Maternity Must-Haves: Ultimate Wardrobe Guide for New and Expecting Moms

Having a new baby means needing new clothes! But before you rush out to buy every article of maternity clothing in the pregnancy books, now would be a good time to stop and think about what your real pregnancy must-haves are.

In this ultimate maternity clothing guide, we'll start by taking a look at the absolute pregnancy essentials that you can include in your to-do list for building up your wardrobe. Then we'll take a long, hard look at what you already have in your closet to see what works (and what won't) throughout your pregnancy journey.

This way, parents-to-be, especially first-time parents, can make sure their money is well spent—and have more to spend on baby essentials, too. As a bonus, you may even end up with pieces you'll love to wear long after baby arrives.

Maternity Essentials

When we say "essentials", we mean the basics for everyday wear—if expectant mothers have a few each of these pregnancy must-haves, they're good to go for their entire pregnancy and even during postpartum recovery.

Nursing Bras

First-time moms might wonder if they even need new bras, but the fact remains that boobs do get bigger while you're pregnant. That means the bras you have now aren't likely to fit very well, especially by the time you reach the third trimester.

After all, you can only adjust and extend so much, and it won't be long before you find you've maxed out your straps and fastened on your last row of hooks. Given that pregnant women already put up with morning sickness, acid reflux, round ligament pain, and swollen feet, you probably wouldn't want to add an ill-fitting bra to the mix.

Why These Bras Are Maternity Must-Haves

The good news is that maternity bras are designed to accommodate your breast changes even after you give birth and start to breastfeed. Unlike a regular bra, a nursing bra is specifically designed to not only support your increased breast size, but to provide easy nursing access. Your baby will be able to feed much quicker with a lot less hassle, and most important of all, you'll be comfortable all the time your breasts are changing.

Best of all, a nursing bra helps to keep things discreet, especially when they're designed to hold breast pads that conceal leaks. It's advisable to have at least two of these bras for your maternity wardrobe.

Maternity Briefs

When it comes to maternity underwear, maternity pants or briefs rank right up there with bras as an absolute pregnancy must-have.

As with bras, you're also probably wondering whether you need to buy briefs when you've already got your collection of panties. But depending on the kind of panties you have, you're definitely going to need maternity pants to accommodate your baby bump as it grows.

The good news is that because these briefs are designed to adapt to your changing body, you'll still be able to wear them after the baby arrives. (And like the bras again, they'll be so comfy you'll probably end up wearing them forever anyway.)

When To Start Wearing Maternity Briefs

Pregnant women are most likely to start wearing briefs in the third trimester. But when you go shopping for maternity undies, take note that you're likely to want a few extra pairs. Many women leak pee during their late pregnancy because of the constant pressure on their bladders. There's also the spotting and extra discharge, as well as the extra gel that occasionally gets left behind during checkups.

You'll need your maternity briefs to be made of comfortable, natural material that won't irritate your skin. Look for tags or anything else sewn in that might make you itch. These maternity essentials also have to fit well so that they don't give you wedgies and so that they don't cut into your belly or your legs. They'll also have to be sturdy enough to withstand frequent washing.

Tops

When it comes to buying tops, a good maternity tank is arguably the single most essential piece you need. You'll be able to wear your tank all night and day, every day at home and as part of your outfit stepping out, and even as underwear or sleepwear.

Maternity tanks in neutral colours can be worn with just about anything, including the pre-pregnancy clothes you already have. The best part is the way your tank stretches with your growing belly and back again and looks just as good.

Arguably the Ultimate Maternity Must-Haves

But even better is how a tank worth its salt will also allow you to breastfeed with ease. No buttons, no fussy straps, just pull down and feed, singlehandedly if you have to. Your baby won't have to wait long to get fed, and if you happen to be leaking, a good tank will have provisions for breast pads to keep things nice and discreet. And when baby is done, all you have to do is pull or clip your tank back up.

You'll be able to wear a good maternity tank long after you've stopped breastfeeding because of the awesome fit, comfort and style versatility, making it a part of your permanent wardrobe.

Just make sure you wash your maternity tank right (as in not in warm water) so that the fabric doesn't shrink or lose its stretchiness, so that you'll be able to wear it for a good, long time.

Dresses

No, we're not talking about the potato sacks with floral prints that your grandmother wore when she had your mom. We're talking about the kind of maternity dress that offers the same comfort and fit you would get from a good maternity tank.

That means having the same stretchy flexible fit that accommodates your growing belly. That same stretch, coupled with a built-in bra will make it easier for you to nurse discreetly and comfortably (for both you and baby). You'll be able to just pull or clip it down for feeding, and just as easily cover back up.

