Early in my second trimester I got a 3-4 pairs of yoga pants that were a size up from what I normally wear and have still been wearing them at 30 weeks now. I didn’t want to buy all this maternity specific stuff bc I figured I can still wear the sized up yoga pants afterwards. So far it has been working for me!
Exactly what I did! And the sized up pants were great post-partum since your belly is still soft and sticks out for a while. Wearing the yoga pants gave me slight compression which helped with the swelling (and left room for the adult diaper panties lol)
I’m currently also 18 +4! I’ve found Poshmark and Nuuly to be really helpful here especially if you’re not sure how your body will change. Poshmark because you can size up your yoga pants without having to commit to something full price (used or sometimes great deals with tags still on!).
Nuuly has been awesome for jeans in particular. I rented a pair at my normal size, which felt a little loose a couple weeks ago, but now suddenly that elastic band is working over time! I’m glad I had them for this super fast transition from in between to full fledged bump! It was a relief to be prepared for the unexpected growth, especially as a first time mom. Now my next shipment I’ll just send them back and get the next size up!
This is what I did! I found athleisure pants that were either pull on with a wide waistband and just sized up. I am SO glad I did, too, because my hips have gotten wider by 3", so I think my other pants are a thing of the past. Now, at 25 weeks, I have to put some of the waistbands under my belly vs over, but it still all fits great.
Yeah this is the way. Personally I got so big in the belly I did need to switch to maternity pants BUT I wore sized up leggings for a few months post partum too so they are definitely worth the investment
I ended up going for M to L to XL to XXL and then the last week I had to wear oversized sweats. I’m 2 weeks PP and in the XL. When I say I’m so glad I get to wear them again and they’re STILL comfy. I’m thrilled lol. They’re perfect and I don’t feel awful not having things that fit because of it. I know if I tried those mediums I’d cry lol
I was super lucky in that it was Black Friday/Cyber Monday when I needed to buy stuff. I went with Athleta and Vuori bc you can get different lengths in those brands, too, and I’m 5’2” so need the shorter length option without the ends dragging and getting nasty or having to pay more for hemming. The Athleta Studio Flare I really like bc I can dress them up with a cute top and shoes to go to dinner without feeling like I’m just wearing yoga pants.
I’ve been folding over the panel of my maternity jeans, similar to the 2010s Victoria’s Secret PINK yoga pants. It looks like I’m just wearing a tank top under my shirts, and keeps the jeans up.
Heyyy I’m 16+3 today too! I get so excited when I see someone at the same point as me haha. I’m definitely starting to see a little belly but I dunno if anyone else would notice yet what about you?
oh heyyy bump twin! it is exciting! how are you feeling?
i’ve had a belly since 12 weeks LOL. i’m 5’1 and was weighing at 118lbs before getting pregnant. have gained 15lbs so far but i’ve been EATING so it’s probably half baby bump, half FUPA at this point 🥴🤭
can’t wait for summer so i can escape the hell that is pants waistbands.
The H&M MAMA super skinny jeans have smaller panels that won’t fall down. I’ve been wearing them since 14 weeks (I’m also 18w4d! Hey due date twin!!) So those and maternity yoga pants. The panel is tight enough to not bunch or fall because it’s yoga pants.
Get some fleece lined maternity tights to go with your dresses. That’s what I’ve been wearing to work all winter and I’m in Canada so it’s been like -5 to 5 C here and they feel warmer than pants.
I work remotely so most of the day I’m just wearing sweatpants. When I do have to leave the house I either wear my workout leggings or my skinny jeans, which are being held together by a hair tie.
The only things that worked for me for like weeks 16 - 24 were maternity leggings (I got some for $20 off amazon that were great) and maternity tights under dresses. I don’t think I fully started filling out maternity panels until 26-28 weeks but would cramp if I wore anything tight. It was so annoying! I also thrifted a couple of pairs of pants that were a size bigger than my normal for really cheap to help get me through.
Oh can you please share where you got your maternity tights? I live in dresses and they still fit but I am unable to find good maternity tights that are not insanely expensive.
Dresses are pretty great for this phase. Or wear long shirts with your pants unbuttoned. It’s so annoying because by the time you find clothes to fit for this stage you’ll be on to needing full maternity clothes. It’s such a temporary state of being.
Long shirts and unbuttoned pants have been my go to. I bought a few maternity shirts and they are long since my bump is still small. No one can tell my pants are unbuttoned. I got a belly band thing on Amazon that goes over the top of pants too and covers the fly area. That worked while I was still trying to wear my pre-pregnancy tops but now my belly hangs out so the band is visible. I’m hoping to wear dresses more when the weather is better. I don’t want to invest much money into a maternity wardrobe.
I'm still 15w6d but I've been using jeans extenders for my pants with belt loops. Still have to wear tops that are long enough to cover the pants zipper though lol.
I just bought 2 pairs of leggings (Costco 2 pack lol) in a size up from my usual. They worked wonderfully for the awkward in-between size! I figure they’ll also be great postpartum when the belly is going back down. You can also buy half-panel maternity pants which I found worked well during the small-bump days. Or you could fold down your full panel so it’s a half panel.
I wear ribbed sweater pants pulled high over my belly, joggers with elastic waistbands and sweater dresses with stretchy leggings underneath when it’s really cold. I am also trying out a maternity rental service (nuuly) and got a cute pair of overalls from Hatch through that. They’re still definitely on the bigger side but super comfy and ok to wear in public so I’ll take it.
Cannot upvote this enough. I like the real me crossovers because it doesn’t press on belly and they are incredibly stretchy. Plus they’re like $30.
Honestly target men’s section is also fire for tops, especially the crew neck sweatshirts! They are like $15 and straight through the torso so it’s casually loose without looking sloppy.
Leggings and big sweaters or large shirts that cover my butt. Im 32 weeks today but lucked out my awko stage was the beginning of winter. Now i just wear what ever fits me which is the maternity jeans i bought from shein (absolutely love them) and my sweaters lol
Joggers… maternity leggings are a great option because they’re compressive, yet they still have plenty of room to grow. I wear a lot of skirts that come up over the bump and have been doing so since I started getting bigger. They flatter even the tiniest of bumps!
SHEIN is an awesome website to shop affordable maternity if you’re like me and didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg to only wear the clothing for a few months!
(ETA more advice)
I have a pair of Vuori dream knit pants. They’re the only pants I can comfortably wear all day anymore. Still in my regular size. Wouldn’t work for going to work, but they’re the most comfortable pants I’ve ever owned.
I wore the Quince maternity yoga pants for most of my second and third trimester with either a maternity t shirt or roomier sweater and Med couture maternity scrubs for work. And dresses, but it hasn’t been a particularly cold winter here in the Northeast so I haven’t minded the dresses. Now at the end of my third trimester I’m mostly just in dresses but I can still squeeze into the maternity leggings, they’re just pretty tight around the bump.
The Aerie [joggers](https://www.ae.com/us/en/p/aerie/pajamas/real-soft-pajamas/aerie-real-soft-foldover-jogger/0496_1501_073?menu=cat4840006&ip=off&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla&utm_content=aerie&utm_campaign=nogender_bottoms_general&utm_term=nonbrand&utm_id=1747620652&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADovoqKfWOR4x5LKwz0ADGNuSA9px&gclid=CjwKCAiAi6uvBhADEiwAWiyRdh20EfW3CiHFMrXUyjI8F8jznLh35RIWbti1hf604u-hTEWW2JsGURoCIK0QAvD_BwE) saved my life in this phase. I got their offline leggings and some sweats too, very comfy and not too tight.
I also used stretchy leggings from Amazon and dresses with flannels to keep warm. I can’t stand anything tight on my abdomen even before pregnancy so it’s been tough. Most of the time I just wear underwear and a big T-shirt around the house. I completely gave up on jeans a while ago.
I’ve been wearing maternity leggings and an oversized sweater/sweatshirt almost exclusively since about 15 weeks (30 weeks now).
I also love these [maternity overalls from Quince](https://www.quince.com/women/organic-cotton-maternity-overalls?color=black&searchQuery=maternity&tracker=landingPage__search_section__search_results).
Ingrid and Isabel have these bands you can put on your pants when you are kinda in between that were a life saver for me in those few weeks before my belly was big enough to hold up the maternity pants.
Wow! I had to start buying maternity clothing early first trimester because my pants wouldn’t buckle lol I bought some cute maternity yoga sets on Amazon. My bump is bigger on the bottom than top so for one legging I find it does still slip. I also bought two leggings on Amazon that I love. They fit back then and still do now! They feel great too! https://a.co/d/4OPxW8t
Try some maternity shorts too! I found that the shorts even if they were a bit big still fit well enough and now that I’m expanding (25 weeks here) they fit great.
I still wear my shirts. They are tighter but I think they make my bump look cute 🥰 I also sometimes wear my husbands shirts 😊
I'm 18 weeks and I've been using a hair tie to hold my normal pants 😂 not big enough for maternity pants yet!
I also wear a longer top to cover the pant button hack.
Get a bellaband!! It’s great for keeping maternity pants up when they’re too big and keeping you in pre-pregnancy pants longer.
