When I was pregnant with my first, I found the world of maternity fashion intimidating. Don’t get me wrong, I was excited to explore this new category of clothing since I love clothes and admittedly have far too many. But I had no idea how and where to find fashionable pieces for a pregnant lady like me. I found navigating maternity clothing confusing and had a lot of questions, such as:
What size should I get? Should I buy this now or wait? What pieces do I need the most? Where do I buy this stuff? Is it better to get cheap maternity clothes or is it better to invest?
Now that it’s my second time around the baby bump block, I know the answers to all of these questions. I’ve just learned from experience and wish there was a handy blog post with all of the answers when I was expecting the first time. So, I decided to write it!
Now that it’s my second time around the baby bump block, I know the answers to all of these questions. Here are my thoughts:
Where Can I Buy Maternity Clothes?
Here where I live (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) there isn’t a single dedicated maternity store. Not a one! With my first pregnancy, I ordered pretty much everything online. In doing so familiarized myself with some great retailers whose pieces I wore throughout my first pregnancy. I stored them away and am now digging them back out of the closet with baby number two on the way.
To be honest, I’ve been wearing some maternity pieces the entire time even post-pregnancy (I’ll get to why later in the post). And to be even more frank, I straight up missed my maternity clothes. They’re damn comfortable!
Some of my go-to maternity shops so far have been:
- H&M: yes, H&M has lots of maternity clothing sold online, which so few seem to know about! H&M has fashionable stuff that’s also affordable. It’s not flashy but their clothing has little details, such as bows and subtle graphics that just add that fashionable touch. I bought a lot of my pieces from there the first time around and I especially like their jeans. They’re super comfy!
- Pink Blush Maternity: mid-range prices, but they do have great pieces on sale constantly. These guys know what they’re doing when it comes to maternity clothing. They make stylish and comfortable pants, and cool jeans that I have more than one pair of. They have something for everyone whether you prefer basics or something with a little pizzaz, like this cute “Mommin'” sweater. They have a lot of selection too, like a lot.
- ASOS: this is a retailer based in the UK so few mamas across the pond know about, but you should! They have a wild amount of choice when it comes to maternity clothing (literally almost 2000 items) and a wide range of prices. ASOS even carries specialty sizes such as curvy, tall, and petite. They have so many cute outfits for pregnant ladies, not just the basics, but fashionable stuff that looks like it isn’t maternity at all. Lots of very pretty dresses for the holidays, special occasions, or a photoshoot too (like this one). Shipping is also free to Canada so, that’s a win!
- Pea in a Pod Maternity: this store has quality pieces, but it is more expensive. Their clothing is very well made though, so if you feel it’s something you may wear a lot or it’s something that will look nice without a bump too (like this knit dress) it’s worth it. This stuff could be washed and worn a million times and still look brand new. If you’re looking for maternity clothing for someone as a gift, this is the place to look. It’s gorgeous stuff.
- Old Navy: I feel like everyone knows that Old Navy has maternity stuff at really affordable prices, but their designs are fairly basic. You’re not going to find super stylish stuff here, but you will find some great staple pieces that you can layer and dress up for a darn good price, like this pretty coloured top.
- Amazon: they carry Motherhood Maternity clothing which is of good quality at a reasonable price. You’ll also find staple items like underwear and nursing tank tops. You can find my picks in my Amazon Storefront.
Check out my maternity picks as well as toys for babies and kids in the STRUCKBLOG Shop:
I’m currently on the hunt to discover some new maternity stores, especially small businesses that carry maternity clothing in Canada. I feel it’s so important to be comfortable when you’re growing a human and to feel beautiful in your ever-changing body. What you wear has the power to impact your mood. This brings me to my next point…
When Should I Purchase Maternity Clothing?
Yesterday! I’m kidding but I’m also not. There is no need to wait. Pregnancy is hard and uncomfortable (for many). Your clothing should fit your magical body and also make you feel confident with that bump!
You’ve probably seen bloggers and influencers telling you that you don’t need maternity pieces as they pose flawlessly in their “regular clothing” at 8 months pregnant. In reality, they’ve got it all unbuttoned in the back. That just isn’t real life!
With my first pregnancy, I put purchasing maternity clothing off and squeezed into my regular clothes as long as I could. I then heard about the “rubber band trick” where you use loop an elastic through the eyelet of your pants and connect it to the button in order to hold up your open, unzipped pants (it does work, just don’t try to sit comfortably or bend over). When that got ridiculous (which arguably it was from day one) I got one of those pant extenders that covered the undone buttons of my non-maternity pants. Listen, all of this was totally unnecessary and I wouldn’t recommend it. Some like these hacks, I do not.
What I would suggest that you do is buy some maternity clothing ASAP. I know you’ve probably seen bloggers and influencers telling you that you don’t need to, posing flawlessly in their “regular clothing” at 8 months pregnant as they gloat that nothing in the outfit is maternity clothing. In reality, they’ve got it all unbuttoned in the back and it’s not actually something you could wear and feel comfortable in beyond a 5-minute photo shoot.
Just buy the damn maternity pants and be comfortable! Your expanding body and the associated discomforts are enough to deal with, you don’t need to be squeezing into non-maternity clothing to boot.
Not sure what size to get because you’re not sure how big you’re going to be?
Maybe you’re putting off purchasing maternity clothing because you’re not sure about the size? I know that was the case for me. But I purchased my regular size. I usually wear small in non-maternity clothing, so I bought small maternity clothing too. If you wear a size 8-10 normally, purchase the same size in the maternity version. This worked for me and made it possible to wear some of my maternity clothing that didn’t necessarily look maternity post-baby as well. Just go with your regular size as maternity clothing is designed to align with that sizing for the most part.
