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Original poster

How much maternity clothing did you get and when?

54 replies

RosieLemonade · 14/09/2021 09:22

I'm 12 weeks but there is a definite bump! I'm looking at maternity clothes on boohoo but it feels frivolous to spend money on clothes you will only wear for six months. However I don't think I will be able to get in my jeans much longer!

OP posts:
Fupoffyagrasshole · 14/09/2021 10:19

I literally had one pair of nice maternity jeans, 1 stretchy dress and some leggings! I got some maternity T-shirt’s from Asda online

To be fair though I was pregnant in lockdown so didn’t have to go to work!

It most be harder needing clothes for work 😭

LouNatics · 14/09/2021 10:20

I didn’t get any maternity clothes, I just wore the things from my wardrobe with a bit more give toward the end and lost the more tailored stuff as time went on. I did try on some maternity trousers but they made me feel like a trussed up chicken and did nothing for the rest of my shape. I tried a bump band and it was OK but needed to be quite far on for it to stay up.

Weirdly my jeans always fit me right to the end, I did them up under the bump and that felt fine, so that helped. So my normal jeans, normal leggings obviously, and my stretchier/empire line things for work later on, with tights.

InnPain · 14/09/2021 10:20

@Letsallscreamatthesistene OP didn’t mention work…

And even then, you can easily get elasticated waistband on smart wear such as black trousers, just need to go up a few sizes to accommodate the bump and a loose black top/t shirt which can be accompanied with a smart blazer or cardigan. Primark never fails.

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InnPain · 14/09/2021 10:22

@RosieLemonade you didn’t mention work in your original post, so yeah like I said above there’s loads of options in primark for smart wear too, just need to ensure the waistband is generous.

FartleBarfle · 14/09/2021 10:23

Invest in some over bump and under bump jeans (Got mine from Next) and some maternity leggings. I then got some smart ish maternity dresses from JoJo which double up as nursing dresses once the baby arrives. Also feeding vests and tops from H&M which I wore during maternity too. And a couple of nice long snugly cardigans are great in later pregnancy and onto nursing too.

8dpwoah · 14/09/2021 10:25

I agree, buy it as you need it once you've got a few pairs of maternity bottoms halves. It will depend how you carry as well, I don't really put much weight on apart from my bump which is front and centre and sticks out a mile so non-maternity tops that cover the bump would drown the rest of me. Definitely focus on the bottom half stuff though as this is the bit that will affect your comfort the most.

Also worth considering if you're likely to want to breastfeed as if you buy stuff that will lend itself (Can I Breastfed In It? Is a good Facebook group for a look but it's ridiculously busy so choose your settings wisely!) It will of course last a lot longer. I've got some maternity stuff that I really like but is completely pointless from the day after birth whereas some of it got used for nearly 12 months more!

StopThrowingCitrusFruitFFS · 14/09/2021 10:26

I went with a few pairs of maternity leggings and vest tops, massive shirts and cardis over the top. Used the same for breastfeeding and just for comfort after we had them.

If you're not going to be pregnant in summertime, you could get away with that tbh. I also got a few dresses as I was heavily pregnant in summertime. Also if you have any events. Maybe a Christmas dress or something.

I bought it at about 12 weeks, and wore it till DCs were about 6 months.

InnPain · 14/09/2021 10:27

@Mangomammy Like I’ve already said the OP didn’t mention anything about work in her original post, I’ve since tailored my response in regards to the criticism a few of you ladies have displayed.

Poppop4 · 14/09/2021 10:35

I lived in maternity jeggings or leggings and long vest tops with jumpers over them. I was due i. January so busy the time I was huge it was winter

Mangomammy · 14/09/2021 11:52

@InnPain
I’m aware of that, however most people do work so commenting on workwear isn’t to be unexpected.

I disagree that simply buying a size/ a few sizes up is a solution - I tried that and clothes drowned me or looked horrendous on. Material clothes definitely suit me better. I guess it all depends on how you carry/ body shape tho.

InnPain · 14/09/2021 11:53

@Mangomammy - ok

Heatherjayne1972 · 14/09/2021 11:56

My friend didn’t buy any she wore larger sizes of normal clothes.

