To think maternity clothes don’t fit

[Greenorred]

Could well be me being awkward, but I’ve spent a fortune on maternity clothes and they just don’t seem to fit. I’ve spent the day hitching up my over the bump jeans, which just keep falling down and taking my knickers with them, meaning I’m constantly in danger of displaying my bum.

Tops are marginally better but the two pretty ones I bought don’t fit over my boobs (which aren’t massive - I mean, I’m a D so god knows how bigger chested women fare.

I have about three vest tops that fit and a couple of pairs of massive leggings. That’s it.

I’m fed up, uncomfortable and feel very ugly. Help.

I used a pair of braces to hold up my maternity trousers, it looked a bit 80s Yuppie as opposed to yokel but they worked!

Shein was a godsend during my last pregnancy!

Have you tried wearing a vest and then pulling the over the bump jeans/leggings up over the vest? I find this creates enough friction that they stay up. If I'm pulling them up over my bump with bare skin they just slide down again. And I'm 7 months pregnant.

I didn’t buy anything maternity apart from some dungarees from New Look. They were an absolute nightmare and kept falling down, even with the straps tightened. I gave up on them in the end and lived in various dresses in a size up (with maternity cycle shorts underneath).

I’m 27 weeks pregnant and I’m living in dresses. I have one maternity dress and a few smock dresses in my usual size (size 6) but are flattering for a growing bump. If nothing fits you then go for the size up.

I've bought two dresses from Seraphine and they've been fantastic so far, and seem to have plenty of stretch in them. Pricey but worth it for the comfort!

I'm pregnant for the second time and hate maternity clothes. Last time I was pregnant in winter and wore mostly maternity dresses with tights (with a pair of maternity pants over the top to keep them up!). I hated over the bump jeans and have one decent under the bump which stay up if worn with vest top. this term I've also bought some dungarees (which I generally wouldn't be seen dead in) for the awkward falling down phase. The other day I went to H and M and bought some just massive sweatshirts and t shirts. I agree with previous poster that all maternity clothes feel frumpy and I can't wait to be back to my normal clothes! My plan in summer is to buy some sort of stretchy maternity skirt and wear that with massive t shirts. I have some seraphine stuff bought on vinted which is quite smart for work

You need dungarees. Probably not suitable for the office but definitely solves the trousers falling down situation.

Have you tried maternity trousers with adjustable waists? (like they have on kids school trousers). They can be a bit more expensive but I found them great.

I've been getting mine from Vinted but they are Next, New Look and

ASOS

But how do you deal with the endless pregnancy wees with dungarees? And I really can’t wear them for work!

If I suited dresses and could shave my legs I might be all right.

It's all in the brand imo. I find New Look and H&M terrible for me, but George, Next and Seraphine all tend to be good. My usual get up at the moment is ordinary sports leggings (fold the band over so it sits under bump) and a maternity top/vest. The longline ruched vests from George are comfy. Then add jumper/cardigan if necessary.

I do think it's much harder if you're not a dress person - I agree that maternity trousers are generally a bit crap. Have you tried under the bump? I preferred over, but if they don't work for you under the bump might? Also you may just be in that annoying bit where you look big but not pregnant, in which case it'll pass!

Seraphine is gorgeous but so many dresses, all of which are beautiful. On someone who is not me!

Maternity jeans fall down constantly, have tried so many! It’s actually easier to dress when the weather warms up and you can wear big baggy dresses - yes pretty ugly & frumpy but better than a lot of the winter stuff.

@Hardbackwriter unfortunately I think that’s the duration of my pregnancy anyway. I am fat, and I’m an apple as well. People look surprised when I say I’m pregnant, and I’m sure they just think I’m fatter than I was! In my previous pregnancy I just looked fat throughout. Annoyingly I did lose 5 stone but have now gained most of it back.

But it isn’t just that I look crap, it’s how uncomfortable I am as well. I think badly fitting clothes don’t just look awful, it’s the discomfort too!

I could only get on with under the bump trousers and jeans, usually woth a belt. Then just wear a bump band

Lived in leggings and ASOS maternity wear. The over the bump jeans didn't feel snug till I was ready to drop and I wasn't small.

I'm sure you look much nicer than you think - but really sympathize with feeling uncomfortable in ill-fitting clothes. What do you feel and look best in when you're not pregnant?

I hear you OP. I feel exactly the same. I don't know if it is partly worse because I am a slim size 8 pre-pregnancy, and so I am finding it hard to dress my pregnant body shape because all the usual styles/cuts I would opt for, absolutely don't work now. So even when things technically "fit", I still don't feel comfortable or like myself if that makes sense?

These off Shein look comfortable. Comfort is key!

I do mostly just live in black trousers and reasonably nice tops/cardigans for work, and jeans or jogging bottoms outside of work! I do actually love clothes but when I’m fat it’s hard finding anything that fits and looks nice on me, and doubly so when pregnant!

My sister used to wear a bump “tube” and her usual jeans and trousers with a hairband looped around the button hole to do the button up until pretty late in her pregnancies, may be worth a try?

I don’t have a proper bump though, like most women. It’s more of a mass. Hard to know where fat ends and the baby starts!