Grrr! Can't find any maternity trousers

[Oeisha]

So, I'm 12wks, but am beginning to feel a little tight across the tum. The next size up trousers are all far too big across the waist line and irritate me (tried this approach), by falling down under the bit of bump I do have, and generally just not being the right size, so I thought of looking in to maternity trousers that I will, in a few weeks, be able to start to wear.
So, I went in to Manchester thinking, crikey, there MUST be something there in the big retailers.
Due to being exteedingly knackered at all times...and not having much time, I thought I'll stick with retailers I know, and who's stuff I generally like.
Went to Next to the maternity section...they don't do short legs in shop. Only online, and only then in a few styles, and they won't guarantee to have them, even if they're a 'new' line...despite having X-long on the rails...and then I'd have to pay a P&P...I tried arguing that this was unfair as apparently x-longs don't have to pay to try on their clothes, but got a vacant stare.
Next M&S, nope they don't do anything in store anymore, all online, and a similar story with leg length apparently...
...now, am I missing out? I've seen nothing in any literature that says I should have gotten taller...should I have grown by a foot by 12wks or are they just being plain STUPID?!
...and can anyone suggest a good supplier of maternity wear for those of us 5"3 and under?

[Valiant1]

were are you hun i went to mamas and papas in Stoke on trent and they do short leg dorathy perkins do and new look do as well xx i am a size 20 and need the long legs so am struggling too xx

[PrincessScrumpy]

I love the quality of Jojomamanbebe for some classic stuff. I feel your pain - I made dh walk all over Exeter hunting for clothes as I wanted to try them on. I think if I were you I'd get online and check out Jojomamanbebe, Next, Topshop, Newlook, Mamas and Papas, and Red Herring at Debenhams then get dh to send back stuff that doesn't fit. xx

[Oeisha]

Thank you! I'll try those. I'm in Buxton, nothing this locally, though might try nd make it to Macclesfield and see if their Dorothy Perkins is big enough (Arndale wasn't!!!). Practically nothing here. I want to be able to try on (and not be taxed for the privilage) as my size varies according to...not sure really...what phase of the moon we were in when they were designed? how drunk the designer was when they assigned sizes..?!

[ksaunders]

I can't be of much help, except to warn you that very few stores seem to do their maternity range actually in shops! I live in South East London and have found even the bigger stores don't have them, Perhaps get phone numbers from their websites and ring them before you start travelling further afield. H&M is about the only general clothes store that has maternity available in the shop here and Debenhams has a small maternity red herring section. You can order online from Next and M&S for collection from your local store if that helps. Then you could try them on and return them on the spot if not suitable and I think collect from store is free.

[PotteringAlong]

The only maternity trousers I've managed to find that fit and don't fall down were, of all places, from George at Asda. They were £14 and Linen-y and, when you see them can be jazzed up for work and jazzed down for weekend.

Not the greatest of quality but have washed really well and am living in them a bit (got them in different colours!)

here

[PinkFondantFancy]

Try JoJo Maman Bebe-using the mumsnet voucher code you get 10% off and free P&P, and I have lived in their linen trousers constantly since about 12 weeks

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Same problem here except I'm fat as well as short. I'm only 14 weeks and already destined to live in the black Next trousers that I bought with dd 4 years ago. I have bought and sent back 8 pairs of maternity jeans from Next. Took the label off one pair yesterday in desperation and the fuckers were falling down round my knees an hour later. Can't take them back as they're now worn. Am pissed off. Nowhere does short fat maternity trousers. Did I mention I was pissed off?

[suzikettles]

I used a hair elastic hooked through the button and buttonhole of my trousers to get me through the period before maternity trousers were really necessary. Obviously longer tops are necessary for this look...

[hermionejgranger]

Gwendoline how long did you wear them for? In my experience Next are really good if you want to return stuff - "fit not as expected" is surely something you don't find out until you've worn them for a bit. Why not give it a go? Just take them in and say "I'd like to return these, please" - so long as they're not dirty you might be in luck. If you have the receipt obviously that's better but if not you might get credit. M&S the same. Fingers crossed...

Oeisha if you order online a lot of retailers don't charge you p&p if you get your order delivered to a store rather than your house (although you might find that depending on store delivery days you have to wait up to a week). And distance selling means you have 7 days no quibble returns (in addition to any good will returns policy a store offers) so you can order, go in, try on and return all in one fell swoop! ksaunders is right :) and similarly I've found crud all in the shops themselves other than H&M (which seem only to provide for those of a size 6 or 8. aaaargh!)

ahhh suzikettles the magic of the humble hair elastic! cheaper than button extenders and just as effective! :)

[Davinaaddict]

When I was pregnant with DS1 I loved the Red Herring stuff from Debenhams & New Look have quite a good selection as well (I'm 5 ft 4), I was also shopping in Manchester, although that was 2 years ago now. Am only 5 weeks now so not really started looking yet but wish there were some good maternity retailers around that dont cost the earth. It's so hard to find something that fits well, and suits your own style! Most if the stuff I found was just REALLY frumpy or completely girly (which I am not!). Anyway rant over Hope you manage to find some!

