When will I start needing maternity clothes?

When will I start needing maternity clothes?

Some women see being pregnant as a great excuse to get a whole new wardrobe, while others dread having to go shopping for something that will cover their baby bulge. However you feel, once you get that positive result you will start to wonder when you will need maternity clothes.

There is no single answer to this question as every woman is different. Some are visibly pregnant by three months, while others hardly show at all until they are six or seven months. Here are five factors to consider when you are looking at buying those maternity clothes:

The first thing to look at is your underwear

As soon as you know you are pregnant, even before your tummy starts to expand, you should take a look in your underwear drawer. Your breasts may become tender and swollen when pregnant, and they will begin to grow fairly early on so you will need a bigger, more supportive bra.

Have a professional fitting and get some advice on how much you are likely to grow. If you can wear a bra without wires this is often more comfortable.

Special maternity knickers aren’t usually necessary and can be fairly uncomfortable and restrictive. You may find you need the additional support later in pregnancy, but at the start just simple cotton knickers that fit under your bump, one size bigger than usual, should be enough.

Try to avoid restrictive waistbands

The first thing on your maternity clothes list will probably be trousers or skirts, which you might need to look at buying around your third month. Although your tummy might start to expand at this point, your need for maternity clothes will also be partly psychological. Once you know there’s a baby wriggling around inside you, you won’t want to feel you are squashing it with restrictive waistbands or belts.

Maternity trousers and skirts are particularly comfortable if you work in an office and you are sitting at a desk all day, so invest in a couple of pairs of smart maternity trousers or skirts after the first two months. Try to buy the ones that have an adjustable waistband so they can grow with you throughout your pregnancy.

Wait until you’ve announced your pregnancy

When you start wearing obvious maternity clothes, such as dresses and tops, depends a little on whether you want people to know you are pregnant. Maternity clothes are made primarily for comfort, but they are also designed to emphasize your bump while flattering the rest of your body.

Wearing maternity clothes will draw attention to the fact that you are pregnant, whereas if you just wear normal clothes that are a bit loose you can get away with claiming you’ve put on a bit of weight up to the fourth or fifth month. If you feel that you want to start wearing maternity clothes, make sure your boss is aware of your pregnancy first.

Don’t buy too much all at once

It might be tempting to buy up every maternity outfit in the shop, but try not to buy too much straight away. You will change shape a lot during your pregnancy and you don’t know what size you will be during different seasons. There’s no point buying a lot of pretty summer clothes if you don’t really start to show until the weather turns cooler in autumn.

Your circumstances may also change during your pregnancy. Some women spend a fortune on gorgeous maternity clothes for work, only to find that they have a troublesome pregnancy which means they spend the last three months at home.

Match your maternity wardrobe to your lifestyle

When you buy maternity clothes also depends a little on your lifestyle. For just relaxing around the house, your husband’s oversized shirts, sweaters and tracksuit trousers are just as good as expensive maternity clothes. If you spend a lot of time socializing, however, you may want to invest in a couple of stylish maternity outfits that make you look and feel great.

If you have an important occasion such as a wedding, or you are going on holiday, you might want to buy a few maternity pieces so you look good in the photos.

For more information about our medical ultrasound or pregnancy ultrasound services or other services contact us today: 01 210 0232 | info@ultrasound.ie

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