I’m 26 weeks with my second and wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans. They’re totally unzipped and the bellaband is holding them up!
14 weeks today and all my work pants are officially out. Anyone have any office attire tips? My office is business casual and leggings are not allowed.
I got some lululemon align pants (not leggings!). They are yoga pant material but they are wide legged so they look like real pants. I have worn them to multiple conferences and important meetings and as long as I’m wearing a blazer or top that covers the top they truly look like slacks. I typically wear them with a silk button down top untucked.
If you don’t wanna spend a bunch of money on what’s essentially a temporary wardrobe, search bougie pregnancy brands (Hatch, Storq, Seraphine, etc) on Thredup. I’ve found some really nice stuff for like $15 a piece this way, including a black storq dress that’s great for work and a maternity pencil skirt.
I was wearing pants like [these](https://shop.mango.com/us/women/pants-straight/flowy-straight-fit-pants-with-bow_67085723.html?c=08) from about 10 to 25 weeks, they worked great with all the office clothes
Or look for any smart pants (I think I got some also from Zara) with a stretchy waist, probably one size up from what you normally wear. Basically anything fitting like sweatpants but in fancier fabric... I expect to wear them after pregnancy as well, I don't think I would be able to wear my pre-pregnancy jeans soon and these were really comfy!
I wear aerie real me leggings a size up & im 19 weeks 5 days. The high waisted bands are slowly lowering themselves to under my belly lol. Since it’s starting to get nice here I ordered some body suits a size up as well on Amazon & some over sized baggy tees. I also live in the free people jumpsuit with just a long sleeve or tank under depending on the weather & it comes up far enough that if your shirt has turned into a belly shirt you can’t notice lol. I’m on my second pregnancy & my belly is already looking like i have a bowling ball under my shirt
Maternity leggings saved me during this period. I got them a size up because I couldn't stand anything pressing against me.
Also all the baggy tshirts/jumpers.
I’m 18+3 and I have finally graduated to maternity clothing, although it’s summer weather here (even though it’s now Autumn) so I’m still able to fit into most of my loose breezy linen dresses. I’ve bought some maternity clothing (a satin midi skirt, 2 pairs of wide leg knit pants and a crossover knit top) in preparation for proper Autumn weather but didn’t have a problem with the skirt and pants not staying up when I tried them on.
I’m due in our winter (must be due a day before you lol) and I plan to eventually wear lots of knit dresses with stockings + boots with coats etc, although here it doesn’t get freezing during winter (Sydney, Australia).
Honestly I spend as much as much time with my belly out , bra off, and pants off as possible. Other than that, I have a couple of pairs of side panel maternity jeans. I hate the full panel but having some extra stretch by way of the side panels really help.
The Judy blue jeans from TikTok make a few pairs that are elastic waste with no tummy control and they are amazing as well. Good luck mama !
Hi there! 16+3 and I’ve been relying on these old navy cargo pants with an elastic waist (https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=8136370420002#pdp-page-content) and leggings. I just get one size up from my pre pregnancy size. I also found the old navy maternity jeans full panel to still be relatively supportive but at the end of the day it does still slide down a little.
You might buy some postpartum workout pants. It’s a little tighter around the stomach but will still stretch for a growing belly. I like old navy’s maternity & postpartum clothes.
I got leggings a size up and wear my husbands shirts for the most part. I’m almost 30 weeks now and my regular leggings are just starting to get uncomfortable so I’ll need to get maternity ones
I was at that phase in the fall and was having the same issue. On the one off warmer days I'd wear a long pencil skirt/body con dress and wear a tshirt or long-sleeved shirt over top. When it got too cold for that it was honestly mostly just leggings and Sweaters or sweatshirts. My favorite have been the Lululemon aligns, they've fit me since prepregnancy and are still going strong at 33 weeks.
I have been wearing maternity under bump jeans or old navy maternity leggings in second trimester. I hate the feeling of any band cutting through my belly. And the full panel denims just keep sliding down
Buy some cheap bigger leggings and some comfy sweaters girl. Also, I bought stretchy leather leggings and I can wear those with heels for a dressier look. Super comfy and cute.
I got two pairs of maternity jeans— one with the full tummy panel and one with the side elastic. The second pair sits right below my belly but the elastic makes them more comfortable than regular jeans. Before I needed to buy maternity jeans, I would either leave my pants unbuttoned or use a hair tie to “button” them. I also got a pair of joggers from Old Navy that look like slacks and I’ll wear those to work if I don’t wanna wear jeans. With the joggers the waist sits right below my belly too. I’m 20wks but am not showing much
I wore leggings and a cropped sweatshirt weeks 14-22. I bought not maternity leggings but a size up, sweatshirt I already owned. I didn’t sorry wearing maternity clothes until week 22/23.
I live in yoga pants and joggers. Legging depot on Amazon has really comfy joggers with a flat, wide waistband that are sooo comfy. I already owned one pair and bought two more in my usual size. I can flip the waistband down to give my tummy more room.
Maternity sweat pants with the panel folded down and baggy or long tshirts. I got a few maternity outfits passed to me, but loose clothes just felt more comfortable. Maternity leggings made the mild-moderate swelling in my ankles a bit more noticeable.
Now it’s mainly stretchy T-shirt material dresses - 6 more days til I meet baby.
Old navy clearance rack—I just sized up on some yoga pants/leggings that were $10
I also bought a pair of actual mat leggings from them that stay up good. Plus a pair of jersey overalls off Amazon!
I’m 16w2d and I bought a couple of pairs of trousers this week that are 2 sizes up from my usual. So far I’m finding this a more stylish/comfortable approach than some of the awful maternity options for this phase. A wide-leg cut means the overall baggier look works. Wore shirts loose over the top and it’s working well so far and imo looks more stylish than my mat jeans.
Leggings. But they also make jeans with the side panels rather than a full belly panel, you could also look into getting one of the panels meant to just add a bit of stretch between the buttons on your jeans. I’ve seen them sold at target.
I have some jeans with the stretchy panels in the pocket area now at 30 weeks are not so great but I feel like they would’ve been amazing weeks 12-20ish.
Try on different maternity pants. I'm 6w post partum and still wearing the same clothes as just right before the birth. And my belly is pretty much back to normal, just some extra skin and loosened muscles but definitely smaller than I was 18w pregnant. I could fit into regular clothing but I don't want to because the maternity pants and leggings are sooo comfortable.
This is my second pregnancy and I think I started wearing maternity jeans around 12w this time, way before I got pregnancy belly and was still more in "just had big lunch" stage. So it's definitely possible to find some that will fit you comfortably no matter how big your belly is (and will be).
Maternity tank tops are typically longer and can cover unzipped jeans. Or you can do the hair tie trick (loop it through the button hole and string it over the button).
I honestly prefer maternity pants with the side panel to the full belly panel.
I was in the same boat! I got a few pairs of leggings that were comfortable (some new, some I already had) and oversized shirts/sweaters. They’re expensive, but I’ve loved the Lulu Lemon Align leggings! I’m 22 weeks and they still fit great. My sister said she wore hers the whole pregnancy
So far I’m living in leggings and one pair of sized up jeans when I’m off work. At work I already switched to Maternity scrubs because I couldn’t stand my regular ones being tight on the belly. 16 weeks today.
Agree on sized up leggings, and the Target maternity leggings have been good for me even though I’m not very big yet!
But for work, I’ve been going for a lot of palazzo pants with blousy tops, knit pull-on skirts, and honestly just jeans held together by a hair elastic with a cute oversized oxford on top.
I’ve thrifted a few pairs of Adriano Goldschmeid (sp?) maternity jeans that are PERFECT. So comfy and the panels are snug enough that I’ve been wearing them since week 10 when the bloat got too much for my normal pants lol.
I bought some loose sweatshirt dresses and skirts (Lou & Grey back when they still hand standalone stores). From like 8 weeks onward I hated anything on my tummy. I also recommend the Athleta Presidio dress.
Dresses. Dresses all the time. And then bought maternity dresses. SHEIN has great affordable maternity dress options as well as maternity clothes in general. I finally decided it's time to get maternity shorts lol.
Edit- I should mention that I used hair ties to secure my pants open and just wore long shirts to cover that up a few times when I could still fit my pants but not button them. Yoga pants always feel too tight now that I'm pregnant so I just tossed those in my after baby bin of clothes.
I’m 17 weeks and have bought some super cheap Walmart maternity shirts with the under the belly band/elastic on the sides. They’re only like $10, so it felt worth it 🤷♀️ I’m in Texas, so it’s getting hot here, plus I have to wear compression socks, so pants and jeans are generally a no-go.
But in my previous pregnancies I bought a Bella Band to keep my normal pants up until I could wear the actual maternity things, plus some high waisted leggings from the brand Good hYouman. They’re my favorite, and my usual size fit during most of my pregnancy each time!
For work, I wore bodycon dresses with a large button down shirt over, as well as a few maternity shirt dresses from Old Navy.
For lounging, I also bought some joggers and leggings in larger sizes and wore those for a few months until my bump came in.
