Maternity wear - when do you start needing it and what do you do until you do?

[Clarabell33]

I'm 12 weeks along (my first after a MMC which only got to 11.5 weeks so I've no idea about how quickly you grow) and starting to get a bit chubby in the middle.

I've been looking online and everything labelled as maternity seems to be for much later on, when you have a proper bump rather than just a lack of waist. I still fit into most of my clothes ok although some are starting to get a bit tight, but when will I actually need proper maternity wear, and more urgently, what do you do in the period where you're getting too big for your normal clothes but not properly pregnant-shaped yet? Do you just buy bigger sizes (which seems a bit expensive and short-term)?

I don't want to waste money on stuff that I can only wear for a few weeks, but I'm worried about waking up and not actually being able to fit into anything! DH's stuff would be way too big to borrow so I'd be house-bound I'm also a really awkward shape with jeans and trousers in general so although I'm fine with second-hand, I'm not really keen to buy from e.g. ebay as it takes dozens of pairs before I find a pair of jeans/trousers that fit properly...

Due to the MMC we have not told anyone other than parents and don't intend to for a few more weeks, so I can't really ask friends for advice - or indeed, old mat clothes! - just yet, anyway.

This should help.... www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001TH9M98?pc_redir=1411017757&robot_redir=1

Thanks for quick replies! Do you literally just go up one size in normal style, e.g. from 12 to 14, and that works with changes to shape and waist space? I'm happy wearing dresses a lot of the time but can't manage without jeans!

Ooh thanks Cric, that looks interesting...

I might need one after all the mat leave cakes haha!

I didn't use maternity wear much. In early stages I attached a hair bobble to the top button of my jeans!

You can buy things specifically to extend normal clothes.

I also wore a bump band to cover up my waist/add a bit of length to clothes, they were great when bfeeding as well for keeping tummy covered so lasted and are cheap.

I found it really helpful to buy clothes in the next size up - they lasted me for ages (some of the stretchier tops lasted almost until the end of my pregnancies) and fitted better after the birth as well. In fact after I had my first baby I really wished I'd bought more bigger normal clothes as I had very little to wear for a bit!

I wore a bump band with my normal jeans/ trousers at the start. I didn't start wearing maternity trousers until I was about 20 weeks. I bought a pair of black trousers for work from TopShop and two pairs of jeans from eBay. Aside from that, the only other maternity item I have bought so far is a swimming suit (and I only bought that two weeks ago!) I'm 29 weeks and only just finding my tops are getting a little too short now so I'm planning to buy some longer length vests or teeshirts in the next week or so.

I wore a lot of leggings with short casual dresses, the type that hang from a higher waistline are good here. Also got a smarter one for work. I sized up with drawstring trousers for a few weeks & got some simple longer length tops in a larger size from a charity shop.

However it depends what size you were to start with. I could feel the bump at 6 weeks, it was uncomfortably tight under my waistband when I sat down, & I had a very obvious bump by 11 weeks. I was fairly slim back then though. One of my friends didn't really show until 7 months.

I got below the bump maternity jeans from Topshop (one pair black, one pair dark blue) at about 12 weeks which was all I needed until much later TBH. They were skinny fit, just with big stretchy waistbands, so look completely normal if you wear them with your non maternity tops and are MUCH more comfortable than button up trousers. As soon as bump got a bit bigger I wore looser tops, still same size and non maternity. I didn't tell work til about 21 wks, lots of people hadn't noticed. You can't miss it now I'm 34 weeks and although I did invest in some mat wear (over the bump leggings, jersey pencil skirt, a few vests & two dresses) I'm still wearing a lot of non mat clothes - stretchy midi dresses & loose fitting tops.

Asos is good and their own brand stuff is pretty cheap. Topshop is ok but a little overpriced for what it is. Seraphine is nice but a bit more pricey - other than that mat wear is a bit rubbish!

Most of the stuff I'm wearing now at 39 weeks isn't 'maternity'. Go for empire line and jersey material.

Tunic style tops in normal size are great. Also linen trousers if u have them are good a little tight when first done up but loosen as day goes on.

At 30wks I have just gone into maternity trousers for work been wearing maternity jeans for bit longer.

Primark do an ok maternal range, I also like jojomaman and they have an outlet bit online.

Maternity sells reasonably well on ebay especially jojo n next stuff so if buy in either sale/clearance sections then should be able to recoup some money.

