I know women generally start showing sooner with subsequent pregnancies. For those of you who have been pregnant more than once, when did you switch to maternity clothes?
Bonus question: if I'm not ready to announce, will switching earlier emphasize the bump/make it more obvious?
TIA! 
nectarine / 2987 posts
I took my second pregnancy test because I had to unbutton my pants. I was in maternity pants by 9 weeks. First pregnancy I probably could have hidden it until well after 15 weeks if I'd tried hard.
persimmon / 1129 posts
@Raspberry: With my second, I FELT like I was showing at 6 weeks. I had to tell work at 11 weeks, a little earlier than I would have liked, because I was for sure showing.
I think you can switch to maternity pants without it being any more obvious than regular pants. Maternity shirts are a giveaway for sure!
blogger / pomelo / 5361 posts
I showed earlier with my first, but only because it was twins that time and the second time I had more of a chubby tummy so it just looked like I was extra chubby!
I think it all depends on the cut of the maternity clothes. Bottoms should be fine. Top - nothing fitted, ruched, or with an empire waist as that will make it more obvious, but the tops that the material falls from the shoulder can actually look like regular clothes and hide a bump for a while. Of course, you can find regular clothes like that, too! I think the best bump hiding method for me has been a billowy/fall from the shoulder top with some kind of cardigan or sweater over it. Good luck and congrats!
apricot / 444 posts
I made it pretty far with my second pregnancy wearing maternity pants and regular blousy shirts over. I did a lot of loose shells and cardigans in that time but when I told work around 15 weeks no one had guessed. Maternity tops are a dead giveaway though if they're fitted/ruched.
persimmon / 1310 posts
I agree the ruched tops are a give away. As long as the panel stays covered by your tops, maternity pants can easily look normal.
For this pregnancy I started wearing maternity sooner. Was in a mix of maternity and larger regular pants around 11 weeks. Could only wear maternity pants by 14 weeks. I can actually still wear some of my regular tops at 17 weeks, but I look really fat in them. Since I've already announced to local family and friends, I prefer to wear maternity tops now so I don't just look chubby.
nectarine / 2784 posts
I'm 19 weeks with my second and Ive been able to successfully hide in leggings and regular tops and a scarf but today I threw on a ruched top and it definitely looks like a maternity outfit. So while you're waiting to announce, pants are probably fine just be careful with what tops you pair them with.
eggplant / 11861 posts
I actually didn't show faster and stayed out of maternity clothes longer with #2
I did however keep all clothes from DD and gave it to a friend who then added her maternity clothes after her pregnancy and then gave it back to me for mine : )
It is now in my closet for I guess who ever has their 3rd first or maybe another friend!
Its like the Traveling Box
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
I think I wore maternity clothes sooner bc I know how comfy they are! At the same time, my wardrobe after first kid is much more forgiving so I was also able to wear a lot of regular clothes.
pomelo / 5132 posts
I think I showed about the same with my first and second pregnancies, but I feel bigger this third time!!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
I actually started showing much later with this pregnancy than with my first. But my bloat was way worse this time. So maternity leggings and tunic style tops and sweaters were more comfortable for me in first and second trimester.
I started really showing around 23-24 weeks.
cantaloupe / 6171 posts
I started showing earlier, but I also was much quicker to jump on the maternity clothes wagon since I knew how much comfier I would be! I stuck to flowier and longer shirts rather than fitted/ruched/empire waist ones though since that's more my style anyway plus I don't think those look good on me until I'm like way showing, like late2nd/3rd tri.
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