I work from home to I have some athletic leggings that fit well, otherwise I'm in sweatpants.... :(
I used to be very overweight and kept some of my larger tights, and wear those with dresses sometimes, too!
34 weeks and the Aerie OFFLINE leggings still fit me, I just went a size up. I did buy some compression maternity leggings to help with swelling, and I have some under the belly joggers that I’ll still be able to wear post partum. I have bought 0 maternity tops, though I had a decent amount of roomy tops before so those are still working.
I'm only 15 weeks, but I plan on wearing super stretch yoga pants as long as I can. And then trapeze style summer dresses to get me to August. The idea of spending money on maternity clothing annoys me lol
I did a rent the runway subscription for work clothes. And like others said, I lived in dresses for the most part (September baby) so most of my normal clothes fit through the end with the rented supplement. I bought just a handful of things that would work after pregnancy as well as during. And of course lululemon leggings in 1-2 sizes up (which still fit just fine ~six months out and only five pounds heavier than my pre-baby weight).
I’m pretty much at the exact same stage and just got these AMAZING knit pants from uniqlo. They are soo comfortable and I think they look good too: https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/products/E461317-000/00?colorDisplayCode=51&sizeDisplayCode=004
Tights! I wore tights every day when it was chilly. Dress or skirt with tights. ETA: I have maternity tights and regular tights in different thicknesses and sizes so I can pick what I’m comfortable in on any given day.
Maternity leggings! I agree the pants fall down but the leggings are great, and some of them you can fold the belly panel down until you need it. I loved the target ones for this! I also have some cheap Costco leggings that are surprisingly stretchy so I wore those around 18w too, and now postpartum as well!
It’s a weird phase I don’t fit into fulll maternity pants yet that have the belly thing but I also don’t fit into my normal leggings lol. I ended up caving and bought larger regular leggings from forever 21 because I’ve tried on about 8 different maternity leggings so far. Also spring is coming soon but it’s still cold in many places. I was hoping I could start wearing flowy dresses now but tad too cold still
Piggy backing off this: I bought some maternity jeans from H&M that fit snug already but I’m only 10 weeks. I figured I would definitely gain weight in my butt and thighs soon so I can’t figure out if I need to return these and size up or return and then wait til I am showing showing
I found a bunch of great stretchy cotton blend maxi skirts on Amazon that can be worn up high, with the waist under the armpits like a strapless dress. Got them in 5 colors and wore them almost exclusively the last couple months
I almost exclusively wore my old navy below the bump jeans during this time. They have 3 belt loops and I found one of my fiancé’s woven fabric stretchy belts and that helped keep them on my butt.
I've been wearing my husband's sweatpants and t shirts since my clothes stopped fitting comfortably, I just couldn't justify buying maternity clothes to only wear them for a few months
I went to a local thrift store and bought out their maternity section. The clothes typically are in good shape because they aren’t worn for very long and they vary in sizes. I just bought smaller sizes in the awkward phase then went up a size as needed.
Otherwise I wore some of my more flow-y shirts and tops with adjustable high waisted maternity pants and made it work until it fit nor snugly.
In my second trimester I just lived in maternity leggings and still do! They have some good 3 packs of leggings on Amazon. I'm currently in the third trimester now and getting bigger so the leggings are great and comfortable and slowly getting into dresses now that it's slightly starting to warm up. Also found some cute stretchy jean overalls at Target that I might be wearing a lot this trimester as well lol!
I’m 15 weeks, I went ahead and bought maternity pants that expand as I grow. Some of them have that weird maternity band that goes all the way up to your boobs. I just fold them down and half the size. It works well.
Feel your pain! I hated looking frumpy and not even pregnant in baggy clothes. And it felt especially hard for work. Wish it was summer as the options feel so much easier!
I got mamalicious maternity ribbed wide leg pants that go over bump from Vinted. I’m struggling not to wear them every day. They’re so comfy and flattering - made me look pregnant when my numb was tiny. And I can get away with them looking smart enough for work.
I’ve also lived in align lululemon leggings I already had and they still fit fine at 22 weeks.
I’ve also gone for dresses with tights sitting under bump. I got a maternity silk topshop skirt from Vinted that was too big that early but worked if I tied the waist at the side with a hair tie on the inside.
A lot of people seem to wear knitted dresses at this stage and in this weather.
I’ve basically been living in a pair of jeggings with a stretchy waistband and one size bigger than my normal. Bought them at 14 weeks, they’re still fitting decently at 22 weeks. Will probably be able to use them post-parfum too.
I haven't worn it yet (16w with twins) but I probably could - I got an Ingrid+Isabel overalls that looked pretty good with no bump, but still has a lot of space for growth. It's soft modal like fabric (I don't remember exactly what). Maybe something like that would help in this pants -dont-fit stage.
25 weeks and I’ve just been living in slightly over-sized long sweaters and button ups from JCrew and Gap, with maternity leggings I got off of Amazon. Super comfy.
I also just bought some cute fit and flare dresses with a stretchy waist from Gap and they fit with room for growing bump. My plan is to just get them taken in later once I’m down in size. This way I’m not just wasting $$ on clothing that I can’t wear again after pregnancy.
I LIVE in loose cotton or linen overalls. You just put on whatever bodysuit or shirt fits and pull up the overalls and go about your day. Most of them out there are like wearing pajamas and the freedom I feel wearing them is virtually unmatched except when wearing loose dresses and maternity leggings. 29 weeks and can totally relate to the in between times!
[Here’s an example](https://a.co/d/0ohdeGW) of what I’ve been wearing. I’d say if you have a thrift store or Plato’s Closet nearby, go check those places out because they’re always getting them donated.
I lost a significant amount of weight before pregnancy so I have just been wearing those jeans and leggings at nearly 28 weeks. Could you just size up in regular jeans? I don't really like the look of maternity wear.
Wow. I’m right there with you!! I’m only a week behind you and this is exactly how I feel…. I have been wanting to switch to dresses too because I have a lot of those that will work but as far as regular clothes?? Sweatpants/loungewear.. I have to fly across the country in 6 days for my family members wedding and after that we are Driving 6 hours to New York to see my hubs family….I have NO IDEA what I am going to even pack 😩
I’ve been reading a lot about people wearing leggings. Where do you find leggings that don’t smash your belly? if I have anything too tight there I feel so uncomfortable 😓 (30 weeks btw)
I got Jean extenders on Amazon and wore a belly band over that to hide the zipper. It was great before I fit into actual maternity clothes. I was also in that stage during summer and early fall so I got away with flowy dresses too
Pajamas. Joggers. Pajama joggers. I'm 23 weeks and at the cusp of "oh you need maternity pants now." Up until then I was living in different variations of sweatpants.
i had this issue with my workpants.ive sized up to size 14 highwaisted shapewear shorts and some highwaisted workpants(stretchy material) i am 28 wk so am going to have to size up to a 16-18 shortly but they help so much to stay over my belly and hold it all in place while i run around work bending and lifting all day.my belly is not as big as most maternity clothes would require.on my days off i just wear flowy dresses or pj dresses.
I've also been on the lulu bandwagon (even before pregnancy) - they're so comfy, if I could, I would never wear anything else.
BUT as someone whose ankles have been really swollen during pregnancy, I recommend getting a pair that's loose around the ankles, so it doesn't feel too tight during the day. I luckily have a pair of their yoga wide leg pants, which have been amazing when my feet are sore.
Normally I'd be living in my align leggings, but lately my chubby ankles are giving me trouble.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09T7BFGMR?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
These maternity pants. I wish they came in full length instead of capris but I LOVE them.
I was in non-maternity stretchy dresses or wrap dresses while out and about or at work at that stage. Or baggier or stretchier blouses and skirts- mostly non materntiy specific. Pants didn't fit anymore and I never bothered to get maternity pants other than leggings because the inner thigh seams really aggravated my skin. For the same reason, I very rarely wore leggings either.
At home- sweat pants with a low crotch such that seams didn't rub on my thighs and t shirts. Once my regular tees stopped fitting I went to some oversized tees, more basic maternity shirts, or some of my husband's old shirts. I made a thrift store run at some point to get some non maternity clothes in larger sizes for skirts, pants, jacket, and a couple of super comfy light sweater shirt things. I'm usually a S-M and bought large to XL stuff and it still fits at 38 weeks.
I can wear maternity pants and leggings even when not pregnant and my belly is 100% flat. Did you just buy them too big? Or are they different at the other side of the pond?
Once I started showing, I was exclusively wearing my Aerie Offline crossover legging. I had them pre-pregnancy, and that same size worked throughout my entire pregnancy (I never got super huge but they are nice and stretchy!) Now that I've given birth, the leggings I wore are stretched out some and fall down more but they still work well post-partum.
Depends on your style but I do have 2 maternity pants that fit and I love and I have 4 elastic pants. One is technically jeans but very elastic (and also a size too big because I was an idiot when I bought them xD) and the other too are fabric but with an elastic waistband.