What Maternity Clothing Should I Buy?
Bottoms matter. Personally, I think that panel that goes over your belly and all the way up to your boobs is a glorious invention. I honestly question why all pants don’t have this.
As mentioned above, pants. Oh, how I love maternity jeans, leggings, and pants of all varieties. Why? Comfort!
Tops don’t necessarily need to be maternity. The same goes for sweaters, and jackets that you’ll just wear open, but bottoms? Bottoms matter.
Personally, I think that panel that goes over your belly and all the way up to your boobs is a glorious invention. I honestly question why all pants don’t have this (especially in Canada where it’s cold in the winter and this keeps you so cozy underneath).
Here’s my list of essential maternity purchases. If you’re trying to create a maternity capsule wardrobe or keep the purchases to a minimum, consider the following must-haves:
- Maternity Pants/Jeans: as mentioned above, jeans are a staple and a comfortable pair will be worn repeatedly. They’re versatile. You can add a top or sweater (even one that isn’t maternity) and boom, you have an outfit. I like this kind where the panel goes all the way up to the bra over the belly, but there are some like this pair that sit underneath too. Either way, you won’t feel like you’re squishing the baby in non-maternity jeans or wearing leggings 24/7.
- Leggings: but yes you do need some, mainly because they’re comfortable and versatile as well. You can wear leggings around the house (I also like a pair of maternity sweatpants, but they’re not a must-have if you can make do with leggings). You can also wear leggings with non-maternity dresses that with your baby bump will fit more like tops/tunics. They’re also warmer than tights, can be dressed up or down, and can even be worn during a workout. There are lots of specialty maternity leggings, multiple mamas have told me they swear by the Align pant, but you can also purchase a more affordable pair such as this should you prefer.
A great option for maternity leggings is to wear them with your non-maternity dresses. With your baby bump, those dresses will fit like tops/tunics.
- Underwear: again, this is a comfort thing. I like high-waisted underwear (as you may have seen me wearing in this bump update post), but some pregnant mamas prefer the kind that sits under the belly. Either way, you don’t want to be wearing tight underwear that’s pinching you or falling down as your belly expands. So annoying! Your underwear also has the power to make the clothing you’re wearing overtop look good or bad. For example in the photos throughout this post, I’m wearing high-waisted maternity underwear which smooths out the lines and keeps my belly cozy. Not to mention, you’ll be wearing maternity underwear postpartum too, so it’s worth buying some.
- Bras: your boobs may also be getting larger, so you’re going to need at least a bra or two. I found the soft variety that I could sleep in and that also worked for nursing to be the best. Without structured cups or wires, they’re more forgiving size-wise. It was easy to slip in reusable nursing pads when needed and pull the bra down to feed the baby as well. I wore these far beyond pregnancy and postpartum.
- A Coat: this is dependent on the climate you live in. If you live in a cold climate like I do, chances are you’re going to be pregnant during the winter months for some time. Now that I spend time outside with a toddler, a warm maternity jacket is extra important. You might live somewhere warm and get away with open cardigans and raincoats, and if so I’m jealous! Otherwise, it’s worth purchasing a jacket that will get you through your pregnancy, you probably only need one. There are some that are designed to fit from bump to baby (when you’re babywearing later). Some also have a panel that can be removed from the jacket post-baby.
Buy bras that you’ll able to use postpartum as well. Bras that you can sleep in and easily slip reusable nursing pads into/use for nursing (should you choose to).
Should I Buy Affordable Pieces or Invest?
This comes down to the following few questions:
- Are you planning on having more than one child?
- Is the maternity piece in question super-seasonal?
- Is this a trendy fashionable piece, or a staple piece?
- Can the piece be worn post-pregnancy too?
Ask yourself these questions when you’re choosing between a cheap piece of maternity clothing, or something pricier. If it something you’re going to be able to wear for multiple pregnancies regardless of season, post-baby/without a bump, and/or is a basic staple (as listed in my essentials above) you shouldn’t worry about spending a little more. You will get your bang for your buck. I didn’t mind buying some more expensive maternity tops as I knew I’d also wear them post-baby, and here I am wearing them again for baby number 2 as well.
Otherwise, if it’s just a dress for a photo shoot or a silly but cute graphic t-shirt, go cheap. You’re not going to get a lot of use out of this, wash it over and over, or necessarily wear it again, so save your dollars. Watch out for maternity shirts or dresses that have that side-ruching detail too. It’s cute and comfy while you have a bump, but won’t work beyond postpartum so it’s not worth spending a lot of your hard-earned moola on.
Watch out for maternity shirts or dresses that have that side-ruching detail too. It’s cute and comfy while you have a bump, but won’t work beyond postpartum.
Do you have maternity shopping tips of your own to share? Any favourite places to snag some great pieces? Leave me the info in the comments below, or connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and share your ideas so I can let all the mamas know!
Anna
Other Motherhood Posts You Might Like:
- Advice for the First Year: Preparing for your first year with baby? Check out this post which features advice from 20 different women.
- The First 20 Weeks: The real deal about how I experienced my first 20 weeks of pregnancy. The struggles, adjustments, and navigating unsolicited advice.
- Maternity to Postpartum Shopping: Looking for more maternity clothing tips? Specifically how to stretch your dollar and look for pieces that will work from pregnancy to postpartum? This post has the scoop.
- My Labour & Delivery: If your curious about my first labour and delivery and the complications I experienced, head to this post where I spared no detail.
- Infant to Newborn Essentials: Preparing for baby’s arrival? In this post, I shared my infant essentials and explained why these items were my must-haves for those early days.
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