Buying guide
Maternity clothes – what you need
A few good pieces that also work after the birth are worth more than a wardrobe of maternity clothes. What to buy, when, and what to borrow or adapt from what you own.
In short
- Until about 4–5 months, your own loose clothes and a trouser extender are usually enough.
- Buy few maternity pieces, ideally ones that also work for breastfeeding – trousers with an elastic waist, a few long tops, a soft bra.
- For the cold season, a coat extender or a loose coat does the job of a maternity coat.
- Maternity clothes are very easy to find second-hand or to borrow.
You wear maternity clothes for a few months, and then they stay in the wardrobe. That’s why it’s worth having few, well chosen, and as many as possible that also work after the birth. You don’t need a new wardrobe.
Stage by stage
| Period | What you need |
|---|---|
| First 3–4 months | Your own clothes; possibly a larger bra |
| Months 4–6 | A trouser extender, a few pairs of trousers with an elastic waist |
| Months 6–9 | A few maternity pieces that grow with your bump; a soft bra |
| After the birth | The same pieces, plus clothes that open at the front for breastfeeding |
What’s worth it
- Two or three pairs of trousers or leggings with a high elastic waist that goes over the bump.
- A few long tops and blouses, in cotton, longer at the front.
- A soft bra without underwiring, one size up; in the last month it can already be a nursing bra. See what you need for breastfeeding.
- Comfortable shoes, possibly half a size bigger – your feet can swell towards the end.
- For the cold season, a coat extender or a loose coat, not necessarily a maternity coat.
What to borrow or adapt
- The trouser extender for the trouser button – cheap, it buys you a few weeks.
- Your partner’s big shirts and jumpers.
- Loose dresses or high-waisted ones that you already have.
- Maternity clothes from friends – they get passed from one pregnancy to another and are easy to find second-hand.
What you don’t need
- A whole wardrobe of maternity clothes. You wear them for a few months.
- Smart maternity outfits for a single occasion – borrow or rent.
- Support belts bought without trying them on or without asking your doctor; some women need them, others don’t.
After the birth
In the first weeks after the birth, maternity clothes and loose ones remain the most comfortable. For leaving hospital, take clothes in the size you wore in the sixth month of pregnancy, not the one from before.
Our recommendation
Until about the fifth month, your own clothes and a trouser extender. After that, a few good pieces – trousers with an elastic waist, long tops, a soft bra –, chosen so that, as far as possible, they also work for breastfeeding. Borrow the rest. The money you save is better spent on things for the baby.
Frequently asked questions
When do I need maternity clothes?
Usually from the fourth or fifth month, when your usual trousers no longer fasten comfortably. Until then, the loose clothes you already have and a button extender are enough. The pace differs a lot from one pregnancy to another.
Which maternity clothes are worth buying?
A few pieces you wear often – two or three pairs of trousers with a high elastic waist, a few long tops and blouses, a soft bra without underwiring and, in the cold season, a solution for your coat. Where possible, choose pieces that open at the front, so you can use them for breastfeeding too.
Can I wear my pre-pregnancy clothes after the birth?
Usually not straight away. In the first weeks after the birth your body changes gradually, so maternity clothes or loose, comfortable ones are the most suitable. For leaving hospital, take clothes in the size you wore in the sixth month of pregnancy.
Think it could help someone else?
Send the guide to your partner or to a friend who is expecting a baby.