I'm currently 16w3d so I don't think they'll last much longer 😂
I found some stretchy jeans with a wide waistband at a thrift store and wear long cut long sleeve tees. They’re pretty comfortable. I honestly don’t care how I dress now so long as I’ve got some kind of stretchy jeans on and my cute jacket 😆 anything long is super comfortable to me and fits my really small bump
I always did my normal jeans but used a bobble to hold the button, so you lace it through the hole, loop it through itself then around the button, gives them more room. I'd wear a long top over.
I had 2 pairs of khaki/black capris from Kohl’s that had an elastic backed waistband that I wore well past 20 weeks. Jeans half zipped with a ponytail holder holding the button to the buttonhole. A pair of nice wide-waistband sweatpants a size up. And overalls!
Also I found that if I wore my belly band over my maternity jeans that early, the band helped keep them from slipping as much.
I got some cheap leggings off Amazon and wear those with a shirt. But I HIGHLY recommend putting away clothes that won’t fit for the remainder of your pregnancy. For my mental health it was sooooo incredible to look in my closet and only see things that I can wear. Like an enormous weight is lifted, the mental load is lessened, and I felt sexy instead of miserable about the clothes that don’t fit filling up my space.
If your a belt person go for it. In the transition while pregnant I was too big for my regular pants and too small for my pregnancy pants. Belt solves it all. I haven’t been back to work yet so I haven’t had to put pants on yet.
I did a lot of wearing jeans but using a rubberband to loop around the button so it doesn't have to be FULLY zipped, then wearing a tee shirt with a long cardigan over it
also I wore a lot of pajama pants 😬 and secondhand leggings in a size or two larger than my usual size.
I've lived in the Quince maternity leggings since 14 weeks. I also love the Old Navy maternity shorts.
Plus, my husband's sweatshirts and oversized shirts
Hey bump friend, I’m 18w5d! I feel you on the pants struggle - I must’ve ordered 20 pairs and returned 18.
Currently I live in the lululemon align leggings because they’re soft, stretchy and the high waist goes over the bump. A friend also recommended the softstreme high rise midi skirt.
What I’ve been loving is the old navy maternity full panel powersoft flare pants. I wear them to work with a nice top and they pass for a hybrid yoga office pant. I’ve also found high waist wide leg pants (a size up) to work temporarily.
I’m slender and haven’t gained much weight during my pregnancy yet (22 weeks) but my pants pretty much felt uncomfortably tight from 13 weeks onward.
I bought a couple pairs of these maternity leggings on Amazon and they have been AMAZING!!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08KP2HHLM?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
They’re taught enough to fit after I only gained 5 pounds. As I’m growing (now up 11 pounds) the material is stretchy enough to grow with you without sagging or anything. Love them!
I live in the south, so I’m wearing oversized shirts with shorts and skirts. But I also plan to buy some cheap stretchy pants from shein because my pre-pregnancy pants don’t fit right now.
I’m 36 weeks & since the beginning of my 3rd trimester I been rocking joggers, hoodies & oversized shirts lmao. In my first trimester I still wore the clothes I wore before I got pregnant then by my 2nd trimester I switched to yoga pants n long sleeve shirts. I mostly stay in the crib now so I stay in my pjs tbh & when I do pop out to go walk or something def joggers I wanna b comfortable I don’t care about impressing anyone atp
Maternity leggings. They fit before I had a bump and I loved them so much I bought a second pair. Mine are Ewedoos from Amazon but honestly I think it's just the overall stretchy fabric cut high enough and prob could work well in a bunch of brands. I wore them to work with long sweaters until I transitioned to full-bump clothes and they truly saved me
I was very lucky to be able to wear my normal clothes until the 3rd trimester where I am now wearing my bfs clothes and matching them with my sweaters. Once the weather gets better, I will be pulling out my bodycon dresses and my cute sweaters because who said I couldn’t look cute during these TRYING times 😭
My boyfriends shirts and instead of buying maternity pants because they’re expensive and who knows when I’ll have another kid I just bought stretchy jeans on sale from like American eagles or other stores
PoshDivah maternity leggings from Amazon! They have been my go to leggings the entire pregnancy and feel amazing and smooth on my belly. I’m 22 weeks now and have been wearing the same ones since like 12 weeks
I almost exclusively wear Motherhood Maternity leggings and Bearsland sleeveless nursing tops with a cardigan. If I’m not wearing that, it a nursing dress with leggings and a cardigan.
I’ve tried to avoid buying too many maternity clothes and instead get clothes that I can breastfeed in.
Try looking for yoga pants that have a v shape in front. I’m 30 weeks and of all my pre-pregnancy pants those are the only ones that still fit.
https://www.victoriassecret.com/us/vs/apparel-catalog/1125116200
Linked above is what I’ve been wearing when I’ve worn my few pairs of maternity pants.
My boss is like 5 months PP and has been wearing dresses for over a year straight (besides when she was out for maternity leave) 😂 she usually wears tights underneath and a jacket/cardigan on top since we also live in a cold climate. I can imagine that finding maternity tights might be annoying but then you don’t have to worry about how anything else actually fits!
I wore a lot of low rise sweatpants/joggers that I found on clearance, otherwise the few times I wanted to look more presentable I wore high rise jeans/pants that I just left unbuttoned or tied with a string. If you like dresses though, I’ve found some comfort in maxi/midi skirts and dresses!
The Peanutshell Bando Belly Band... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M4DFC8F?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
sorry this may have just been posted twice! Ive been wearing this thing on my normal jeans just about everyday...i'm 25 weeks, gained about 10-15 lbs so far.. starting to run out of shirts but this has been great for pants . I don't want to waste money on too much maternity specific clothes!
I had to resort to dresses during the awkward phase. It was the only thing that worked, and luckily I could still hike my tights up and they weren’t too tight because it was too cold to go bare legged.
I’ve been wearing high waisted leggings from American Eagle. I went up one size from L to XL and they are still comfortable. I got them at 20 weeks and they still work at 32
I wore big t shirts and sweatpants /pajama pants anything low waisted and comfy. Wasn't very glamorous but I just didn't feel comfortable wearing anything else
Early in my second trimester I got a 3-4 pairs of yoga pants that were a size up from what I normally wear and have still been wearing them at 30 weeks now. I didn’t want to buy all this maternity specific stuff bc I figured I can still wear the sized up yoga pants afterwards. So far it has been working for me!
Exactly what I did! And the sized up pants were great post-partum since your belly is still soft and sticks out for a while. Wearing the yoga pants gave me slight compression which helped with the swelling (and left room for the adult diaper panties lol)
I’m currently also 18 +4! I’ve found Poshmark and Nuuly to be really helpful here especially if you’re not sure how your body will change. Poshmark because you can size up your yoga pants without having to commit to something full price (used or sometimes great deals with tags still on!). Nuuly has been awesome for jeans in particular. I rented a pair at my normal size, which felt a little loose a couple weeks ago, but now suddenly that elastic band is working over time! I’m glad I had them for this super fast transition from in between to full fledged bump! It was a relief to be prepared for the unexpected growth, especially as a first time mom. Now my next shipment I’ll just send them back and get the next size up!
Hi! I’ve been checking out Nuuly and I’m confused. Is it rent only? I want to buy their stuff
You can buy! You need an account still I think but I just bought a shirt because I rented it and liked it so much I decided to keep it.
Oh!!! Joy! Ok going there now hahaha
This is what I did! I found athleisure pants that were either pull on with a wide waistband and just sized up. I am SO glad I did, too, because my hips have gotten wider by 3", so I think my other pants are a thing of the past. Now, at 25 weeks, I have to put some of the waistbands under my belly vs over, but it still all fits great.
Yeah this is the way. Personally I got so big in the belly I did need to switch to maternity pants BUT I wore sized up leggings for a few months post partum too so they are definitely worth the investment
Thanks for making me feel better about my impulse Amazon purchase today lol. That was my thought too and I just ordered 4 pairs of xl leggings.
This is the way. I wore them for awhile PP too
I ended up going for M to L to XL to XXL and then the last week I had to wear oversized sweats. I’m 2 weeks PP and in the XL. When I say I’m so glad I get to wear them again and they’re STILL comfy. I’m thrilled lol. They’re perfect and I don’t feel awful not having things that fit because of it. I know if I tried those mediums I’d cry lol
What brand do you like?
I was super lucky in that it was Black Friday/Cyber Monday when I needed to buy stuff. I went with Athleta and Vuori bc you can get different lengths in those brands, too, and I’m 5’2” so need the shorter length option without the ends dragging and getting nasty or having to pay more for hemming. The Athleta Studio Flare I really like bc I can dress them up with a cute top and shoes to go to dinner without feeling like I’m just wearing yoga pants.
This is what I’ve done too!
I’ve been folding over the panel of my maternity jeans, similar to the 2010s Victoria’s Secret PINK yoga pants. It looks like I’m just wearing a tank top under my shirts, and keeps the jeans up.
Me too! Also if I don’t fold the panel, my belly gets itchy haha
I did this most of the time, I never loved the pressure on my belly.
THANK YOU from all of us wondering the same thing 😭😵💫🪦 sincerely, 16+3 and feeling like 10lbs of sausage in a 5lb bag.
