Buying maternity wear

[whatlifestylechoice]

Hello, I am a first time pregnant person, and will shortly need to be investing in maternity clothes, if the current fit of my jeans are anything to go by.
I have no idea how maternity clothes work and I live very rurally so will be ordering online.
As regards sizing, would you order your normal pre-pregnancy size and hope that the maternity part will account for the extra pounds? Or go a size up or what? I've only put on 3 pounds so far, but then again I'm only 13 weeks so...
For jeans, are under-bump or over-bump jeans better? Does the extra cottony bit on over-bump jeans provide extra security or will it just slide down and look bulky if most of your bump is bloat you're not that big yet?
Thanks!

I've lived in leggings! I bought a pair from next in my usual size 10 but they are huge & go baggy extremely quickly, it was about 30 weeks before they anything like fit! H & M leggings have been good, got those in medium. It very much depends on the shop, I've bought some stuff in size 10 & some in 12. I ended up ordering loads online in both sizes & then returning the vast majority of it too!

I much prefer over the bump jeans, I'm lucky that I can wear jeans to work so I bought a couple of pairs of those and have lived in them! Have only really needed proper maternity tops from about 30 weeks, most other tops just stretched!

So don't go crackers, buy as you go along, eBay are great for bargains!

I actually found that I needed to go down a size for most maternity stuff. I've been a 12 for trousers for ages but have been a 10 in pretty much all maternity clothes (bar the odd weirdly sized shorts from H&M where I needed a 14!)

I did a massive asos order at the start and got a couple of different sizes as I wasn't sure - they were great with returns :)

I bought under the bump jeans - but that's because I've been pregnant over the summer (and couldn't face the extra material of over the bump). I love my topshop under the bump jeans - although at nearly 38 weeks I'm finding most things don't stay up very well any more!

I found some shops I am a size down in maternity wear to my normal and some a size up. It depends on the make and cut. Is it easy for you to return the stuff?
I live in London but hate going to the shops so always just do a big order, try it on and send it back.
As for under/over bump-I really like the stuff that has a flexible stretchy band that you can wear both ways-either over bump or (especially early on in pregnancy) folded over tree time under bump.
Leggins and jersey dresses are my favourite-I found if things fit too snug (which I liked pre-pregnancy) it makes my nausea worse...

I found JoJo Maman Bebe wrap tops brilliant - wore them from 16 weeks until baby was about six months old. They're good for breastfeeding, and because they wrap they fit whatever size your bump is. When I was bigger I loved the support they gave to my bump too, made me feel more secure.

I had under-bump jeans in my normal size that were enormous, so didn't wear them until 30 weeks or so. I think over-bump would probably have been a better idea - I loved my over-bump skirt worn with normal leggings.

Another vote for topshop jeans! Soft, stretchy and comfy.
Also like H&M and gap for basic tops/vests
Seraphine for smart work gear, also got a denim skirt there for wearing with tights/leggings
Jojo do a knee length pencil skirt which is very comfy and flattering- again for work
Boots are good for maternity tights (currently on offer).
I got leggings from M&S but they're a little baggy
From Zara and Fatface I have bought long, floaty cardi's that hide a multitude of sins (not maternity wear, just regular stuff in a size bigger).

Some shops, like H&M, tell you to go two sizes bigger than normal for their maternity clothes. Most others tell you to order your usual size.

I've ordered some good things from Asos, including over the bump leggings which I live in. They also carry other brands like New Look, which does some good tunics, and Mamalicious, which can be a little pricey but fits nicely. Returns are free. They also have an outlet site, where you can get some good deals.

For jeans, I tried some from Next, New Look, H&M and Asos. The only ones I found that have been any good are from Gap. The band is a firmer, Lycra-type material instead of the usual cotton band. It keeps the jeans up much more effectively, and also provides a bit of extra support. Gap do discount vouchers all the time and their returns are also free.

Yes to the Jo Jo wrap tops! I bought one 7 months into my first pregnancy and wish I'd bought it sooner as it was ace and did me for afterwards too. Currently getting plenty of wear second time around! H&m mon-maternity strappy vest tops are pretty long so ideal to go under a wrap top.

