Stupid question about maternity clothes...

[Heregoeseverything]

May I ask a stupid question about maternity clothes? How do they work?! I went to look for jeans and expected them to be sorted into eg early pregnancy, mid-pregnancy and late pregnancy or similar, but they just had one size, "maternity". I am only 11+1 so will not fit into the same clothes I expect to be wearing at 9 months. They did have bands on the jeans, but they didn't seem to be particularly flexible, certainly not flexible enough to accommodate different stages of pregnancy... Any assistance from wiser women?!

I think they are supposed to fit u the hole way threw, I have two pairs got at 12weeks one still fits in 34 weeks one doesn't. I went for over bump jeans but I think that's just personal preference

I bought my usual size in maternity clothes and then wore a belt until my maternity jeans fitted me without. 40+1 now and I’ve just had to concede that my jeans are now too tight! Some maternity jeans come with elastic and buttons in the waistband so you can tailor the fit to your current size. Dresses and tops are a bit easier to fit into throughout pregnancy (although some look very baggy at first).

You buy them in your normal size so if you are usually a size 12 in jeans you would buy size 12 maternity jeans.

In theory. Some retailers are better than others at getting this right.

The bands do stretch. I didn’t really need maternity jeans until after about 16 weeks, and I didn’t need to buy any maternity tops as most of my normal ones stretched over (vest tops in particular).

I found over bump jeans and leggings/tights didn’t really fit properly until the third trimester. Under bump fit fine before then but had a tendency to ride down.

They do stretch or have extra panels of fabric. You might find that you grow out of some of the clothes for the last few weeks though. Depends how big you get. I was enormous.

Thanks, all!

Sorry my OP wasn't clear, they do have sizes but not pregnancy-related sizes, ie they have 8 maternity, 10 maternity etc. I was expecting eg "12 early pregnancy" or something...

I think the general rule is buy your normal size until 3rd trimester then go up a size.
Don’t buy maternity tops that are also nursing tops in your 3rd though they’ll make you look massively pregnant afterwards.

I’ve never seen any that are early/mid/late pregnancy. They are meant to grow with you. Just like normal women’s clothes though some shops come up larger than others. E.g. I’ve got some tops from asda which were great mid pregnancy but don’t cover my tummy now. My JoJo tops are much longer and better for late pregnancy.

There'd be a lot of unsold clothes if for each size there were maternity clothes in 3 sizes! You buy your usual size or one size up depending on what way your body is changing, some women put on weight all over and may need a size up, others just get a bump. I got maternity jeans in my normal size, size 12, at 17 weeks on first pregnancy, wore them until birth at 37 weeks and wore them second time around from 8-38 weeks. Tops the same, just bought my usual size. Every woman's body changes differently, they couldn't possibly divide them into early/late pregnancy as standard.

I was a size 8ish pre-pregnancy.
Size 18 normal clothes now at 39 weeks, size 14 maternity.

I found that buying clothes through the sizes worked better until I got a "proper" bump then going into maternity is easiest. And they do stretch but I found over the bump too tight so I'm wearing under the bump trousers with normal (bigger sized) tops

I was a size 8 pre pregnancy and now at 37 weeks am wearing size 14 £5 fitted jersey dresses from primark with maternity tights and a chunky cardi for work. I have 4 which I rotate throughout the week - cheap and cheerful!

For weekends, maternity joggers and maternity top and chunky cardi.

You can avoid spending loads of cash on maternity clothes if you buy normal range but bigger (and stretchy!) - a lot of maternity stuff is overpriced IMO and never fits as nicely as it might on - for example - an ASOS model!

Leggings and long tops or tunics were a god send for me during pregnancy one three years ago. Over the bump is better so you have more wear but I'm plus sized to start with so each shop will be diffent

Thanks all, maybe I was a bit optimistic about the provision made for pregnant women! I am currently just at the feeling fat in normal clothes stage but not yet big enough for maternity jeans I don't think...can fit in my jeans but only with discomfort and opening buttons when I sit down...!

I wore my normal-sized clothes for awhile, and then just bought my normal size in maternity clothes. I wore them all throughout my pregnancy.

Maternity jeans are the way forward. I bought ones with an under-the-bump band, which I found much much much more comfortable than the ones with the big band that goes over your bump.

How many weeks are you OP? I was so uncomfortable in normal jeans by 14 weeks I had to buy OTB ones and, at 17 weeks now, I've just lived in them. Those, some maternity leggings and a few jersey dresses should do you. Get some good maternity tights and bras and you'll feel so much more comfortable! As the others have said, regular t shirts and jumpers should do you for a while. I would be furious if I had to buy a new pair of jeans every 3 months!

I'm only 11+2! I have a small frame though, a little extra fat goes a long way...!

The bands on the jeans looked like they'd be very tight on a bump but I guess that must be okay!

Re bras my boobs have already gone up 2-3 sizes, is it safe to buy now or are they likely to continue on their apparent quest for world domination?

Mine carried on the world domination until about 20-something weeks and have only just filled out now (but not gone up anymore sizes).
One piece of advice though - find what fits your body, not your eyes as I've found the ugliest bras the most comfortable

Yeah just getting your pre pregnant size in maternity should be ok!

I think they know that you don't actually need them for long so they make them to last the whole time.

If you're looking for jeans, mamalicious Shelly jeans were great for me! Under bump but had an over bump elastic panel and adjustable waist. Lasted me from second trimester to the end and I still wear them 16 weeks later

I think maybe wait a little bit for bras if you can! Just to be sure so you don't have to buy two sets of new in case they just keep growing! Maybe wait until 20 weeks for bras?

For trousers, you have 2 options. Either under bump, or over. Most women start with under bump option and mover to over bump later when the belly grows. The first option does not need to go over belly, so does not matter how big the belly is. The second option, overbump band is stretcy.

You should definitely buy new bras if you're uncomfortable. And the four-boob look is maybe not for everybody. But yes, you are likely to grow and also your ribs will expand, so back size gets bigger - I think I went through about half a dozen sizes.

I didn't need any maternity clothes until 30 weeks (not bragging, I just wore stretchy "normal" clothes and avoided anything with a waistband!). That way I only had to buy one batch of maternity clothes. Having said that, lots of women find their smaller maternity clothes useful after giving birth so they probably won't be wasted!

My boobs stopped growing after about 14 weeks but I'm guessing they might start again so am holding off buying nursing bras just yet!

I got over the bump jeans from Asda. They're great. Can only buy them online though

I just bought my pre-pregnancy size in maternity stuff and that fitted me all the way through as it was mainly stretchy tops and dresses. I didn't gain much weight though as I was fat to start with.

I agree with everyone buy the size you are in maternity styles to begin with and then go up in sizes as you grow especially in the third trimester. I bought some jeans in the end of the first trimester but they are just getting too snug now at 27 weeks so have picked up some stretchy maternity leggings which are more flexible.

I’m still in my normal clothes but I’m planning on using bump bands over top of trousers and jeans with the button undone!

Always over them bump and just live in leggings the first few months. Just brought my first maternity tights which are in s/m/l as normal, and i'm over 7 months. Its really is only the last few weeks where nothing really fits, any maternity clothes in your normal size, or size up if your breasts/ thighs ect are getting big early will see you through the whole of your pregnancy.

I cannot stress how comfortable over the bump leggings in a size to big for you are. Order M&S or topshop ones which are actually decent and avoid h&m as all there maternity are hideous except the over the bump jeans

*over the bump