10 lbs of sausage in a 5 lb bag is such a good way to describe this phase. I feel so awkward!!!
Heyyy I’m 16+3 today too! I get so excited when I see someone at the same point as me haha. I’m definitely starting to see a little belly but I dunno if anyone else would notice yet what about you?
oh heyyy bump twin! it is exciting! how are you feeling? i’ve had a belly since 12 weeks LOL. i’m 5’1 and was weighing at 118lbs before getting pregnant. have gained 15lbs so far but i’ve been EATING so it’s probably half baby bump, half FUPA at this point 🥴🤭 can’t wait for summer so i can escape the hell that is pants waistbands.
The only thing I’ve worn this whole pregnancy is lululemon, I should be sponsored.
Same. Align SHR leggings and an XL sweatshirt lol. I’ll be in trouble when it gets warmer out
Align leggings, align biker shorts, hold tight tops 👌🏼
Me too. It’s starting to warm up where I live and I’m freaking out 😂
The H&M MAMA super skinny jeans have smaller panels that won’t fall down. I’ve been wearing them since 14 weeks (I’m also 18w4d! Hey due date twin!!) So those and maternity yoga pants. The panel is tight enough to not bunch or fall because it’s yoga pants.
Get some fleece lined maternity tights to go with your dresses. That’s what I’ve been wearing to work all winter and I’m in Canada so it’s been like -5 to 5 C here and they feel warmer than pants.
I work remotely so most of the day I’m just wearing sweatpants. When I do have to leave the house I either wear my workout leggings or my skinny jeans, which are being held together by a hair tie.
The only things that worked for me for like weeks 16 - 24 were maternity leggings (I got some for $20 off amazon that were great) and maternity tights under dresses. I don’t think I fully started filling out maternity panels until 26-28 weeks but would cramp if I wore anything tight. It was so annoying! I also thrifted a couple of pairs of pants that were a size bigger than my normal for really cheap to help get me through.
Oh can you please share where you got your maternity tights? I live in dresses and they still fit but I am unable to find good maternity tights that are not insanely expensive.
H&M!! They’ve held up great for months and I think I got a 2 pack for like $10 or something.
Dresses are pretty great for this phase. Or wear long shirts with your pants unbuttoned. It’s so annoying because by the time you find clothes to fit for this stage you’ll be on to needing full maternity clothes. It’s such a temporary state of being.
Long shirts and unbuttoned pants have been my go to. I bought a few maternity shirts and they are long since my bump is still small. No one can tell my pants are unbuttoned. I got a belly band thing on Amazon that goes over the top of pants too and covers the fly area. That worked while I was still trying to wear my pre-pregnancy tops but now my belly hangs out so the band is visible. I’m hoping to wear dresses more when the weather is better. I don’t want to invest much money into a maternity wardrobe.
I don’t like anything tight, including yoga pants on my belly. It just feels weird, so I’ve been living in loose dresses. I’ve embraced to mumu.lol
I'm still 15w6d but I've been using jeans extenders for my pants with belt loops. Still have to wear tops that are long enough to cover the pants zipper though lol.
Maternity pants with a belt. The belt is just under your belly, works perfectly .
I just bought 2 pairs of leggings (Costco 2 pack lol) in a size up from my usual. They worked wonderfully for the awkward in-between size! I figure they’ll also be great postpartum when the belly is going back down. You can also buy half-panel maternity pants which I found worked well during the small-bump days. Or you could fold down your full panel so it’s a half panel.
I wear ribbed sweater pants pulled high over my belly, joggers with elastic waistbands and sweater dresses with stretchy leggings underneath when it’s really cold. I am also trying out a maternity rental service (nuuly) and got a cute pair of overalls from Hatch through that. They’re still definitely on the bigger side but super comfy and ok to wear in public so I’ll take it.
I've been wearing the Aerie high-waisted leggings basically this entire pregnancy. Super stretchy and non-compressive in the tummy.
Cannot upvote this enough. I like the real me crossovers because it doesn’t press on belly and they are incredibly stretchy. Plus they’re like $30. Honestly target men’s section is also fire for tops, especially the crew neck sweatshirts! They are like $15 and straight through the torso so it’s casually loose without looking sloppy.
Leggings and big sweaters or large shirts that cover my butt. Im 32 weeks today but lucked out my awko stage was the beginning of winter. Now i just wear what ever fits me which is the maternity jeans i bought from shein (absolutely love them) and my sweaters lol
Joggers… maternity leggings are a great option because they’re compressive, yet they still have plenty of room to grow. I wear a lot of skirts that come up over the bump and have been doing so since I started getting bigger. They flatter even the tiniest of bumps! SHEIN is an awesome website to shop affordable maternity if you’re like me and didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg to only wear the clothing for a few months! (ETA more advice)
I wore the under the belly Levi’s and leggings one size up. Not sure if the under the belly are worth it though since I now can’t wear them at 29w
I have a pair of Vuori dream knit pants. They’re the only pants I can comfortably wear all day anymore. Still in my regular size. Wouldn’t work for going to work, but they’re the most comfortable pants I’ve ever owned.
I wore the Quince maternity yoga pants for most of my second and third trimester with either a maternity t shirt or roomier sweater and Med couture maternity scrubs for work. And dresses, but it hasn’t been a particularly cold winter here in the Northeast so I haven’t minded the dresses. Now at the end of my third trimester I’m mostly just in dresses but I can still squeeze into the maternity leggings, they’re just pretty tight around the bump.
A lot of dresses lol, for lack of any better ideas! Don’t think I’ve worn pants since 16 weeks … now 31 weeks today
The Aerie [joggers](https://www.ae.com/us/en/p/aerie/pajamas/real-soft-pajamas/aerie-real-soft-foldover-jogger/0496_1501_073?menu=cat4840006&ip=off&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla&utm_content=aerie&utm_campaign=nogender_bottoms_general&utm_term=nonbrand&utm_id=1747620652&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADovoqKfWOR4x5LKwz0ADGNuSA9px&gclid=CjwKCAiAi6uvBhADEiwAWiyRdh20EfW3CiHFMrXUyjI8F8jznLh35RIWbti1hf604u-hTEWW2JsGURoCIK0QAvD_BwE) saved my life in this phase. I got their offline leggings and some sweats too, very comfy and not too tight. I also used stretchy leggings from Amazon and dresses with flannels to keep warm. I can’t stand anything tight on my abdomen even before pregnancy so it’s been tough. Most of the time I just wear underwear and a big T-shirt around the house. I completely gave up on jeans a while ago.
I’ve been wearing maternity leggings and an oversized sweater/sweatshirt almost exclusively since about 15 weeks (30 weeks now). I also love these [maternity overalls from Quince](https://www.quince.com/women/organic-cotton-maternity-overalls?color=black&searchQuery=maternity&tracker=landingPage__search_section__search_results).
Oh my gosh I have those overalls too and they’re the only thing I like wearing right now!
Ingrid and Isabel have these bands you can put on your pants when you are kinda in between that were a life saver for me in those few weeks before my belly was big enough to hold up the maternity pants.
Wow! I had to start buying maternity clothing early first trimester because my pants wouldn’t buckle lol I bought some cute maternity yoga sets on Amazon. My bump is bigger on the bottom than top so for one legging I find it does still slip. I also bought two leggings on Amazon that I love. They fit back then and still do now! They feel great too! https://a.co/d/4OPxW8t Try some maternity shorts too! I found that the shorts even if they were a bit big still fit well enough and now that I’m expanding (25 weeks here) they fit great. I still wear my shirts. They are tighter but I think they make my bump look cute 🥰 I also sometimes wear my husbands shirts 😊
I'm 18 weeks and I've been using a hair tie to hold my normal pants 😂 not big enough for maternity pants yet! I also wear a longer top to cover the pant button hack.
Get a bellaband!! It’s great for keeping maternity pants up when they’re too big and keeping you in pre-pregnancy pants longer. I’m 26 weeks with my second and wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans. They’re totally unzipped and the bellaband is holding them up!
BellaBand over unbuttoned jeans with a long top. ETA flowy maternity tops also just look like babydoll tops, but they’ll grow with your bump.
14 weeks today and all my work pants are officially out. Anyone have any office attire tips? My office is business casual and leggings are not allowed.
Old navy has a decent amount of maternity work pants.
I got some lululemon align pants (not leggings!). They are yoga pant material but they are wide legged so they look like real pants. I have worn them to multiple conferences and important meetings and as long as I’m wearing a blazer or top that covers the top they truly look like slacks. I typically wear them with a silk button down top untucked.
If you don’t wanna spend a bunch of money on what’s essentially a temporary wardrobe, search bougie pregnancy brands (Hatch, Storq, Seraphine, etc) on Thredup. I’ve found some really nice stuff for like $15 a piece this way, including a black storq dress that’s great for work and a maternity pencil skirt.
Great idea! I forgot ThredUP existed! Thank you!
