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1. Pregnancy /
2. Your Life

Jeans won't button anymore? Here's your ultimate guide to maternity clothes

You won't need to wear maternity clothes right away, but as your pregnancy progresses, you'll want the essentials, including maternity jeans and leggings, tops, and dresses.

Fact-checked by Marcella Gates, Director of Content OperationsWritten by Amy Cassell | Sep 17, 2025Photo credit: iStock.com / AleksandarNakicIn this article

• When to buy maternity clothes
• What to look for when you buy maternity clothes
• Where to buy maternity clothes
• Cute maternity outfits to try

The thought of shopping for maternity clothes might make you feel excited – or even a little overwhelmed – but one thing's for certain: As your pregnant body changes, so will your wardrobe.

Maternity clothing has come a long way over the years, and today, many diverse options make it easy (and fun!) to show off a little personal pregnancy style. From what to look for to where to buy them, here's everything you need to know about maternity clothes.

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Key Takeaways

• Most people start wearing maternity clothes between 12 to 18 weeks, but stretchy basics like leggings and loose tops can be useful earlier; comfort is key, even in the first trimester.

• Essentials include maternity jeans, leggings, tops, dresses, supportive bras, and layering pieces. Prioritize stretch, adjustability, and items that grow with you.

• Maternity clothes are widely available online and in stores; budget-friendly options include secondhand stores, sales, and borrowing from friends.

• Focus on comfort and your personal style – accessories can keep you feeling confident. Many maternity clothes can be worn postpartum, too.

When to buy maternity clothes

Buy a few basic pieces early in your pregnancy, like stretchy leggings and long tops – they'll help you through the first trimester and will come in handy later. For the rest, you can buy maternity clothes whenever you're ready, but you probably won't need to start wearing them until sometime between 12 and 18 weeks, which is when many pregnant women start to show.

Women who begin their pregnancy at a healthy weight typically only experience an average first trimester weight gain of one to five pounds. But even if you don't gain much weight early on or feel like you look pregnant, your body is changing. There's a good chance you'll have more gas and bloating during pregnancy, which can make your regular clothes start to feel uncomfortable. In that case, it’s entirely okay to turn to maternity clothes.

“I've been wearing maternity clothes since 6 weeks due to bloat,” says BabyCenter Community member Thelittlemermaid5.

If you're not ready to rock maternity clothes yet, don't worry – that's normal, too. This in-between phase is a good time to shop your closet with an eye for soft knits, athleisure, loose-fitting tops, oversized cardigans, and flowy dresses.

Tops and dresses with empire waists and billowy fabric fall nicely over a growing belly, and won't look too tent-like. These items can also be helpful if you aren't ready to announce your pregnancy yet, and want to keep well-meaning-but-curious friends and colleagues at bay.

And while the maternity pants are inevitable, there are a few DIY ways to make your jeans last longer. You can make a belly band out of an old shirt to wear over pants that won't button or zip anymore, or thread a hair elastic through your buttonhole for a quick, homemade waistband extender.

“The hair tie trick does well for awhile,” says BabyCenter Community member NewMamaBearinTown.

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Want more real-life maternity hacks? Thousands of moms are swapping tips in the BabyCenter appOpens a new window's Community – from what jeans actually fit to the best bras for sore boobs.

It's fine to wait until you're into your second trimester to buy the rest of your maternity clothes, especially because you can't predict how exactly your belly will grow. Before shopping, ask your mom friends if they have any hand-me-downs to give you – then you can buy just what you need to round out the rest of your maternity wardrobe.

Pregnancy Calendar Get a daily dose of helpful information about your pregnancy.

What to look for when you buy maternity clothes

When you buy maternity clothes, look for items that will grow with you, like stretchy materials, adjustable straps, and shirts with ruched sides. Unless you're layering, steer clear of anything that's too see-through or doesn't provide a comfortable amount of coverage. Your breasts will change as your pregnancy progresses, so you may like some maternity tank tops with added support.

You may not need really great quality stuff since most of these pieces will only be worn for three-to-six months, but you still want them to hold up for this pregnancy and any future ones.

Maternity sizing works the same way regular sizing does – if you wear a medium, you'll be a medium in pregnancy clothes, too. Try on clothes in the store to make sure you're happy with the fit. And check online return policies before adding items to your cart, so you can buy a bunch of stuff and return what doesn't work.

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These are a few of the maternity clothes essentials you'll want to have:

• A couple pairs of maternity jeans or pants (and shorts, if it's warm where you live)
• Business-casual maternity pants or a skirt for work
• Maternity leggings: These are must-haves!
• At least a few maternity shirts or tank tops – stretchy is key
• An oversized cardigan or blazer for layering
• Maternity loungewear or athletic clothing for exercise
• Pregnancy dresses (Even if you don't usually wear dresses, you may prefer them in the third trimester if pants get too uncomfortable.)
• A comfortable maternity coat, especially if it gets cold where you live
• An outfit you love for your baby shower or maternity photoshoot, if you're having them

Don't forget about maternity bras, as your cup size and band size (the circumference around your back) will get bigger during pregnancy. While your favorite pre-pregnancy bras may work for a while, eventually you'll want the comfort and expandability of a maternity or nursing bra. (Plus, if you plan to breastfeed, having a few nursing bras now will be useful later.)

