Maternity Clothes
Most women start to need maternity clothes sometime in the second trimester, but it’s all based on your own comfort. You’ll likely be able to wear your regular sweatpants and stretchy or loose dresses for your whole pregnancy.
As soon as a pre-pregnancy item stops fitting, move it to a separate drawer so you don’t have to keep track of what still is and isn’t fitting
Given that you only need maternity clothes for a few months, I recommend relatively cheap brands (Target, H&M, Old Navy and Gap have great maternity options) and items that can later be used for nursing (i.e. can easily be either pulled down or lifted up) and postpartum more generally. Here are some of my faves:
Target Tank tops - these are great for nursing and postpartum too
H&M Leggings (they go over your bump) for under dresses - too see-through to wear on their own; Lululemon Align leggings (pricey but amazing; and work after pregnancy) as pants/for workouts
Other maternity leggings that people love: Zella, Beyond Yoga
Gap Athletic Shorts (these are a bit more pricey but great)
Pants/shorts/leggings can be either over the belly or under the belly - it’s personal preference. If you end up getting an outie belly button and are self-conscious about it showing, you may prefer over the belly (and/or consider shapewear like this to smooth things out under dresses, etc.)
You can also rent maternity clothes on Rent the Runway or Nuuly (I think the selection on Nuuly is better). Better yet - borrow from previously pregnant friends!
If you want to indulge a little, especially for special occasions like weddings or your baby shower, here are some nicer brands:
If you’re experiencing back/pelvic pain towards the end, these (frankly overpriced) tank tops with extra belly support may help reduce pain while walking
If you notice swelling in your ankles or calves, consider compression socks (low cut or knee high)
