to think I might not need maternity clothes?

[LisaLotta]

Sorry, I've already written today about not being able to find maternity clothes in stores. It did get me thinking however, did anyone just not buy maternity clothes? I was thinking that as the weather is nice and it is coming up to summer, that maybe I could just buy stretchy dresses (for now) from primark or H&M etc like one of my friends did.

What did you all wear throughout your pregnancy? Did anyone not bother with maternity clothes? I work with someone who is also pregnant who is a few grades above me. She always looks immaculate and has the money to buy gorgeous clothes. It makes me feel like I need to or that I'm being judged for not looking as nice.... maybe I'm overthinking!

So, as before, what did you all wear and why?

ASOS have a good range of affordable maternity clothes.

It is certainly possible to buy roomy or stretchy dresses from shops and wear them.

Another one who wore very little specially designed maternity wear.

Right up until going into labour with DS1, I was wearing just a normal cotton summer dress. Also kept on wearing big jumpers (which granted were more in fashion then) - I can only remember buying one or 2 maternity tops all together nut did have to buy trousers.

I did buy some maternity jeans, and a nice fitted dress for parties though :-)

I didn't buy any maternity clothes with any of my DC. I wore either wrap-around dresses and skirts, or my normal jeans and trousers that I thread a ribbon through to tie them up with, and then long tops over the top - so you couldn't see the top of the trousers. I bought a dress the next size up for a posh wedding for when I was about seven months pregnant.

I really needed them - I had a massive child first time around. Second time, my stomach was already stretched.

I've done a mixture of buying stuff in a size up and buying maternity clothing, I also wore as much of my old clothing as long as possible although this has meant some things have got stretched out. Luckily we wear casual wear in the office so work wear wasn't an issue otherwise I think I would have struggled with that. I haven't bought anything pricey though, I'm on a tight budget. Most my proper maternity clothes came from H&M and Topshop, I bought a few staples in the January sales before I actually needed them and saved a lot of money like that. It is galling buying clothes to last just a few months but am likely to have at least one more child so will put it all away for next time too I guess.

I just had some maternity leggings and then wore my normal stretchy dresses. Did ruin the dresses tbh but that was ok!

I bought a few pieces, and also bought some large non-maternity clothes from Primark etc. I did use some of the maternity clothes after the birth, as they doubled up as nursing clothes.
For my budget, there wasn't a great choice of new maternity clothes so although the ones I got were OK, I didn't love them. There are some gorgeous maternity clothes available at higher budgets though.

If I was pregnant again I would definitely shop for second hand maternity clothes on ebay and at nearly new sales etc; could get much nicer stuff for the money and its the kind of second hand good that often hasn't been worn very much anyway.

Couple of pairs of maternity jeans should do if you're not gaining all over!

I got a pair it over the bump and a pair of under the bump. The under the bump ones I can still wear as high waisted jeans and they're fab for compressing my csection wound - I swear it's helping to flatten it back down nine weeks on. The over the bump jeans will do good for Christmas Day for years to come

For work I just wore stretchy dresses with tights. Enjoy every moment of your pregnancy, I miss my bump.

I am petite so I just bought a size or two bigger and it worked perfectly fine.

To echo other pps, I also ruined some normal sized clothes by stretching them out of shape with my expanding belly!
So if you have some tops etc that you really like, best avoid doing this to them.

I only bought maternity jeans & leggings

I'm obviously the odd one out here! I wanted to look and feel good so bought trousers, tops and dresses from jojo maman, Formes etc. I wouldn't have been able to go to work in leggings, vests and baggy tops. OP - go for what feels good, but remember it's ok to look good too! Have fun shopping!

I did have some - I wanted to wear jeans and trousers so they really needed to be maternity. But I could have worn tracksuit bottoms, leggings, dresses etc without them being maternity.

For some things I just sized up a bit and I bought some men's jumpers which could then be passed to (then) dh.

I didnt need maternity clothes. The day i delivered i was still in my size 10 jeans

@LisaLotta I bought some lovely dresses from Seraphine. They're not too pricey and always look good. They have a sale on, have a look x

Didn’t buy anything. I was young and still had a great figure, just with a neat bump. I wore clingy clothes to show off my bump. I found one of the dresses I wore at my mum’s recently (she keeps everything) It doesn’t fit me now, yet I was wearing it when I was 9 months pregnant! 😂

I'm sure you could, but by the time I had my DD I never wanted to see any of those particular clothes again, especially the dress I wore when I got rushed into hospital! So bear in mind you may not want to wear stuff again if it's stretched or if you've got sick of the sight of it. I do think you've got more options in summer though. I was pregnant in the winter and would have struggled to look reasonable for work without buying a pair of officey trousers and a couple of skirts. Fortunately someone gave me a maternity coat - I was the third user and then I passed it on. If you ask around I'm sure people will give you stuff.

I didn't buy any maternity clothes at all with either of mine, I just wore leggings with stretchy dresses/tunics most of the time. for work I just bought a bigger size of cheap black trousers and a few long tops.

I never needed them. I just got what I needed in the next size up.
My indoor t shirts and tracksuit bottoms fitted the whole way through. I got leggings, some going out tops jeans and dresses in the next size up. Same with underwear. No problem at all and much more comfy than those over bump or under bump maternity jeans I saw at the time.

I think it's an excuse to buy a nice set of basics! I want to feel like myself. I have bought 4 jeans (one black) from ASOS, New Look and Topshop, some dungarees, leggings, and 4 t shirts. One maternity dress from ASOS. Currently 17 weeks and most of my tops are ok with a bump band. Have been pregnant since the March snow and will be til November. I'd look a bit odd in a floaty maxi in October.

Do we think the stretchy long skirts from primark would be comfortable to wear over bump? So hard to gauge as I've never had a baby before so no idea how uncomfortable my bump may be!

I was massive so found maternity jeans, leggings and trousers much more comfy. Got most of mine off ebay

I didn’t, petite maternity clothes are few and far between. I just bought a few stretchy clothes in slightly larger sizes. Don’t think I looked immaculate but no one cares when you are preggers anyway. Maxi dressers were my fav as well ( non maternity ones)

With DS1 I put on 4 stone and definitely needed maternity clothes. This time I’m due DD very soon, she’s a big baby but I’ve only put on 2kg. I have 1 pair of maternity jeans and that’s it.

I have had to buy bigger bras and knickers though!