Maternity clothes - what's necessary? Calling all pregnancy veterans

Taadaa

I have bought:

- a bump band
- some maternity bottoms
- 3 dresses, two from eBay (one a really comfy wrap one)
- tunic thing
- maternity tights
- big bum pants

I have made/adjusted:

- a dress from a much larger one I bought in a charity shop
- a pair of leggings, split the seam and inserted a panel and bit of elastic
- put an elastic panel in a skirt.

I plan to make a dress from an old t shirt and some jersey fabric.

It's great to have nice things, but it is only a few months and in truth I am far too knackered to worry about what I look like.

chirpychick

I'm 22 weeks. I have been in my normal clothes until about 1 week ago and I just brought some cheap leggings in a size up and I was lucky that I got 4 tops from n3xt sale for £6 each. I need to get a cardigan for in a month or so time but I wont buy "maternity" i will just buy one a bit bigger.
hope this helps.

c.b.

if you are planning on feeding your baby when he or she arrives it may be worth investing in a few items that are suitable for maternity and nursing so you get your money worth from them.
I wish Ihad done this but the idea didnt occur to me until I was buying nursing tops after my baby arrived!
good luck

keelykat

I have had one summer baby and one winter baby. This time around-being winter-my main problem was finding a coat to fit that didn't cost loads.

I found everything else quite cheap-matalan was my fave as my local one is a 5 minute walk away and they often had the maternity clothes on sale!

I didn't have a big bump either time I was pregnant-but still needed maternity jeans or trousers. Going up a size or two just wouldn't work and I don't like wearing jogging bottoms. Under the bump suited me better, and I wore then for a little while after too.

I was most comfortable in leggings and dresses though to be honest, on warm days i wore my sandles and on cold days boots.

I admit to wearing my husbands t shirts to bed! He's a lot bigger then me so this was a cheap solution for a while.

emweaver

you will need maternity clothes if you want to look and feel nice, buying clothes a size up will make you look fat not pregnant and untidy and it wont be any cheaper!

I would say buy over the bump maternity jeans as the ones that sit under the bump keep falling down and are very uncomfy.

mildred1978

Over the bump anything may cause you to overheat depending on the time of year.

Nicki

I think over the bump or under the bump depends on both your normal body shape and the stage of pregnancy you are at. I found under the bump ones more comfortable in the earlier stages, but a bit prone to slip down as I have quite slim hips and bum. Towards the end of the pregancy though, I could only wear the over the bump ones, which are very unglamorous but do at least stop you having to hoik them up every few minutes or show an attractive bum cleavage when you bend down to deal with your existing kids

I'm mega confused about people talking about maternity knickers though, or buying granny pants in huge sizes. My knickers were the only thing which fitted me right from week 1 to week 40 of all my pregnancies! If you normally wear bikini style knickers, or hipsters you should be fine as they are all well below the bump. I only ever had half a dozen pairs of granny pants in the next size up for use after my two c sections, and they were only worn after the birth for the first 2-3 weeks until the scar healed.

cutestkids

I would also not buy too much all at once, more take it as it comes and see what still fits, what can be adapted, eBay is great for maternity clothes many of which have barely been worn.

Gillybean103

I'm plus size so buying maternity trousers has been a bit of a struggle. I would go with over the bump in anything it defines your bump and you aren't constantly pulling your trousers up.

I bought maternity tights from mothercare, at £8 a pair they aren't cheap but worth it.
Also got a pair of jersey trousers from m/care when I was about 14 weeks and they have seen me through to the end, although they are under bump so have to wear a long top.
Got some vest tops and a really nice strappy top from next sale last time it was on and also a few bits from eBay.

I read somewhere that women can't wait to get out of their maternity wardrobe, but I have to say ve bought things that I can keep wearing as I really like them

dizsiebubba

Gillybean103 wrote: »

I'm plus size so buying maternity trousers has been a bit of a struggle. I would go with over the bump in anything it defines your bump and you aren't constantly pulling your trousers up.

I bought maternity tights from mothercare, at £8 a pair they aren't cheap but worth it.
Also got a pair of jersey trousers from m/care when I was about 14 weeks and they have seen me through to the end, although they are under bump so have to wear a long top.
Got some vest tops and a really nice strappy top from next sale last time it was on and also a few bits from eBay.

I read somewhere that women can't wait to get out of their maternity wardrobe, but I have to say ve bought things that I can keep wearing as I really like them

what have you managed to get and where?