When Should I Wear Maternity Clothes?

The simple answer is that you should start wearing maternity clothes the moment you feel you need to. But a more comprehensive answer is that maternity clothes are a key part of your pregnancy. They help keep you comfortable and provide appropriate support to your body as your pregnancy develops. While first-time moms-to-be may not believe it, you'll likely wear your maternity clothes for longer than you first think.

Sooner Than You Think

While most women find they can't fit into their jeans from almost the moment they find out they are pregnant, you can typically get by during your first trimester without maternity clothes. Out-blousing your shirts and using a ponytail holder to loop through your unbuttoned pants will often get you through the first trimester. By the third month, or even earlier, you'll likely need garments that are cut specifically for pregnant women. However, if you are carrying multiples or this isn't your first pregnancy, you may find your expand waistline requires maternity clothes by your six-week ultrasound, if not sooner.

Plan for the Long Haul

When you first start purchasing maternity clothes, you may not be able to conceive of filling out all the darts and blousing. But you likely will. Make sure to use the pillows that you can strap on to your belly to get a sense of how the garment looks when you're close to your due date.
If you have a long torso, you may find that maternity garments aren't necessary until later in your pregnancy. But you'll still need to know how you'll look with a fully pregnant physique so that you're not having to buy new clothes when you're weeks away from your due date.

Once the Baby Arrives

You don't stop wearing maternity clothes once you're not pregnant. You'll likely need them as you transition back to your pre-pregnancy form. Choose colors that are flattering and that make you happy, since you'll typically be wearing these clothes for weeks, if not months, after the baby is born.