AIBU to think buying maternity clothes is ridiculously hard

[chuttypicks]

I desperately need some new over the bump maternity jeggings, preferably in several colours.

The only shop in my city that sells maternity clothes is H&M and they have an absolutely tiny maternity selection.

Buying maternity clothes online seems almost impossible. I can't try on before I buy and hate the faff of returning things and having to wait for my money to be returned, plus will then lose out on the postage cost.

Why don't more shops sell maternity clothes in store?? Please does anyone know of any decent places to buy them online where the sizes are true, the prices are fair and the quality means they will last another 6 months of pregnancy! Also, I am a size 18 so it has to be somewhere that actually stocks larger sizes as loads of them seem to only do sizes for slim women, which I wasn't before I got pregnant the first time, and as my DS is only 6 months old and I didn't lose any of the baby weight, I'm even bigger this time around!!

I never wore maternity. just wore regular clothes in larger sizes

I'm not sure what stores would sell clothes that are maybe a size 22 or 24 though @CupcakeDrama ? If I was slim, I would just buy bigger sizes but I don't think most stores sell non-maternity clothes that will be big enough. If you know of any though, I'm happy to take your advice as I'm getting desperate for new clothes as I go back to work soon from my last maternity leave and my old clothes don't fit!!

I’ve bought from H&M (can order online and collect in store if the store selection is poor - size 18 jeans or XL tops/leggings), Dorothy Perkins are true to size too. Next isn’t bad either sizing wise.

I have some good basics from Asda. I collect/return to store when I do my shopping so not hugely inconvenient.

It's a pain in the arse. I've found Asda maternity jeggings fit really nicely. It's free click and collect in store so I order to a store with a changing room, try on and return anything I don't want there & then. Refunds are made the same day. It's a bit of a faff on the day but at least it's over and done with in one trip.

I agree, buying maternity clothes is harder than it should be! I bought some in-store from New Look, and everything else from ASOS. I paid the one-off yearly charge of £9.99 for next day free delivery, and also sometimes use their buy-now-pay-later service partner Klarna, which means you aren’t waiting for money to be refunded - you just pay for what you keep 30 days later. It meant I could try things at home in different styles and sizes with minimum hassle.

I love my next jeggings albeit they're not in very fancy colours (grey/black/blue).

George online. Next online. Newlook maternity wear is fab. So is Dorothy Perkins. Simply Be maternity is great. You have to order most online with Maternity. I had better clothes when pregnant than I do when not pregnant!

I honestly didn't mind it or find it that hard. I was a size 16 in both pregnancies.

Have a next account anyway so ordered lots from there. New look is also pretty good online. If you order it into store it's usually free. Both new look and next let me try the stuff on in store when I collected it and then return it in store there and then as well.

I'm 5'2 and have to buy petite clothes. I gave up on the high street for clothes about 10 years ago and do most of my clothes shopping online anyway now.

I'm a size 20 btw op

agree with george, I found very good and do bigger sizes. also primark.

New look & asos are good and free returns

Have a look on Depop, obviously more risky as you can't return etc but I resold a lot of maternity stuff on there so it worked well.
Also agree with Asda, I'm a size 18 too and their leggings are good.
Good luck!

It seemed a lot better in the past. When I was pregnant a few years ago there seemed to be some sort of selection in most shops but now friends keep telling me that places like Next or similar just have nothing in and they are told to go online.

I was going to suggest Asos and Klarna. I pay the annual unlimited delivery charge and returns are free. They do larger sizes and maternity wear.

Thanks all, I've done a click and collect order from Next for now. If that doesn't work then Asda will be next on my list! Thank you!!

Most places don't sell them in store as they're a niche market and they can make more money selling non-maternity stuff in its place. I agree it makes it really difficult though! Debenhams did used to have a decent range, new look and George online. Also worth looking on Facebook selling groups as you can sometimes get great bundles of branded stuff that's barely been worn

The NCT website used to sell a small range of reasonable clothes. I also liked the brand Seraphine (their sale stuff).

I bought Red Herring from Debenhams- they have a small selection in lots of stores and found that the jeans wore well through both of my pregnancies and were in good enough condition to donate to a charity shop. Jeans, lounge pants, smart trousers, t-shirts and long sleeved T-shirts - all size 16/18.

I also used next and George. Katie Piper (I want that trend) dresses from Next for a couple of weddings I went to.

I found New Look fit to be quite generous. Also H&M T-shirts washed well.

And I agree it is getting increasingly harder to find maternity clothes- obviously it's because being pregnant is an unusual condition 🤷🏻‍♀️🙄

Asda do a lot of maternity wear. Free to click and collect. Good idea to pick them up, try them on in store and return immediately if necessary, pp! direct.asda.com/george/women/maternity/D1M1G20C19,default,sc.html
They refund very quickly, too.

Hopeful16 it's probably because a lot of pregnant women don't wear maternity clothes now. They just wear things like leggings, stretchy tshirts or loose shirts. Anyway, I found this which seems quite nice

www.peacocks.co.uk/womens/maternity.html

I actually found it easier than usual as my fat tummy is my problem area. When pregnant everything looks great!

Mothercare still have a maternity range, which runs into nursing bras, etc
www.mothercare.com/new-arrivals/maternity/?sz=12&start=24

Happy mama on amazon made great wrap dresses in 2017/8. Not sure of the size range though.