advice needed on ordering a dress size

hotkt822

I'm on the 3rd Tri board looking for a little help... I'm currently 8 wks pregnant but need to order a bridesmaid dress that I'll be wearing at 32 wks.  It's a loose fitting multi-way dress that I need to order based on waist inches.  I've searched the internet, but cannot figure what a normal/expected waist size is for this point.  I can order it in two sizes: a regular 24"- 36" or plus size 37"- 49".  Currently, I'm healthy, 5'7" with a 29" waist.  Any advice or recommendations?? Please and thanks!!

bethios

For comparisons sake... I started off at a size 2 and now my bump is 41"... and that's having gained only the recommended amount so far... so if you gain more than you should you might be even bigger...

JWSchwarz

It kind of depends on how you're carrying, how big your baby is, how much weight you gain. If the dress was a maternity dress you could just get your size as it is now. If it's not maternity I honestly doubt it will fit right (if at all). If you have no choice, I would get the biggest plus size and have it altered a few days before the wedding. 

TheNewMrsCfont

I was in a wedding at 32 weeks also and had to order my dress way in advance when I was pg with DS#1.  It was a strapless dress from David's Briday with no give in the belly area.  They advised me to get the dress 3 sizes bigger than what I normally would wear (normally a 6, bought a 12).  The dress was a little big on the wedding day, but no alterations were needed.  At my shower a week later my belly measured 43" and I ultimate gained 30-35 lbs by the end of the pg.  I'm only 5'2" though.

MesmrEwe

You can always go down, you can't go up!!  Wait until as late as humanly possible for ordering it (from the 28-32 week mark is really when the outward size really starts showing)...  If worse comes to worse, order the larger size and alter in corset sides where you can tighten or loosen it up depending on where you're at the day of the wedding...

sarahcsnod

I was just measured for a bridesmaid dress for a wedding I'm going to be in a few weeks after my due date. I am 5'9" and I normally am a size 10, but ordered a 14!! Its almost totally because of my increased chest size. My waste was measured and I've gone from a 28 inch waist to a 38 inch waist, but because the dress was loose fitting, the waist was not the issue. From the first trimester to the third, my boobs have grown a LOT.  

0ashley

I have recently been fitted for a couple bridesmaid dresses. Both stores I went to had a bump pillow that you can try on to see how they fit. Can you try them on in person? If not, I would order the larger size and alter it to fit you just right at the last minute.

laurack

I used to have a 25 inch waist, now I measure 41 inches around. But at 32 weeks I was probably only... maybe 35 inches.

can it be changed closer to the wedding?

carolinaem

Go up 2 sizes.  Maybe 3, maybe.  I have been in 2 weddings between 24 and 30 weeks pregnant, and will be in one at 39 weeks pregnant.  The 1st two I ordered 2 sizes up and swam in the dresses, tons of alterations.  I am short and carry huge.  This time since I would be pretty much at due date, I ordered 4 sizes up and I may need to order a new dress because it is so big.

alkmetz23

I ordered a bridesmaid dress before i got pregnant...i had to order extra material and my mom basically remade the entire dress. order a large. from experience, it's way easier to take it in!!

travnicek

It is true that you can't go up if you order it too small...but when I was in a wedding at 32 weeks, I would have felt so unattractive if my dress had been super huge when I was already not feeling the most attractive.

I was a size 0 pre-pregnancy with my first baby, and ordered a size 2 for the wedding at 32 weeks (from david's bridal...don't remember the inches). The dress ended up being perfect. 

But, like people said, you never know how you're going to carry or when you're going to "pop" so it probably is better to be on the safer side. It is a total risk ordering bridesmaid's dresses while pregnant. =/ Good luck!

khill86

I was measured at 6 weeks and now at 27 weeks, my waist (not the biggest part of my belly like I'm suspecting some people might be measuring), is up 6 inches. Since all the baby has left to do now is just put on weight, I'm assuming I'll definitely put on at least another inch or two by the time I hit 32 weeks. My weight gain has been totally average and my ribcage hasn't expanded at all, yet.

I'd order the bigger size just to be safe. Otherwise you'll end up paranoid like me. I am in a wedding when I'll be 38 weeks pregnant and ordered a dress that gave me 10 inches to grow into the waist. I ordered it at 10 weeks. Since I've already gained 6 inches, I'm terrified that I'll gain at least or more inches and I'll have to have even bigger alterations made to have the dress fit. UGH!

MissButters

Another option if you have it is maybe to order two sizes up, and order an extra yard of fabric to have in case you need it.  I have a friend who had ordered a bridesmaid dress before she found out she was having twins (she was in a wedding at 20 weeks) and she ended up having to order an extra yard or two of material for the alterations.