Post-pregnancy clothes?

[Nope2024]

I'm nearly 39 weeks, and just thinking about what size clothes I'm likely to need after giving birth.

I guess it's different for everyone, but I'm sure I read somewhere that in the few days after you give birth, most women are the same size they were around 6 months pregnant. But I'm damned if I can find where I read that and just wanted to hear some experience?

This isn't about "bouncing back"/weight loss - more a practical question as none of my maternity dresses are really okay for breastfeeding and I'd like to treat myself to something nice so I don't feel like a milk machine. 🥲 I'm definitely a dress person and have spent months wearing second-hand clothes that don't really feel very "me" and it's starting to get to me now!

Treat yourself to some nice pyjamas for resting and breastfeeding, I stayed in my maternity clothes for ages so if your shopping look for things that are stretchy and fit you now? Try not to spend too much for immediate postpartum as your body will change so much in the first few months. I’m 10 months postpartum and still changing!

@Dryshampoofordays Thanks - I have some sort of loose nightdresses for breastfeeding (not a pyjamas person!) but just want something I can actually get dressed in as I've been living in maternity leggings for months and it's starting to affect my mood - I'd usually be wearing summer dresses by now. I'm definitely not a trousers/shorts person!! Finding it quite hard to find second-hand maternity shirt/wrap dresses I could nurse in and no idea what size I'll be afterwards and a bit worried about my horrible maternity leggings falling down if there's not much of a bump to hold them up. 😂 I think I just want to buy normal clothes again so I'll just see if I can get some stretchy shirt dresses and pray!

I basically lived in leggings and jumpers/tshirts at this stage as you’re constantly breastfeeding. Something like a zip up hoodie and/or nice sort of overshirt can be useful too which is still breastfeeding friendly. Dungarees also good. Personally I wouldn’t bother with special ‘breastfeeding dresses/t-shirts’ etc which have elaborate zips and cutouts. Just normal t shirts are fine. Vest tops are good too, especially at night for night feeding easily.

I wore maternity clothes for a bit and then jeans two sizes bigger than normal and then one size bigger.
I wore a mixture of specific breastfeeding clothes and stretchy tops that were easy to pull up. All from Vinted.

Iknow exactly what you mean. Most maternity clothes are horrible and synthetic to boot. I couldn't wait to get out of them.

I needed XL knickers for 4 days then back to L. My maternity jeans fit for about 3 weeks then started falling down. I was a 12 before and am still a 16 10 weeks later. I wouldn't buy anything expensive now though. For me, I've still got a tummy, a lot of back fat and no waist so am feeling very stout. I'm hoping a lot of it will go when the hormones change at 3 months. In the meantime, I've bought several button front cotton dresses from vinted. My mum bought me 2 jersey Frugi dresses which are comfy and great to feed although not massively stylish. Only 1 looks like a maternity dress. Also bear in mind if you're going to put the baby in a carrier that it makes dresses ride up, so you'll need them longer!

I'd rethink the nighties. If you're going to be pulling up you need as little fabric as possible otherwise the baby gets swamped and you can't see it. I find buttoned easiest. You'll also sweat so much that cotton is a must.

(The nightdresses are nursing ones, they have a lift up bit so easier to access 😊 I just don't want to have to wear them during the day as well as night tbh!)

Carrier is on my list to get soon, but figured I'd wait until baby was here as bump is in the way. Hadn't thought about dresses + carrier though!

Everything I've worn for the whole pregnancy has been from Vinted, but think would be nice to treat myself to something actually new. Will leave it for now!

Think I'm just a bit sad today thinking of what I was wearing this time last year and knowing it will be another year before I can really feel comfortable/like myself again (unless I choose to bottle feed). ☹️ Sounds a bit shallow! Suppose I'll just have to be patient. 🥲

I think it's normal to feel like that. I certainly feel sad about all the clothes I've put away and my rather bare wardrobe. I'm not sure if I'll ever fit into some of it again. I've quite enjoyed embracing light elasticated waist trousers and t-shirts. If I'm bitchly honest, I used to consider them to be for overweight middle aged women who had lost their way, but they're very comfy and easy to wear and I'm literally someone's slightly overweight mum now. I'm not working so don't need to look chic and put together. Mum is my job for the next 4 months. I've had some pleasant surprises about some things from my old wardrobe still working though. I'm going to go shopping at 4 months PP, then I'm back to work at 6 months so will definitely need something new then. At that point it's going to be make the most of the body I've got rather than going my old things will fit.

One issue I hadn't considered is breast feeding bikinis! We went to the lido in a heat wave yesterday (we're not UK) and I had to wear a rash vest and DH's swim shorts because my bikini buttons don't go up and the tops don't go down!

I honestly wouldn’t bother spending money finding stuff to fit you immediately post partum. I think you’ll be too caught up in recovery / adapting to having a newborn. You’ll find you would rather wear things that are comfy and practical, even if that is still maternity clothes for a few more weeks.
Of course it’s lovely to feel more like yourself in clothes that are more your style, but it’s probably better to wait until you actually feel better physically / have established breastfeeding so you know how confident you feel.
After a few weeks when your body should be feeling better and your bump has reduced then personally I’d advise going for clothes with stretchy waistbands so they’ll fit you whilst your body continues to change. If you’re not into trousers then try skirts with elasticated waistbands. Then you can wear stretchy vest tops which you can pull down to breastfeed.

Post birth I lived in loose t shirts and leggings in a mix of my usual sizes for the first month or so wearing them day and night changing each day as I lost my sense of night a day whilst on the 3h feed cycle. Once I got through the newborn haze I ventured back into day clothes night clothes but my body was mostly back to normal by then and any of my clothes that weren't fitted were fine.

I've never stopped wearing some of my maternity clothes after 4 years, the cut means you can't tell they aren't regular clothes!

I was back at my pre pregnancy weight by 10 days post partum but it took a few weeks for my stomach to contract back so looked a bit like a hybrid between normal me and pregnant me. It was very squashy so my pregnancy clothes didn't stay up anymore except over bump jeans with the band folded over.