What do you wear when pregnant?

[foxessocks]

I'm only 15 weeks but have quite a pronounced bump already. I am very small generally so it makes the bump very obvious. My usual clothes still fit me okay although some trousers feel a little snug but my jegging type ones are ok. My t shirts are generally size 8 and whilst they fit I think I'm going to stretch them and ruin them because of the style of them. I think I need maybe baggier styles?

Anyway dh is going to get my maternity wear down from the loft from my first pregnancy but I hardly have anything because I never wanted to buy much that I would wear for those 9 months and never again and I feel the same this time around. It just seems a waste.

What can I buy that would work during pregnancy and after pregnancy equally or am I going to have to bite the bullet and jist buy some more maternity wear? (I'm also pregnant at a different time of year and a lot of maternity wear includes very warm jumpers!)

Thanks everyone

[foxessocks]

I'm guessing maxi dress will work in the summer but I need something for spring! It's still quite chilly

[Icklepickle101]

I bought some nice shirts that button up down the front. When the buttons for too tight I wore them open with a vest top underneath. They are now also very useful for breastfeeding!!

I managed to stay in M & S jeggings until the last day and they still fit me now so they are quite a good option too!

When it's a bit warmer some floaty kimonos and strappy tops will work as well and stretchy maxi dresses accommodated my 8 month bump quite well!

[Wait4nothing]

I'm living in maternity jeans (I have 2 pairs - blue and grey from h&m) at the weekends with a range of maternity tops (about 4) and tops in larger sizes and during the week for work I wear maternity leggings and dresses (one 1 is maternity, some stretchy ones I don't mind ruining and a couple of dresses in larger sizes donated by my mum!). I do pretty much wear the same thing every week now so need 7 outfits!

I'm looking at Spring clothes with a different perspective though as I'm due April and hope to breastfeed so I've picked up some light button down shirts and jersey v neck midi dresses (also got a holiday planned early summer). I don't really want to pay out for summer maternity clothes but with the way the weather is at the min it doesn't look like I'll need any anyway! My coat on the other hand only just does up now (32weeks!)

[foxessocks]

Ah yes i remember my coat not doing up at the end of my last pregnancy and it was January but I refused to get a new one or a maternity one I just used to wear lots of.layers and have it open! My dh used to say I was bonkers just buy a bloody coat but it felt so pointless!

Anyway I've found a few things in the loft I forgot about including a very nice soft denim dress which I'm going to wear today to lunch. A lot of the other stuff is so huge it's more for later I think!

I think I definitely need some new tops though. Button Down shirts are a good idea but I wonder if I should get a bigger size as I do think the buttons won't do up already.

[Icklepickle101]

I would get 1 size up so they still fit nice enough that you can wear them after the baby :)

[tappitytaptap]

I second the shirt/vest thing. Also even though Im 37 weeks pregnant and pretty tall at 5ft 8, Primark vests still go over my bump and at less than 3 quid each can be binned afterwards without guilt!

[foxessocks]

Good tip on primark vests they'll be good for the summer too, thanks

[Junosmum]

I wore a uniform of jeans, vest top, cardigan and scarf. I found fitted clothes made me feel better- my bump was more visible (preventing the fat or pregnant debate) and didn't exaggerate the expanding hips either!

[LastOneDancing]

I've lived in a few stretchy tops from H&m with a long line vest underneath - one size up.
They've lasted 2 pregnancies and the awkward in between bit.

[Lucy90]

I found an Amazon shop that sells maternity leggings for £3 a pair so I stocked up on those, they are so comfy! Also some tops from new look maternity range and one pair of maternity jeans from the new look sale

[FourForYouGlenCoco]

Mat gear - I've got 2 pairs of under-bump black skinny trousers and a pair of over-bump jeans, plus 2 maternity tops. Then I supplement with long strappy tops/vests worn under looser t-shirts (also a great combo for bf afterwards without showing everything!), a couple of skirts with stretchy waistbands and a few dresses in various styles. Am 19w with second baby and got on fine with that lot last time, plus as most of it was non-maternity I could wear it afterwards while I got back down into my normal stuff. Agree that it's frustrating to buy things you'll only wear for 6 months!

[1frenchfoodie]

I bought very little pregnancy wear, it seemed expensive and little was available on the high st. Risking stretching items already in my wardrobe seemed to make more sense. And my bump is not particularly small (I am 40wks) - more than one person has referred to me smuggling a basket/bowling ball.

