How Do Maternity Sizes Work?

Clothing sizes can vary no matter what the situation, but add a growing belly and you’ve really got a combination for confusion. When buying maternity clothes, the main thing to remember is that everyone’s body is built uniquely. You shouldn’t beat yourself up when you have to buy bigger jeans than you’re used to. With all the changes your body is going through, an expanding waistline is just a small part of the bigger picture.

When should you buy maternity clothes?

Some women get so excited about their impending pregnancy that they go out the day they find out they’re carrying and buy a whole new wardrobe. They might even start donning their pregnancy attire before the bump makes its appearance. Other women, on the other hand, are reluctant to give up their regular duds.

The choice, of course, is entirely up to you. But there are some things you should know about wearing clothing that’s too tight during pregnancy. For one thing, tight clothing can cause poor circulation. Even when you’re not pregnant, this can be an issue. But during pregnancy, it can be particularly problematic because of the changes in your body, as your blood vessels expand to provide a healthy blood flow to the baby.

Another issue tight clothing can cause is heartburn. Heartburn and acid reflux are already more problematic for some women during their pregnancies. But wearing tight clothing at the waist can make it worse.

And finally, tight clothing during pregnancy can make you more likely to develop yeast infections. For these reasons and for your own comfort, it’s a good idea to start wearing maternity clothing as soon as it becomes necessary. Of course, this is something that will be different for everyone. But you’ll know it’s time when your regular clothing starts to feel snug. At this point, you can move straight to maternity clothes. Or you can start by wearing the loosest garments you already have in your closet.

Maternity pant sizes

When it comes to maternity jeans or other types of pants, designers stick to the same sizes. In other words, if you wore a small before your pregnancy, you can probably still buy a small in maternity sizes. The same thing goes for waist sizes. Even though your waist is expanding now, you can usually buy pants in the same waist size you wore before. This is because designers make the pants to fit a particular size, but add waist expanders to accommodate a growing belly.

There are exceptions, however. Each woman is different and gains weight very differently during pregnancy. For example, one woman might gain weight in her thighs and another primarily in her breasts. If a woman gains weight in her thighs, she might have to go up a pant size, just like she’d have to do if she wasn’t pregnant.

Maternity dress and top sizes

Some pregnant women prefer to add several maternity dresses to their wardrobes because of their much more forgiving coverage. This is especially true in the summer months when you can wear sundresses and flowing tunics. In fact, you can sometimes get away with wearing regular dresses for a few months into your pregnancy because some are naturally cut a little looser than other clothing. And just like pants, maternity dress sizes are sized according to pre-pregnancy measurements, then expanded in the right places. Most are also designed a little looser in the breast area to accommodate the naturally growing area.

All maternity clothing is sized according to pre-pregnancy sizing. However, some garments are designed to expand a bit more than others. For example, most maternity pants are made to expand with your belly all the way to the end. But some tighter fitting shirts or dresses might only grow with you to the second trimester. You’ll probably have to decide when trying them on, how long you’d like to wear them. And keep in mind that you’ll probably be looking more for comfort than style toward the end of the last trimester.