What Are the Essential Maternity Clothing Items for a First Time Mother?

Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.

The essential maternity clothes for a first pregnancy are a few tops, stretch bottoms, two or three dresses, comfortable nightwear, bras and underwear that fit your changing body. Workwear, ethnic outfits, co ord sets and winter layers depend on your routine and the season. Wherever you can, choose pieces with nursing access so they keep working after the birth, and keep wearing your own clothes for as long as they are comfortable.

1. Maternity tops

Regular tops start to feel tight across the bump or ride up as it grows. Maternity tops have extra room at the front and a longer hem.

Look for soft, breathable fabric, stretch, side gathers or pleats and, if possible, nursing openings. Three to five tops that mix with different bottoms are enough for everyday wear. The maternity and nursing tops collection has styles that work in pregnancy and for feeding later.

2. Leggings and stretch bottoms

Instead of sizing up in regular jeans, choose bottoms made for the bump, with a waistband that sits over or under it. Maternity leggings go with kurtas, tunics, long shirts and T shirt dresses, and a good pair can last from the early months into the weeks after the birth. Two or three pairs of bottoms are usually enough.

3. Dresses

A dress saves you matching a top and bottom. A line, empire waist and relaxed shapes leave room for the bump and still look put together for outings, the office, family gatherings and baby showers. Two or three versatile dresses, ideally nursing friendly, are more useful than several occasion pieces.

4. Nightwear

Nights get less comfortable as pregnancy goes on, and tight nightwear does not help. Look for relaxed fits, soft fabric, a stretch waistband and nursing access. Three or four sets mean you are not doing laundry every other day. The maternity nightwear collection has sets made for both pregnancy and nursing.

5. Bras

Your breasts usually grow during pregnancy, so the bras you wore before may stop fitting. Look for soft, breathable fabric, wider adjustable straps, stretchy cups, a comfortable underband and, if you prefer, no wire. Your size can keep changing, so buy two or three and check the fit again later rather than buying many at once. You can compare styles in maternity bras, and our guide to bras to wear during pregnancy goes into fit in more detail.

6. Underwear

Regular underwear can dig in as the bump grows. Maternity underwear in soft cotton with a stretchy waistband, either high waisted over the bump or low under it, is more comfortable. Start with a few pairs and add more if you need them.

7. Co ord sets

A matching top and bottom is an easy outfit for working from home, errands, travel and the weeks after the birth. Choose breathable fabric and a relaxed fit.

8. Workwear

If you go to an office, you do not need a whole new professional wardrobe. Two or three tops, one or two pairs of maternity trousers, one dress, a light cardigan or jacket and one kurta will mix into several outfits. Neutral colours make that easier. Our guide to office maternity wear has more ideas.

9. Ethnic wear

Festivals, weddings, pujas and baby showers often call for traditional outfits. Maternity kurta sets, nursing kurtis, anarkali styles and kaftan kurtas fit a growing bump better than a regular kurta in a bigger size. One or two versatile outfits cover most occasions.

10. Winter layers

If your pregnancy runs into the cold months, regular jackets and sweaters may not close over the bump. Maternity hoodies, roomy sweaters, sweater dresses and jackets cut for the bump save you from sizing up a long way in regular winter wear.

11. Clothes for after the birth

Your body does not go straight back to its shape before pregnancy, and you will be feeding often. Nursing access, stretch, relaxed fits and adjustable waistbands make clothes useful for months after delivery, which is why maternity and nursing pieces usually give better value than pregnancy only ones.

How much do you actually need?

Adjust for your climate, your work and how often you can do laundry.

When to start buying

There is no fixed month. Some women need maternity clothes in the first trimester, others are fine in their own clothes well into the second. Start when waistbands become uncomfortable, tops feel short, bras feel restrictive or you find yourself choosing the same loose outfit every day. Buy a few pieces first and add more as you go.

Keeping it affordable

• Spend most on what you wear daily: tops, bottoms and nightwear.
• Choose nursing friendly designs so pieces last beyond pregnancy.
• Stick to colours that mix easily.
• Do not buy far ahead. Your shape will keep changing.
• Pick comfort over trends. An outfit you cannot sit or walk in comfortably will stay in the cupboard.