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Pregnancy

Can I have a rant about maternity clothes?

99 replies

dodi1978 · 21/07/2016 21:02

Urghhh, I have really had enough at 30 weeks pregnant!

  1. Most high street stores only sell them online. So you order, they don't fit, but out of desperation you keep some in the end in order to, well, be dressed for work.


  1. Don't get me started on jeans. I've given up on them this pregnancy. I can't wear skinny jeans when I am not pregnant, so why should I do so now? But that seems to be all you can get. Even those I ordered that were not advertised as 'skinny' didn't fit comfortably (I am a size 16, fair enough, but I can find well fitting non-maternity jeans fairly easily).


  1. I have precisely three pairs of trousers that fit well (basic black trousers for work, all same make / size). Nice, over-the-bump stretchy bit that is neither too tight nor too loose. Unfortunately, the current weather is a bit too hot for them.


  1. A few weeks ago, before my holiday, I bought two pairs of linen trousers from Jojo Maman Bebe. Ordered online (of course), and on trying them on they seemed to fit well. I needed some urgently for my holiday, so I kept them despite them being literally miles to long (about 15 cm!!!). Never mind, had them shortened.

But, bad luck yet again... once worn for a bit, the over-the-bump stretch gets so loose I literally have to hold them up. When I am sitting down, the linen bit sits right under my bump and is far too tight. I was so uncomfortable at work today I left an hour early because I couldn't bear them any more. Won't be able to wear them for work again when I am sitting down all day.

Arrgh! What do do? I think I'll just have to alternate my two maternity dresses again and look out for a third in the sales... but then my legs sometimes chafe when it's hot and I walk for extended periods of time.

Rant over. Please join me!
OP posts:
divadee · 21/07/2016 21:12

I am having issues as well. Stores if they stock a maternity range have the tiniest selection. They don't do long length in trousers and recently a lot are all under the bump style. Gahhhhhh.

Tops I can deal with. Trousers I am really struggling with.

MetalMidget · 21/07/2016 21:19

I've abandoned trousers throughout my pregnancy, I've just been wearing leggings and dresses. I always try before I buy with jeans as sizing and fitting can be random, and always wear flares and bootcut jeans when not pregnant - I HATE skinny jeans. But maternity jeans in store (assuming they actually have any maternity stuff available offline) - all skinny. Bah.

Afreshstartplease · 21/07/2016 21:20

I have outgrown my topshop 'maternity' vest tops weeks ago and I'm only 27 weeks now! If I put one on it exposes almost my entire bump!

Heatherplant · 21/07/2016 21:20

Have you tried amazon? The stuff was reasonably priced and saw me through until I fitted back into my regular stuff. I agree, maternity wear is vile. It's like manufacturers are trying to out do each other for a laugh knowing there's not much alternative.

beemay · 21/07/2016 21:20

I've got grand total of one pair of trousers and one skirt for work that are actually comfortable and I wear them on rotation. Second and last pregnancy and I'm too stingy to buy any more clothes! Unfortunately I'm much bigger than with first pregnancy so a lot of my first round of mat clothes don't fit already and I've still got two months to go...

dodi1978 · 21/07/2016 21:22

Thanks for co-ranting!

Oh yes, under-the-bump trousers! THEY DON'T WORK FOR SOME WOMEN!!!

Grrrrr....

OP posts:
CatsCantFlyFast · 21/07/2016 21:25

Under the bump doesn't work for me but are my only option once I get to the stage where I can't bear anything on my bump (or when the band where the over the bump bit joins becomes too tight)

I'm living in Isabella Oliver treggings (replaced from last pregnancy, super super comfy even though they're under bump - they just don't slip, but obv not ideal for this weather), maxi skirts or hush lounge pants. Everything else is shit!

fruityb · 21/07/2016 21:26

I'm living in leggings. I have some trousers from asos and new look that are supposed to be under bump I think but I wear them so they sit on my belly button, which is comfortable as they're not too tight to dig in.

Otherwise why do they make them all out of polyester?? I'm sweaty enough why would I wear the clothing equivalent of a bin bag!

Primary t shirts in a size bigger are long enough to cover me which is good but I'm now rotating the same outfits in all honesty. I have four weeks left so I'm not buying any more. What worries me is getting back in the pre preg stuff!!

PickledLilly · 21/07/2016 21:27

Try only being 5ft tall as well. It's virtually impossible to find anything that fits! And I live in the arse end of nowhere so there are virtually no shops that stock maternity wear nearby. And I'm bigger in my second pregnancy so I can't even fit in the stuff I had last time. It's all very annoying indeed.

TheABC · 21/07/2016 21:30

This really ticked me off too, when pregnant. I found a combination of buying two sizes bigger, using bump- proof wrap skirts and cardigans (I gave birth in May), plus a few bits from mothercare saw me through. I am petite, but gave up on jeans and trousers after week 30.

Whilst you have to order it online, John Lewis do a good maternity care range and it's easy enough to try on in store/return if needed. In this heat, suggest maxi dresses and free - flowing skirts. Fortunately, the sales are on!

Newmum90 · 21/07/2016 21:30

Just because im pregnant doesnt mean i suddenly want to wear swan patterns or frills.....

PickledLilly · 21/07/2016 21:31

And maternity wear is almost all clingy and stretchy, not ideal in this weather really. Heartily sick of clingy tshirts sticking to me. And another thing, why is 90% of maternity wear blue stripes? What's that all about?

camperjam · 21/07/2016 21:35

Have you tried Debenhams? I got some nice over bump boot cut jeans in store

wobblywonderwoman · 21/07/2016 21:35

The nursing tops from h&m are good and you can wear after.

