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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

When to start wearing maternity clothes?

23 replies

MumToBe2015R · 09/12/2014 16:10

Hi,

I'm only 6+3 atm, but feeling very uncomfortable in my leggings already around the waist.

Not very sure on when it's time to start wearing maternity clothes as this is my first baby.

Is there normally a certain time to start wearing maternity wear?

Any recommendations on where best is to buy maternity wear?

Thank you xx

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Marshpillow · 09/12/2014 16:16

In terms of where to buy from, I'm cheap and got most of mine from eBay.
When to start wearing them: as soon as you want! I was so bloated early on and I was in my maternity jeans by 7 weeks. Loads more comfortable.

MakeMeWarmThisWinter · 09/12/2014 16:20

Everyone is different. I'm 15 weeks and only have one pair of jeans that still do up so I've bought a couple of pairs of leggings and wearing long jumpers / dresses with leggings for the next while. It's my second pregnancy and I never managed to find maternity jeans I was comfortable in last time, I got so huge that dresses and leggings was my fail safe outfit! Looks like this pregnancy is going the same way, I still have bad sickness and the only thing that staves it off is constantly eating. I don't look pregnant or have a noticeable bump - but I'm about a dress size bigger.

Oh do buy new bras regularly though - I usually wear 30B but in 32D already. I just bought a cheapish two pack of nice lace underwired tshirt bras from M and S as I know I'll need to buy more in 6 weeks or so! You're fine to wear underwiring as long as they fit really well and not squashing breast tissue at all.

BananaToast · 09/12/2014 16:30

I moved into maternity jeans and a few tops at 19 weeks, and am continuing to wear my looser tops/jumpers (21 weeks now). I was fine in my normal trousers until about 17 weeks and then they were a bit uncomfortable around the waist. Bought a couple of new bras at the same time as the jeans, but I've not gone up loads (32DD to 34DD).

Foggymist · 09/12/2014 16:44

I would've thought you'd start wearing them when you needed to, there isn't like a specific guideline time? Everyone is different, I'm 20 weeks and only losing the ability to close my jeans now, everything else fits fine, others will be in maternity clothes from 8 weeks.

avocadotoast · 09/12/2014 16:47

I got some new bras early on and I'm growing out of them already (I'm only 17 weeks!).

I went today and bought my first maternity clothes - got two tops from H&M. Oh actually I did buy an ASOS dress off Ebay too, but that definitely needs a bigger bump to do it justice.

I've sized up in leggings though, put little snips in the waistband of my old ones to make them more comfy, and I'm doing the old hair band trick to extend my jeans slightly. Can't wait to be able to get some proper fitting jeans though, they're driving me crazy!

Foggymist · 09/12/2014 16:47

I'm also still in my same bras as the F cup fits fine, I've just put an extender on the back that's out to the last hooks now. You don't necessarily need to buy new bras every few weeks, again everyone is different.

D0nnaO · 09/12/2014 18:07

I'm 19 weeks with my first & have been in maternity jeans from about 10 weeks. Redherring at Debenhams, ASOS & New Look seem to have the best selection of maternity wear, I've found other shops to be quite limited or really 'mumsy'.

hope this helps!

Serafinaaa · 09/12/2014 18:13

I needed maternity trousers from about 19 weeks but bras much sooner. Maybe 10 weeks or so. Tops I've barely needed at all and I'm 30 weeks now. I've just worn looser clothes that I already had.

trumpetmouse · 09/12/2014 18:40

avocadotoast - great tip regarding the leggings... but what's the hairband trick?

BananaToast · 09/12/2014 18:42

trumpet loop a hair tie through the buttonhole of your jeans and back around the button when you can no longer do them up. You can adjust the number of times you wind it around the button to loosen/tighten.

Morganlove · 09/12/2014 19:33

I tried a pair of over the bump (or bloat!) maternity jeans in H&M the other week (currently 13wks) to see what they were like. Expected them to just fall down but surprisingly they didn't and are so comfy - so I bought them. Plus the over the bump material helps keep me warm in this cold weather!!!

browneyedgirly · 09/12/2014 20:42

Morgan, I've also just bought my first pair of over the bump maternity jeans to keep me warm! I'm 25 weeks and just bought some maternity clothes. Bought some maternity tights around 18 weeks and a bump band so I could wear my normal jeans slightly undone until now. But this week I really had to buy some new things as was getting a bit uncomfortable!

avocadotoast · 09/12/2014 23:26

Does anyone know of anywhere that does maternity jeans for shorter leg lengths? I usually buy skinny jeans from petite sections (New Look or Topshop) but I'm struggling to find maternity ones that'd be short enough.

supersupersupershock · 10/12/2014 12:23

Next do petite maternity

fortywinx · 10/12/2014 13:49

I managed to hold out until I'd had my 12 week scan, but by then I only had one pair of jeans that fitted and my work trousers were being held closed with an elastic ban. I probably could've quite happily gone into maternity wear at about 6-8 weeks!

