OK, so I'm only 13 weeks along and I can still fit into my normal clothes. I've just stopped wearing the ones that are now a little tight in the tummy since I don't want to look like I don't know how to wear the right size.

So for the first time tonight I went online to look at maternity clothes. I went to Old Navy's website and found their maternity clothes come in XS, S, M, L, XL, and XXL. Basically the assumption is that whatever size you are pre-pregnancy is roughly the same once you're pregnant.

Here's the question: how can a maternity size M, for example, fit a pre-preg M sized person both at 4 months and at 8 months along? I'd assumed there would be "M months 3-6" and "M months 6-9" or something. What's up with this one-size-fits-all pregnancy thing when I'll be changing size every week? Are there other stores that do things differently?

i dont know if its different in america but im a uk size 10 and all the maternity jeans here are fitted with either big elasticated bands that fit over your bump or they have elasticated bands at the side that you can either make tighter or bigger depending how big you get. I've been quite fortunate not to put on weight elsewhere just me belly i've been in maternity jeans and trousers since week 11 just because there so comfy and i can let out the buttons if i've eaten too much haha hope that helps.

I bought size M jeans from motherhood that should fit the whole pregnancy because the elastic stretches out so far...I think? I know its confusing though...It doesnt make much sense.

Hmm, elastic waists make sense.

What about the cute tops? Would they just look like drapey curtains on a 4 mo preg tummy, or are they stretched tight over a 9 mo preg tummy? A lot of them aren't stretchy at all.

I know im going to have to get bigger shirts once I get a lot bigger. I try to buy longer tops so when I do grow bigger they dont "shrink". I started buying maternity shirts when I was BARELY showing and they fit me fine.

I don't buy maternity pants. I buy pants with draw strings about 4 sizes bigger than my pre-pg pants and I have the BeBand that goes over my unbuttoned pre-pg jeans. I also buy bigger shirts, but not maternity. I have a couple maternity shirts for special occasions, but this is my second pg and I am not about to spend all the $$$ on maternity clothes when i could buy for the baby bean.

Something I learned with all my pregnancies, even though I wore a small before doesn't mean other parts don't grow too. I ended up wearing a size large in pants with all 3 of my pregnancies. Seems my breasts and thighs grew with the baby.

Maternity sizings can be very confusing. What the maternity pants are designed to do is to stretch in the belly to allow you room to grow into them. The bands that go under your belly don't always last you the longest. If you want something that will last you through look for something that goes over your belly. Maternity sizing i'm sure is different for every store but at Motherhood the sizing is small (2-6) medium (8-10) large (12-14) extra large (14-16). Also don't forget your belly isnt the only part of you that is going to grow, some people gain weight in their backside and and your legs. Most maternity jeans have extra stretch to them so even if you try them on and they are just comfortable now, once you wear them for an hour or so they are going to stretch out in the legs and back. And also, if you dont want your pants or jeans to shrink wash them in cold and hang them to dry. Hope this helps a little bit...I have worked at a maternity clothing store for the last 2 years now.

I loved my maternity jeans from Motherhood. They were so comfortable. I always got the secret fit belly in the flared style. I really loved the way they fit.

ya thats where i work.