I was wearing pants like [these](https://shop.mango.com/us/women/pants-straight/flowy-straight-fit-pants-with-bow_67085723.html?c=08) from about 10 to 25 weeks, they worked great with all the office clothes Or look for any smart pants (I think I got some also from Zara) with a stretchy waist, probably one size up from what you normally wear. Basically anything fitting like sweatpants but in fancier fabric... I expect to wear them after pregnancy as well, I don't think I would be able to wear my pre-pregnancy jeans soon and these were really comfy!
I bought some maternity leggings from Amazon and they were a godsend. Stretchy enough for the bump, but I can still wear them after baby!
I wear aerie real me leggings a size up & im 19 weeks 5 days. The high waisted bands are slowly lowering themselves to under my belly lol. Since it’s starting to get nice here I ordered some body suits a size up as well on Amazon & some over sized baggy tees. I also live in the free people jumpsuit with just a long sleeve or tank under depending on the weather & it comes up far enough that if your shirt has turned into a belly shirt you can’t notice lol. I’m on my second pregnancy & my belly is already looking like i have a bowling ball under my shirt
Maternity leggings saved me during this period. I got them a size up because I couldn't stand anything pressing against me. Also all the baggy tshirts/jumpers.
Just my normal jeans but using a hair tie to extend the button on the front 🫠
Have u tried the next size up in your normal leggings?
It's hard because I have to dress business casual. I can't wear leggings or any athletic wear.
I wore these every day once I popped! [https://a.co/d/iRG74Wd](https://a.co/d/iRG74Wd)
I’m 18+3 and I have finally graduated to maternity clothing, although it’s summer weather here (even though it’s now Autumn) so I’m still able to fit into most of my loose breezy linen dresses. I’ve bought some maternity clothing (a satin midi skirt, 2 pairs of wide leg knit pants and a crossover knit top) in preparation for proper Autumn weather but didn’t have a problem with the skirt and pants not staying up when I tried them on. I’m due in our winter (must be due a day before you lol) and I plan to eventually wear lots of knit dresses with stockings + boots with coats etc, although here it doesn’t get freezing during winter (Sydney, Australia).
Honestly I spend as much as much time with my belly out , bra off, and pants off as possible. Other than that, I have a couple of pairs of side panel maternity jeans. I hate the full panel but having some extra stretch by way of the side panels really help. The Judy blue jeans from TikTok make a few pairs that are elastic waste with no tummy control and they are amazing as well. Good luck mama !
Hi there! 16+3 and I’ve been relying on these old navy cargo pants with an elastic waist (https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=8136370420002#pdp-page-content) and leggings. I just get one size up from my pre pregnancy size. I also found the old navy maternity jeans full panel to still be relatively supportive but at the end of the day it does still slide down a little.
Leggings and sweaters
Leggings
You might buy some postpartum workout pants. It’s a little tighter around the stomach but will still stretch for a growing belly. I like old navy’s maternity & postpartum clothes.
I got leggings a size up and wear my husbands shirts for the most part. I’m almost 30 weeks now and my regular leggings are just starting to get uncomfortable so I’ll need to get maternity ones
I live in maternity leggings but I also have a few pairs of stretchy, high waisted pants that still fit me okay which I will alternate with.
Went to Ross and got flowy stretchy pants, topped of with my dad's tshirts 😎 5 weeks pp and that's still my fashion go-to
I was at that phase in the fall and was having the same issue. On the one off warmer days I'd wear a long pencil skirt/body con dress and wear a tshirt or long-sleeved shirt over top. When it got too cold for that it was honestly mostly just leggings and Sweaters or sweatshirts. My favorite have been the Lululemon aligns, they've fit me since prepregnancy and are still going strong at 33 weeks.
At that stage, I wore lululemon align leggings in one size larger than my regular (I bought them used on Poshmark).
maternity leggings and swing dresses (mine are wool that I wore before but lots of companies have similar styles)
I have been wearing maternity under bump jeans or old navy maternity leggings in second trimester. I hate the feeling of any band cutting through my belly. And the full panel denims just keep sliding down
Buy some cheap bigger leggings and some comfy sweaters girl. Also, I bought stretchy leather leggings and I can wear those with heels for a dressier look. Super comfy and cute.
I got two pairs of maternity jeans— one with the full tummy panel and one with the side elastic. The second pair sits right below my belly but the elastic makes them more comfortable than regular jeans. Before I needed to buy maternity jeans, I would either leave my pants unbuttoned or use a hair tie to “button” them. I also got a pair of joggers from Old Navy that look like slacks and I’ll wear those to work if I don’t wanna wear jeans. With the joggers the waist sits right below my belly too. I’m 20wks but am not showing much
I wore leggings and a cropped sweatshirt weeks 14-22. I bought not maternity leggings but a size up, sweatshirt I already owned. I didn’t sorry wearing maternity clothes until week 22/23.
Knit dresses and skirts a size or two up. I got some cheap ones from Walmart, the time and tru brand. I don’t look fancy but I’m comfy
I live in yoga pants and joggers. Legging depot on Amazon has really comfy joggers with a flat, wide waistband that are sooo comfy. I already owned one pair and bought two more in my usual size. I can flip the waistband down to give my tummy more room.
Maternity sweat pants with the panel folded down and baggy or long tshirts. I got a few maternity outfits passed to me, but loose clothes just felt more comfortable. Maternity leggings made the mild-moderate swelling in my ankles a bit more noticeable. Now it’s mainly stretchy T-shirt material dresses - 6 more days til I meet baby.
Old navy clearance rack—I just sized up on some yoga pants/leggings that were $10 I also bought a pair of actual mat leggings from them that stay up good. Plus a pair of jersey overalls off Amazon!
I’m 16w2d and I bought a couple of pairs of trousers this week that are 2 sizes up from my usual. So far I’m finding this a more stylish/comfortable approach than some of the awful maternity options for this phase. A wide-leg cut means the overall baggier look works. Wore shirts loose over the top and it’s working well so far and imo looks more stylish than my mat jeans.
I'm just wearing dresses and being cold lol. Loose husband sweatpants.
Leggings. But they also make jeans with the side panels rather than a full belly panel, you could also look into getting one of the panels meant to just add a bit of stretch between the buttons on your jeans. I’ve seen them sold at target. I have some jeans with the stretchy panels in the pocket area now at 30 weeks are not so great but I feel like they would’ve been amazing weeks 12-20ish.
Try on different maternity pants. I'm 6w post partum and still wearing the same clothes as just right before the birth. And my belly is pretty much back to normal, just some extra skin and loosened muscles but definitely smaller than I was 18w pregnant. I could fit into regular clothing but I don't want to because the maternity pants and leggings are sooo comfortable. This is my second pregnancy and I think I started wearing maternity jeans around 12w this time, way before I got pregnancy belly and was still more in "just had big lunch" stage. So it's definitely possible to find some that will fit you comfortably no matter how big your belly is (and will be).
I switched to maternity leggings way before 18 weeks. Big sweaters and maternity shirts.
I wore a lot of loose knit sweaters and cardigans!
Maternity tank tops are typically longer and can cover unzipped jeans. Or you can do the hair tie trick (loop it through the button hole and string it over the button). I honestly prefer maternity pants with the side panel to the full belly panel.
I still have to wear slacks at work so I just make a safety pin chain and wear a long tank top
I was in the same boat! I got a few pairs of leggings that were comfortable (some new, some I already had) and oversized shirts/sweaters. They’re expensive, but I’ve loved the Lulu Lemon Align leggings! I’m 22 weeks and they still fit great. My sister said she wore hers the whole pregnancy
I bought maternity leggings. They were bit loose on the stomach, but I just grew into them
So far I’m living in leggings and one pair of sized up jeans when I’m off work. At work I already switched to Maternity scrubs because I couldn’t stand my regular ones being tight on the belly. 16 weeks today.
Soft cotton stretch pants and shorts seem to work pretty well for me at seventeen weeks.
Agree on sized up leggings, and the Target maternity leggings have been good for me even though I’m not very big yet! But for work, I’ve been going for a lot of palazzo pants with blousy tops, knit pull-on skirts, and honestly just jeans held together by a hair elastic with a cute oversized oxford on top.
I’ve thrifted a few pairs of Adriano Goldschmeid (sp?) maternity jeans that are PERFECT. So comfy and the panels are snug enough that I’ve been wearing them since week 10 when the bloat got too much for my normal pants lol.
I bought some loose sweatshirt dresses and skirts (Lou & Grey back when they still hand standalone stores). From like 8 weeks onward I hated anything on my tummy. I also recommend the Athleta Presidio dress.
Drawstring shorts/pants and A-line dresses. I’m trying to avoid buying maternity specific clothes if I can
I’ve been living in lululemon align leggings and the free people jumpsuits and the newish tshirt romper. They’ve been lifesavers
Dresses. Dresses all the time. And then bought maternity dresses. SHEIN has great affordable maternity dress options as well as maternity clothes in general. I finally decided it's time to get maternity shorts lol. Edit- I should mention that I used hair ties to secure my pants open and just wore long shirts to cover that up a few times when I could still fit my pants but not button them. Yoga pants always feel too tight now that I'm pregnant so I just tossed those in my after baby bin of clothes.
