Advice on maternity clothes

jamboambo1

am 13 weeks pregnant and clothes starting to get a bit tight fitting now. I wear a lot of jeans normally. Is there anything people would recommend buying or not buying at this stage. Should i buy bigger clothes and grow into them or just buy as little as possible as I grow. Have no idea what to expect.

Moonbeam

No,you are better off buying proper maternity clothes in your normal clothes size.
I definitely recommend over the bump jeans.

Congrats.

sillysocks

I'll be 16 weeks tomorrow and have been doing a little bit of maternity shopping the last week or so. I found when my trousers were getting tight at the top putting a hair bobbin around the button, through the button hole and back over the button was a lifesaver. Meant I could still wear my trousers with an extra bit of room around the waist. I got the bump bands from Mothercare too which mean you can wear trousers with the button/zip open and they'll stay up!

I'm totally loving the few bits of maternity clothes I;ve bought though - just so comfy, dont know if I'll ever go back to normal clothes
Find the over bump trousers great, the under bump ones just werent comfy at all for me when I tried them on.

Karmella

can i just hijack this thread and ask what shops are good for maternity stuff? I'm just at 13/14 weeks aswell and just starting to think about this too!!

I don't spend much on clothes as it is, and i don't particularly want to spend a fortune on mat stuff either!! I suppose the best is to get a couple pairs of these bump jeans and just loose, flowy tops for layering?? Cardigans aswell? Seems to be a good few around at the moment.

I just recently bought the linen trousers in penneys - great for the summer - and there's a lot of stretching room in them. they were only 11 euro! but as our summers don't last so long I'll be back in the jeans before long. I tend to wear low rise jeans anyway so i might get away with my own for another little while, but if anyone can recommend good (not too expensive) brands for the bump ones that would be great....

Moonbeam

Dorothy Perkins
Mothercare(great deals in their sales which always seem to be on)
topshop
Marks and Spencers

E-bay:)

asos.com for lovely formal stuff
There are a few other online ones too

sillysocks

As I say I've only really been buying the last week or so but got some nice jeans in Next, think they were around 30 eur so not too expensive. Got some stuff in New Look and H&M too. All cheap and cheerful.
Got a few shirts in pennys that aren't maternity but are fitted to the bust and then flare out so should do me for a while at least.

wmpdd3

Before I was pregnant I would have thought I would have bought more but up until 25 weeks I didn't need anything, leggings are still fine 2 sizes up as are jeggings.

With the heat I bought 2 dresses, all my cardigans are fine (open!)

I bought 2 vests in Mamalious which I can ware over the dresses as a new outfit.

I found Dorethy Perkins and Next the best but I am really only buying them for 12 weeks wear so even I'm not going mad.

Can't wait to get back to my own clothes!

ani_mal

I was getting worried when I started to grow, I definately would recommend over belly trausers (mothercare) they might be on sale now. and you will need at least 3 pairs through thwe whole pregnancy so don't get crazy unless you have loads of money.
but tops I just got bigger sizes 12 then 14 and sometimes 16 (late stage of pregnancy) and I got them on internet (used) or charity shops and only 2-3 new ones cos they were on sale.
I got myslef trausers in next (white, light for summer) and they are bit strechy but not over the belly and I regreat this purchase cos they keep sliding down off my belly and expose it which I dont feel comfy with.

LashingLady

Dunnes have some nice cotton summer dresses which have a pleat under the bust so room for the bump. I just bought a few of these and wear them with leggings. All you can really do in this weather!

If you are due in Oct/Nov then I would get some cheap summer clothes and keep your money for getting some comfortable maternity autumn clothes cos most things I bought early on last time didn't fit me at the end. In this weather leggings are best but come end Sept you'll need some warmer clothes

ecaf

If your just getting a bit bigger now, I would wait a while before buying the maternity trousers.
I'm just 24 weeks now and got over the bump trousers in mothercare the other day. Now they are great but I'm going around with a nappy pin on one side trying to hold them up. I bought them in the usual size 14 and they felt great when I tried them on, but walking around they are slipping down.

The elastic or bobbin through the button hole is a great idea to give you a bit more room, or buy belly bands to hold up your trousers (got them in Next), and leave your trousers unbuttoned!

A few weeks ago I picked up 2 trousers in penny's for €5 and €9, got them 1 size up and they still fit great now. I'm picking up a few loose tops at times, but I think I'm going to need the maternity ones now soon, because any bigger than a 16 is just too big on me, but some 16's are very tight around the bump now.
Don't want to buy much now because I'm due in 3 months and it will be autumn/winter weather by then.

ani_mal

ecaf, inside the mothercare trousers on the sides there should be two rubbers with buttons and holes for adjustment. Have a look, I discovered them not long ago and had similar problem before that.

sillysocks

I just discovered the elastic with the buttons inside my New Look trousers this morning - tis great, no more spending the day pulling them up!
A friend of mine is pregnant too and has started wearing mens braces under all her clothes to hold her trousers up that keep falling down!

AmcD

It is worth considering getting some maternity clothes on-line. I knew I had a wedding and christening coming up and got a great dress on sale at IsabellaOliver.com. They have a sale on at the moment, which is worth checking out. I got a pair of underbump jeans at Nelo Maternity in Clarendon St, Dublin. I have to admit they are getting a bit snug now at 31 weeks. The most useful things have been:
Pair of blue linen overbump trousers for work
2 x ruched white vest tops from Isabella Oliver
Black roll-up "yoga trousers" from TK Maxx (convinced they are maternity)
Loose non-maternity cardigans
Grey hoodie tracksuit top from Next maternity
Very generously cut smock style top from Fat face in Dublin
Maternity dresses in general

At first I couldn't see the point of buying specific clothes, but now I found maternity clothes addictively comfortable, especially now it is so hot. With specific maternity clothes there are no more gaps over my bump and I don't have to keep reefing things up and down. I am tempted just to keep wearing stretchy overbump trousers well after the baby is born.

sillysocks

Just noticed Asos have a sale on maternity stuff at the moment too. Never bought stuff from them but might be worth checking out..........

http://www.asos.com/Women/Sale/Maternity/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=6413#parentID=-1&pge=0&pgeSize=-1&sort=-1

jamboambo1

Thanks for all your replies. Am armed with all the info i need now for the saturday shop

anigheh

Hi not sure if u would fancy it but lots of the second hand shops from time to time would have what u are lookin for, as most of the jeans and things are worn for such a short time these items can be got in brill condition at a fraction of the price...:)

tomcollins97

Beware of low cut tops - you and your OH may love the new boobs but its not a good look to have them on display, especially in work!

wmpdd3

tomcollins97 wrote: »

Beware of low cut tops - you and your OH may love the new boobs but its not a good look to have them on display, especially in work!

Yeah wish I had control over that!!!!

Also buy a few vests (New Look) as everything needs a vest under it to maintain modesty!

How Strange

wmpdd3 wrote: »

Also buy a few vests (New Look) as everything needs a vest under it to maintain modesty!

Tell me about it, I felt like a pornstar in work last week. I was wearing a v neck tshirt and had to wear my jacket for modesty sake. I was only 10 weeks so what the hell will I be like in another few months!