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

I wore them for about 90 minutes absolute max. Will check on their condition and might try to return them. Thanks :)

I do have some of those bump bands but I bought them in my size which was daft as they're stretchy. In order for them to actually hold anything up they need to be quite tight so I should have gone a size down at least.

[FourThousandHoles]

I feel your pain OP

None of the shops in the town I live in stocked maternity clothes so I had to travel 35 miles or order online and hope they fit.

I generally ended up taking up the hems too

The only pair of jeans I found that fit properly were from mothercare and were a bit meh but they fit

I would suggest goign with the styles with enormous stretchy waistbands in the early stages, these are more likely to stay up when your bump is still small.

[notcitrus]

Oh joy. Last time round I was pregant mostly in summer so just lived in stretchy skirts, sandals and XL T-shirts, but this time I'm going to need trousers. I have one pair of over-bump black trousers that are so lovely I've worn them even when not pregnant, but all the under-bump ones I ever tried just fall down - probably because low-cut trousers always fall off me anyway.

Actually last time I set my mother on finding me clothes, because it made her feel useful but also she has loads of clothes shops near her and time to visit them. Will try that again - especially as will be pregnant all winter and presumably need a huge coat!

[9DonkeysAndABoy]

Hi OP, I have generally turned to skirts, and when cold, maternity stockings, I find that much more comfortable. (I am size 16, if you are smaller, I think it all gets a bit easier.) Otherwise I found H&M quite good. I do have a pair of summery trousers from there.

And an aaaaamzing pair from somewhere called Christoff that a cousin brought back from Germany! Which is of little use, I know, but I thought I'd share my enthusiasm about them .

[Bartimaeus]

I love my Gap maternity trousers - got some stretchy black ones for work - brilliant.

Also I recently bought some linen trousers from BHS - not maternity but 2 sizes bigger than I normally wear and as the waist is fully elastic they fit nicely under my 6-month bump (and actually fit over my bump but i don't like wearing things over my bump - far too hot!)

[kittencuddles]

One of my friends is 6ft and had the same problem, couldn't get any trousers to fit. She swore by these in normal trousers:
www.birthease.co.uk/birthease_shop/Belly-Belt.shtml

[Oeisha]

Waah! I'm trying really friggin hard not to throw my PC out the window, or, as preference, not to go on a murderous rampage in a Next store. So, I'm a size 14 short...shouldn't be too difficult. Would prefer OTB as I will find it more comfy.
All over it's either: sale time, so no short legs, just plain no short legs, or some rediculous delivery charge policy (mamas and papas step up), or are frankly out of my price range.
Not only would I have to pay P&P with next, but the bastards insist on you signing up to an account, which means they'll then tax me £4 a friggin quater to recieve a catalogue about clothes I have no interest as they won't fit me! (about 1:400 items fit me in next).
However, I know their short leg maternity trousers should fit, haivng tried some regulars! Will have to visit my local store (leaving my arsenal at home, and maybe taking some form of sedation, or my MIL to calm me, and see if they're willing to order in for me - I hope for their sakes they say yes).
So far:
M&S - Nil
Next - stupid delivery T&C
Mothercare - Nil
Peacocks - Nil
Mamas and Papas - weird delivery T&C
Newlook - Nil
Dorothy Perkins - Nil
Red Herring via Debenhams - Nil
Top Shop - Nil
Asos - Nil
Geroge at asda - Nil
Jomamanbebe - Nil

[ksaunders]

Ive heard Next are due to start their sales on Saturday...it will be manic if they do and you may end up queuing to get in if you go too early in the day. Just thought I'd warn you in case you didn't know as that would only add to your stress levels.

[Dartfordmummy]

Leggings are the way forward gilrs!!

[MarkStretch]

Definitely leggings. I am 15 weeks and bought a pair of maternity leggings in Peacocks yesterday for £9, they have button detail on the ankle, come up to my tits and are comfy as anything.

I shall be teaming them with long tops, vests and shirts for as long as possible and tucking them into boots when it gets colder.

[FourThousandHoles]

No way, no leggings here

Legs like tree trunks, awful awful awful. Which is a crying shame as I'm sure theyd be comfy.

Not allowed at work either

[TrinaLuciusMalfoy]

Have you tried H&M? Only place I've managed to find anything (although I'm 5'1'' so do have to roll EVERYTHING up - but I don't mind doing it when I've paid less than a tenner for the trousers in the first place! When I've paid nearly £30 (mothercare, this means YOU) I'd like the damn things to fit in the first place!)

[Oeisha]

Humm, interestd in the H&M stuff, tho their site design is POOR. I'm usually a 14 (M&S and next) but does that translate to H&M? [no, apparently not - apparently I'm a size 20 pp according to their measurements] I get freaked out by overly large shops...especially as 99% of the clothing in the store won't fit (pre-pregnancy), so I hate trying on stuff.
Maybe I should just 'girl up' and try and enjoy the shopping experience...and if not, feel especially grateful I'm not looking for a dress!

[Reallea]

Buy a bump band and sew it to your normal trousers just below where the fly does up, then you can do less and less fly up as needs be and it just looks like you are wearing a long tshirt. I did this with an Isabella Oliver bump band during last pg and wore my favourite work trousers up to two weeks before I gave birth when I gave up work.