How does sizing work for maternity clothes

Not only do you need to know what size of maternity clothes to buy, but you should also know which maternity clothes are staples in any pregnancy wardrobe. This will help you cover all of the style basics you need and save money. The following chart outlines maternity essentials in general and for specific seasons.

Another consideration when dressing for pregnancy that is commonly overlooked but is incredibly important is comfortable shoes.

There are some shoes that are recommended for pregnant women because they can accommodate swollen feet while providing support. If you need a shoe that is accommodating to pregnant feet and suitable for the office, you can try the Franco Sarto Sela Mule. As you can see, maternity fashion is as much of a personal choice as your everyday fashion.

We understand that all women and their bumps are different so our maternity wear is designed to include all sorts of clever little features that will give you a flawless fit at each and every stage of your pregnancy and after your little bundle of joy is born. Our handy guide will help you understand how to measure for a bra and other pieces of maternity wear, as well as advise you on when and what to buy.

Likewise, if you were a size medium, any medium item of maternity wear should fit you. You should be measured in not one, not two, but three places when you're figuring out your size for maternity clothes.

Just like early pregnancy symptoms , whether or not you need maternity clothes can vary from person to person. For at least the first few months of pregnancy, you may be able to get away with wearing comfier, roomier items from your existing wardrobe, such as leggings, maxi dresses, and oversized sweaters. There are many tried-and-true pregnancy clothing hacks you might swear by in the first trimester, such as threading a hair tie around your pants button to leave more room for your growing belly, or making your own belly band to wear on top of unzipped pants.

You'll probably start showing between 12 and 18 weeks , and by then, you might feel and look more comfortable in clothes that are tailored specifically to your changing body. These tips for finding the right maternity sizes will make it easier and hopefully less daunting! Be sure to connect with other moms-to-be in our BabyCenter Community for even more maternity fashion tips, tricks, and inspiration. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world.

When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Grow by WebMD. When do pregnant women start showing?

Motherhood Maternity. Sizing charts. Join now to personalize. Do I really need maternity clothes? Tips for finding the right maternity clothes sizes These tips for finding the right maternity sizes will make it easier and hopefully less daunting!