Maternity Shopping! :(

[LDNlady]

So, I've gone for as long as I can with my normal clothes but it's finally reached the point where I can't put it off any longer! Today is maternity clothes shopping day. I hate the physical act of clothes shopping at the best of times so having to go and try and figure out what size I need and whether they look any good on my ever expanding body fills me with dread! Also I just hate being around loads of people doing the same thing so doing this on bank holiday Monday may cause me to do someone some damage. Actually, hasn't it been known for pregnant women to get away with murder at times. :o

[supergreenuk]

Yeah good luck. No shops in my local area sell maternity clothes.

[Meglet]

where are you going? H&M, dotty p's and New Look do maternity clothes as well as the baby shops.

[LDNlady]

Well, I am starting at Mothercare as one of my friends said their combat/cargo pants were just soooo comfortable but if there is and H&M or DPs in Ealing then I'll be trying there too. My poor hubby is coming with me, I feel for him I really do. :-D

[Meglet]

I loved my maternity cargo pants.

I did end up with an awful lot of clothes in the end TBH . It was all e-bayed for a few £££ after I had my last DC.

[LDNlady]

I have tried on eBay but didn't really find very much. Maybe I've been looking in the wrong places on there.

[ethelina]

Red Herring in Debenhams do comfy jeans and nice daytime tshirts. H&M cargo pants are extremely comfortable, Next does multipacks of vests and plain tees. I would suggest you go and buy some essentials today and then go online for other stuff at your leisure. You might find the shops only sell most of their maternity stuff online anyway.

[jkklpu]

Ended up doing most online via jojomamanbebe (discount code on MN). Don't get too much to start with as you'll probably end up wearing a few trusted items all the time rather than forking out for a lot of clothes all at once.

[Adair]

www.asos.com
free delivery and returns. good clearance/sale section.

[LDNlady]

Oooh now I like Debenhams when not pg so that sounds like a good idea. I have to say that today was definitely all about getting some bits to see me through for now and find out exactly what size I need then to go get the rest online and to save my blood pressure from getting too high. :o

[tenren]

asos.com also having a sale on maternity

[Jaffacake76]

H&M worked for me! I bought a few pairs of (really comfy) jeans. The sales assistant told me to choose the size I was pre-pregnancy (size 12) but I couldn't even get them over my legs! So I did have to buy a size 16 but they're so comfy. I also bought a pair of smart-ish trousers from M&P.

Good luck!

[littleshinyone]

next online.

i 'treated'myself to some Isabella Oliver work trousers but they were RUBBISH. for me, anyway.

good luck!

[NonnoMum]

On ebay, look for "Maternity Bundles" in your normal size.

[GwennieF]

M&S do smart stuff for work and they're not too dear either. I liked H&M for jeans as they went over the bump whereas most of the DP and New Look ones are under which I found really uncomfortable

[hazchem]

I don't know if it's your sort of thing but I got some bargins in Oasis a couple of days ago. It's not a maternity range but lots of thier tops and dresses are wrap around or "billowy" at the tummy. They should do me for breast feeding aswell.
It was a great relief not to be in the mama section!

[LDNlady]

Now, I don't normally shop at Oasis but they do do some lovely stuff so if it's not too crazy in there I'll have a look.

[RockLovesMincePies]

I found H & M to be rubbish, but that is because I was a size 14-16 before pregnancy and they only seem to cater for skinny minnies with a lovely neat bump.

New Look sizes were more accurate and better value for money too. But to be honest, as I am lucky enough not to be working at the mo (although a bit skint as well lol) I have just gone for non maternity stuff in bigger sizes. Lots of leggings and oversize tunic tops and t-shirts, found some really nice, but cheap stuff in Sainsbury's!

I did buy some maternit jeans from New Look and they have served me very well.

Good luck.

[cupofcoffee]

I eneded up doing a combination of online shopping and mothercare. There is not a lot in my area maternity wise. There is H&M but tried some maternity trousers on in there 2 sizes above my normal (because they were in the sale) but I couldn't get them past my thighs

[JuneBuggy]

Funnily enough, Asda have some nice maternity cardigans for around £12! :)

[gallicgirl]

I used New Look and H&M a lot. Also Gap but not many of their shops stock maternity range.

Just go for your normal size and be prepared to do a lot of shopping online. I love www.yummymummymaternity.co.uk/index.asp. Delivery is quick, prices are reasonable and the staff are really helpful if you call the shop.

[LDNlady]

Well, that was an utterly fruitless afternoon!! The Mothercare shops near me were diabolical when it came to the amounts of maternity wear that they stocked. Now I'm home I am just going to order loads of stuff online and hope for the best. It was that type of day where I could quite gladly have come home and wolved down a lovelt big bottle of red wine!! :o

[laurieleigh]

i also attempted to go shopping today, but the response i got in most stores was that their 'maternity stock isn't currently on the shop floor' - managed to get a knitted dress and some combats in H&M - nothing in any way suitable for work.
in the couple of shops that did have stock i couldn't seem to find any trousers that weren't 'regular' leg. anybody had any luck getting smart trouser with long length legs?? or is it expected that all pregnant women's legs shrink??!!

[trixie123]

laurieleigh do look in M&S because they do stretchy elastic waist pinstripe trousers in different leg lengths. they are not maternity but if you go up a size you'll be fine right to the end. I wore a pair last time round from about 4months onward.