And like a good maternity tank, you'll be able to mix and match this dress with jackets, cardigans, blazers, button-down shirts, scarves and so on. The style possibilities are endless—making it easy for you to dress up or down depending on the occasion. And again, you'll want to keep this maternity dress in your wardrobe long after your fourth trimester.

What To Look For in a Maternity Dress

The best maternity dresses are made of soft and comfy fabric that's breathable and made of natural fibres that will keep you cool and not stick to or irritate your skin. They'll also be easy to wash and able to retain that snug and comfortable fit and sleek, pilling-free look even after several washings. The fit will also be just right (not too tight), and while this won't prevent stretch marks (contrary to popular belief), it will provide added bump support as well as comfort.

But probably most important of all is how the best maternity dresses make pregnant moms feel as well as look beautiful, especially during this challenging time.

Closet Organization Guide for Maternity Clothing

Now that you know what maternity must-haves are, let's take a look at what you already have in your closet. This bird's eye view of everything will make it easier for you to mix and match your must-haves so that you have more options when you dress every day. You'll also be able to organize your closet to have space for your new pieces and keep everything within easy reach.

Maternity Clothes You Can Wear Now

These are the items you can literally wear now (not necessarily just first-trimester must-haves). Depending on whether you're in the early stages or second-trimester pregnancy, you might want to think ahead a little bit and pick out clothes that are loose or stretchy. Look through your pre-pregnancy wardrobe for tops and dresses you think you'll be able to wear as your baby bump grows and that you'll be able to breastfeed in. Also, look for scarves or shawls you might be able to use as nursing covers.

How To Pick Out Potential Maternity Clothes

While you don't necessarily have to prioritize comfort over style as you go through your things, you'll definitely have to consider it. You'll also have to consider your day-to-day activities, whether you'll be stepping out a lot or staying at home, and what you'll be doing—will be you carrying a lot of stuff, for instance, or moving around a lot.

You'll also have to consider how your clothes move as you do—if you bend over and things peep out that usually don't from before your first trimester, then you might want to leave those pieces out.

Consider how easy it will be to put things on, especially as not just your bump but your boobs start to grow. You'll also have to consider the seasons you'll be pregnant; if it will be winter, for instance, you're definitely going to need a maternity coat.

"Adjustable" Maternity Clothes

These are the items you might still be able to wear if you adjust them or mix and match them with other pieces. You might still be able to wear clothes you can't button or zip up anymore, for instance, if you use a belly band.

You can also pull up certain dresses (especially maxi dresses) to turn them into skirts that fit empire-style right over your belly. As other dresses become shorter as they drape over your growing baby bump, you might be able to use them as tops.

Borrowed Maternity Clothes From Bestie

These are the pieces expectant parents borrow (or can borrow) from best friends or family members. While there are rental services for maternity clothes, borrowing from the folks you know first might help you save. This is an especially good idea for seasonal maternity wear (because what are the odds, for instance, that you'll have a winter due date again).

Keeping these items separate in your closet will make it easier for you to return them later on.

Definitely Not Maternity Clothes (Save for Later)

Finally, these are the all the pieces you can put away in the back or bottom drawer because you won't be able to wear them for quite a while. Many expectant moms find themselves still wearing their maternity clothes postpartum (and, like certain pregnancy must-haves, end up keeping them as permanent additions to their wardrobe).

Set aside anything that's too small, too tight, or might reveal a little too much once things start to hike up or peek out. Stash anything with rayon, nylon, vinyl, or polyester for later on because those fabrics retain heat and may become uncomfortable, especially since some of us get hot flashes or have a higher body temperature when we're pregnant. Other heat-retaining fabrics (if you happen to have them in your closet) include denim, leather, fleece, and acrylic.

Other Maternity Wardrobe Edits

Still other fabrics—those that are "stiff" instead of softer, can also make you look even bigger because of the way they hang on (instead of cling to) your body.

Certain non-wrinkle fabrics are also treated with chemicals that are not pregnancy-safe, so if you have them, you might want to just remove them from your wardrobe altogether.

And if you have any printed dresses or blouses, you might want to save some of them for after the baby comes, as some patterns like large checkered or plaid, or those have a lot of empty space around the spots or other elements, can make you look heavier. You can keep small prints and vertical or non-repeating designs.

When To Start Organizing Your Maternity Wardrobe

Editing your closet to make sure you have every must-have on the list can be daunting, especially if it's your first pregnancy because basically, you don't know yet, exactly, how your body is going to change.

But a mom-to-be has all of her early pregnancy or first trimester to plan out her wardrobe because she'll most likely be able to fit into her clothes, even if she starts showing around 20 weeks in. The start of your second trimester is when you're going to want to have your maternity clothes ready, so hopefully you'll be done with your wardrobe to-do list by then.