that awkward stage between normal and maternity clothes...

[Bogal]

I'm looking for some clothing advice...

I'm at the stage where my 'normal' clothes are getting quite tight, but I don't really have enough of a bump to warrant paying out for maternity clothes just yet and am a bit reluctant to buy things in just a bigger size which will only last a few weeks.

What did you do at this stage - did you wait it out in just a few stretchy things until you had enough of a bump to fill out maternity wear, start buying maternity clothes anyway or buy a few non-maternity things in a bigger size than normal to tide you over?

Stretchy Primark T shirts and maternity jeans/trousers - they weren't too loose for long!

You may as well buy a few cheap bits because you'll want them on the way back down again, when maternity trousers are too big and you're sick of them, but your old jeans cut off the circulation to your legs.

A few years old, but this thread about hairbands and bump bands may be helpful.

and here is that thread!.

Thanks BikeRunSki I never wear trousers but some of my zipped skirts aren't doing up any more. Just looked up bump bands - 3 for a tenner in New Look!

TheOriginalWinkly hadn't even thought about the way back down again! I vaguely knew your belly takes a long time to go back to normal but sort of naively assumed the rest of me would stay the same size

For work I bought some tops in a bigger size to tide me over figuring I'd need something to wear after the birth and tbh they've lasted me up until now (32 weeks) so were worth getting. I deliberately went for t-shirty material which helped. For skirts I was lucky my main work skirts were stretchy rather than zipped so they grew with me until I could fill the maternity skirt.
For home I used a hair band to extend my jeans which lasted me until about 16-20 weeks and wore regular leggings with long jumpers (helped this was around Christmas time so cold weather).
It's a horrible time clothes wise or at least I found it that way. Much easier when you have a bump you can celebrate and not worry about clothes clinging too but that time when clothes cling to a pudgy belly...eugh

At that stage (and many more afterwards...) I lived in leggings and tunics. Or skater style dresses with tights a size bigger than Id normally wear.

You may put on a teeny bit of non-baby weight....

Tunic tops and leggings is a comfy outfit for the way up and back again.

X post

Y Y to needing things for the way back down. I've got a couple of pairs of jeans that are just right for this in between phase (the joy of this being DC3). I don't really like maternity clothes, and have mostly worn normal stuff with a lot of give. Current favourites are those slim leg joggers with a long line vest and then a normal top over. Sooo comfy. Also leggings with either a tunic / long top, or stretchy mini skirt and top. When it's a bit warmer I'll be wearing stretchy tube skirts with long line vest and then a top over that. I find long line vests, maternity ones once you are a bit bigger are a total life saver, as is lycra!

For work I wear a uniform top, and stretchy trousers from m&s wide leg and boot leg or slim leg are all very comfy. I wore the wide leg ones all the way till the end, and then after with both my previous DCs. The waist is soft so you can just push it under your bump, and then after sat high enough not to interfer with my CS scar. Size is quite generous: I wore my normal size throughout.

Hi Bogal.
I've actually started wearing maternity clothes from H & M and I'm in that inbetweeny stage your referring to.
I have found the clothes lovely, reasonably priced and very non maternity looking.
This is coming from someone who pre pregnancy was gallivanting on nights out in size 8 river island hot pants!

2015isgoingtobeBIG I've been living in leggings with a generous waistband at home, with one of DH's big jumpers over the top but I can't get away with that at work!

I like the bigger tights idea - I'm wearing normal sized ones atm which cut into my middle, visibly because my tops are all tight! (v unattractive )

BikeRunSki have noticed my pants are getting a bit small - had put it down to bloating but am starting to think I may be in denial!!

Coming to the conclusion that a few in-between clothes in bigger sizes may not be such a bad thing after all, with a couple of maternity vests thrown in. Think I'll be making my way to H&M/M&S in the next few days - ah I wish my nearest Primark was less than 60 miles away too

With #1 I jumped straight from normal clothes to maternity - I used to be a skinny thing and the bump was evident quite early. Maternity stuff was roomy but ok.

But it did mean that I had to buy roomier non-mat clothes on the way back down (all the maternity ones were stretched to buggery), and that meant shopping with tiny, shouty DS which was a major drag.

My hips never went back to their original shape, and neither did my ribcage - your bone structure can change, too, regardless of the weight...

It's meant to be 9 months to put it on, 9 months to take it off, or something. Took longer with DS as I breastfed for longer and my body held on to the weight - when I stopped I dropped a dress size within weeks.