Do I have to get maternity clothes?

[Closingtime94]

Hello,

I'm gonna get maternity pants but for things like tops and dresses can I just get the next size or two up?

I didn't get any. Went with jersey swing dresses, maxi dresses or tunics that tend to have plenty of room around the belly and then sizes up on leggings.

Bought one pair of maternity trousers with the big panel bit and hated them as they rolled and fell down.

Depends how big you get tbh. I had a massive bump and clothes a couple of sizes up wouldn’t have been big enough to accommodate it. Bigger than that would have been too baggy everywhere else.
You can get maternity clothes pretty cheaply second hand, or just get a few basics to see you through.

I didn't, but when I got big I did get a couple of top for going out, as mine were too short over the bump by that point.

Everyone grows their own unique bump, but you will probably find that Maternity cuts fit you better - you’ll likely need the extra room around your bump but not the same amount extra, proportionately, across your shoulders and bust. If you size right for there, the hemline will lift to accommodate the bump, so you’ll find that your top or dress is much shorter at the front than the back.

Personally, I grew bumps the size of a house, so an ordinary skirt would have been indecent by the end! But you’ll figure out what looks best for you. The style of tops you prefer will also make a difference, at least early on. Peplums and tops that flare from under the best should be more forgiving. My advice would be to look at yourself in the mirror frontways and sideways.

First pregnancy I got round it a lot with wearing things with leggings and big cardigans but was pregnant through winter. This time I'm much bigger and finding it harder gone for t shirt dresses and leggings but still a bit of a challenge so given into some bits.

I got a couple of pairs of maternity jeans s but then just some cheap-ish clothes in a couple of sizes up and they were fine.

Maternity clothes fit better, plus I loved buying them. Never before bought clothes where I didn't care that my belly looked big

Sizing up will be big and baggy everywhere else.

I just got 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of shorts and 2 or 3 tops. Other than that I wore dresses a size up. The maternity stuff was comfortable though.

Definitely maternity clothes for me. I don’t want to look frumpy in excessively baggy clothing. It’s the one time I’m proud to show off my stomach.

I wouldn’t say so because it’s just your bump that grows and a lot of the time the rest of you stays the same size. I can see it working well for the first half of the pregnancy but not really for the rest. Loose dresses would work well in summer but harder to make it work in winter with trousers etc

I only bought a pair of maternity jeans from H&M and a couple of vest tops. Everything else I either wore my usual clothes or the next size up.

It depends a bit on how big you get and how comfortable you want to be and how stylish you want to be. Sizing up won’t be as flattering and potentially not as comfortable. That said for my first pregnancy I sized up for dresses wore them with maternity leggings and it was fine. On my third pregnancy now and no way I could do that this time

Meant to add that I’m just bump! From behind, you wouldn’t know I was pregnant (I’ve been told repeatedly) so only need the extra room for my bump.

Wearing non-maternity clothes just isn’t very comfortable.

Like PP say, depends what sort of bump you have. I had a gigantic bump and remained the same pretty much everywhere else, so needed things like maternity leggings and t shirts, I tried getting a size or two up but I just looked untidy and like I'd borrowed my boyfriend's clothes, fine for at home, not so much for out and about. I got by on 4 leggings and 6 t shirts though, saved the maternity ones for 'going out'. H&M are reasonably cheap or ASOS for leggings.

If you're going to have to buy new clothes you may as well buy well fitting maternity clothes.

Just sizing up isn't always that flattering, and as I got bigger i wanted clothes that fit well to make me feel better.

You can't really wear the bigger sizes anyway after giving birth as they're way too big

What about eBay? I got stuff off there, it was really cheap and in good condition as its only work for a few months really. Once I'm sure with having kids I'll put it back on eBay.

You don't have to, but I'm almost 33 weeks with my second and the only thing that looks remotely flattering is maternity specific now. I've tried things on in a few sizes up and it just doesn't sit right. Might work for big jumpers though!

I think I'd have looked a state if I'd just gone up sizes as was lucky and had a lovely neat bump so maternity clothes fitted nicely. If I'd have sized up I think the shoulders and chest (boobs also stayed neat and not massive) would have annoyed me. It was cold for most of my pregnancy so I liked the fabric bit in maternity over bump trousers, it was like wearing a vest 😂

I did because I was working somewhere fairly smart, I was hoping to have more kids and I enjoy dressing nicely. I've now sold it all on eBay and so I feel it was worth it.

But you don't have to. I have a friend with a penchant for jersey dresses and a small bump who didn't buy much beyond one pair of jeans

I'd buy maternity clothes. New Look and Happy Mama online have stuff for about a fiver. You'll probably feel a bit sloppy in tops where the shoulders and bust are too big, arms too long, neckline too big.

I never did find any maternity jeans that fit me without falling down so leggings in winter are a good idea!

I got away with it for about 24 weeks, but now at 27 weeks I definitely need the maternity clothes.

Managed to pick them up cheap enough on eBay/ASOS sale & H&M.

I’ve found that they also allow that extra room for boob growth and any shoulder broadening too! I’ve had to size down in maternity trousers/jeans as I think they assume that your bum/thighs will get bigger too & mine haven’t.

Not been a size 10 for a good couple of years, and suddenly I’m pregnant & buying size ten (maternity) jeans

Christ I was in mat clothes at 13 weeks. But then short and had twins. By the end of things I was basically a sphere.

I got a lot from H&M though and always very plain bottoms that went with my tops. I did have one lovely dress from gap which I wore till it fell apart but this was a few years ago now.

As others said really depends on you. I puked for Britain so lost weight and was all bump. SIL really spread out. She was able to size up, I couldn't. I did wear DHs hoodie a lot though which was a stylish look.

I bought two pairs of maternity jeans and a few tops.
That was because I can’t stand polyester and most maternity clothes are rubbish quality. I bought loose fitting shirt dresses, jersey dresses and a pair of dungarees (not maternity but I only intended to wear them whilst pregnant), a loose flowing evening dress for the Christmas parties and lots of pairs of tights in the next size up.

Seriously no idea how anyone gets away with wearing their normal clothes! Apart from a few cardigans and shirts worn open I don’t think I had a single thing I could squeeze into.

I think it depends on your build/frame pre pregnancy and size of bump/how you carry. I was a pre pregnancy size 6-8 and grew a massive all front bump. There is no way I could have got away with sizing up and looked remotely decent. Maternity clothes were so much more flattering and they’ve improved a lot over recent years.