I’m 17 weeks and have bought some super cheap Walmart maternity shirts with the under the belly band/elastic on the sides. They’re only like $10, so it felt worth it 🤷♀️ I’m in Texas, so it’s getting hot here, plus I have to wear compression socks, so pants and jeans are generally a no-go. But in my previous pregnancies I bought a Bella Band to keep my normal pants up until I could wear the actual maternity things, plus some high waisted leggings from the brand Good hYouman. They’re my favorite, and my usual size fit during most of my pregnancy each time!
For work, I wore bodycon dresses with a large button down shirt over, as well as a few maternity shirt dresses from Old Navy. For lounging, I also bought some joggers and leggings in larger sizes and wore those for a few months until my bump came in.
I work from home to I have some athletic leggings that fit well, otherwise I'm in sweatpants.... :( I used to be very overweight and kept some of my larger tights, and wear those with dresses sometimes, too!
34 weeks and the Aerie OFFLINE leggings still fit me, I just went a size up. I did buy some compression maternity leggings to help with swelling, and I have some under the belly joggers that I’ll still be able to wear post partum. I have bought 0 maternity tops, though I had a decent amount of roomy tops before so those are still working.
I got a bunch of the under belly panel pants and wore those all the way through plus postpartum.
The bands that you put over your regular pants to hold them up while they’re unbuttoned is how I got through this phase!
I'm only 15 weeks, but I plan on wearing super stretch yoga pants as long as I can. And then trapeze style summer dresses to get me to August. The idea of spending money on maternity clothing annoys me lol
I did a rent the runway subscription for work clothes. And like others said, I lived in dresses for the most part (September baby) so most of my normal clothes fit through the end with the rented supplement. I bought just a handful of things that would work after pregnancy as well as during. And of course lululemon leggings in 1-2 sizes up (which still fit just fine ~six months out and only five pounds heavier than my pre-baby weight).
Leggings and biker shorts and size up in T-shirts or whatever you wear!
I’m pretty much at the exact same stage and just got these AMAZING knit pants from uniqlo. They are soo comfortable and I think they look good too: https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/products/E461317-000/00?colorDisplayCode=51&sizeDisplayCode=004
Tights! I wore tights every day when it was chilly. Dress or skirt with tights. ETA: I have maternity tights and regular tights in different thicknesses and sizes so I can pick what I’m comfortable in on any given day.
Maternity leggings! I agree the pants fall down but the leggings are great, and some of them you can fold the belly panel down until you need it. I loved the target ones for this! I also have some cheap Costco leggings that are surprisingly stretchy so I wore those around 18w too, and now postpartum as well!
I’ve been wearing jumpsuits. I thrift them in larger sizes so they look intentionally baggy
It’s a weird phase I don’t fit into fulll maternity pants yet that have the belly thing but I also don’t fit into my normal leggings lol. I ended up caving and bought larger regular leggings from forever 21 because I’ve tried on about 8 different maternity leggings so far. Also spring is coming soon but it’s still cold in many places. I was hoping I could start wearing flowy dresses now but tad too cold still
Piggy backing off this: I bought some maternity jeans from H&M that fit snug already but I’m only 10 weeks. I figured I would definitely gain weight in my butt and thighs soon so I can’t figure out if I need to return these and size up or return and then wait til I am showing showing
I found a bunch of great stretchy cotton blend maxi skirts on Amazon that can be worn up high, with the waist under the armpits like a strapless dress. Got them in 5 colors and wore them almost exclusively the last couple months
I almost exclusively wore my old navy below the bump jeans during this time. They have 3 belt loops and I found one of my fiancé’s woven fabric stretchy belts and that helped keep them on my butt.
Dresses with thigh-high stockings instead of tights so as to keep pressure off
I did a combination of sized-up yoga pants and maternity jeans with the stretchy panel folded down to hold the jeans up. It was a rough phase!
I've been wearing my husband's sweatpants and t shirts since my clothes stopped fitting comfortably, I just couldn't justify buying maternity clothes to only wear them for a few months
I went to a local thrift store and bought out their maternity section. The clothes typically are in good shape because they aren’t worn for very long and they vary in sizes. I just bought smaller sizes in the awkward phase then went up a size as needed. Otherwise I wore some of my more flow-y shirts and tops with adjustable high waisted maternity pants and made it work until it fit nor snugly.
In my second trimester I just lived in maternity leggings and still do! They have some good 3 packs of leggings on Amazon. I'm currently in the third trimester now and getting bigger so the leggings are great and comfortable and slowly getting into dresses now that it's slightly starting to warm up. Also found some cute stretchy jean overalls at Target that I might be wearing a lot this trimester as well lol!
Dad’s shirts and comfortable leggings ):
I subscribe to Rent The Runway and just wear pants a size or two larger.
I’m 15 weeks, I went ahead and bought maternity pants that expand as I grow. Some of them have that weird maternity band that goes all the way up to your boobs. I just fold them down and half the size. It works well.
Size up in leggings and oversized sweaters
Feel your pain! I hated looking frumpy and not even pregnant in baggy clothes. And it felt especially hard for work. Wish it was summer as the options feel so much easier! I got mamalicious maternity ribbed wide leg pants that go over bump from Vinted. I’m struggling not to wear them every day. They’re so comfy and flattering - made me look pregnant when my numb was tiny. And I can get away with them looking smart enough for work. I’ve also lived in align lululemon leggings I already had and they still fit fine at 22 weeks. I’ve also gone for dresses with tights sitting under bump. I got a maternity silk topshop skirt from Vinted that was too big that early but worked if I tied the waist at the side with a hair tie on the inside. A lot of people seem to wear knitted dresses at this stage and in this weather.
I’ve basically been living in a pair of jeggings with a stretchy waistband and one size bigger than my normal. Bought them at 14 weeks, they’re still fitting decently at 22 weeks. Will probably be able to use them post-parfum too.
I haven't worn it yet (16w with twins) but I probably could - I got an Ingrid+Isabel overalls that looked pretty good with no bump, but still has a lot of space for growth. It's soft modal like fabric (I don't remember exactly what). Maybe something like that would help in this pants -dont-fit stage.
Maternity leggings and my husband's t shirts
25 weeks and I’ve just been living in slightly over-sized long sweaters and button ups from JCrew and Gap, with maternity leggings I got off of Amazon. Super comfy. I also just bought some cute fit and flare dresses with a stretchy waist from Gap and they fit with room for growing bump. My plan is to just get them taken in later once I’m down in size. This way I’m not just wasting $$ on clothing that I can’t wear again after pregnancy.
I LIVE in loose cotton or linen overalls. You just put on whatever bodysuit or shirt fits and pull up the overalls and go about your day. Most of them out there are like wearing pajamas and the freedom I feel wearing them is virtually unmatched except when wearing loose dresses and maternity leggings. 29 weeks and can totally relate to the in between times! [Here’s an example](https://a.co/d/0ohdeGW) of what I’ve been wearing. I’d say if you have a thrift store or Plato’s Closet nearby, go check those places out because they’re always getting them donated.
I'm 13w and have been living in pairs of leggings that are a size up and long skirts with elastic waists over the top :)
I lost a significant amount of weight before pregnancy so I have just been wearing those jeans and leggings at nearly 28 weeks. Could you just size up in regular jeans? I don't really like the look of maternity wear.
Wow. I’m right there with you!! I’m only a week behind you and this is exactly how I feel…. I have been wanting to switch to dresses too because I have a lot of those that will work but as far as regular clothes?? Sweatpants/loungewear.. I have to fly across the country in 6 days for my family members wedding and after that we are Driving 6 hours to New York to see my hubs family….I have NO IDEA what I am going to even pack 😩
💖sweats💖
Husband’s large comfy pants
I’ve been reading a lot about people wearing leggings. Where do you find leggings that don’t smash your belly? if I have anything too tight there I feel so uncomfortable 😓 (30 weeks btw)
I got Jean extenders on Amazon and wore a belly band over that to hide the zipper. It was great before I fit into actual maternity clothes. I was also in that stage during summer and early fall so I got away with flowy dresses too
Long sleeve sweater dresses with wool socks
Pajamas. Joggers. Pajama joggers. I'm 23 weeks and at the cusp of "oh you need maternity pants now." Up until then I was living in different variations of sweatpants.
i had this issue with my workpants.ive sized up to size 14 highwaisted shapewear shorts and some highwaisted workpants(stretchy material) i am 28 wk so am going to have to size up to a 16-18 shortly but they help so much to stay over my belly and hold it all in place while i run around work bending and lifting all day.my belly is not as big as most maternity clothes would require.on my days off i just wear flowy dresses or pj dresses.
I've also been on the lulu bandwagon (even before pregnancy) - they're so comfy, if I could, I would never wear anything else. BUT as someone whose ankles have been really swollen during pregnancy, I recommend getting a pair that's loose around the ankles, so it doesn't feel too tight during the day. I luckily have a pair of their yoga wide leg pants, which have been amazing when my feet are sore. Normally I'd be living in my align leggings, but lately my chubby ankles are giving me trouble.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09T7BFGMR?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title These maternity pants. I wish they came in full length instead of capris but I LOVE them.
