What do I wear for weeks 12 - 20? (first preg) PLEASE HELP

[sifuentes]

Currently nearly 10 wks and norks have sprouted faster than fast which means that my pretty summer dresses from last year no longer fit or look too porny. Also I can't handle the feeling of anythingo n my tummy and most of them are very fitted on the waist as that is the shape that flatters me most. Normally. Fitted.

Anyway obviously I don't want to spend too much money because by next summer boobs will have deflated again and I will need to buy proper maternity wear for the 20-40 week slot. (inshallah assuming this one is a goer etc)

Any tips mucho appreciado

[sifuentes]

Did that make sense?

[Cies]

Oh, I was going to post saying you may not need anything. I'm currently 18.5 wks in first pg and in my normal summer clothes, which for me are knee length A-line skirts and t-shirts / vest tops. The skirt can ride up a bit if necessary and so far I don't really look pregnant, just a little solid round the waistline.

Bear in mind that if you're breastfeeding your boobs will probably still be larger than normal next summer.

[Cies]

What about some of the floaty dresses that are around at the moment. They fit over your boobs then float down (and out). I forsee buying a couple of these soonish.

[Fimbo]

There are loads of floaty dresses around. You could probably get away with not having to buy specific maternity wear.

[Lizzylou]

For reasonable maternity wear have a look at H&M, what about some floaty summer dresses/tunics from Primark or similar to keep the cost down?
If it helps, my norks grew massively at week 10 and then didn't get much bigger until the baby was born. Your bump will soon balance you all out.

[Overmydeadbody]

A lot of the dresses around at the moment are floaty and not tight around the tummy area.

If you breaastfeed then next summer you'll stillbe able ot wear them as your norks will still be big

[HeadFairy]

Hiya Sif!!! I've just started buying some things up for the summer... it's really hard, because if your shape suits things that fit at the waist you might find all the empire line stuff a bit meh.

I've been getting increasingly frustrated that all trousers seem to be either jeans, black (booooring) or white (yeah so practical with a toddler!) so I'm looking for some nice khaki/chino type trousers... I did buy some really nice light trousers from Mamas and Papas that are still almost jeans but not quite. I also bought a really nice shirt which looks lovely unbuttoned to allow for a bit of neckline. I'm fortunate in that I can go to work in jeans every day, not that I want to though....

Mamas and papas had some really nice stuff though.. also I've bought some nice tops at Blooming Marvellous. It thought they'd gone bust, but they're still online. And they're doing 3 for 2 on some tops.

[BikeRunSki]

I got maternity trousers at about 16 weeks - a couple of smart pairs for work, jeans and some linen ones. They all had adjustable waists so I cranked them in and let them out as needed. They saw me through to the end (although DS was a bit early). I was mostly able to wear "normal" tops. Had a few stretchy Ts from Primark.

Wore a normal floaty dress to weddings at 5 and 6 months.

[sifuentes]

Thanks everyone _ very pretty shirt head
I think i'm just going to have to go on a cheapo spree, once I can walk around for more than 30 mins without yakking, and try lots of things on.Floaty dresses may look nice now that I have got my free implants...
Good point about possibly still having biguns next summer. Though not sure I will be BFing past 6 months. Do they shrivel straight away?

[HeadFairy]

It's worth having a few nice expensive things you live in, a couple of pairs of decent trousers. You don't really want a wardrobe of similar size to your normal one.. so IMO it's better to have some decent stuff to last you. Good mat jeans are a must I think.

They were doing half price stuff at mamas and papas too by the way.

I also found Dorothy Perkins and H&M good for cheap tops last time though I haven't been in there this time yet.

I don't remember my boobs shrinking immediately, more like about three months down the road of breastfeeding your milk supply becomes more settled and slowly they stop having that engorged watermelon look. But then I bf for a year and when I gave up I'd been winding down so slowly that I didn't even notice any changes... unlike now, when I've already gone up two cup sizes!

[HeadFairy]

OH and trying things on is the way forward... your body is a totally different shape now so it's really hard to tell what suits and doesn't. Take advantage because this time next year casual browsing round the shops won't be so easy

[sifuentes]

That's ture. I just want to save the makor spending for the wniter wardrobe - but need to feel nice for the next ten weeks too. It is very weird - and awful -realising I have almost nothing to wear.

[Sunshinemummy]

Sif French Connection is great for clothes that are nice, non-maternity but can be worn during maternity. There's something about the way they cut them. They even acknowledged to my friend that they're aware of this but decided not to advertise it.

[sifuentes]

interesting...I like FC too

[Sunshinemummy]

I got a great dress and a couple of nice tops from there which I still wear now I'm not pregnant.

[HeadFairy]

Apart from the difference in temperature, if you're buying mat clothes now, they should last you until Jan... I've bought a couple of shirts today which I can chuck a jumper/cardi over easily enough, and jeans and nice trousers should be ok for both seasons, just add boots and scarf The one thing that might be worth investing in is a nice coat if you're going to be outside much or need to be smart for work. I didn't bother last time but then ds was born in September.

[HaventSleptForAYear]

If you breast-feed you won't be able to wear a dress.

EVER...

(unless you want to sit in your pants bfing?).

So just buy some stuff you like now (not too expensive) and don't over-think next summer or kid yourself you'll be saving money buying for 2 summers;

I agree shirts are good when pregnant. I could wear shirts til about 7 mths pregnant, when other tops just looked strange.

[sifuentes]

Yeah - I woke up this morning thinking these things.

Jeans and leggings will last me the whole way through, so a few vests, and a couple of dresses will do me fine I'm sure.

Thanks very much for the wise words.