Got a maternity dress for work, work trousers and a pair of jeans. Tops are not so bad so long as they are long enough and stretchy.

New Look, H&M and Mothercare are the only places near me that stock maternity clothes in store, and they have bigger better ranges online.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 10/12/2014 13:56

I remember crying with relief the day I bought my first maternity trousers! I had all my dates wrong though, so no point asking me when you should buy stuff. When ordinary things get uncomfy would be my rule of thumb and that's usually trousers first.

If you're only 6 + 3 I'm guessing you've not told many people, so I'd buy as little as possible right now. Once people know they're usually keen to donate things they had - unless you're the first of your friends to get pg? That was me, but I gave away loads to the people that came after and there's a particular dress I bought for a wedding that's gone round 4 of my friends

Oh and congratulations!

teejayem · 10/12/2014 16:38

Bras I ended up buying at 8 weeks, I was being crushed! I've gone up 2 cup sizes and one back size.
Mat leggings I started wearing at about 12 weeks, but only because I was paranoid about buying anything pre scan. Before that I was literally being cut in half by regular work trousers and leggings! I have one pair of jeans that just about fit, and have some nice bump bands that I have been using for the rest of my jeans that don't! I picked up a maternity essentials pack from New look which has a load of nice bits in (Leggings, vest, bump band etc) and a few nice pieces in the Asos maternity clearance. Everything else I'm buying a size up (all tunics/ dresses etc).

m33r · 11/12/2014 09:06

I wear really fitted suits and dresses to work do switched to tunics right away (bloat made me uncomfortable). That was about 12 weeks. I then had to start on maternity tights. They got a bit uncomfy so switched to leggings. They got in comfy so went to maternity leggings. All pretty gradual a dad I got uncomfy. As pp said, each time I switched, I could've cried with relief!

Went up a back size in bras but having a special fitting now as am in agony. Looking forward to the relief!

I guess I'd say, try not to spend money as it seems to move on pretty quickly! And also invest in staples: 7 pairs of m&s HUGE knickers and my maternity leggings which are on or being washed!

Congrats btw

purplemurple1 · 11/12/2014 09:32

I've just brought bigger normal clothes as I find maternity trousers/jeans uncomforatable as they tend to cut in just where my baby like to have her heads.
I had lots of older bigger tshirts and picked up some second hand, much cheaper than maternity.

Did this throuhout with DC1 and I'm 33wks with DC2 and don't think I'll buy maternity this time either.

kalidasa · 11/12/2014 09:38

I've actually got away without any mat clothes at all this time, I'm 33 weeks and I think I'll probably make it to the end without now. About half way through I bought a stash of leggings and tunics (mostly from Adini) a size up from my usual size and they are all still fine and luckily my coat - which is the most expensive problem for a winter pregnancy - is also still just ok. I did buy maternity clothes last time but I found them so depressing that I threw almost all of them away soon afterwards and just couldn't face it this time! I have dreadful pregnancies, though, so to be honest no good associations and also I am on the small size for my dates, I am measuring several weeks behind on that sophisticated tape measure test they do and have been for ages. Baby is fine though.

rubyboo2 · 11/12/2014 09:39

I started to wear them at 14 wks , and needed bigger bra's around 26wks . Wear what you feel comfy in .

NickyEds · 11/12/2014 10:57

When you get uncomfortable! With ds I was fine in my jeans until around 20-2 weeks but I'm only 8 weeks now and this time I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable already. Doubt these jeans will last me till christmas let alone February!

lmb21010 · 15/12/2014 11:42

Can anyone tell me plz where I can get maternity clothes from? I'm a size 22 Bra size 38j. I'm 10 weeks gone with 2nd child and starting to feel the bulge. I have lost nearly 3 stone in the 10 weeks so have plenty of clothes that are too big but desperately wanting maternity jeans to feel comfy in. Thanks

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