Stupid question from a first timer - how do maternity clothes work???

**Miss_Jane** · 26-03-2009, 07:51pm

Hello ladies,

Sorry for the stupid question here, I feel a bit embarassed for asking it but if I cant ask here, who can I ask??

So, how do maternity clothes work? What size do you buy? Just my normal size? Or do I just try on a few things and buy whatever fits?

And, will something I buy now (at nearly three months

) fit me when I am nine months?

**jellybean** · 26-03-2009, 07:54pm

You buy your normal size. Although I found with mothercare clothes I could go down a size.

**jellybean** · 26-03-2009, 07:55pm

Also clothes should fit you all the way through as they stretch with you,

**Chell** · 26-03-2009, 07:57pm

http://www.mumtops.co.uk/index.php?cPath=8 - these bands are good for making non maternity clothes fit. In my last pregnancy I didn't wear maternity tops at all, they looked too much like a tent on me.

**silverpod** · 26-03-2009, 08:07pm

I did find some clothes better in the earlyish days than others. But a lot of clothes have threaded elastic or similar 'gadgety bits' which you can adjust to suit. The best thing is to try a few on and see what you like.

I found that I went into 'bottoms' earlier than tops, the styles around now are quite loose so you can get away with them for a bit longer.

Most clothes fit into over bump and under bump style, I never found under bump to be any good, they just fell down the whole time. However I have a pair this time (ebay

) and if I wear one of the bands Chell suggested they are fine- as that makes them over bump. I was a bit

at the over bump styles at first but for me they are the most comfy and easy to wear, hoiking one's jeans up is not a good look but you can disguise the panel with bump bands/tops.

You can also buy things in a bigger size, especially if you get bigger but don't have a bump as such. Keep hold of them as you can wear them on the way back down in a few months.

**Lu Lu** · 26-03-2009, 08:08pm

Not a stupid question as I asked this when I was having J.

I just bought my normal size but in some maternity tops I looked twice the size I was!

My Mum bought me a size 16 top (i am a 12) as she thought you needed bigger sizes! It was huge on me!

**jellybean** · 26-03-2009, 08:08pm

Over bump trousers stayed up better, but made my bump really hot, even in winter

**claireh** · 26-03-2009, 08:14pm

Yes, just normal size

There are things that I have bought that I have worn to death from around 15 weeks until now (36 weeks).

Long sleeved stretchy plain tops from H&M Mamma range.

Isabella Oliver Garbo trousers (as recommended by Katoid). They are expensive but sooooo comfortable and they look like normal trousers. I bought two pairs and wore them all the time for work. I also discovered that you can wash them in the washing machine at 30 degrees even though the label says dry clean only.

So exciting that you are nearly 12 weeks.

**Miss_Jane** · 26-03-2009, 08:17pm

Thank you ladies!

I cant believe I'm nearly 12 weeks too! I'll be in the second trimester soon!!!!

I dont think I need maternity clothes yet, as long as I stick to the baggy tops. Definitely could not wear a fitted top at the moment without attracting some questions! Some of my trousers are getting a bit tight, but I have a couple of pairs that were quite loose anyway that I am wearing all the time now!

**Daisy May** · 26-03-2009, 08:18pm

normal size. like silverpod I needed maternity trousers before tops. I found that maternity tops looked like tents on me until I was about 24 weeks so I just wore baggier style non maternity tops, which came in handy after I had the babies too, while I was waiting to shrink back to my normal size