when to buy maternity clothes?

[devo55]

I'm now 16.5 weeks along, and am thinking I should perhaps get some maternity clothes. I still fit into almost all of my regular pants (this is my first pregnancy, as you can probably figure out from the question), but they are getting tight around the waist in the evenings...(my belly swells up a lot during the day) I just tried on a couple pairs of maternity jeans, though, and there's no way I can wear them yet - they'd never stay up!

Is there a particular brand or style of maternity pants that is likely to fit early as well as later? I think I've got a couple more weeks before it's urgent... I'm thinking of perhaps just going to the local thrift store and trying stuff on, hoping to find regular pants that just have a bigger waist and not pay too much for them. But I'd appreciate any advice for what to wear in this odd in-between stage!

[devo55]

Thanks so much for all the great advice!!! I think I'll get one of those belly bands and see how it works for me for now. It's encouraging to think that I could just use that with my regular pants for 2-3 more months! I think I'll invest in at least one pair of maternity pants, but not yet because I don't know what size to get (depends on how much my bum and legs grow).

I definitely will need to buy maternity tops. I generally choose shirts that end more or less where my pants start, so that means my shirts have no room for a belly at all! But that's not as much of an issue until spring really starts!

Thanks again - this is such a great help!

[mamom15]

I for the first couple of months I bought belly bands so I could wear most of my regular pants.  They were cheap and I bought them from Pea in the pod.  After I reached my 3rd tri  those did not work any longer but I was wearing belly bands from week 14 - week 29

[Ecologic]

I bought 3 pairs of nice pants at Motherhood Maternity that I have been wearing since I was about 16 weeks and that's all I will wear until the end as they have a big band of comfortable spandex that expands as the belly gets bigger.

As for the tops, I think it's time I start shopping for a few pregnancy ones (I am 28 weeks) and I plan on shopping at Kohl's and Ross this week end as they have inexpensive tops that will be good for the next 12 weeks.

I also very badly need to buy a couple of pregnancy bras!

[googlegirl500]

I really liked the pants with the snaps on each side- that adjusted. BUT- I cant find any anymore (youngest is 10 yrs old). My mat pants still slip down on me- and going into my third trimester.

OH- I still sometimes wear my elastic waist jogging pants. Or maybe try those lycra tie front pants.

HTHS

Good luck. :)

[Ladybugbc]

I think the best time to buy Maternity clothes is when you feel uncomfortable in your regular clothes. It's awesome at 16.5wks you still fit into your regular clothes.
I find the ones with the wide strech waist band tends to slide down in the early months.
But they fit perfetcly towards the end.
If you buy regular size pants a few size bigger, they will be altered at the hips and the length, which would probably end up costing more money.. don't you think? (unless you can do it at home)
The best ones I found were low rise maternity pants at Old Navy. They were very comfortable in the early months and still fit me at almost 29.5wks. I never really bought any maternity tops per say.. flowy tops that I used to wear before getting pregnant still work perfectly. They will be great to hide any baby bellys later on I guess.. ;)

[AnnieBrooke]

I pretty much let comfort be my guide to the timing of buying clothes.  When my pants got too tight in the waist for long drives, I bought some of those soft-waist maternity pants.  (My legs never got much fatter than normal, so I was able to wear the relatively slim ones I bought early on, for at least the first 6 months.)  I bought my first maternity bra when I was in pain from my regular bras, and I also bought some bras in larger sizes that weren't nursing bras.  From there on, the timing was based on how things looked rather than how they felt.  When something looked funny (i.e., too tight or just odd) I would go online and order something like it but in in "maternity" cut, on eBay.  That goes for things like sweaters and especially maternity tee shirts, which look so much better than too-tight normal tees.  (They're cut almost the same way in the shoulders, but they bell out better and make room for the tum and the bigger bust.)  I took it rather slow and bought almost everything used (eBay was great) so I wouldn't get caught with a big, costly wardrobe that didn't fit the situation or the season.

[pertykitty]

there are some brands that sell the early months pants.  they have snaps i think on the sides to extend as you grow.  trust me, in a few weeks you will want a pair of comfy pants!

if you feel you arent quite ready, you can buy a bella band.  i bought mine from target.  its a band of spandex (looks like a tube top) and you can wear it over reg pants left unbuttoned or to hold up still too large maternity pants.  i paid under $20 for it and i have used it for months!  helps to keep them up after baby comes too.  

you will be amazed at how you belly will change in the next month. i have found more stuff online than in the stores.  congrats on your first baby!!