Jeans I got in new look

But its so shit

Flowers

Nuttypops · 21/07/2016 21:39

Yes, it drove me scatty during my last pregnancy so I thought I had kept what I thought I could wear again in maternity wear, but on pulling out the box for this pregnancy, I discover it is just as awful as I remembered! I had obviously just given up by the end and was living in the same 2 outfits.

Over the bump bootcut jeans from jojomamanbebe and linen trousers from peacocks have been the only trousers I have found that work. Otherwise I am heading for the dresses, leggings and cardigans combo again for the next 20 weeks I think.

melonribena · 21/07/2016 21:41

Can I join in?!
Currently 30 weeks and struggling with this weather. Everywhere sells on line but not in store.
If they do, it's all horrible patterns and materials that no one surely likes, or random t shirts that say 'hands off the bump'
Debenhams stocked a nice dress but it was bright orange and looked to be made out of an old carpet off cut!
I've found no shorts/cut off trousers except in bright pink or blue.
I'm living in leggings and t shirts

milpool · 21/07/2016 21:46

Pickled Asos have some bits of petite maternity wear.

It is a PITA trying to find stuff though. Under the bump trousers just fall down on me and my bump never seemed to get quite big enough for over bump.

Maternity leggings are a godsend tho!

EnglebertSlaptyback · 21/07/2016 21:50

29 weeks and circulating the same few items!
Skinny jeans with best top and a light, shortsleeve shirty thing to cover my bum.
Dresses I've been wearing with tights, but not this week! Stole some of DH's boxer shorts to avoid chafing!
Elasticated waist skirts...
My local H&M has a few rails of maternity clothes that I can actually see!!

TheTurtleMoves · 21/07/2016 21:50

YES. Just because I'm pregnant does not mean I want to dress in mumsy prints. OR freaking faux leather leggings. OR head-to-toe polyester.

Grr.

MsFiremanSam · 21/07/2016 21:53

Agree wholeheartedly. I had a few ok bits and pieces to start with, but at 28 weeks nothing fits me properly now and I'm living in leggings and long vest tops. Everything is black or in a hideous print, too tight or too short. I've given up and resigned myself to fashion oblivion for another five months.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 21/07/2016 21:56

Maternity clothes are rubbish! With my 3rd pregnancy I abandoned all hope and opted for suitable non maternity stuff.
Matalan do some really long line vests for about £4 in every colour. Non maternity. I bought loads of those.
Anything jersey, some stores like fat face, white stuff etc that do jersey shorts or skirts are good.
Search Ebay using terms like 'suitable for maternity' or 'maternity suitable'
Buy a decent pair of jeans, my go to pair were blooming marvellous, but bought from eBay
Leggings and dress combo did me for work til the end.
Use bright coloured 'boob tube' tops as bump bands under your own tops
Maxi dresses in jersey are also good, don't need maternity.
Some of the cheaper shops such as store 21 sometimes do maternity, plus ask in charity shops etc.
I was the biggest I'd ever been in my 3rd trimester of 3rd pregnancy, and yet barely anything was true maternity. The other benefit of this is that you can wear it afterwards without still looking pregnant as maternity stuff tends to 'shape' your belly into a bump even after birth!

emmabrown123 · 21/07/2016 21:59

I've lived from pretty much week 25 in these trousers from H&M.

m2.hm.com/m/en_gb/productpage.0377617002.html

So comfortable, but they are like light joggers so poss not suitable for work wear (I wear a uniform so this wasn't an issue). Definitely most comfy thing I've found though, and light enough to wear in the hot weather.

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NinkyNonky · 21/07/2016 22:03

I feel your pain, I'm 33 weeks and have found dressing for the hot weather very difficult. I'd take your trousers back to Jo Jo Maman Bebe and complain though - they've been really good when I've taken stuff back that hasn't lasted an acceptable amount of time.

primarynoodle · 21/07/2016 22:10

I have just packed all of my maternity stuff away wahooo!

I agree with all of the above... i got through pregnancy with:
1 x over the bump jeans from next (in pre preg size - became too tight at 32 weeks)
1 x stretchy under bump jeans from topshop (size bigger than pre preg - too tight at 35 weeks)
2 x over bump leggins from mothercare (began to fall down constantly at 35 weeks)
100000 x Primark maternity tights - worth their weight in gold! Stayed up until about 37 weeks after a zillion wers and washes
1000000000 x primark long vest tops/h+m basic stretchy dresses - again kept their shape well and were super comfy (NON OF WHICH WERE MATERNITY!)

so the moral of the story is buy primark maternity tights and wear non maternity vest tops and stretchy dresses - with the added bonus that the bastards manufacturers cant con you out of a shed load of cash by insterting 'maternity' into the name of whatever piece of clothing!

Bluecarrot · 21/07/2016 22:11

I bought a black maxi skirt from primark (£3 in sale) and wear it at my bra band with a vest top under it so it looks like a colour block maxi dress. Could do with a belt too but I couldn't be bothered. I'm a sahm with no one to impress ;)
Also live in h&m skinny jeans ( though not in this heat!) with long matalan vest tops and those kinda sheer shirts and kimonos but not done up.
Wish I'd been organised to make my own stuff as I HATE shopping at the best of times never mind trying to get something awkward like maternity!

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