Take L/XL. Every time, in pregnancy.
This comes up a lot because the two sizes genuinely overlap. S/M covers a calf up to 15.0 in
and L/XL starts at 14.2 in, so anyone measuring between those two numbers has a real choice to
make.
Why the larger one
Two reasons, and both matter more than the fraction of an inch you are weighing up.
Your legs are going to change
Calf circumference tends to increase through pregnancy, and most of that happens in the third trimester. The size that is perfect at 20 weeks can be too tight at 34. Sizing up buys you the rest of your pregnancy.
Too tight is worse than slightly loose
Graduated compression works by being firmest at the ankle and easing as it goes up. When a sock is too small, the top band grips the widest part of your calf and turns into a tight ring. That does the opposite of what the sock is for, and it is the reason so many women say compression socks "made it worse."
A sock in the larger size still delivers graduated support. A sock that digs in behind your knee is one you will stop wearing by lunchtime.
What if the larger size feels loose?
Compression should feel snug and even, not slack. If the larger size genuinely slides down or bunches at the ankle, that is the wrong size and we will exchange it free. But give it a day first. A sock that feels loose on the morning you put it on often feels correct by afternoon, because your legs change through the day and the sock is built for that.
Exchanges are free. If you size up and it is wrong, email info@lumabelly.com and we will send the other size at no cost.
