How much have you spent on maternity wear?

[hackneybird]

I've just totted up what I have spent. I found out I was PG in Feb and could no longer do up my jeans. I am shocked to discover that it's £400! . And here's me thinking I was doing well by getting some bits and bobs from ebay. What I have bought is:

3 jeans (1 blue, 1 black and 1 3/4 pair)
2 work trousers
2 dresses
1 shorts
1 leggings
bump bands, bras and larger underwear.
various tops and t-shirts

In my defence, it's first baby and I haven't been given or loaned anything. Quite a lot of it is normal wear and just either smock style or forgiving around the midriff, so I will be able to wear when deflating after the birth and when not PG (if I can stand the sight of them by then).

Still, that's a bloody fortune. Thankfully we're being given nearly all of our actual baby equipment, which is a godsend as I clearly won't have any money left!

[ButtercupWafflehead]

You can always whack it straight back onto eBay when you're done, so it didn't really cost that much!

[hackneybird]

Good thinking, Buttercup

[BlackLetterDay]

Or keep it, even if your not planning anymore, this is my third pg and the third time I have had to buy everything from scratch .

[lazylion]

I dread to think. I just keep getting bigger and the stuff I bought earlier doesn't fit any more. This is my third but the clothes from my other pregnancies were worn out. I haven't found anything that fits for the whole pregnancy even for my first. £400 sounds quite reasonable to me.
I stay huge while breastfeeding then deflate suddenly when I stop so my maternity clothes get a long wear - that should make me feel better but it doesn't somehow! I hope this isn't your fate hackneybird, it's grim to be wearing maternity clothes when the baby is nearly 1.

[Baisey]

So far all ive bought is two tops for about £35 but no doubt as I get further along I'll buy much more!!

[hackneybird]

well I have tried to buy stuff with an eye to expansion - so the dresses should be good until the end of the summer as should a couple of the jeans.

Once the end of summer comes and I'm huge, I think I'll just have to get a few of the cheap jersey long sleeved tops from Uniqlo or Gap. I just can't bring myself to spend any more for the time being.

[MarshaBrady]

I'm 12 weeks and in the end I've decided to buy non-maternity type stuff.

4 dresses that will accommodate bump for a while and leggings. (nice stuff like Sonia Rykiel so spent more than I was going to!). But they can still be worn afterwards.

The only problem I didn't think about is how impossible it will to breastfeed in them, oh well.

I still need to get a couple of bras though.

[Phoenix]

Don't know exactly how much but it's a lot. I was pg in winter with ds and hardly bought anything, this time i've got 3 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of combats, cropped combats, cropped linen trousers, linen trousers, many t-shirts/vests, a hoody, yoga pants and i'm sure i've forgot some.

I'm 33wks now and have just bought a few more tops today .

I'm planning to sell as much as i can on Ebay afterwards though to try make some money back and some of the stuff i can get away with wearing once the baby is born.

[staylucky]

I've got six weeks to go and so far have managed (somehow!) with 2 pairs of maternity jeans. Work has casual dress code and have just my usual tops.

Finished work last Friday though and have been to Primark this morning and spent a grand £40 on summer dresses, leggins and long floaty vest tops!! Am well chuffed All looks like stuff that should last after birth till end of summer or could be layered up with trousers.

I have to admit though I haven't bought any new bras yet, I just want to try hold out till a week or so before incase I go up a size again. It's a pretty ridiculous situation, lol, i'm nearing jordan sized proportions.

[hackneybird]

Staylucky I am pressed you have managed with only 2 pairs of jeans. I intend not to buy any more bras at all until much much later.

I don't know whether to sell my stuff afterwards, or to keep it and put it away as we do plan to have more children. Will have to see.

[staylucky]

It's been a very dull time in my wardrobe Hackneybird!

I reckon if you can put a few bits away you'll be glad you did next time around. Depends how fashion concious you are I guess although how maternity wear can be considered fashionable I don't know, hehe.

[ButtercupWafflehead]

Having just looked through my "fashionable" maternity clothes from last time (4 years ago), they now look a bit dated and I wish I'd sold them on at the time.

The plainer stuff etc, I am glad to have held on to.

[KatyS36]

I'm 20 weeks and have spent about £150 so far. There were a couple of mistakes earlier on, mainly jeans that weren't actually very comfy when i sat down (duh!).

This is my first pregnancy and I'm trying to buy only by beautiful stuff that I love that won't date. That way I'll be able to use it all again for no 2

[Stokey]

I must have spent £100 on bras alone - 4 in bigger sizes... and worried i'm still growing.

Am 18 wks and my jeans have just stopped fitting so just bought some New look maternity jeans for very reasonable £20.

Have also bought 3/4 cheap dresses - probably about another £80 that are one size larger than normal but not maternity & think i can wear after. AM finding dresses far comfier than trousers, with more room for expansion.

but feel like i'm going buy far more...

[Tamlin]

I've probably spent £300 or so, including bras (I'm a 32FF, so bargains are not possible). I spent very little during my first pregnancy, and felt dreadful slopping around in loose ordinary clothing or DH's rugby shirts. This time, I thought 'Sod it' and bought some flattering maternity kit. I feel a lot better about looking like an elephant seal if I'm at least dressed nicely.

[sagalsmith]

I'm very fashion conscious but also very cheap. Thankfully part of the fun for me in shopping is 'the search' ie getting the ultimate best deal and preferably never paying rrp. Also I hate maternity clothes so have tried avoiding buying them. I'm about a size 12-14 normally and went up about a size and half. I figured that a good way to go about it is

• invest in pregnancy bands so you can leave jeans/trousers undone and no one knows for about half the duration of pregnancy.
• not normally my style but in spirit of thrift, I did the cardigan and sleeveless top thingy. All your old cardies should fit if you don't button. I then bought a bunch of Primark tank tops a size bigger and long to wear underneath. You can get them for like 2-3 pounds each. Also good for breast feeding after.
• 1 or 2 big bump preggy jeans/trousers.
• larger size, low waist skirts from cheaper stores/charity shops.
• invest in maternity tights- makes a difference in comfort level and very smart.

-baby doll dresses which can be belted after pregnancy if you can still bear them.

So not a lot of maternity clothes. I haven't spent a lot, probably less than 100 and I'm now pregnant again (dd 11 months and I'm 5 months). To do this style, you have to be one of those that likes the look of the pregnancy bump and is not afraid of showing it off. Its cheap, effective and you'll generally look good.

[staylucky]

sagalsmith,

I got a few of the long vests etc from Pmrk and think they look really lovely with full on bump. I like your strategy!

[mogwai]

Second pregnancy and when I got sopme of the old stuff down from the attic I realised it was no good and chucked it out.

In total I have spent £1000 on two pregnancies. It will all be going onto e-bay as a bundle - and what a bargain - loads of really good quality stuff that I was daft enough to buy!!