Mainstays are a handful of long sleeved uniqulo thermtech long sleeve tops that stretch over the bump and can be layered under dresses when it is colder. But I am short (5ft3), they'd nit last to 9 months if I was taller.

I never did buy any maternity trousers, just 2 pairs of maternity jeans - this worked as I rarely wore trousers as workwear even pre pregnancy.

Workwear (I worked in office til 37+5) was four stretch wrap dresses, 3 of which I already had (h&m, phase 8), stripy stretch jersey skirt and a few pre-pregnancy shirts that were sufficiently roomy. Casual fridays and working one day a week from home helped me to not get too bored with the limited wardrobe.

[HarrysMummy17]

I'm now 30 weeks. I've been wearing leggings and tunic tops. When my jeans stopped fitting I brought some over the bump maternity jeans that are so comfy! I've been wearing all of my normal tops that stretch over my bump.

[katienana]

Leggings, a couple of pairs of jeans and some stretchy vest tops. You could get a bump band to elongate the lufe of your existing trousers and keep tops from riding up. You could get maternity/nursing tops if you're planning to bF so you get some more wear out of them later on. The thing is maternity clothes are cut longer in the front to accommodate the bump and be more flattering, I personally think it's worth getting a few bits that you feel nice in. Amazon is worth a look for very cheap jersey dresses. I'm wearing one now that cost £5! You could get a few in different colours, with a Cardi and leggings could be good for work.

[Pinkheart5915]

I found floaty dresses to be comfy.
Maternity jeans and some floaty tops

[Purplehonesty]

I wore stretchy black trousers from next for work - got two pairs think they were £17 each.
They were so comfy.

Other than that I had to buy maternity trousers/jeans but for tops I bought a bigger size, just cheap ones from primark or similar.

I was a size 8 with an enormous bump tho so I couldn't really get away with using any of my own clothes

[foxessocks]

That's my problem purple I'm a size 8 and last pregnancy I had a gigantic bump and I think I'm going the same way already this time! A lot of my tops are quite tight fitting and are already not covering over my bump.

Thanks all some good places for me to look!

[powertotheparslaii]

Once I finally outgrew my skinny jeans, I lived in leggings throughout my last pregnancy. I think for Spring you should go for leggings, long vest and floaty cardigan look, it will be warm and comfortable!

[ThePowerOfCake]

I mostly wore maternity clothes as my normal clothes were quite fitted and I am very long bodied so nothing was long enough! To keep costs sensible I bought a few cheap bits from new look maternity in the sale and most other things were second hand on ebay. I found I didn't mind buying maternity jeans when they were £5 including postage and barely worn!

[TriJo]

Another maternity jeans, stretchy vest and cardigan person here. Most of what I've worn has been some variation on that.

[kiwiscantfly]

I'm 19 weeks into my 3rd pregnancy and still wearing some of the clothes from my first, my H&M jeans and gap leggings are still going strong. I think a few purchases are a good idea, I always felt better dressed in maternity clothes, they just fit better imo. New Look and H&M are cheapish. The thing I found hardest to find is shorts, but then again you might not be a shorts person. I def have less clothes than I normally would but there is no way I'll be wearing anything other than maternity clothes from 30 weeks, I feel like a frump otherwise.

[PeppaPigStinks]

I have managed to pick up some bundles of maternity stuff online from Facebook and gumtree for the price of two pairs of maternity jeans! Some of it isn't my taste but I've got some lovely bits that I wouldn't have justified the price for if is was buying new!

[eastpregnant]

Maternity jeans just never worked for me, I couldn't get any to fit properly and stay up.

I've been wearing dresses and maternity leggings/tights, it's worked pretty well. Some are proper maternity dresses, others are normal but have an empire line. I think I have seven outfits altogether, which I wear on rotation!

[kiki22]

I bought maternity clothes today 2 jeans, 2 leggins and 2 long tops (for leggings) most of my normal tops and dresses with fit for another while at least, I will buy more if I need to. I have to deal with dry skin, sickness and all the other crappy things that come with pregnancy so I will at least dress nice I refuse to walk about in badly fitted clothes. I hate to see people making things fit you spend 6 months-ish in these clothes spending a little is not unreasonable.