Clothes
Maternity clothes – the complete guide
What to buy, when and in what size. A wardrobe for three trimesters, fabrics, cuts that last beyond the birth, and things that aren’t worth it.
In-depth guide 6 min read
When to start wearing maternity clothes
Some women reach for maternity trousers at 10 weeks, others wear their own jeans until almost 30. Both are fine. Comfort decides, not the number of the week.
When the bump shows
The NHS says that in a first pregnancy the bump often doesn’t start to show until around week 12.1 In later pregnancies it tends to be sooner. But your waistband often starts to feel tight before the bump is visible. Bloating is common in the first trimester, and the breasts get bigger and more tender.1
So rather than asking “What week is it?”, ask:
- Are you undoing your trousers after lunch?
- Does the waistband dig in when you sit?
- Does your bra feel tight, or make it hard to breathe?
- Are your tops riding up above your waistband?
If so, it is time for the first changes.
An order that makes sense
| Step | What | When it usually comes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | a soft bra without pressure | often in the first trimester |
| 2 | trousers or leggings with a stretchy waistband | when the waistband starts to dig in |
| 3 | longer tops, ideally ones that work for breastfeeding too | when tops start to ride up |
| 4 | a dress or tunic that grows with the bump | the second trimester |
| 5 | a warm layer and a coat that fastens | depending on the season, often the third trimester |
| 6 | a nightdress for the maternity hospital | the final weeks |
The trimesters according to the NHS: the first to week 12, the second from 13 to 27, the third from week 28.2 You will find more on what happens in each in the article The trimesters: how your body changes.
What your everyday wardrobe can cope with
- Straight or A-line dresses and tunics often last into the second trimester.
- Knitted cardigans and loose shirts can be worn open in the third trimester too.
- Your partner’s hoodie will rescue many an evening.
- A hair tie through the buttonhole of your jeans adds a few weeks to their life, but don’t expect miracles.
What won’t last
- trousers with a firm waistband that digs in under the bump when you sit,
- shapewear,
- short tops and bras with hard underwires that dig in.
A tip for buying sensibly
Choose your first maternity pieces so you can wear them as long as possible: leggings with a fold-over waistband, tops that open for breastfeeding, a cardigan without fastenings. That way they will last from the second trimester through to the months after the birth. You will find a detailed plan in the complete guide to maternity clothes.
Where this comes from
The numbers in the text refer to these sources. The links go to the publishers’ own pages; we simply cite them.
- NHS (United Kingdom):4 weeks pregnant – early pregnancy symptomsIn a first pregnancy the bump often doesn’t start to show until around week 12; bloating and tender breasts are common in the first trimester.
- NHS (United Kingdom):Week-by-week guide to pregnancy
We last checked these sources on 13 October 2026.
Further along the path
Clothes
How to choose maternity leggings
Over-bump panel or under-bump waistband? How to choose the size, fabric and thickness, what makes good winter maternity leggings, and how long you will wear them.
In-depth guide 4 min read
Pregnancy
How your body changes during pregnancy
An overview of the three trimesters of pregnancy, week by week. What usually changes in your body, what to do about it in practice, and what it means for clothes and comfort.
2 min read