Buying maternity?

audiecooper

This is my first pregnancy, and I will be 6 weeks tomorrow. I don't think I'm actually showing yet, it seems just to be bloating. When do you think I'll need to start buying maternity clothes and what about bras? I know everything gets bigger, and I've heard about having to change bra sizes. Also, what is most comfortable?

sassenma

Old Navy had a sale a few weeks ago, so I bought some simple maternity clothes so that I would have them on hand.  But I'm 10 weeks and not showing yet.  I've heard first-timers usually start showing between 12 and 14 weeks, but just like with the rest of pregnancy, everyone's different.

mwalliser

Buy when you are sick of wearing your too tight clothes. Bloat will make you want something with a stretchy waistband... Or at least wear flowy dresses and you'll be comfortable.  The Bella band is a great transition piece as well.  I'd recommend not buying your entire maternity wardrobe right away, but go ahead and get a few good pieces that you can be comfortable in now.

tusshie2004

I've slowly been adding new clothes to my maternity stock pile from my first pregnancy. I've been feeling rather bloated lately and actually busted out a pair of maternity jeans yesterday cause they were more comfortable. With my first pregnancy, I started wearing maternity jeans/trousers by 12 weeks and could mix and match my regular tops and maternity tops. It just depends on you. Ross has a pretty good jean selection for pants. Old Navy is also good. Target too. 

srs5624

mwalliser:

Buy when you are sick of wearing your too tight clothes. Bloat will make you want something with a stretchy waistband... Or at least wear flowy dresses and you'll be comfortable.  The Bella band is a great transition piece as well.  I'd recommend not buying your entire maternity wardrobe right away, but go ahead and get a few good pieces that you can be comfortable in now.

Ditto this.

I lived in drawstring capris, smocked waist skirts and flowy dresses. I finally had to buy a pair of mat. jeans and some pants for work around 10 weeks. The weather was starting to turn (autumn/fall) and I couldn't get away with capris anymore.

My regular shirts lasted a long while. I usually wear peasant-y type shirts and fitted t-shirts. I bought some shirts around 12 weeks or so and filled in as needed.

 

A few things to remember...

Full-panel pants might seem like overkill at first, but save yourself the headache and just buy them. Most women regret the under-the-belly pants once they're in the third trimester... the belly keeps pushing them down.

Maternity jeans fall down. There's no getting around it. The weight of the denim is too much for the lack of a button and zipper.

Long shirts are awesome. Shirts that were almost too long in the second trimester fit perfectly in the third.

CraftyKayla

I started wearing maternity jeans on and off when I was 10 weeks, and now they're all I'm wearing. I'm 12 weeks and have a smallllll bump and bloat.

tamaratoday

You've gotten some good advice, I've found cute things at Target and a couple from Motherhood Maternity. I would suggest that you not go crazy in the beginning because by the time that 3rd trimester comes around practically nothing fits Go slow and add a few pieces at a time.

MichelleL1118

With DS, I didn't need new bras until my milk came in after he was born, so hold off on that.  I started buying maternity clothes on sale when I was 8-10w, and was wearing mostly maternity clothes by 14w or so, not because I was "showing" but because my regular clothes were no longer fitting well.  I prefer the full-panel maternity pants, but what's most comfortable will vary from person to person.

Aloe0l

srs5624:

mwalliser:

Buy when you are sick of wearing your too tight clothes. Bloat will make you want something with a stretchy waistband... Or at least wear flowy dresses and you'll be comfortable.  The Bella band is a great transition piece as well.  I'd recommend not buying your entire maternity wardrobe right away, but go ahead and get a few good pieces that you can be comfortable in now.

Ditto this.

I lived in drawstring capris, smocked waist skirts and flowy dresses. I finally had to buy a pair of mat. jeans and some pants for work around 10 weeks. The weather was starting to turn (autumn/fall) and I couldn't get away with capris anymore.

My regular shirts lasted a long while. I usually wear peasant-y type shirts and fitted t-shirts. I bought some shirts around 12 weeks or so and filled in as needed.

 

A few things to remember...

Full-panel pants might seem like overkill at first, but save yourself the headache and just buy them. Most women regret the under-the-belly pants once they're in the third trimester... the belly keeps pushing them down.

Maternity jeans fall down. There's no getting around it. The weight of the denim is too much for the lack of a button and zipper.

Long shirts are awesome. Shirts that were almost too long in the second trimester fit perfectly in the third.

I felt the opposite.  The full panel just made me itchy and sweaty in the summer.  So I always rolled it down under my belly. 

And ditto - my jeans always fell down cuz I didn't have any sort of "hip" for them to rest on.

I will say, maternity tops make you look more pregnant than maternity pants do.  I was in pants at 11 weeks due to bloat last time, but still wore regular shirts.  But, once I put on that maternity shirt, I totally looked like I popped out.  I think they're purposely made to accentuate the bump!

Stephorse

I've already bought some bras ( I was wearing push up bras with underwire before which just seemed too uncomfortable so I got some with no underwire and they are much more comfortable!). I also bought pants because I was tired of feeling fat in them since I couldn't button and sometimes even zip them up anymore. Maternity pants are so cozy! I had to buy them around week 8 or 9 even though some might say it was just bloat, but I had a slight bump and has just gotten bigger. I think I went right from feeling bloated right into a bump. I feel much better in them. maternity tops are too big still yet and some of my tops are too tight, so I've just bought some in a larger size that should stretch with me some throughout the process. I hope this helps you!

WannaBMommy81

First time around I was in my 2nd trimester when I started wearing them.  This time around I am ready to bust out my bella band (not sure when I used that the first time)  The other day my buttons felt so tight and they were wide, two of the, and I just wanted to undo them!  Found my maternity clothes box and now my band is waiting for me.

TechieGirl1

I broke out the "bigger clothes" that i had at about 12 weeks, that for me only lasted till about 14 weeks   =/   So i purchased some clothes from old navy.  I love their clothes, and although most stores have a limited collection their online selection is hard to beat.  Also they run sales all the time, wait until then!  Enjoy!

pinkstethoscopes

I wore Gap maternity my whole pregnancy, and some Motherhood. Both very comfortable. I did not need them until about 4 months though. I increased my bra size, as my breast got larger.