Navigating maternity clothes

missyrosek

First-time mom here! My dad just surprised me with a gift card to buy maternity clothes. How do you navigate sizing? Do you buy things that are a couple of sizes too big now and grow into them? I have no idea what I'm doing. 

wyomama0427

So I learned from my last pregnancy that I personally need to buy my maternity clothes in a medium just because of the way my body grows while pregnant. Also it wouldn't hurt to get some tank tops and t shirts a size or two bigger than you would normally wear for the third tri because when you're at the end it's so hard to find anything that fits over the bump. Even maternity clothes can come up short sometimes. But for the first two trimesters you should be able to wear maternity clothes in your normal pre pregnancy size. Every place has a sizing guide though so I would definitely read that first! Allow for room in your pants for your thighs and butt to grow!!!!

mrsmarygs

Maternity clothing accounts for changes in your body, so you should be able to buy the same size you always do. So if you normally buy a medium, the maternity medium will be bigger in the belly and hips area, and possibly the chest too.

Becky012016

For me, I sized down 1 size in pants and wore my normal size in shirts. I gained 25lbs and it really was just in the uterus for me. My boobs didn't grow much at all, my legs and butt stayed the same, hips didn't get any wider. Every body and every pregnancy is different but I would recommend trying on and buying maternity clothes that fit (they'll grow with you) and if you need a bigger size later get that then. 

Knottie516e717bbc978571

I second the t-shirts in the 3rd trimester suggestion, except I actually bought men's shirts in the same size I would normally wear because they are longer and covered the bump better. 

SummerGirl21

Best way to do it, if you can, is to go try stuff on.  But generally, you buy whatever size you normally are in maternity.  You can always return if they don't fit!

wyomama0427

Knottie516e717bbc978571 said:

I second the t-shirts in the 3rd trimester suggestion, except I actually bought men's shirts in the same size I would normally wear because they are longer and covered the bump better. 

In my last trimester even a large men's shirt didn't cover my bump. @Becky012016 really is right though, everyone goes through differently. I gained 76 pounds with my first pregnancy. It's hard to know how pregnancy will affect your body. 

tiki8286

I gained 50lbs with each of my kids. I just retain so much water as well so too that with a big ol belly and I need more space in clothes. Motherhood maternitys changing rooms usually have fake belly size that you can put on so you can envision the clothes with a big belly. Any time I gain wait, I usually am bottom heavy so same goes during pregnancy. If there isn't an expiration on the card, you could always buy one or two things here or there and save it for when you need something when you get bigger. 

awildrose

Maternity is made to account for body changes, so typically order the size you are pre-preg. For non maternity stuff- like a maxi dress or bras, just things not specifically made maternity, I would buy a size up until those didn't fit. Also, don't shop all at once. Buy what you need for the next couple of months and then reevaluate. I say that because I LOVED under belly banded pants all the way up until third tri then I HATED them. I had to go full panel or nothing in third tri. And boobs... Ugh. With my first I went from a 32C to a 38DD. I just kept getting cheap bras as I outgrew them and invested in some better ones after birth to nurse in. Between this baby and my last (4years) my boobs went back down to a 34C, so I just kept moving back down my sizes as my boobs shriveled up. lol. Stretchy materials will be your best friend. 

hatrats

I second the suggestion to buy a few things at a time throughout your pregnancy. My first, I started at size 6 (my regular size) in maternity jeans, and in the end I had to buy size 10. Most other things that aren't so fitted, I was able to wear mediums the whole time. That being said, anytime I gain weight, it goes straight to my butt and thighs, so it depends on your body type how the clothes will fit throughout.