Business dress for early pregnancy

[fatfingers]

I am only 7-8 weeks pregnant with dc3 but I seem to be bloating at a remarkable rate. I have to wear business dress for work and I have already burst the zip on one of my skirts. The others are all too tight and I feel so uncomfortable by the end of the day. What do other people do during the podgy stage? Should I just buy skirts in a bigger size or does anywhere sell work clothes that aren't maternity but will accommodate a growing body?

Hi fatfingers!

I'm 14 weeks pg and I've just bought some stretchy bump bands (I got a pack of three from New Look - very cheap!). I can leave my skirts and trousers undone and wear these over the top to disguise it. I'm sure it doesn't look fantastic but it's better than buying maternity clothes already!

Hope that helps!

Kirsty

I got an a line skirt which I could wear a little higher with a longer top. Then pop a jacket over the top. I also have a few a line dresses - again, accommodating the bloat but you can disguise a little with a belt.
Also worth getting some cheap black or white t-shirts from the tall section of places with top shop etc - again they'll sit a bit longer covering the bump and will see you through the first 6 months or so (mine did until I massive towards the end!)

i'd try getting some loose maternity or non-maternity dresses and wearing a suit jacket over them

I was a big suit wearer for work and got through early pregnancy mostly in my "fat" suits, jersey dresses and leg & body shaper tights. I also second the long t-shirt tip and wearing shirts if you have more mannish-ly cut ones. Must admit skirts lasted me longer than trousers - it seemed my thighs grew quite early too. I got a tip from a style coach who recommended I stay in my own clothes for as long as possible, particularly around the top. I hate mixing suit jackets and trousers (just can't carry this off) so bump bands and long tops had to do.

Later, post-announcement, I decided I'd flaunt a bit went to more fitted jersey dresses : didn't want to lay out for pregnancy suits as I worked with someone who spent a lot of money on them, wore it all too early, and still looked a mess (sorry honey but they did not flatter). Still felt perfectly credible in front of my clients dressing up something like this with a silk scarf or pearls. Now I've finished work, sick to death of the series of black dresses I wore but they were much more successful purchases than the separates I tried.

Dizzy - love that asos dress! I'm 8 weeks with DC2 so will invest

Thanks all - really helpful. I'm taking it all in before I descend on the shops. Will def pick up some bump bands, long t-shirts and have a look at dresses. I have the additional problem of being tall so I have to choose dresses carefully or they are too short for work. Dizzy - that asos dress is fab but I'd be too worried it would accentuate my fat bum as well as my bump!

When I was pregant first time around I bought a couple of elasticated waist skirts from M&S - they were fab as they accomodated my growing tummy, yet still looked quite formal. They were only about £15 each, but not sure if they still do them?
I found elasticated skirts in summer a great in between normal and maternity clothes. Also quite handy just after birth too.....

Fatfingers thanks: the good thing is PG gives you an excuse for flats although there are a myriad threads on here decrying the lack of tall mat wear. I'm 5'7" so not v tall but most stuff seems to be cut a bit longer to account for this - the longest things I had (and who also do Long Lengths in mat wear) were Mamas and Papas and Mamalicious.

Re bum - bet you're fine. Recommend M&S (non maternity) body control (might now be light support?) tights to smooth the sillohette I could get into them until 28 wks when I had to admit defeat!

As shucks Iggly - I only did a quick search but I had one like that from Asos without the side ruching, and one that did - the one without was much better in the early days.