Maternity Clothes Twighlight Zone

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Hello

I'm nearly 16 weeks with #3 and currently in the annoying limbo where I'm too big for most of my clothes but maternity trousers won't stay up.

Now, I'm sure I'm not the only one, so anyone got any tips/ amusing anecdotes?

I've been 'hair bobbling' my trouser buttons for a while, but today I sank to an all time low when I had a long piece of string through the belt loops of my (maternity) trousers which I looped over the sides of my bra and tied, via the front buttonhole, in a bow round my tum! It was that or have my trews literally fall down!

What a clot ey! now, where did I put those braces?

Arrr, where did that extra g come from

I'm 33 weeks and maternity clothes still don't fit me right, i think i'm just not shaped proper!
In the end i opted to buy bigger clothes which have stretchy waist bands for comfort - got bless George at Asda and Evans

I would embrace maternity topwear, since it is much more flattering (and less depressing) to wear a fitted top in your normal size, that fits your shoulders, bust and back and drapes or clings alluringly over your little bump
(with room to expand), than it is to wear cheap things which are two or more sizes too big and just make you look shapeless and like you've been at the pies in a big way.

Meanwhile, if you have good legs, opaque tights, leggings, jeggings are your friend. If you don't have good legs, then buy longer tops! And waterfall cardies are good because they drape well, are slimming and lengthening, plus you can wear them after you are pg, especially if you are thinking of breastfeeding

Mat trousers are a pain in the bum. Very hard to get right, especially before 20 weeks. I'd just buy a few decent quality bits you really like, and add to them over the next few months, than go mad buying tons, as your shape can change from one week to the next in a highly unpredictable way.

Ebay is good for quality pieces that have not had much wear.

Anyone know where to get a good coat? I don't want a wool type coat and the only one I liked, a black puffa-type coat in H&M, I was told I looked like a michelin man.

I mean maternity coat btw. First baby and there seems to be v little choice.

I bought some cordoroy trousers from H&M Maternity & have been comfortable in them since about week 14 even though I was barely showing and am still fine at 22 weeks with a modest bump. I've had the same problem with all other brands of maternity trousers. I mostly wear stretchy skirts to avoid the issue though.

I bought some New Look maternity jeans (£16 - bargain!) early on but made them stay up in the earlier weeks by folding the waistband over on itself, to make the elastic at the top sit on my hips (they are over-the-bump type ones). This seemed to work well until I could wear them as intended. Leggings and long loose tops/cardis are good too. Tried the hair bobble over the jeans button thing but the zip kept coming undone

Miffy, Isabella Oliver does good maternity coats. Seraphine. Mothercare- nice trench for 42 pounds on sale. Lots of places- what budget do you have?

20 weeks with DC2 and loving that leggings are fashionable this time around :-)

Depending on what you have to wear for work my secret is black running trousers. With a big stretch band. Really comfy but just look like normal black trousers under a nice top. I have had 6 months of ill fitting clothes and finally bit the bullet and did this last week. Works a treat and it is so comfy on your tummy you have no idea.

I got mine from ASDA for 8 pound too. Million times better than any maternity trousers ive bought

Someone on another thread had bought a pair of funky braces and said they were brilliant!

I second the H&M cords. They come in a range of colours and look like the sort of trousers I'd have worn before I was pregnant (unlike the hideous things I was shown in Mothercare). Only problem was, at 25 weeks I seem to have gone up 3 dress sizes on the bum (odd, as my old jeans still fit bar the waist, though risk of falling down now too imminent). Think H&M sizing must be biased against fatties!

I think I tried on the same H&M cords as you mention. I tried them two sizes bigger than normal and wasn't able to pull them over my thighs! I mentioned it to the girl on the fitting room and she said their sizing was really bad and to just ignore it - I've been my normal size in all the other maternity clothes that I've bought.

I agree with the sizing of the H&M cords. Mine are 2 sizes bigger than my normal. But then I have that problem at H&M, pregnant or not!
Best thing is I get compliments on how slim my legs look!

I'm so glad I read this tread as nearly ended up in tears at the weekend after trying on maternity trousers in H&M. Ended up buying some lovely but rather big trousers from Mamas & Papas but they are m normal size. Only 14 wks and have a tiny bump but decided to buy them sooner rather than later so that I got my monies worth! After having my dating scan, decided to embrace being pregnant.

Bizarrely I've found H&M really good whereas when not pregnant, they're dreadful sizes.

I LOVE my stretchy black skirt I bought from Jojomamanbebe for just £18. I got two and wear them with opaque tights all the time. It's been more of a problem finding maternity tights that aren't a one-size-fits-all-badly variety.

Also, I hate that maternity bras often show over the neckiline of my maternity tops and dresses. I'm a petite fitting for dresses but can't get any maternity ones so I'm forever wearing vests or hitching up my top so I don't display my mammoth bra to all and sundry.

OP, anything stretchy is probably good as it will grow with you to some extent. Leggings are excellent as they're not expensive and look ok under long blouses or dresses.