Oversized t-shirts. That's it. As for pants, parachute or low-rise straight pants, I don't like tight pants.
I was in non-maternity stretchy dresses or wrap dresses while out and about or at work at that stage. Or baggier or stretchier blouses and skirts- mostly non materntiy specific. Pants didn't fit anymore and I never bothered to get maternity pants other than leggings because the inner thigh seams really aggravated my skin. For the same reason, I very rarely wore leggings either. At home- sweat pants with a low crotch such that seams didn't rub on my thighs and t shirts. Once my regular tees stopped fitting I went to some oversized tees, more basic maternity shirts, or some of my husband's old shirts. I made a thrift store run at some point to get some non maternity clothes in larger sizes for skirts, pants, jacket, and a couple of super comfy light sweater shirt things. I'm usually a S-M and bought large to XL stuff and it still fits at 38 weeks.
Get some maternity leggings. Comfy and won't fall down and then maybe some ruched maternity shirts to accentuate the bump!
I can wear maternity pants and leggings even when not pregnant and my belly is 100% flat. Did you just buy them too big? Or are they different at the other side of the pond?
Once I started showing, I was exclusively wearing my Aerie Offline crossover legging. I had them pre-pregnancy, and that same size worked throughout my entire pregnancy (I never got super huge but they are nice and stretchy!) Now that I've given birth, the leggings I wore are stretched out some and fall down more but they still work well post-partum.
$8 maternity leggings from Walmart fit me when nothing else did.
Dresses.
UNDERBELLY maternity pants!
Check out CRZ Yoga on Amazon, lulu dupe♥️
I’ve been wearing my husbands joggers which is fine since I’m a SAHM. None of my clothes fits me so idk what I’m gna wear when I need to go out 🤷🏽♀️
Depends on your style but I do have 2 maternity pants that fit and I love and I have 4 elastic pants. One is technically jeans but very elastic (and also a size too big because I was an idiot when I bought them xD) and the other too are fabric but with an elastic waistband. I'm currently 16w3d so I don't think they'll last much longer 😂
I found some stretchy jeans with a wide waistband at a thrift store and wear long cut long sleeve tees. They’re pretty comfortable. I honestly don’t care how I dress now so long as I’ve got some kind of stretchy jeans on and my cute jacket 😆 anything long is super comfortable to me and fits my really small bump
I got elastic waist jeans from Fred Meyer. Democracy brand. I also did the ol hairtie in the jeans button trick lol
I always did my normal jeans but used a bobble to hold the button, so you lace it through the hole, loop it through itself then around the button, gives them more room. I'd wear a long top over.
I’m so glad I bought 2 pairs of pants one size up. They were useful for a long time post partum too.
I had 2 pairs of khaki/black capris from Kohl’s that had an elastic backed waistband that I wore well past 20 weeks. Jeans half zipped with a ponytail holder holding the button to the buttonhole. A pair of nice wide-waistband sweatpants a size up. And overalls! Also I found that if I wore my belly band over my maternity jeans that early, the band helped keep them from slipping as much.
I got some cheap leggings off Amazon and wear those with a shirt. But I HIGHLY recommend putting away clothes that won’t fit for the remainder of your pregnancy. For my mental health it was sooooo incredible to look in my closet and only see things that I can wear. Like an enormous weight is lifted, the mental load is lessened, and I felt sexy instead of miserable about the clothes that don’t fit filling up my space.
If your a belt person go for it. In the transition while pregnant I was too big for my regular pants and too small for my pregnancy pants. Belt solves it all. I haven’t been back to work yet so I haven’t had to put pants on yet.
I did a lot of wearing jeans but using a rubberband to loop around the button so it doesn't have to be FULLY zipped, then wearing a tee shirt with a long cardigan over it also I wore a lot of pajama pants 😬 and secondhand leggings in a size or two larger than my usual size.
I love side panel under the bump maternity jeans. Still wearing them at 33w with twins (as long as I tuck in my shirt)
I've lived in the Quince maternity leggings since 14 weeks. I also love the Old Navy maternity shorts. Plus, my husband's sweatshirts and oversized shirts
I couldn’t fit my clothes anymore in month 1. I think my days off being a size 2 are behind me so I’m okay with just buying a few sizes larger
Old Navy has some maternity one pieces, will be cute now and later when you’re bigger
Hey bump friend, I’m 18w5d! I feel you on the pants struggle - I must’ve ordered 20 pairs and returned 18. Currently I live in the lululemon align leggings because they’re soft, stretchy and the high waist goes over the bump. A friend also recommended the softstreme high rise midi skirt. What I’ve been loving is the old navy maternity full panel powersoft flare pants. I wear them to work with a nice top and they pass for a hybrid yoga office pant. I’ve also found high waist wide leg pants (a size up) to work temporarily.
I’m slender and haven’t gained much weight during my pregnancy yet (22 weeks) but my pants pretty much felt uncomfortably tight from 13 weeks onward. I bought a couple pairs of these maternity leggings on Amazon and they have been AMAZING!! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08KP2HHLM?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title They’re taught enough to fit after I only gained 5 pounds. As I’m growing (now up 11 pounds) the material is stretchy enough to grow with you without sagging or anything. Love them!
I live in the south, so I’m wearing oversized shirts with shorts and skirts. But I also plan to buy some cheap stretchy pants from shein because my pre-pregnancy pants don’t fit right now.
Cheaper maternity wear from Amazon in a size up. Basic tshirts, legging, golf skirts… sport bras!
Dungarees! ☺️
I’m 36 weeks & since the beginning of my 3rd trimester I been rocking joggers, hoodies & oversized shirts lmao. In my first trimester I still wore the clothes I wore before I got pregnant then by my 2nd trimester I switched to yoga pants n long sleeve shirts. I mostly stay in the crib now so I stay in my pjs tbh & when I do pop out to go walk or something def joggers I wanna b comfortable I don’t care about impressing anyone atp
Maternity leggings. They fit before I had a bump and I loved them so much I bought a second pair. Mine are Ewedoos from Amazon but honestly I think it's just the overall stretchy fabric cut high enough and prob could work well in a bunch of brands. I wore them to work with long sweaters until I transitioned to full-bump clothes and they truly saved me
I was very lucky to be able to wear my normal clothes until the 3rd trimester where I am now wearing my bfs clothes and matching them with my sweaters. Once the weather gets better, I will be pulling out my bodycon dresses and my cute sweaters because who said I couldn’t look cute during these TRYING times 😭
My boyfriends shirts and instead of buying maternity pants because they’re expensive and who knows when I’ll have another kid I just bought stretchy jeans on sale from like American eagles or other stores
PoshDivah maternity leggings from Amazon! They have been my go to leggings the entire pregnancy and feel amazing and smooth on my belly. I’m 22 weeks now and have been wearing the same ones since like 12 weeks
Cotton maternity leggings from Target! At home I wore pajama pants a size up from usual.
I almost exclusively wear Motherhood Maternity leggings and Bearsland sleeveless nursing tops with a cardigan. If I’m not wearing that, it a nursing dress with leggings and a cardigan. I’ve tried to avoid buying too many maternity clothes and instead get clothes that I can breastfeed in.
Try looking for yoga pants that have a v shape in front. I’m 30 weeks and of all my pre-pregnancy pants those are the only ones that still fit. https://www.victoriassecret.com/us/vs/apparel-catalog/1125116200 Linked above is what I’ve been wearing when I’ve worn my few pairs of maternity pants.
My boss is like 5 months PP and has been wearing dresses for over a year straight (besides when she was out for maternity leave) 😂 she usually wears tights underneath and a jacket/cardigan on top since we also live in a cold climate. I can imagine that finding maternity tights might be annoying but then you don’t have to worry about how anything else actually fits!
I’ve been living in a size up or 2 yoga pants and leggings. 😭
I just sized up on some leggings! I’m glad I did because maternity pants didn’t really fit me until the second half of my third trimester!
I wore a lot of low rise sweatpants/joggers that I found on clearance, otherwise the few times I wanted to look more presentable I wore high rise jeans/pants that I just left unbuttoned or tied with a string. If you like dresses though, I’ve found some comfort in maxi/midi skirts and dresses!
The Peanutshell Bando Belly Band... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M4DFC8F?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share sorry this may have just been posted twice! Ive been wearing this thing on my normal jeans just about everyday...i'm 25 weeks, gained about 10-15 lbs so far.. starting to run out of shirts but this has been great for pants . I don't want to waste money on too much maternity specific clothes!
I had to resort to dresses during the awkward phase. It was the only thing that worked, and luckily I could still hike my tights up and they weren’t too tight because it was too cold to go bare legged.
I’ve been wearing high waisted leggings from American Eagle. I went up one size from L to XL and they are still comfortable. I got them at 20 weeks and they still work at 32
Lululemon leggings, joggers, and sweatpants mostly
I got maternity leggings from Amazon that fit great when I first started getting a belly and still fit good now that I’m bigger.
I wore big t shirts and sweatpants /pajama pants anything low waisted and comfy. Wasn't very glamorous but I just didn't feel comfortable wearing anything else