Can't afford maternity wear!

xmaslolly76

do you have any nice flowing dresses from the summer pop a warm top underneath and a pair of tights (dont buy maternity tights buy cheap ones and cut down the front seam to the crotch so your bump can pop out). i had some lovely dresses that i managed to get alot more wear out of doing that. Also last year the fashion was massive long tops you can make use of those over some nice maternity leggings which you can get from a peacocks store for about £5 i think they are you can wear then under the dresses as well which save a few extra pounds on tights.

Again i am great follower of freecycle but you will need to check a few times a day as things get taken really quickly and you dont want to miss out.

For bras tesco do some lovely cotton ones for a couple of quid each they are usually hanging up in little plastic bags they even have nursing bras for the same price.

May i ask what size you are you dont have to tell me or you can PM if you feel uncomfortable posting it on here but i have some things i may be able to donate if they are suitable.

Lastly dont worry yourself silly you will manage to sort something you only really need a couple of outfits one to wear and one to wash you will get it sorted out :-) x

Edit: i second going to the mens section i spent half of my last pregnancy in mens white shirts 2 for £6 in tesco and asda :-)

Pipling

Do try freecycle and ebay as people have said, I'm a size 20/22 and I got some great stuff on freecycle with a few bits on ebay. Good luck x

lauren_1

I survived with some leggings (or yoga pants if you can find them cheap enough) mens t-shirts or primark oversized vests and a cardior shrug top.

Try charity shops too.

maureenjscott

Hi there, I was kinda in a similar position in that being a size 22/24 the only place to really get the sizes I needed was simply be for maternity wear and they can be very pricy! I second the ASDA comments, I found that they do 'smartprice/basic' jogging trousers upto a size 24 with stretchy waist that i live in when at home, they're only £3 compared to there £6 main range. Also, the long tops they have in at the moment are good value and below the bum so i find they're long enough to cover bump too. They also had a sale rail in my local asda today with lots of baggy tops for a couple of pounds a go!

I'm not brave enough to do leggings but would definately try them if it comes to it - I have only 6 weeks or so left and totally grudge buying more clothes!

Dorothy Perkins online seemed to be having a bit of a sale, you might be able to get a few bits from there while on offer. I spent ages early on in pg looking at eBay for mat clothes but found that because bigger sizes are scarce, they usually ended up far too expensive. I'm on my local freecycle and not seen any mat clothes there yet, however, as someone else said - there seems to be loads of baby stuff for nearer the time and its all free!

hope this helps
mo x

brians_daughter

ASDA do a fab maternity range.
Or what about leggings £3 a pair primark and a long cardigan, £4 in asda reduced - not maternity but cause they are the boyfriend type they would work well for you.

Also the jeggings type jeans/leggings that are about can be bought really cheaply and the stretch loads!

Track bottoms as well..so comfy lol

I loved asda maternity range and got kitted out for all occassions very cheaply. Do you have any budget at all?
freecycle obviously. TBH ebay mat wear tends to hold its value, or it seemed to when i was pregnant - i sold my mat wear for more or less what i paid for it

Mat bras i wore sports bras firm hold, again from wonderful asda, £3, or maybe £4 a pop

what size do you need? i expect we all have stuff lying around we would love to get rid of!

Lalaladybird

I'm so touched by all your kind replies and great ideas :j. I'm a size 18 and its my cup size that has gone up so I need to get measured but reckon I'm a 36G. I will get that grant soon but was thinking we'd need it for baby stuff but I'll take some for me I think

Thanks again for all the ideas....I'll go to asda tomorrow for a look...although I reckon I'll look horrendous in leggings lol!

esmy

Try a wanted ad on your local freecycle, rather than watching for maternity stuff coming up (and later on for baby gear).Also look out in charity shops and the like for ordinary clothes in a bigger size (or mens stuff) - just make sure waistbands are comfy and try on if you can. Get measured for your new size of bra - you don't have to buy one where you get measured but it'll help you when looking around. HTH

Becles

I bought the Asda Smart Price jogging bottoms from the normal range just in bigger sizes and stole husbands t-shirts for round the house.

H&M do cheap maternity wear. I got a couple of pairs of smart trousers and some blouses that did for work.

Ebay is good for bra's. I bought maternity and nursing bras from there. I forget the name of the seller but the nursing bra's were seconds, but I couldn't find anything wrong with them!

tandraig

i didnt buy maternity clothes - just bigger sizes! for all three of my pregnancies! just measured my waist and bought trousers etc to fit. same with bust size for the tops. and to be honest - my mum bought some maternity trousers for me from mothercare in my pre-pregnancy size - and we fell about laughing (they would have fitted an elephant and i was only a size ten but 8 months pregnant - and took them back and got some baby stuff).
look for loose fitting clothes in the size you measure at at bust and waist! and elastic bands help a lot if the hip fits but the waist doesnt!

maureenjscott

Lalaladybird wrote: »

I'm so touched by all your kind replies and great ideas :j. I'm a size 18 and its my cup size that has gone up so I need to get measured but reckon I'm a 36G. I will get that grant soon but was thinking we'd need it for baby stuff but I'll take some for me I think

Thanks again for all the ideas....I'll go to asda tomorrow for a look...although I reckon I'll look horrendous in leggings lol!

Hi, meant to say before, I know you'll get the £190 grant cos we're all entitled to it, however, (without butting in and asking about your circumstances) there is also a Sure Start Maternity Grant that you may or may not be eligible for - it is income related but more to do with benefits/tax credits/etc, its worth having a look at as its worth £500.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018854

that's the link for the info online, you can print a form from there or pick one up at JobCentrePlus. You do apply a bit later on though, from 11weeks before due date and if the form's done right and you're eligible the money can be in your account within a couple of weeks.

mo x