Wondering when to switch your regular clothes for maternity clothes during pregnancy?
As your body changes you will find yourself needing pregnancy clothes that adapt to support you and keep you comfortable.
It’s impossible to know for sure when your body will reach the point where your regular clothes no longer feel comfy.
It depends on a range of factors such as what type of clothes you usually wear – extra form fitting clothes may become snug faster – and how quickly your body grows to accommodate your baby.
Everyone is different. I personally found I wasn’t wearing maternity jeans until week 20 with my first pregnancy but needed them by 12 weeks with my second pregnancy.
When to buy maternity clothes
Many women start wearing maternity clothes somewhere into the second trimester – usually by around 20 weeks.
Once you’re in the second trimester you may be gaining one to two pounds per week, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
But some women find they need to buy certain maternity clothes as early as six weeks.
That doesn’t necessarily make this the point where you ditch all of your regular clothes!
Your pregnancy wardrobe doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing thing – you can mix and match regular clothes with maternity items that fit around your body.
Maternity bras are a staple you may find you need in the first trimester – you may possibly find yourself switching to sports or maternity bras earlier than 12 weeks.
This is because changes to your breasts are among the earliest signs of pregnancy.
You can read about when to start wearing maternity bras here.
Did you know you can actually get away with sticking to your regular wardrobe? Check out our tips for avoiding maternity clothes.
Is the first trimester too early for maternity clothes?
Every person and every pregnancy is different, so if you feel your clothes are uncomfortable before 12 weeks then go ahead and make some switches.
Weight gain in pregnancy varies greatly, but the NHS says most women gain most of their pregnancy weight after week 20.
You may find your bras feeling too snug or uncomfortable as early as four weeks into your first trimester.
Try not to feel self-conscious about when you make the decision to switch to maternity wear. Modern maternity clothes are designed to look like normal clothes.
People won’t be able to tell you’re pregnant just because you’ve started wearing maternity jeans, for example.
The key feature of these is the belly band is stretchy – rather than button up – and is easily covered by your top.
How soon is too soon to wear maternity clothes
It’s never too soon to start wearing maternity clothes.
Your body will go through massive changes over the course of your pregnancy. Even in the first trimester, when your baby is still tiny, you may feel bloated and experience greater sensitivity of your skin and particular in your breasts.
If you need to switch to pregnancy clothes to feel more comfortable in your day to day life, then do it!
It’s a similar story with pregnancy pillows. They are super comfy for sleep and if you are having trouble sleeping, there’s no rule on when you can start to use one.
You may also like: Pregnancy to-do list
When to start wearing maternity jeans
You may need maternity jeans from 12 to 14 weeks onwards in your pregnancy, when you may find your trousers getting tight.
These are among the first maternity clothes you’ll probably find yourself needing – especially if you wear a high waisted style.
However some mamas-to-be find they don’t switch to maternity jeans until 20 weeks – it really depends on you and your pregnancy.
What size maternity clothes should I buy?
For most brands, maternity clothes sizing is made to be bought in your existing clothing size.
If you were a size 12 before your positive pregnancy test, you will be a size 12 in maternity wear.
Of course over the course of pregnancy your body may change more than just around the bump area, so start with your existing clothes size and see how that fits.
Final thoughts
So rather than setting a date for exactly when to purchase maternity clothes, you should instead listen to your own body and make the change when you start to feel uncomfortable in normal clothes.
Instead of rushing into maternity clothes you could instead pick through the key items of your wardrobe that are comfortable and stretchy – think leggings, sports bras and empire waist tops and dresses.
This can help you avoid maternity clothes for a little longer.
