Tips & FAQs

The best tip we can offer is simple:

Surrender... and trust that your body knows what it's doing!

For more specific questions you may have, here are the most frequently asked...

When should I start wearing maternity clothes?

Slender or petite women may notice their bump much earlier than those who have curves and tummies. If you’re usually slim you may need maternity clothes - especially pants - fairly early in your pregnancy. Most maternity clothes these days are designed to look very ‘normal’ and can be worn from the very early stages. It’s up to you how early you want to enjoy the comfort of maternity clothes. Once you've tried them, you’ll wonder why you waited!

Will I wear the same size as before?

Yes, most likely. If you are usually a size 12, you will start with 12’s. Sizes may vary between brands, as in regular clothes. On our shopping facility, we indicate if things are ‘smaller fit’ ‘generous fit’ etc. If you’ve put on a fair amount of extra weight on your breasts, hips and/or buttocks, as many of us do, you may need to try a larger size. Your bra cup size may increase quite a lot.

When should I get a maternity bra?

We recommend you stay in your ‘normal’ bra for as long as it fits you and is comfortable, bearing in mind that it is not recommended you wear an underwire bra during pregnancy (discuss this with your doctor). Most women will need a maternity bra around 4-5 months into their pregnancy. Your tummy is not only growing, it's also pushing your internal organs upwards. How can they fit into the limited space? Your ribcage cleverly expands! This is why maternity bras have so many hooks on them. We will advise you on how to fit any bra you order through this site. Look after your breasts, and get the most supportive fitted bra possible.

How many bras will I need?

Budget for three fitted bras for day wear, and one or two stretch-cup or crop-top style bras or nursing singlets for night wear. Maternity bras really get a hammering, much more than your usual bra. They are opened and closed very often, and need to be washed more often than your normal bras. You will almost certainly need to use nursing pads day and/or night. Softer stretch-cup bras and nursing tanks are much more comfortable for nightwear than the fitted bras. We don’t recommend stretch-cup bras for active day wear if you are bigger than a B cup.

How big will I get?

Much bigger than you ever imagine, at least in your first pregnancy! In your subsequent pregnancies, your tummy usually pops out much earlier in the pregnancy. You may even be bigger in the last few months than in your first pregnancy. If it’s a multiple birth... well, it’s a miracle how more than one fits in there!

Why can't I just wear 'normal' clothes in a bigger size or 'babydoll' tops and dresses?

You can try. It's your choice, but bear in mind the following:

• larger size garment width may be too wide across your shoulders
• pants may be too low in the crotch if pants are a size too big for you
• your ribcage can expand by up to 10cm during your pregnancy, so...
• if you purchase non-maternity 'babydoll' styles, they need to have plenty of stretch under the bust. If they have an underbust seam that doesn't stretch, you might find the garment too tight when your ribs expand
• maternity clothes are designed to accommodate the changes in your body shape by expanding in all the right places and providing comfort the whole way through your pregnancy. You might also appreciate them after giving birth, while your body is returning to it's pre-pregnancy shape.
  

Other tips

• surrender to your new shape... your body really does know what it’s doing
• ‘stock take’ your wardrobe
• isolate and hide away any clothes that no longer fit you
  
• assess what’s missing and replace with a maternity version of your essentials
• purchase what you need when you need it
• avoid buying for your whole pregnancy in one go
• if you are watching your budget, choose items that you can wear after your baby is born, eg maternity tops that are also breastfeeding tops, jeans and other pants that will adjust back to 'normal' sizes
  
• ask your girlfriends / sisters / colleagues which items they most loved in their maternity wardrobe
• ask them which items would they definitely buy if they did it all over again, and when would they buy them?
• if you’re planning to breastfeed, ask breastfeeding mums the same questions

If you have a specific question that we haven’t answered here, please phone or email us so we can advise you.