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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why it's so FUCKING difficult to find maternity clothes offline?

68 replies

kinkytoes · 25/09/2015 15:04

I live in a large town in the south east and only one shop here sells maternity clothes. None of our department stores do them any more. I get told by everyone to go online instead.

But I don't want to go online and pay for loads of stuff that will end up not fitting me and I'll have the hassle of returning it and then waiting for a refund.

I want to go and pick things off the shelf, try them on in a changing room, leave the ones I don't want and buy the ones I do want.

Why is that so hard? Why are shops discriminating against us pregnant ladies? There are enough of us to warrant stocking some clothes for us, surely? There are many places that sell baby clothes so why not maternity?

I know it's a bit of a first world problem but I'm hormonal and I just had a wasted afternoon 'shopping' and I want to enjoy being pregnant (as much as the sickness will let me). I just feel stressed out and pissed off Sad and I need some new clothes!

OP posts:
MaHeidMaHeid · 25/09/2015 15:06

I had the same rant several times during my pregnancies.

It really pissed me off. I live near Edinburgh and there are several branches of next, new look etc all over the city and about 2 stores sell maternity wear the rest don't. It's the same with plus size departments in store, they are difficult to find now and for me it's important I try things on because I'm fat and most stuff doesn't fit.

Oysterbabe · 25/09/2015 15:07

New look, h&m and Debenhams all stock them here.

Boosiehs · 25/09/2015 15:12

I have EXACTLY the same complaint.

The only store near me is H&M, and they have a tiny selection. :(

Original poster
kinkytoes · 25/09/2015 15:13

I'm pleased for you OysterBabe.

MaHeid I'm the opposite to you but same problem - very petite so things often don't look right. Even seeing stuff on the shelf I can't always tell if it'll be any good.

OP posts:
JaniceJoplin · 25/09/2015 15:14

YY, one of the biggest ranges is ASOS and I swear it is nearly all polyester - especially nice when you are pregnant! It is even more important to see and try on when you are bigger than normal. It just can't be selling enough to justify the space instore though...

Original poster
kinkytoes · 25/09/2015 15:14

Last time I was pregnant it wasn't this bad but it was still bad. I went to a large shopping centre on the outskirts of London. Only three shops there had any in stock. It's ridiculous.

OP posts:
LurkingHusband · 25/09/2015 15:15

Market forces, I suspect.

wednesdaysocks · 25/09/2015 15:17

Same problem when I was pregnant with DD- only shops I could find, that stocked maternity wear in store at the time, were Mamas and Papas and Primark. M&P were really expensive and the fit was terrible and Primark only seem to do super skinny maternity jeans. The last thing I wanted to wear while horrendously bloated and suffering from morning (noon and night) sickness was fucking super skinny jeans!

TenForward82 · 25/09/2015 15:36

I got mine in Mothercare, I'm also in the South East.

Original poster
kinkytoes · 25/09/2015 15:40

I could drive to the next town for a Mothercare but why should I? My problem is that there is nothing in my own town, except one shop which is tiny and doesn't hold all the sizes (but I could get them online...)

The internet has a lot to answer for.

OP posts:
Whoknewitcouldbeso · 25/09/2015 15:45

I agree. There obviously isn't enough demand year round and so they use the space for regular clothes.

I used to live closer to Cambridge than now and I think there was only H&M that had a selection in store. Ridiculous in such a big city.

Noodledoodledoo · 25/09/2015 15:45

Being on the larger size and pregnant gave an extra a challenge!

Mothercare, Mama's and Papa's, Jojo Maman who all stock stuff in store and I am lucky enough to live near all of these stores don't go up to my size. What annoyed me was they only do Maternity/nursing clothes so should cater for all sizes. I can half understand normal high street stores not catering for all sizes as maternity is in a way a side line but when all you do is maternity clothes it doesn't make sense!

M&S who I do a lot of online shopping with didn't have any maternity items at all except tights when I was pregnant.

I ended up with ASOS, Next and some bits from H&M mostly online purchases. Most of Next were skinny jeans which were unsuitable for work or stupidly long work trousers!

ASOS were the best choice in the end. Very easy process to return stuff.

I do agree though - sometimes you want to go to a shop and try stuff on.

Binkybix · 25/09/2015 15:49

Yes, annoying as fuck. M&S have a fairly small but good range and do click and collect for free I think. You could order in what you want, try it on and just keep what you like.

MadeinBelfast · 25/09/2015 15:50

M&S have just launched a new maternity line in my local (huge) store. Might be worth a look?

Original poster
kinkytoes · 25/09/2015 15:53

Thank you. All tips welcome!

OP posts:
silverduck · 25/09/2015 15:56

They just don't sell enough to justify it, they are a business, not a public service. Having said that, we are a medium sized town and I know there is stock in Mothercare, H&M, New Look, Mamas and papas and Debenhams, that's a reasonable amount actually.

There's a lot to be said for just buying a size or two up in dresses and tops, then it is easier to use the stuff as your figure goes back to normal. I appreciate that won't work for all clothes and all figures though.

TenForward82 · 25/09/2015 16:00

I could drive to the next town for a Mothercare but why should I?

Ok, then.

I'm very sorry there isn't a Mothercare in your town.

backs away

Original poster
kinkytoes · 25/09/2015 16:01

They managed it before online shopping took me though didn't they?

You're lucky to have so much choice Silver. I'd love to know which towns do have choice still. Might be worth a trip out!

OP posts:
Original poster
kinkytoes · 25/09/2015 16:02

*took off!

OP posts:
OffMyAyersRocker · 25/09/2015 16:05

I had the same issue and l live in London! I thought it was a disgrace and told the store manager of Next in the City.

It's like pregnant women shouldn't be seen out Hmm

Original poster
kinkytoes · 25/09/2015 16:06

Well that's depressing.

OP posts:
ouryve · 25/09/2015 16:07

If you think it's bad now, you should have seen what it was like 12 years ago. There was mothercare and that was it. Next and M&S were purely online, as was everything else. It was slightly better when I was pregnant with DS2, but I think that's as good as it ever got.

tywinlannister · 25/09/2015 16:07

I work on Oxford Street. It's no easier.

I had a huge melt down in New Look because they'd removed the mat section due to lack of demand! Topshop does have stuff, but it is £££ plus its all tiny, the H&M on the corner sent me halfway down Regent Street to the other store for what was a tiny selection, BHS is rubbish, Debenhams was rubbish, I was basically told to go online.

M&S have a larger post surgery bra section than they do maternity section.

And (sob) they've closed the Mama's & Papa's I bought everything in last time.

ouryve · 25/09/2015 16:09

And you can't blame the Internet - online shopping really was still in its infancy in 2003. If anything, it increased the options available, rather than taking them off the high street.

MummaV · 25/09/2015 16:10

I had the same issue. The only store other than mothercare was h&m and they had one rack. I ended up buying a few basics online and a really cheap bundle from eBay. Half of it didn't fit but I just sold it all on again.