You’re having a baby! This is such a magical and exciting time in a woman's life. You are growing a human, and as fun as that can be – it can also be frustrating. Your body keeps changing a mile a minute. It can feel near impossible to find clothing that makes you feel glamorous, much less comfortable. Meanwhile, your body just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

A long maternity dress can be the perfect solution. These dresses can hug all your curves, helping you feel sexy during each and every stage of your pregnancy, or they can hang long and loose, so you feel comfortable. These dresses can help you feel confident while looking effortlessly chic. A maternity dress helps you ditch the waistband and celebrate your beautiful bump!

But if your body is constantly growing to accommodate a new human, how do you find the right size long maternity dress?

Go With What Size You Were Pre-Pregnancy

You are going to gain weight during your pregnancy. “Normal” clothes won’t sit quite right, or feel comfortable, as your little sprout goes from the size of a seed to that of a grapefruit.

Maternity brands know this. They realize that a lot of women struggle with body image during this time and that would only be exacerbated by forcing you to go up a few sizes. Take deep breaths and remember your body is doing a beautiful thing. Find clothes that make you feel good during this process, because you are doing something amazing.

Lucky for you maternity sizing is forgiving. If you were a medium before pregnancy, chances are you will be a medium in a long maternity dress. When shopping for maternity pants some women may have to scale up or down a size depending on how they are carrying the baby. However, you won’t have to worry about the waistband when searching for a long maternity dress.

When shopping online always check the size chart since, as all women know, brand sizing is not standardized. If you are looking for a long dress make sure to check the length. As your bump grows the dress will lay differently on your body. Taller women may want to size up to have a little extra length, especially for when they get closer to the end of the third trimester.

Consider the Silhouette

The best part about long maternity dresses is that they can stay stylish during every trimester of your pregnancy. Choose a tighter fit to show off your baby bump month to month as you and your baby grow together.

In the early stages of pregnancy a tighter fitting long maternity dress will help your baby bump make its big debut! Most long maternity dresses are made to stretch with you as you grow. Some sites, like Hatch, even allow you to scroll over the image and see how the dress will fit as your bump gets a little larger each month.

Every woman experiences different body changes during her pregnancy. If you find you have a drastic change in your hips or bust you may have to size up in certain styles to accommodate a comfortable fit. However, most women are able to continue to shop for the size they were pre pregnancy.

The best part about long maternity dresses is that they come in a variety of styles from sleek and sexy to loose and flowy. Changing up the silhouette can be even more important than the size on days you just aren’t feeling your body's new contours. On these days go for a bohemian style dress for maximum comfort.

When in Doubt Check the Reviews

Assuming you are new to the world of maternity clothing you may feel a little lost when shopping for a long maternity dress. Ask friends what brands they loved during their pregnancies. After glancing over the size chart scroll down and check the customer reviews. How did other women find the fit of the product? Do these items fit true to size, or do they tend to run large or small? By comparing customer reviews with the size chart you’ll have a better sense of which size long maternity dress to order for yourself.

Maternity Wear That Grows With You

When you find the right long maternity dress you’ll have a beautiful garment that will grow with you throughout your pregnancy. The right size dress will continue to accommodate your bump, even when you can’t quite see your toes anymore. You won’t have to deal with a finicky waistband. Just throw it on and go see a movie, hit up brunch, or dance the night away at a wedding. Wherever you go you’ll be comfortable, while looking fashionable and fabulous.