What size maternity clothes did you buy?

[AndBeholdAWhiteHorse]

I'm getting to the point now where I finally have a bump (surrounded by padding! ) but I don't know what size to buy. I am usually a 12 on the bottom and a 10 on top. I have bought some tees which are a 14 and they fit quite well now so maybe I ought to buy a 16 going forward. However the dresses I got are a 14 and are huge. I don't know whether to keep them because I know I'll get bigger anyway or return for a 12. Or do I just wait it out a bit longer? What do most people do?

You just buy your Normal size as they are adapted so if you are a size 10 then buy size 10 maternity wear.

Think it depends a lot on the different brands. A lot of maternity clothes seem to be Small/medium/large as well, but the small is 8-10 and medium 12-14 which doesn't help when you're more like a 10-12! You're probably going to have to try things on, which is a complete pain given everything seems to be mail order for maternity 🙄

Just buy your usual size, you might even need to go down a size for some shops.

Ah ok. I thought weight gain plus baby bump would increase my size massively. I have been buying sale items in bigger sizes as nowhere seems to stock maternity clothes. I'll get some in my size and if I need to increase in the future I can (or I'll just be naked as I am roasting all the time)

Ignore the waist measurement and focus on the bust / hip. Most maternity clothes are not really designed for pear shaped women - they are often way too big on the bump, too small on the hip, and way too big up top. H&M, Matalan and New Look (and other ‘cheaper’ brands) probably have the best sizing if you are pear shaped. While Seraphine and the other traditional maternity brands seem to fit better if you’re bigger up top.

I bought my usual size from Next and H&M and they've been fine or a bit big so far, but I think they might be a bit small in the last month or so.
I bought one non-stretchy dress from Topshop in my usual size and it was too small on the bust after 4 months.
H&M advise something like your usual size in months 1-3, 1 size up in 3-6 and then 2 sizes up.

H&M stock their maternity range in store. Next don't but you can order loads to their store, try on in the changing rooms and immediately return most of it.

I just bought the same size as usual, 12 on top and 10 on the bottom but I bought jeggings instead of jeans because I was worried jeans might be too tight. The maternity tops are good for if your bust and belly has grown so I don't think you'd need to go up a size

I'm normally a 10/12 on bottom and an 8/10 on top and I've been buying maternity stuff in a 12 (New Look, ASOS, Speedo). That seems fine for me - bit big in the bump area as I'm only 13+3, but should leave lots of room to grow.

I bought my usual sizes in the main - I was a 12 pre pregnancy and most of what I bought was a 12.
There were a couple of tops I got in a 14 as they were from shops that come up small normally and I also have form for shrinking things that are cotton.

I am now 35 weeks and it all still fits so I definitely didn't need anything bigger. I have not put on weight anywhere else apart from bump.

Hi. I know exactly how you feel I bought jeans from Tesco size 14 amazing fit everywhere else to big on top of legs and knees I was going mad not being able to find anything. Dresses I have just gone up 1 size and got a size 12 summer dress from newlook.im like you size 10/12

@Megan2018 I'm jealous of your non weight gain but it is good to know that the clothes fit when bump is getting even bigger.

I hate tight clothes I'm a loose fitting person and so increasing my size has been more beneficial particularly with my weight gain.

I might just wait until summer is over and revisit clothes when I can wear other items.