Clothes ideas?!

[Porcupette]

Hi everyone, just looking for advice re clothes in terms of sizing up/buying maternity etc. I’m only about 6 weeks at the moment but I am so painfully bloated nothing fits right! Is it worth looking at maternity tops etc already, knowing that it’s just bloating and not actual bump yet, with the logic that maybe it’ll still fit when bump arrives?

I’m also starting to think about September - I’m a teacher and had decided at the end of August I was going to treat myself to some new bits for work, and now I’m a bit lost! I’m bigger than I’d like to be (12-14 top but 18/20 bottoms) and I’ve never really figured out my personal style or how to dress for my shape (and even more so at work), and that’s without trying to minimise a bump!

I tried picking up some t shirts just in a bigger size today and every one is clingy around my tummy and hips but massive across the shoulders and bust! I think I just want empire/floaty type tops, but not having much luck finding any, lots of the maternity stuff seems to be body con! Any advice?!

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I wouldn't bother with maternity tops yet, they won't fit well until you have a definite bump. I've brought a few from new look and they still don't fit properly at 19 weeks.

I've been buying baggy tops (I got loads on silk Fred, had to order online because of lockdown) but mama at H&M has some good things, I got a great pair of jeggings and a couple of tops that don't look like maternity tops.

I had to get some maternity jeans as although I don't have a proper bump I can't get my jeans done up round my waist. I got under bump ones as I know the over bump fabric panel would be too big. I got the jeans from jojo maman Bebe.

Good luck

Thank you! @passthemustard that’s all really helpful, I definitely feel like I’m too early for the maternity stuff but also fed up of living in my husband’s t shirts and a pair of old shorts that are too big

Congrats to you too, and thanks for the recommendations!

I’ve got away with elasticated waistbands and stretchy jeggings in a size up for now & I’m 20 weeks.

I’ve been wearing more shirts than normal. I’ve picked up a few things in the ASOS and Topshop sale, as well as eBay. The eBay stuff I’m going to sell on as it’s too big.

I’ve got two pairs of jeans: one under bump and one over, 3 vests, one pair of maternity leggings, one maternity tshirt & two maternity jumpers, as well as one occasion maternity dress (it was £12 and hopefully going to a wedding in Oct). I haven’t spent more than £100 in total.

I’m lucky in that I will be wfh until the end of the year, but I’ve been surprised at how much of my normal wardrobe has been suitable. Maybe my bump is still quite small, but I can’t see me really needing to crack out the maternity wardrobe for ages yet!

I bought up a size for early pregnancy. That got me through until about 20 weeks when I switched to maternity clothing .

The nice thing about buying clothes one size up is you will use those items postpartum anyway , unless you are one of the lucky few who bounce back after pregnancy.

I’m almost 29 weeks and have only just needed to wear maternity clothes - before this my loose maxi dresses have been fine.
I’ve bought a handful of maternity dresses from h&m & next, just in my normal size I’ve tried to choose ones that I could wear after the birth as well. One is a nursing style dress.
For afterwards I’m also planning on buying some lounge suits in a size up from my normal clothes

I bought maternity clothes quite early on. I figured if you're going to buy them at some point, why not buy them earlier and be more comfortable for a longer period?

I'd get some maternity leggings as soon as possible. Gap do really comfortable ones that aren't see through. They're the pure body full panel ones. Much nicer than H&M ones imo. I wore them throughout my pregnancy and am still wearing them 3 months post partum just as high waisted leggings.

I bought a couple of pairs of harem-style yoga trousers quite early on and they have been excellent. I’m now 32 weeks and will be wearing them all the way through I imagine. They’ve got a very deep fold down waist so I can wear them over or under bump. Didn’t need size up because they are quite baggy. I bought mine in the sale from Thought, not cheap but I’ve worn them almost every day unless it’s been boiling hot.

One thing I’ve found is that as my shape changes different style tops look/fit better. I went for oversize styles I already owned in the early months to more fitted maternity T-shirts from H&M and now a combination of both. There was a period in mid pregnancy where the oversized styles just looked terrible. I would try to just buy a few things at a time as your shape will change several times throughout.

Thank you all! This is all so helpful. I think I’ll look for some elastic after jeggings and maybe a pair of maternity ones for now and see how far I can get. I know it’s only temporary so I don’t want to spend loads on stuff that won’t fit soon, but I’m also fed up of feeling like everything is too tight