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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Having a dress crisis! Please please help!!

20 replies

FreshRoseBunch · 15/09/2017 11:53

Hi all,
This is my first pregnancy and I am almost 5 weeks.
My best friend is getting married in December and I am a bridesmaid with three other girls. We all have the same dress that we bought ages ago to wear for the wedding but at the time I was not pregnant but now I will be 4 months at the wedding!!
I am usually between a size 12-14.....my question is will I get away with wearing a size 18 with a 4 month bump??
I know everyone is different but we have to wear this particular dress and I don't want to tell amyone until 3 months (which is 1 month before the wedding!!).
The only thing I can think of is to secretly go back to the shop and buy a larger size. I have looked for a maternity option but it doesn't exist.
Please help!
This is my first pregnancy so I literally don't know what I am doing :) Thanks!!!

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cakesandphotos · 15/09/2017 11:58

Depends on the dress surely. I was a bridesmaid at 12 weeks pregnant. I had a slightly bump but it fell under the bust so it was fine. I'm now 18 weeks and reckon I could still wear it, although maybe without a bra!

donkey86 · 15/09/2017 12:00

I hardly had any bump at four months - I was still wearing ordinary clothes. Is the dress stretchy at all? If so, you might well get away with your normal size. And even if not, you'd probably only need to go one size bigger, not an 18. Everyone's different though! Can you wait until nearer the time and see how you go?

Original poster

FreshRoseBunch · 15/09/2017 12:01

Right. So it is tight at the top and then floor length and flowy. The dress only goes up to an 18 which is ridiculous but can't do anything about that!
Think I am just going to have to buy it and risk it. Just so hard to know how big I am going to be.
Right now I am showing slightly but could probably pass as badly bloated. I think I just need to make my decision nearer the time x

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ChocolateRaisin · 15/09/2017 12:04

I was a bridesmaid at 11 weeks and fitted the dress I would have worn if not pregnant. I'm 28 weeks now and going as a guest to a wedding tomorrow. I'm wearing a size 14 non maternity dress, I would usually be a 10-12. I think it depends on the style of the dress. I think an 18 at 4 months pregnant when you are usually a 12-14 would probably be too big. Do you have a picture of the style of the dress?

SpringtoSummer · 15/09/2017 12:07

One size up would have been fine for me at 4 months I think - the bloating you have now may pass too, I was much better after the first trimester.

Original poster

FreshRoseBunch · 15/09/2017 12:10

ChocolateRaisin your words are quite reassuring.
I have attached the dress pic from the website. It is flowy but actually more fitted than it looks. I will probably be ok with an 18 but get it taken in nearer the time if I need.

Having a dress crisis! Please please help!!

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Original poster

FreshRoseBunch · 15/09/2017 12:11

That is a good point! Hopefully the bloating will pass

OP posts:

stodgy13 · 15/09/2017 12:11

I gained alot of weight during pregnancy (nearly 4 stone in total) but even still managed to wear a size 14 non maternity which was fitted at top then flowed out a bit at 32 weeks. was a size 10 before pregnancy so personally i would say just go up a size or 2 to accommodate any extra weight/ bump and agree a size 18 will most likely be too big for you.

Original poster

FreshRoseBunch · 15/09/2017 12:19

Thank you all so much for your help!!
I am far less stressed about this whole situation now
Think I will buy the 16 for now and if I really need to I can switch it for the 18 nearer the time but hopefully will be fine. I will let you all know the outcome in December!
Thanks again xx

OP posts:

NC4now · 15/09/2017 12:19

This happened to me, with my second pregnancy. I was fine with the dress I'd bought originally. I wore Spanx but that was it. And second pregnancies tend to show earlier than first. I'm a 14 too.

Don't panic! See how you go nearer the time, if that's an option.

I found out I was pregnant the day after we went to have them fitted, so I rang the dressmaker and asked her not to cut the dress yet. I went for a final fitting a few days before and it just needed a bit of adjustment on the boobs.

NC4now · 15/09/2017 12:20

II should say, I was 16 weeks at the wedding...

Whereland · 15/09/2017 12:22

I really doubt you'll need size 18 at 4 months!! I was a bridesmaid at 21 weeks and wore a regular size 12 dress, you should be fine

MrsNuckyThompson · 15/09/2017 12:31

At 4 months, yes, I'm sure an 18 will be fine. You can have it altered if it is too big in places (might well be). Easier to size something down than make it bigger!

Great idea of yours!!

Foggymist · 15/09/2017 12:48

I was a 12 pre pregnancy and wore a size 14 empire line dress (not maternity) to a wedding at 36 weeks, I had to get it taken in. You'll be swimming in an 18 at four months!!

rach217 · 15/09/2017 12:48

I wore the same dress at 14 weeks (barely any bump) and 23 weeks (quite a bump) and got away with it. It was only one size up from my usual size and had a bit of stretch in it, but it was fine overall.

reetgood · 15/09/2017 13:00

I wore a 12 pre pregnancy but measured up as a 14 on the bridesmaid dresses. I found I was pregnant shortly after dress fitting :). The dress I had was fairly similar to what you've pictured from a construction point of view. Fortunately it was a generous fit on the bust as that would have been tricky. I booked in with a seamstress a month before to suss out what might be needed then one week before we made the call on what alterations to do. Turns out all we needed to do was let out the seams on the skirt to give me a bit more room. I was 18 weeks, just over 4 months pregnant and was only just showing (as opposed to bloating ;) ). First baby. 3 weeks later went to another wedding as a guest, bought a jojo maman Bebe dress and that was a bit roomy in a 14 (but would have been too tight on the bust in a 12).

I'd get a 14 and book in with s dressmaker or seamstress.

reetgood · 15/09/2017 13:02

Whoops misread, if you're 12-14 then a 16 might be safer but you will need to make time to get it taken in.

KentishGypsyTart · 15/09/2017 13:08

I got married at 5 months pregnant. I was a 12-14 and wore a 16 that was altered to fit. Can you take your dress to someone that does alterations? They might be able to sew a hidden panel into the back. They did that to my dress at the shop to allow for my bump but not too much bigger anywhere else.

squadronleader87 · 15/09/2017 13:11

I don't think you'll need the size 18 - it will be far to big for you around the bust, shoulders etc.

I had two weddings in the summer, at 18 and 20 weeks and I wore 'normal' dresses one size bigger. It very much depends on the cut, I found at that stage I was a bit thicker around the waist so a dress in my usual size wouldn't zip up. I wore spanx underneath for a smooth line.

The dress you posted is gorgeous btw!

Crashbangwhatausername · 15/09/2017 13:44

You will probably still fit that style if it is slightly roomy, it will look ridiculous wearing a size 18 on a 12-14 frame with what will likely be a fairly small, lowish bump, I would stick with your dress or get one size bigger and just speak to a seamstress if necessary a few weeks beforehand

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