I found I was out of my normal jeans pretty much from the start, just because I was so bloated and I can't stand the digging in feeling. It really didn't help with the nausea.

At your stage I just wore normal leggings and baggier dresses to hide it. At about 15 weeks ish I bought some h&m over bump jeans and have pretty much lived in them with normal cotton stretchy tops. I also have some over bump leggings. I find over bump best because they stay up even when your bump isn't that big.

At 22 weeks I'm no where near big enough for maternity tops but definitely need jeans. I wouldn't just go up a size in jeans because they'd hang off me and be unflattering in other areas, where as my mat jeans look like normal jeans under clothes!

As other people have said maternity clothes, especially in stores are crap. You're best to look online but risk having to send stuff back if it doesn't fit!!

I'm another one who extended wearing normal jeans by using a hair band through the button hole. I also bought some jeggings from Dorothy Perkins a size up from usual & they lasted until I was 20 weeks and they will be great post baby too. I live in my Topshop under the bump skinny jeans. They look just like normal skinnies / jeggings if you accidentally flash your waistband. I wore them from about 18 weeks onwards and still in them now at 41 weeks.

I wore quite a lot of casual dresses and black tights before I told people. Maternity tights are great and very comfortable.

I got by with bump bands until about 20 weeks, and I was having twins...most of the maternity stuff is huge and made me look even bigger. I found tight stretchy things looked better.

If you wear your normal trousers you can leave them undone and arrange band over the top so they don't fall down.

Never bought any maternity clothing- just wore leggings and big tshirts/jumpers

Buy jeans, preferably under bump ones. All other clothes can be extended for ages first time round.

If you decide to buy regular clothes a size up, be careful about styles. Get "floaty" tops with a-lines and dresses that flow from unde the bust or are lose tunic style. As you get bigger you an wear them as long tops rather than dresses.

I was in a pair of under the bump jeans from 14 weeks, but by about 24 weeks they were uncomfy too (my bump seems to start really low) so I got some over the bump ones. Still a little baggy round the waist but another couple of weeks and they fit much better. I had some bigger pairs of jeans that I wore for a bit between about 8 and 14 weeks (had some bloating from IVF) but TBH although they fit fine, the lack of stretchy waist was painful when sitting at work.

Other than the jeans i didn't really start wearing any other 'maternity' stuff until 22 weeks or so. Now I'm 32 weeks I'm pretty much exclusively in it apart from slobbing about at home when I can wear joggers and massive slobby sweaters etc. My 'normal' clothes are size 8/10, I contemplated buying some non-maternity stuff just in a bigger size, but after getting some good mat stuff in sales and from friends decided to stick with that. My wardrobe is getting a bit boring now but ah well!

I'm 19 weeks, tiny bump but nowhere to hide it as I'm size ten. I've got two pairs maternity jeans (both soooo comfy) and one pair black new look work over bump trousers...these look scary, I could pull over bump bit over my boobs at first but I love them. They have elastic/button thing so you can tighten/slacken & I bought the 12. I hate waistbands x

I'm 14 weeks and just starting to wear under bump trousers. Over bump won't fit to well past 20 weeks. But I'm still in normal tops, either longer ones, or with a vest top underneath to give a bit more tummy coverage.

I was in maternity pants at 7 weeks due to all the bloating and trapped wind! Maternity pants will be a good fit for ages, and your usual tops tend to last until you have a proper bump shape, I'd recommend buying some pants with elasticated sides just for now, they'll last you. You should still be sable to fit into your usual tops.

I second hair bands, loose tops (buy next size up as tend only to be bigger round the boobs which you need post pregnancy anyway) and cheap empire line jersey dresses. I've just bought some paige skinny maternity jeans - a treat which I plan to sell on eBay post birth. Basically buy as little maternity stuff as you can get away with and whatever you do buy make sure you feel nice - you can always sell it.

jeans/trousers with a hair bobble over the button. long vest tops and t-shirts and wore bump bands (pack of 3 from New Look for about a tenner).

i started wearing mat tops this time around 12 weeks. i've got about 10 tops in total and wear them for work and non-work. two pairs of mat jeans and two pairs of mat work trousers.

i've also just turned a pair of normal jeans into mat jeans - they were too short but once i added the elastic band and bump band the length is perfect.