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Original poster

To keep on wearing 'maternity' clothes long after birth

47 replies

MonaLisaDoesntSmile · 09/02/2020 12:56

So this was inspired by this article kind of

www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/style/decided-not-buy-maternity-clothes-got-pregnant/

Except I did the opposite. I had a baby two years ago. Instead of not getting any maternity wear like the author, I got loads. It never crossed my mind I should stop wearing it after the pregnancy finished though. I still wear my 'breasfeeding' tops, although I never even brestfed (didn't work). My maternity trousers were some of the most comfortable I have ever worn so I purchased a few more pairs for work waaay after giving birth. My maternity dresses are so comfy that I would hate to get rid of them. Do people stop wearing maternity wear the moment the baby comes home?

OP posts:
moobar · 09/02/2020 12:58

Yeah I'm the same, I buy maternity leggings in a smaller size because they are comfiest on section scar than normal ones.

Wear the floaty tops and jumpers all the time as well.

Marahute · 09/02/2020 13:03

High-waisted maternity leggings, worn back-to-front, are the best fit EVER for me! I have a big bottom and normal leggings always come up really low at the back, even high-waisted ones.
I still also wear a couple of maternity dresses and a pair of cigarette trousers. I don't think anyone can tell!

MocholateMousse · 09/02/2020 13:05

I wear H&M Mama leggings and tops as pjs.
Also love their vests, as they’re nice and long and stretchy.

My youngest child is 12 Grin.

Sparklesocks · 09/02/2020 13:07

Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in, whatever helps you!

JosefKeller · 09/02/2020 13:07

Some people spend a fortune they can't afford on clothes and are only concerned about the label.

Others are just happy to wear what is comfortable, makes them happy and feel good. YANBU at all, maternity trousers and maternity jeans are the best when you have horrible period pain!

They don't last that long, I am sure manufacturers tend to use cheaper and lower quality fabric.

ArgyllFTM · 09/02/2020 13:12

I was just discussing this with my husband last week - my daughter’s 7 months old and I’ve gone back to work wearing the maternity/nursing dresses I wore when I was pregnant (and I don’t breastfeed). They’re the perfect combination of smart, practical and comfy so when they wear out I’ll be buying more of the same! You genuinely can’t tell that they’re maternity dresses and they work better for me than anything else I’ve found.

ArgyllFTM · 09/02/2020 13:12

(I also wore my maternity jeans for months after she was born)

BaronessBomburst · 09/02/2020 13:17

I still wear my H&M maternity jumper and DS will be 10 next week. It's really flattering as the waist is made with stretchy ribbing which clings and gives you a curvy figure. It's also a fabulous shade of green.

happymummy12345 · 09/02/2020 13:19

I didn't even wear them when I was pregnant but if you want to why not

1WayOrAnother · 09/02/2020 13:22

I sti wear my wide led 3/4 length maternity pants , theyre really comfy. HHaven't found anything quite like them for summer

DailyKegelReminder · 09/02/2020 13:29

I only own 2 pairs of maternity wear (one Jean's, one leggings) that I saved from my first pregnancy, I dug them back out for this pregnancy (30 weeks) and forgot how comfy they are. Can I ask though, wearing them after your bump has gone doesn't it leave a big baggy area? If I tried to wear them after they would gather by my stomach and look bulky.

My tops I just purchased a size up and still wear them!

meow1989 · 09/02/2020 13:31

I am currently wearing maternity jeans (the ones with the big bit of fabric. Ds is 19 months!

Urkiddingright · 09/02/2020 13:33

I never stopped wearing my massive M&S granny knickers Grin. DS is 15 months old...

NemophilistRebel · 09/02/2020 13:38

After my first born and having not experienced many women have babies in my friendship or family circles all I had was media portrayal of a post natal body and I was disgusted with myself

I’d put on so much weight during and it didn’t all drop off despite major milk production

And I eventually did an extreme diet 9 mo the later to lose the extra 3 stone i still hadn’t lost

It was about 2 weeks after birth that I was so hard on myself that I refused to wear the comfy maternity clothes

In some ways this has meant that this time round I’ve been able to reuse everything as it was still hardly worn but I’m not making the mistake again of trying my hardest to not be comfortable and putting myself down so much as it wasted precious moments and was sometimes all consuming

I’ve made sure that I’m familiar with the truth that some people do bounce back wonderfully and some people don’t and that’s ok

If I’m still wearing maternity clothes in a year or two or more because it’s comfy then that’s fine

ArgyllFTM · 09/02/2020 13:44

Slightly off topic but how on earth do people avoid buying maternity clothes, especially for work? If I’d just bought larger sizes, anything that fit over my bump would have been ridiculously baggy elsewhere - definitely not work appropriate and probably indecent! What am I missing?!

NemophilistRebel · 09/02/2020 13:46

I agree
I have a few massive jumpers that are meant to look oversized but they are not suitable for work.

I look like Homer Simpson in his house dress

Whome91 · 09/02/2020 13:46

My son is 7 m and I still wear my mat leggings to bed super comfy!!

Iloveplacentas · 09/02/2020 13:47

I only have nursing bras and I haven’t nursed anyone for nearly 2 years. They’re soft and comfy!

TheGoogleMum · 09/02/2020 13:49

I wore mine a few times after pregnancy. Recently at work someone said they heard I was pregnant again (I'm not). I was wearing the maternity clothes so I haven't been wearing them since that comment! Except the tops as they don't look any different i don't think...

JosefKeller · 09/02/2020 13:49

I bought some oversized non-maternity nightwear from Primark to go to hospital because it was dirt cheap

Unless you got a tiny tiny bump, I don't know how people manage without maternity clothes! Sizing up is not enough, it would be like wearing man clothes, by the time my boobs (or bump in this case) fits, the rest would look ridiculous and uncomfortable.

Original poster
MonaLisaDoesntSmile · 09/02/2020 14:28

@DailyKegelReminder In my case, I haven't lost a lot of weight after pregnancy, plus the stretchy band on my trousers does not look bulky at all and keeps the post pregnancy tummy and back looking smooth under tops.

OP posts:
LividLaughLovely · 09/02/2020 14:34

I never understood the “just size up” people. Surely it’s as expensive but worse fitting?

Yarboosucks · 09/02/2020 14:47

My DS is now 20 (years!) and I have 2 light denim shirts from H&M maternity that I still wear - open with a t-shirt underneath. I also have what was a really, really expensive cocktail dress that I had to get for an uber posh do on my due date. I had that altered and still wear it to events to this day.

user1493413286 · 09/02/2020 14:50

I wore mine for a few weeks especially as the lack of waist band helped my c section scar but after a few weeks it was all too loose

Vulpine · 09/02/2020 14:54

Apart from a breastfeeding top i didnt buy maternity clothes - just wore baggy stretchy stuff