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.

Another one here who made do with again bobble and then a bump band.

I think it depends on the style of the clothes you wear as to what you need. I have lots of tunic tops and I'll be able to wear these for quite a while yet. But with trousers and jeans, I'll have to move into maternity ones quite soon - I'm 18 weeks.

Maternity wear is so frumpy and overpriced. Have a look at the chinese sellers on ebay. Type in floaty or loose tops into the search and you can get stuff inexplicably cheap. Stretchy pencil skirts also cheap on ebay, a couple of sizes too big are useful. A pair of over the bump preg jeans are an unavoidable expense though.

Cos has really good baggy stylish clothes which are non maternity but work for bumps

If you're planning to breastfeed you could look into buying some nursing dresses and tops too, as they are usually cut to hide a post baby bump. Perfect for the early 'pot belly' stage and you get use out of them after.

Non-maternity ideas for that awkward in-between stage, when you're not sure if it's a bump or bloat...
untitledfornoww.wordpress.com/2014/10/21/awkward-orchid/
Everyone carries differently and shows bumps at different stages. It’s not only baby in there, all your organs are being squished and moved around to allow space for your little one to grow!

My jeans started to get a bit tight at around 12 weeks. They're ok when I walk, but when I cycle or sit down they're not very comfy any longer.

I bought some leggings, which is much more comfy. When I was over in the UK last weekend I bought some jeans and a top at JoJo Maman, but mainly for the later months. Buying maternity clothes in the NL where I live is hard if you're not a size 10 or under!

Most of my tops are empire line anyway, and I think I will get quite a bit of wear out of them throughout my pregnancy.

Second the Topshop maternity jeans - they are so comfy. Started wearing them around 16 weeks when my normal jeans wouldn't button up and still wearing them at 38 weeks. Maternity tops were MASSIVE until quite recently. I just bought a few cheap tops from Asda/Peacocks in the next size up and they did me in the middle bit.

You'll get the use of these inbetween sizes clothes after the baby arrives, as u shrink back down!

I lived in leggings and a baggy jumper. I have small babies, I sold my maternity jeans, pretty much unworn. They were always huge.

Best maternity, post baby outfit I had were some leggings and a tunic I bought in the US. They weren't anything like as big as UK stuff and fitted really well.

I'm 24 weeks today! New Look have some lovely Maternity clothing but I found it hard to find a shop that stocked it local to me! Chichester had a great little selection. I got a pack of 3 t-shirts for £16 that I wear with either Maternity Leggings from George at Asda (£12 for 2 pairs) or their maternity skinny jeans which were £16! All wash brilliantly too! I live in the cheap long vest tops from Primarni with joggers in a size up for slobbing at home :)

I tried buying clothes in a bigger size but I found them too baggy so at about 13 weeks I bought a pair of maternity skinny jeans from new look, they're so comfortable and still fit my bum and legs properly but have a lovely elasticated waist! I'm 18 weeks now so a little bigger and have invested in another pair of jeans and a couple of pairs of asos leggings. I pretty much just live in my normal smock dresses and leggings anyway! Xx

I'm 26 weeks into my second pregnancy and trying to avoid maternity clothes entirely as I found them SO depressing last time (and got rid of pretty much everything after the baby was born). I invested in a 'capsule' wardrobe of tunics (mostly from Adini) and leggings in various sizes from slightly bigger to quite a lot bigger than my normal 8-10. They are still working really well though I have a proper bump now. I am hoping that one or two of the biggest ones will see me right through to the end and that they'll also be useful/wearable in the first few months after birth.

I'm 8 weeks and definitely feel "thicker". This is 3rd pregnancy for me, and I got rid of everything from 1st 2.

I've got a clue of m&s value comfy jogger for the evening, and doing the hair and trick with jeans.

I had big flabby bumps and no way could wear under bump stuff. Can't imagine this one will be different

Next have great maternity jeans - I had a pair of jeans that were stretchy waisted and then an over the bump pair. They were both fantastic. And New Look have good things too. I was wearing maternity clothes at 14 weeks. I miss elasticated clothes....

I wear tailored clothes for work. I had intended to just buy a larger size but my size hasn't increased, it's just bump! My normal clothes and underwear were cutting in and causing ugly painful red marks at about 15 weeks. I am happy enough in maternity stuff now. But I didn't have anything loose/ baggy in my normal Wardrobe.

I've really struggled for smart clothes for work, I haven't found any tailored maternity trousers! I get lots of my smart trousers from next but they only had 1 pairs of black maternity trousers and I didn't really like them! So I now just look scruffy! Xx

I loved my H&M maternity jeans and leggings, both over bump! I'd wear them now if I could get away with it (ds1!is 6 months next week )

ELA88 I'm having the same
Problem- I bought a pair of black work trousers and a black pencil
Skirt from ASOS and they are disgusting- cheap, polyester, I feel
Like I might catch fire wearing them! But I can't find anything better!