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?!

Thanks so much for all of the tips, much appreciated!

h&m maternity actually makes me shudder, the stuff is such poor quality, so outdated and frumpy frankly, and as its for such a short period the fact their clothes are horribly unethical (except the 'conscious' range) I have totally avoided them.

I understand Topshop and M&S are hardly ethical trailblazers (Phillip Green is obviously such a no as a person) but at least the clothing they sell is not a triple threat like h&m and the clothes they make last, fit well, and look good. Unfortunately Topshop maternity only online as is M&S. Asos is a mixed bag. their own brand stuff is pretty crap and massive so go a size down if you do order anything. Their mamalicious range is good though and always on offer

I actually found h&m jeans and light tops to be the best, best fit, lasting very well and that's after two pregnancies and 6-8 weeks post partum each time. I also have their nursing bras and some nursing tops and they are also fab, and not remotely frumpy!

H&M Jeans are amazing. Joja maman Bebe support leggings are even more amazing.

If you are having to unbutton your jeans while sitting down, go and purchase some nice leggings. I promise you won’t regret it and will feel soooo much more comfortable xx

I'd say New Look you have to go with normal size or down a size, same with George at Asda but H&M up a size. ALWAYS buy over bump in my experience... under bump fall down ever 3 steps. I got some at 12 weeks - fell down... tried again at 30 weeks still just as bad.