I'm in the early stages of my first pregnancy, but I don't really know many other women who are pregnant to ask for advice. Do you have any suggestions of places to shop for maternity clothes?
No one knows how their body is going to respond to pregnancy until it actuallyhappens. I'm a size 8-10 and I put on 25kg for each of my two pregnancies. No one would have guessed I would put on so much, and by comparison I had friends who hardly put on anything and had a tiny wee bump. So my advice is not to go crazy buying maternity clothes until you need them, and even then don't buy lots because you're pregnant for such a short time. Any notion you have of wearing your pregnancy clothes post-birth is likely to go out the window, most women I know are sick to death of their pregnancy clothes and can't wait to see the back end of them.
Depending on how much you grow, you may not need pregnancy clothes, you may be able to get away with regular clothes, perhaps in a size or two bigger. I'm thinking oversized tops, stretch-knit trousers and skirts (say Ponti) with elasticated waistbands. Just be careful that the garment still fits you properly; for example, on the shoulders and arms.
Just like any wardrobe, get the "essentials" sorted - trousers, skirts, tops - and build up from there. Remember not to go overboard, although that's far easier said than done when you're so excited.
Here are some of New Zealand's key maternity-wear specialists:
