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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy maternity clothes?

69 replies

Rhiannon87 · 20/05/2019 12:16

Im 14 weeks pregnant. I've spent the grand sum of £40 so far buying bits of maternity wear I've seen on sale for my bigger days as well as comfy bottoms for my increasing waist.

I've actually lost weight so far with morning sickness (half a stone) but have always been a comfy size 12.

I've bought 3 pairs of leggings and half a dozen tops but apparently (according to MIL and colleagues) Im wasting my money because I should just buy the next size up. Im wearing size 14 now (normal clothes) which are uncomfy over my belly but baggy everywhere else. A size 16 is going to be far too big.
AIBU to think that I shouldn't have to wear clothes that make me look like a sack of shite when (with morning sickness and general hormones) I feel like shite anyways.

OP posts:
Charlottejade89 · 20/05/2019 13:29

I would get proper maternity clothes. I only got maternity Jean's and sized up on everything else...BUT I didnt show really until about 5 months and I spent the last few months of pregnancy in stretchy dresses/laying in my underwear on the sofa during last summer's heatwave!

miamiamaria · 20/05/2019 13:33

I started off buying the next size up but I grew out of them quickly and was so pleased when I bought maternity. Learn to ignore everyone's advice there will be much more to come

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 20/05/2019 13:34

Your situation being told you'd need IVF then being surprised like that, is the same as mine. Took me a while to come to terms with. Ignore them but whatever makes you feel good, summer dresses you might be ok with if they are a line or empire, I got a couple in Primark last year , but I got quite a few bits in h and m , even work dresses etc. I loved my maternity jeans from there

Settlersofcatan · 20/05/2019 13:36

I just wouldn't talk to people about this kind of thing - why do your colleagues need to know what maternity clothes you've bought?

I went for Ebay bundles primarily - good way to get a range of maternity clothes cheaply

Original poster
Rhiannon87 · 20/05/2019 13:38

Thank you so much for your support and for taking the time to comment. I'm not sure if it's just hormones but I've been borderline slapping my MIL and colleagues 🤣🤣

I've been quite savvy - Im as tight with money as anything so its been ebay and George at ASDA now. I want to get some nursing tops (much to the horror of the anti breast feeding people I work with 🤣🤣) and a nice frock to wear 'out' out with my OH.

OP posts:
Canuckduck · 20/05/2019 13:40

Both times I bought a maternity lot of clothing from another mom. The clothes were very lightly worn and a range of workwear casual. Much better value than buying it all new.

thumper59 · 20/05/2019 13:49

I'm 16 weeks and had to buy bits of maternity too!! Or my usual size in wrap dresses or body con. I am the same and was told the same! I'm a 8-10 and if I size up they just fell off my arms/shoulders and chest making me look really silly!

ifCakesHappens · 20/05/2019 13:51

I couldn't have gone to work without decent maternity clothes, so sometimes it's not even a choice.

There's no difference between new bigger clothes or maternity ones anyway!

It's bad enough until you get birth, but at least you have a lovely bump to show but AFTER you do, you don't shrink back to your pre-pregnancy size, and that's when you need your maternity clothes, for the first few weeks!

I know there's always a smug one whose belly magically disappeared, but in real life it doesn't happen to most women. Even Kate Middleton had a normal belly, and the woman is as slim as you can be.

happymummy12345 · 20/05/2019 13:51

I never wore maternity clothes. I just got a size bigger

Narya · 20/05/2019 13:56

I bought/borrowed quite a few proper maternity clothes. Just going up a size or two in normal stuff and felt crap on me as I had quite a big bump but didn't put on much weight elsewhere. New look had some nice maternity bits online that didn't break the bank.

53rdWay · 20/05/2019 13:57

V jealous of all of you who managed to fit in normal clothes. I grew out of some of my maternity tops by the end, I looked like a hot air balloon in a fetching floral smock.

Rosebell100 · 20/05/2019 13:57

You definitely need maternity wear!
Seraphine do a really soft over the bump leggings which are pricey but worth it once you get really big. I live in mine.
Asda a for swim suits, everyday leggings, pjs and even some ok dresses.
New look for tops and dresses. Have had lots of compliments on my new look dresses and they are cheap!
The one thing I did get that wasn't maternity wear was cheap men's XL t-shirts to sleep in.

Skigal86 · 20/05/2019 14:10

I sized up in tshirt types tops but bought maternity dresses, jeans, leggings and other tops. I got two pairs of jeans (one next and one Asda) for less than a fiver at an NCT nearly new sale. There also some fab Facebook selling groups for maternity wear and there are some absolute bargains on eBay as well, if you’re happy to have second hand. I got a dress and leggings from Lidl when they had maternity stuff in and they were really good quality.

BertrandRussell · 20/05/2019 14:12

I mostly wore dp’s clothes.

HiJuice · 20/05/2019 14:20

You'll need some new clothes so it doesn't really matter if they are maternity or not!
I find maternity T shirts good, but prefer a size up on ordinary trousers/leggings as the below the bump fall down and above the bump are uncomfortable. I have some nice primark patterned stretchy trousers, I just fold over the front of the waist band and they fit perfectly. Have enough jumpers that still fit, leggings still fit, and have a couple of maternity tunics (ebay). Will be very bored of it by the end so if I was the sort of person who enjoyed shopping I would buy a load more!

User8888888 · 20/05/2019 14:22

Some styles of normal clothes are quite forgiving. I’ve got a dress that worked when I wasn’t pregnant as well as working at 9 months. Most of my clothes didn’t fit into that category and maternity stuff was very necessary, especially for jeans.

ScruffGin · 20/05/2019 14:52

I think I spent about £60 in total, mainly new look and H&M, plus some bits off eBay. Looked way better than the "next size up" idea!

Also if you're planning to breastfeed, there's a lot of tops that do both, so you end up wearing them for quite a while! I've just packed them away and DD turned 1 last month!

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 20/05/2019 15:00

I bought some great quality second hand maternity clothes on Facebook selling groups. Many of them lightly worn as people only wear them a few months, and the good brands last well. I definitely look and feel better in proper maternity clothes, they fit much better and flatter your bump. If you are concerned about the cost you can try and sell them afterwards.

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 20/05/2019 15:05

Also I carried on wearing mine through much of maternity leave, as they often have breastfeeding access and I took some time to fit back into my old clothes.

Also the cut of maternity clothes make it clear you are pregnant- wearing clothes that are too big can make you just look fat.

Late pregnancy you can end up feeling quite unattractive and messy with swollen ankles, huge tummy, sweaty, tiredness - wearing some decent fitting clothes can make you look much better.

phoenixrosehere · 20/05/2019 15:14

Depends on your size really.

I bought a handful of maternity clothes with my first and then gave them away because I could easily get away with a pair of leggings and a nice top or jumper with flats or boots (oldest was born in the winter) Second time around I bought a maternity tank top I did’t wear and some dresses with a empire waist because I didn’t want to spend the extra money on a maternity dress which would be similar. I just wore my regular clothes for the most part. The most I needed was a hair tie for my jeans since I could zip them but couldn’t fasten the button and that stopped them from falling down. I was belly in both of my pregnancies though. High-waisted jeans were my go-to after giving birth.

IntoValhalla · 20/05/2019 15:19

I’m on baby number 3, and treated myself to a few maternity tops this time around - My bump is bigger this time than I was with the last 2 babies, but still my usual petite self everywhere else (except the giant norks!) so sizing up in normal clothes isn’t really working for me this time Confused because tops ride up!!
Depending on the style of top, I find that if I buy plain maternity vest tops/T-shirt’s, I can layer them with normal “nice” tops in a bigger size, but if that doesn’t work, then my go-to at the moment is H&M! My local store seem to have a constant sale on their maternity wear which is great, but isn’t doing my credit card any favours Grin

Megan2018 · 20/05/2019 15:28

Definitely buy maternity! You can get things very cheaply new or used.
I have bought a minimal wardrobe and am having to get used to washing more frequently (I have only 4 work outfits and a few casual which are on permanent wash and repeat) but they were worth every penny already at 23+4. Maternity jeans/leggings are heaven and I have some brilliant over bump work trousers.

I can still wear all my non maternity dresses and still feel good in them, but definitely need maternity tops for length and trousers/jeans for comfort over bump. Bigger just cuts in which you don't want.

stucknoue · 20/05/2019 15:32

For the 12-18 week bit a size or two up works but after that you need maternity clothes really especially bottoms (flowing summer dresses sometimes can work) supermarkets and charity shops are good options for cheap bits, and don't buy much because it's only really for 20-25 weeks you need them (after the birth the sized up normal clothes often work)

MaximusHeadroom · 20/05/2019 15:32

I made the same mistake with my 1st and 2nd. Not only did I look shit pregnant, but also during the period afterwards when my bump was -very- slowly reducing.

For my third and final baby I spent £150 in H&M and actually felt comfortable and stylish. Massively helped with my MH after the baby was born too.

caperplips · 20/05/2019 15:46

I had a very senior position in a creative industry when I was pregnant with dd and there was absolutely NO WAY I could have gotten away with 'sizing up' legging and giant t-shirts for work. Nor would I have wanted to!

It was 13 years ago now and we had a branch of the maternity shop Formes in my city then (seems to be gone now) and they had fantastic maternity clothes. I wore a lot of Jigsaw and Whistles then for work and the Formes clothes were similar but properly cut for maternity, I had 7 for all mankind maternity jeans etc

I spent a fortune in there and in other maternity shops and I have to say it really really helped me to enjoy my pregnancy. I LOVED my pregnant shape and adored showing it off in lovely stuff.

I wore a lot of the stuff immediately after the birth too as my shape was readjusting back into my pre-pregnancy shape

Given that that turned out to be my one and only successful pregnancy despite our best efforts and several losses in the years following it still fill me with joy to think back on how much pleasure I took ion dressing for that wonderful, joyous, miraculous state of being. I have ZERO regrets.

Pregnancy is so special, you have absolutely NO guarantees you will ever experience it again so my advice is to do all that you can to embrace it, explore it and enjoy it all. Buy some nice clothes that make you look like the incredible life-creating godess that you are - legging and t-shirts are fine for the house and lolling about watching tv but find some other things that make you feel as fabulous as you can for the rest of the time!