Frequently Asked Questions

1. What size do I choose?

In most cases you will be the same size in maternity clothes as your normal clothes. Having said that, many women tend to put on weight on the thighs and bottom when pregnant. The breasts can also grow quite considerably. This could mean you need to go up a size or two. A maternity garment is cut the same as a normal garment but with a different belly.

2. What is a small, medium, large, extra large equivalent to?

This will vary from brand to brand and style to style but as a general rule:

RIPE: Small = 8, Medium = 10, Large = 12, Extra Large = 14

OTHER BRANDS: Small = 10, Medium = 12, Large = 14, Extra Large = 16

3. Which style of waist band is most comfortable?

A few years ago, your only choice was a tummy panel. These had an elastic waist with a big rib pouch. Today there are many choices of waist band. Under belly V, scoop under belly, fold over, and flat front. Most people prefer an underbelly design but there are still some ladies that prefer over belly.

In the early stages of pregnancy under belly is certainly better, as you don't need to be pregnant to wear them. This makes them ideal for wearing after you've had the baby. Remember, it's unlikely that you'll fit back into your old clothes straight away. The v-front underbelly can get a little uncomfortable in the later stages of pregnancy, especially if you are sitting down for long periods.

4. When should I buy Maternity Clothes?

The short answer is "When you no longer fit into your own clothes." There are a few other things you should keep in mind.

Change of season is a tricky thing in Queensland. The weather dosen't start to cool until May but the Winter stock starts to fill the store in February. Summer stock does not come back into stock until August. So if you are due in June-August you need to do a little forward planning and get yourself some Summer clothes ahead of time or you'll miss out.

It's a good idea to make a trip into the store if you can to try a few things on before you actually need them. You may be surprised how clever the maternity wear is these days. Our staff wears maternity clothing quite often and they're not even pregnant. The earlier you buy your maternity wardrobe, the more use you'll get out of it.

5. When should I buy a Maternity Bra?

From 5 months onwards is usually the time. You will probably grow out of your own bra at around 3 months and at this time I would recommend a soft cup bra like a sports bra. You should then grow out of this bra at around 5-6 months and that would be a good time to be fitted for a maternity bra.

Some ladies will need to wear a bra to bed also. This can be due to the soreness of the breasts or in the later stages of pregnancy your breasts may already start to leak. After you've had the baby you'll certainly need to wear a bra to keep your breast pads in place. For all these situations a New Beginnings Crop Top Bra is ideal. They are soft and stretchy and you'll probably forget you're wearing it.

There are also many tops available now that allow you to breastfeed without wearing a bra at all. The nursing bra is built into the top.

6. Why can't I just buy normal clothes in a larger size?

Sometimes a non maternity item will get you through a large portion of your pregnancy but rarely will it get you through the whole pregnancy so there's nothing wrong with buying a few items in the early stages of pregnancy, particularly tops, but don't go overboard otherwise you'll end up buying two maternity wardrobes and its hard to justify spending money on maternity clothes when you only have 10 weeks to go.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU WOULD LIKE ANSWERED PLEASE EMAIL US OR PHONE US ON 07 3205 1818.