As for jeans, under bump is better early on as the over bump ones won't stay up until you have a decent bump for it to go over. At which point you might find that they are more comfortable than under bump jeans anyway.

If you do decide on leggings, I can highly recommend the Seraphine ones (seamless I think they're called?). Currently lounging in my over bump ones and they are like a second (very comfy) skin

And yeah don't go too mental early on. Better to buy in dribs and drabs initially.

Just got own size (12) maternity leggings and tops from new look and ebay cheeeeeap bundles. Baby due next month still wearing size 12 maternity tops and pre-maternity yoga pants under bump and have put on 2.5 stone so I'd say same size?

However, I'm all bump and some upper thighs.

Rurally or living in London it all seems to be online these days. I was heavily pregnant in hot weather so over the bump anything was hot and itchy. I am however looking forward to mat jeans keeping me warm in winter. I lost weight so would've been better going down a size. As some things at 39 weeks are still baggy. I'd also look at current wardrobe I have lots of jersey type dress from phase eight, a couple of which still fit now..so long as not to short. If I was you id invest in good pair of flat shoes and maternity tights.

I've been living in over the bump leggings. H&M 'conscious' ones are bizarre sizes, I would go a size down from normal for these. Have ASOS ones which just seem to get softer with every wash and are so comfy! Also have New Look and Asda ones too. I love them all although they're all so long on me (I'm very short!). Only have a few actual 'maternity' tops, mostly I wear stretchy h&m vests, with stretchy skirts.

I've been in my normal size in mat clothes (a 10) til now. I'm 21 weeks. Some are now starting to get tight, but my bump is huge (as is my bum and thighs).
Looking at photos, I'm a similar size at 21 weeks now to how I was at 32ish weeks in my first pregnancy. How, I have no idea...!

Thank you, thank you for all the info! Sorry I couldn't get on again before now.

Luckily, () I've always had a bit of a tummy, so most of my wardrobe is already designed to cover that up and I have lots of long floaty tops that should hopefully do me for a good while.
I'll probably be wearing leggings a fair bit at home, but jeans will also be necessary for greeting teh outside world.

Anyway, it transpires that I have to go into the big schmoke tomorrow so I might have a quick trying-on session while I'm there, in advance of ordering stuff online, just to see how things feel.

Thanks again all!

I wouldn't get your hopes up too much about trying things on in real life...I had a mooch round my nearest big town last week (only 12w, so was just sussing things out), and only topshop had any maternity wear (and that was well hidden!)...nothing in new look/DP/M&S/H&M etc :(

Even the flagship stores in central london carry v. little mat wear, annoyingly. Best bet is to order loads online and return stuff that doesn't work. Pay attention to returns policies though, JoJo Maman Bebe, for example, delivers for free but charges you for returns. Asos are great for delivery/returns and quick stock turnover. I also found Vertbaudet good for jeans/trousers - cheap and comfy. My other fave pair of over-bump jeans came from M&S, of all places, which now has a small mat line. Seraphine good for nicer/work wear. I splurged on a cardigan from there that always makes me look relatively well turned-out, even on my most fat-pregnant days.

What you'll wear/ what fits well/ what flatters will change with your shape (also annoyingly). So the TopShop under bump skinnies I wore in my first half of pregnancy won't go past my thighs now (36 wks), but the over bump jeans that kept on slipping down at the beginning are now what I live in (even though both are the same size).

It's all a bit tedious! And sometimes I long for our mother's day when they just wore a big tent...

Oh, that is disappointing, 5hell.

A big tent is starting to sound like a good idea.

I wore maternity trousers for work today and oh my god, what a difference! I'm only 16 weeks, and can still fit in to most of my 'normal' clothes, but was finding them to be a bit uncomfortable by mid afternoon, and had a theory that it was making my nausea worse. Anyway, I was so comfy today, I felt much more confident, and actually felt less 'fat' than when I was squeezed into my normal trousers. I'm a convert - I may live in maternity clothes for evermore!