Having some maternity underwear is great, too. Not only will they be more comfortable, you'll avoid stretching out all your favorite pairs of underwear.

“Even if I only use them for the next few months it will have been money well spent,” says BabyCenter Community member NewYearSameMe.

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In the third trimester, you may feel swollen, exhausted, uncomfortable (or to be honest, all three!), and ready to throw all your maternity style rules out the door. It's a good time to buy a couple more dresses, which are free of buttons, zippers, and waistbands that may feel stifling.

Where to buy maternity clothes

Maternity fashion is a $10 billion (and growing!) industry, and if you're ready to shop, there's no shortage of cute maternity clothes out there for you, from workhorse denim and haute-couture fashion to functional separates and bold swimwear perfect for that tropical babymoon you're already planning.

Need more ideas on where to shop? Check out our favorite maternity clothing brands.

Plus-size maternity clothes

Finding fashion-forward, plus-size maternity clothes is easier than it used to be. And even though options are still unfortunately more limited for plus-size pregnant women, there's a growing number of maternity stores offering more inclusive sizing. Plus-size brands have launched their own maternity collections too, helping moms-to-be show off their bumps in style.

Many of the major retailers that sell maternity clothes have pretty small – if any – plus-size selections in store, so your best bet for the most options is to shop online. Plus-size maternity sizing works the same way as regular plus-sized clothes, but it's still a good idea to take your measurements and check maternity size charts before ordering. Sizing can vary a lot by retailer.

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The same advice applies when it comes to plus-size pregnancy fashion: Prioritize comfort, look for materials and pieces that will grow with you, and wear what makes you happy!

Cheap maternity clothes

It's understandable if you don't want to spend a ton of money on a maternity wardrobe that you'll only use for a finite amount of time – especially if you feel like every few weeks you're a new size. Luckily, there are plenty of ways for budget-conscious shoppers to find cheap maternity clothes.

Many big retailers have expanded their maternity sections, launching their own lines or partnering with high-fashion brands on lower-priced capsule collections. Other good tips: Shop the clearance rack, search for coupon codes before buying online, and take advantage of end-of-season sales. Secondhand stores are another great resource for finding lightly used (and sometimes even brand new) items.

You can also look for pregnancy clothing swaps, sales, and giveaways in your local neighborhood parent or social media groups. If you have a special occasion to attend, like a wedding, there are websites that rent out maternity wear where you can find designer looks without the designer price tag. If you have mom friends or acquaintances from church, school, or work, they may have bags of maternity clothes they don't need right now.

You'll end up wearing a lot of your pregnancy clothes after you have your baby, too (especially those soft, lived-in maternity leggings): Your post-baby belly doesn't disappear overnight, and it takes six to eight weeks for your uterus to return to its normal size after giving birth. Knowing that might make the price tag on some of these items feel a little less heavy.

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(P.S. We also rounded up our favorite non-maternity pregnancy clothes on Amazon.)

Cute maternity outfits to try

The most important maternity fashion "rule" is that whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident is best. Look for maternity style inspiration on social media and in the BabyCenter Community, and consider these pregnancy outfits, too.

Maternity dresses

Wrap dresses. Embrace wrap dresses, or better yet, let them embrace you. You'll look pulled together at the office and for weekend date nights. As your bump gets bigger and higher, you can readjust where you place the tie, eventually turning the dress into an empire-waisted garment and providing definition between your chest and your bump. They can even come in handy after your baby is here.

“I think flowy wrap dresses are the best postpartum,” says BabyCenter Community member SamC20.

Maxi dresses. One of the most popular pregnancy dresses, the maxi dress is an ankle-length garment that easily transitions from the office to the grocery store and beyond. They're often made with lightweight fabric that won't stifle you in the summer; and in chillier months, it's easy to toss on a light jacket or cardigan over one.

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Jeans and a stretchy tee

A pair of bootcut or maternity skinny jeans in classic dark denim are incredibly versatile. And like many other moms-to-be, you may fall in love with the stretchy fabric built into the waistband and never want to wear regular jeans again.

Leggings and a loose top

Pair leggings with a tunic or loose-fitting top (or in the winter, a comfy oversized sweater) for an easy, yet still-put-together look. If you love multifunctional clothing, leggings can also double as pajama or exercise pants.

Playful accessories

Jazz up your little black maternity dress with some accessories, like bold jewelry, colorful scarves, and cute – and comfortable! – shoes (just be careful with extra-high heels). The best part? These beauties will still be around when your pregnancy clothes aren't.

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Sources

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

Mayo Clinic. Pregnancy weight gain: What's healthy?Opens a new window Dec. 19 2024.

Mayo Clinic. Third trimester pregnancy: What to expectOpens a new window. Feb. 7, 2025.

Version History

Sept. 17, 2025

Editors: Kelly Burch, Rebekah Wahlberg

Edited for tone and clarity.

Amy CassellAmy Cassell was a senior editor at BabyCenter, the world's number one digital parenting resource, where she wrote and edited wellness and lifestyle content about pregnancy and parenting. She lives in Seattle with her husband and daughter – and when she's not writing, you’ll likely find her exploring with her family, at a brewery with friends, or on the couch with a book. Opens a new window Opens a new window Opens a new window

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