"In-between" Maternity Clothes

I completely agree with Old Navy clearance. Target and Kohls also have great clearance sections. I get most of my clothes there, prego or not, b/c I'm cheap. :-)

Before I had a bump but was feeling the "strain" of my own clothes I went up a size in bottoms and just wore looser style tops. During my 3rd pregnancy I found a line of maternity clothes in Macy's that was "under bump" style bottoms , so they didn't have that large panel and worked well in the earlier weeks , I found it a bit annoying as my bump became bigger and always felt more comfortable in the "over the bump" panel bottoms. For tops you could always get some of those nice A line style summer tops that are designed to sit at the hips , those have some give and I imagine you could wear those for some time even once you had a bump.

Hope this helps

Don't buy anything for this stage if you can avoid it, go straight to maternity clothes because the belly proportions are different. Borrow a few tops from a taller friend in the meantime.

i say look at the maternity tops at least most have tie backs where you can adjust them as the bump gets bigger but what i did with my first pregnancy was i wore my now x's clothes until i hit the maternity sizes

One responder stated Gap was her fav store (and I totally have to agree) but in case budget wise that isn't an option try Old Navy. Gap and Old Navy are owned by the same peeps. Plus if you can get into Old Navy's clearance - cha ching, hehehe. Super great deals with their clearance. They also have all different stages where they are maternity pants but the elastic is hidden in the belt area so you don't see the funky elastic waste. So they look just like regular clothes but stretch for you (again with out the stretchy pant look,he he). Quality wise they are good. I am on my third pregnancy and had saved most everything and all is still in great condition.

Congrats on your pregnancy and enjoy it!!!

some people like the bella band but your sound small so if you are like me it won't work. I bought one in the smallest size and it was too big. It only worked once i was 8 months pregnant and by that point I could wear regular maternity pants. I just bought some tank tops in a larger size (like a small or medium instead of extra small)they are longer so I would wear those under my regular shirts. I don't know if you have heard of the store Downeast outfitters but they make long tanktops and fitted tee's that work great for this stage.

Go buy a "belly button". It will help widen your current pants until you actually need maternity clothes. Its called different things at different stores but is essentually an elastic band you button to your pants to widen the waist.

Hi S.,

Check out the Bella Band. It can extend the life of your non-maternity clothes and will keep your little belly from playing peek-a-boo. I used mine from start to finish and for a bit after, while I was waiting to get all the way back into my pre-baby jeans.

Also, my favorite maternity clothes came from GAP. The sales are fantastic and the fit was always right on. Japanese Weekend also has great stuff (though a little expensive) - I bought a dress that could be 4 different dresses and 2 different skirts made by JW!

Congrats on the pregnancy!
T.

p.s.
Cosco sells "Lady Hathaway" camisoles that are really long and good for layering! :)

I know JCPenney's Arizona shirts in the junior department are extra long, and maybe at this point you can try just going up a size. They usually are on sale for $6 a piece so you won't be spending a lot of money. As for pants, I loved the belly bands. I wore them over my pants when I couldn't button them anymore and they flatten out my stomach so no one knew my pants weren't buttoned. Old Navy also had long maternity tops, but they didn't really have much shape and I always felt huge in them.