When you need to move fully into maternity pants varies woman-to-woman, pregnancy-to-pregnancy.
My sister-in-law, who wore a size 6 before her first pregnancy, didn’t need to purchase maternity pants until she was well into her second trimester. Now in her second pregnancy, her belly “popped” quickly and she started to gain weight almost immediately upon conception. By 5 weeks(!) into her second pregnancy, she was pulling out her maternity pants.
Alternatively, we’ve had a Materni-Talk reader previously comment to say that she never had to even wear maternity pants! During her pregnancy, only her belly grew larger (not her bottom, thighs, and hips which is more common), and she was able to wear her regular pants and skirts below her abdomen.
Each of us gains weight differently during pregnancy, with some women gaining only in the belly, and others adding inches and soft spots all over the body. These weight and size adjustments also vary as to when they happen during pregnancy. Some women will put on pounds and inches right away. For others, it’s not until the 5th or 6th or even 7th month that their abdomen suddenly swells and dressing becomes a problem.
When you will need to move into maternity pants is entirely up to your unique body and your unique pregnancy.
Maternity Clothes Buying Tip: If it’s your first pregnancy, you might be tempted to run to the nearest Old Navy and grab half a dozen pairs of maternity jeans, pants and skirts as soon as you have trouble buttoning your favorite pair. Hold on! Instead, order a Belly Belt Combo Kit. In doing so, you’ll be buying yourself a few more weeks (possibly months) of letting your abdomen grow larger and seeing what other places you gain weight before you make your maternity pants purchases.
By knowing in advance that your body is going to continue to change in ways you can’t predict at the beginning of pregnancy, you might be saved from spending hundreds of dollars on pants that fit only in the first few months.
Love,
Tara
