size I am in most shops. If I try them on am I just going to be far to big for them by 30something weeks.

Any experiences would help, particularly from those people who have bought mat wear this early. THanks!

Just thought I would add - I gained approx a stone and a quarter in PG1

I got some maternity jeans from H&M in my 'normal' size when my regular jeans started to dig in too much. They stay up fine on my legs and hips and the bit that goes over the bump still has loads of room before it starts to stretch, so I'm hoping they'll do until the summer. I'm currently 18 weeks.

Thanks Totally - I tried some jeans on in H&M actually, one size up from my 'normal' size. They were ok on hips, bum and legs, and very comfy, and like you say, there seemed to be loads of room in the stretchy bit. Problem is H&M say size up one size, but do they mean from their regular range sizes or from your normal size in other shops. I have H&M clothes varying from a 10 to a 14 (and that's a bit tight). They were far too long in the leg too.

I'm on my 3rd pregnancy..my old maternity clothes (talking jeans really)felt too big at 16 weeks too..but now at 36 weeks some are too small.So if you feel too skinny,chances are you won't later on!I bought a couple of pairs of H&m leggings for the in-between bit.Now towards the end I am wearing them too.I bought/already had maternity jeans in a range of size8-12,pre-pregnancy I was 10.

Not sure if this helps, but I was a pre-preg size 10 and size 10 mat clothes fit me fine until about 30 weeks and now I really need a size 12 in mat clothes and have just ordered a few more bits/ bought some stuff on ebay in size 12 as I'm running out of stuff that's comfortable. I don't really think I've put on that much weight (I'm within the suggested guidelines) and I don't look 'fatter' other than the bump. But, I clearly have expanded a bit in hip and thigh as that's where my size 10 mat clothes feel tight.

hmm, interesting, I just bought a pair of seraphine jeans online with a discount voucher someone gave me and got size 10, since that's my normal size - they seem to big, but was unsure about sending them back as I assume I'll expand... I'm 18 weeks and still in my normal jeans until after dinner in the evening when I have to undo the button...Also - these jeans were designed for someone MUCH longer legged than me - I feel like a shrimp - hate that !! Think I ought to hold onto these slightly baggy 'skinny' jeans now...
This is very complicated!!

Thanks Beatrix - I worry though that I might be waiting to fill out the old clothes when it just won't happen. I am sure I was wearing maternity stuff around this point before. I'll be hanging onto the old bigger stuff anyway, so I could always use that when I get to that point. So, yes, leggings might be the way to go at the moment. Any recommendations for over the bump ones, not expensive?

Hi City - yes it helps. All useful info. I was size 10 all the way through last time and didn't need to buy any bigger at the end. SOme size 10s are bigger than others though

mrsmellow - I don't know if I should just buy the long jeans and then take them up. Means I can't really sell on ebay afterwards. Think you'd be able to sell the Seraphine ones though

Over bump ones were just from H&M,also have a nice under bump pair from Dorothy Perkins which have done for 3 pregnancies and are quite thick so pretty hard wearing,neither were expensive.