Clothing!!

[CSR721]

Hey! As this is my first I don't really know what to expect? We have a friends wedding in August, I'll be 29 weeks. Will I need a maternity dress, or size up a normal dress or normal size or what? I really don't know what to expect but I don't want to leave it until last minute. Any photos around this GA, or advice in general, would be really helpful!!

I showed late, had a small bump, and attended a conference with my first around that gestation, so I remember just barely needing maternity things at that point. Some styles of dresses, I could have got away with regular, but it would definitely have been a gamble – fine for day to day at home, but a high risk strategy for something you can't easily replace if you wake up one day and it no longer fits. Other people show earlier/carry bigger, and would have been in maternity clothes for weeks by that point.

I personally didn't do the size up in regular clothes because I'm petite and was 'all bump', so bigger regular clothes just looked unflattering.

Hey OP, I am 16+5 with my second and my bump has showed quite early this time around. I can't fit into my "regular" pre pregnancy clothes and have been shopping this weekend in preparation for the summer months. I have decided to go with maxi dresses mainly that are fitted around the bust but then are flowy from the waist down in preparation for a growing middle!

I hope I will be able to wear next summer also as they are not maternity. I have bought a single pair of maternity jeans which I plan on wearing with long shirts but I don't want to spend too much on maternity clothing knowing I will never wear it again.

This is my first and I was a size 8 to start with, was convinced I wouldn't show til late. I'm now 30 weeks and needing a 14 in tops. Dresses I mostly need in maternity fit otherwise they come up too short at the front. Don't forget your boobs can grow a lot too, I've found a lot is too tight across the chest. It's so unpredictable! I would seriously recommend leaving it til a couple of weeks before and ordering a load on next day delivery to try.

I had to buy maternity clothes quite early on, mainly because my boobs got really big quickly (~10-12 weeks an then stayed the same through whole pregnancy) and majority of my closet consists of slim fit shirts or blouses. I am normally size 6-8 and 5'0'' and sizing up regular clothes would not work since apart from boobs and belly my body retained my 'old' proportions.

If I were you I would look for a Seraphine dress on ebay, vinted or depop - they have plenty of maternity occasion-wear and since these dresses don't get worn more than once they should be in almost brand new condition.

It's so hard to tell - I can still fit into almost all of my pre-pregnancy dresses, but I was a 14/16 before and preferred floatier things. If you possibly can I'd leave it until closer to the date to buy something as it's so different for everyone.

Thanks guys, I'll leave it a bit x x