She felt it was a waste of money
I bought several pairs of jeans and a few tops but it depends on the time of year

Ughmaybenot · 14/09/2021 12:05

I got everything on Vinted/Depop/eBay and some second hand shop buys via my bargain hunting mum! It felt like a waste of money to buy a whole load of brand new clothing.
I bought one pair of jeans and one pair of shorts and mum bought me another pair of jeans and they owe me nothing, the amount I’ve worn them! I started off with just my looser tops, started wearing maternity jeans at 11-12 weeks, but have since bought maybe 5 or 6 maternity tops, all on that smart-casual line so as to be dressed up or down as needed. The rest has been dresses, I have a couple of summer type dresses, but most are midi dresses which I think can, again, be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. I’m due at the start of November, so hoping I don’t need too much in the way of jumpers etc, as will just wear open cardies/coats.

I’d look an absolute lump if I just sized up (or just bought men’s clothes Confused ) as the rest of my body has stayed relatively the same, I just have a big old bump 😂

Mintjulia · 14/09/2021 12:10

I didn't need maternity clothes until 30 weeks so I held out as long as possible. Black t-shirts and a boxy jacket can hide most things. Smile
By the end, I'd bought one top & made two more myself. I had a pair of maternity jeans, a maternity dress and a couple of non-maternity skirts with elastic waistbands.

Ds was August born so cotton dress and jacket or skirt, top and jacket hid the bump best.

Mostly I bought ordinary supermarket stuff in loose shapes and binned it as soon as ds was born. I went back to shape quite quickly.

But I knew I was only having one child and there would never be a second pregnancy.

8dpwoah · 14/09/2021 12:50

The thing is, if you're going to be buying stuff in larger sizes that presumaby won't fit you in future either why not just buy maternity/nursing stuff that's designed to do the job?

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 14/09/2021 12:51

@8dpwoah

The thing is, if you're going to be buying stuff in larger sizes that presumaby won't fit you in future either why not just buy maternity/nursing stuff that's designed to do the job?
Spot on. Either way you're buying clothes for your current situation.
LaBellina · 14/09/2021 12:53

I bought a few pairs of maternity jeans and leggings and a few tops. If you have some nice cardigans or blazers you can wear those on top of your maternity tops or tshirts.
I also bought everything new but in hindsight would buy it second hand now.

RampantIvy · 14/09/2021 12:55

Very little. A couple of people lent me some maternity trousers and a dress. I bought a jumper and a dress, and just bought some larger sized leggings. I never got that big, so I could still wear my baggy tops.

Unless you are planning a large family it seems such a waste of money to buy expensive maternity clothes.

Twizbe · 14/09/2021 12:59

Most of my maternity clothes were work clothes. This was before WFH and I was in a formal office 5 days a week. I got some smart dresses from ASOS that I could also wear for the few weddings we had while pregnant.

Then some jeans and leggings. Pull on boots (if due near the winter) I was able to use my old coat as it was a wrap around one, but if not a maternity coat could be a good investment.

I got some fitted jumpers as well, but now a days I would prob just buy some big baggy ones.

Maternity pants and tights were useful too.

If you plan to breastfeed H&M do some fab best tops with clips that I lived in before and after. Also some breastfeeding friendly tops can be useful for after.

ItsSunnyOutside · 14/09/2021 13:13

I only bought about 3 actual maternity items as I found the overall choice on the high st to be very limited and boring. I got a couple of bits from Asos and a pair of mat jeans from h&m.
I ended up buying main range items like smock dresses and some lovely loose cotton dungerees from Monki (and I could still wear them afterwards. I think I was quite lucky as I was heavily pregant over summer, so lived in floaty dresses and skirts which I could wear for work too. I couldn't stand the maternity jeans, they were so uncomfortable, I ended up selling them on ebay!

NigellaSeed · 14/09/2021 13:32

I got bump bands from Amazon and wore my normal tops and then my normal summer dresses once I got huge. But I liked a tight top to show off my beach ball

AngeloMysterioso · 14/09/2021 13:34

I got almost everything on eBay- Seraphine is my go-to brand, it’s good quality so I should be able to sell it on again when I’m done with it.

Applecrumble24 · 14/09/2021 13:36

Shein.co.uk do a lot of maternity clothes and very reasonably priced. I've got a few dresses from there and will be looking for winter stuff too as it gets colder.

MilkywayMonarch22 · 14/09/2021 14:28

I was heavily pregnant in spring summer so was able to get away with non maternity stretchy midi and maxi dresses with my usually chunky doc marten sandals. The only thing I invested in maternity wise was nursing bras.

You will be heavily pregnant in winter though so yes, maybe get some nice maternity jeans and nice t shirts that are stretchy or wrap tops that are quite flattering on growing bust and bump

StandardPoodle · 14/09/2021 16:42

I carried small so got away with 3 maternity dresses (one from Oxfam), a pair of dungarees and a pair of maternity trousers, though I may have borrowed some of DH's shirts.....

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