Maternity jeans and trousers for the not-thin and pregnant?

[HardCheese]

Am getting on for 14 weeks and just spent a dispiriting hour on Oxford St trying to find a couple of pairs of smart-ish maternity jeans or plain trousers for someone who was a 16/18 on the bottom half before getting pregnant. Tried Gap, but though their stuff was nice, the sizes seemed to stop at a fourteen, and Dorothy Perkins provided a nice dress, but no joy on the jeans, while I discovered that the big H and M on Oxford Circus doesn't even have a maternity section, and neither does John Lewis. Couldn't face trailing to Regent St in the rain to Mamas and Papas or the other H and M.

Any recommendations for good maternity trousers for the non-stick insect?

I got a nice pair of 18's from New Look, quite smart black trousers.

new look does up to an 18. you can order online.

Well I can tell you now not to bother with sodding TopShop. That was a depressing experience.

I'm still using my old jeans with an elastic band plus long tops/ bump bands so watching with interest.

Am 16 with 34" inside leg so even more tricky

Gap maternity jeans/trousers go to a US 12 which is UK 16, so depending on the cut you might be OK.

Your best bet would be to shop online as you'll get the wider range without having to trog around everywhere only to find they're out of stock.

Otherwise Next and Debenhams both do maternity stuff up to size 20 I think, H&M have the Mama range online (but you need to search under the category first eg tops and then select Mama range). New Look also do maternity stuff but aren't long enough for me so I've never tried them.

Boden have a new maternity range but their jeans/trousers are only in standard length so also no good for me but could be worth a try.

If your budget allows then try Isabella Oliver, good range of jeans and trousers up to size 16/18 depending on style.

Good luck, hope you find something nice soon.

God, I am such an amateur. I hadn't even considered the over/under the bump issue! I was wandering around Gap poking jeans and trying to figure out what the difference between a 'full panel' and a 'demi panel' was without having to unfold the bloody things and ruin some Gap assistant's life...

Grumpla, excuse the wide-eyed Newbie-to-Pregnancy question, but how do you manage with your normal jeans and an elastic band and a bump band? Trying to visualise it being a comfortable and secure arrangement...

I believe you on Top Shop and will check out New Look - thanks everyone.

People keep telling me to shop online, but that makes no sense for the newly-pregnant first-timer - my body is doing extraordinarily weird things on a day to day basis, so I really need to try things on!

Look at ebay for Isabella Oliver stuff - there are some real bargains!

ASOS go up to 16 in maternity their sizes are fairly generous IIRC

RE Topshop, I'm a 16 and tried a pair of their Baxter skinny (I KNOW) jeans and I fitted happily into a 14. Well comfy. Didn't buy them however (no ££)

I'm a size 16 before pregnancy and just like some of the others found new look really good but matalan was also very good for comfy casual clothes and VERY affordable which means that you get a lot more outfits for your money Also found ASOS good for tops.

Good luck and congratulations

Next do jeans and trousers different lengths up to a size 22.

I had some smart over the bump trousers from m&s which have done me through 2 pregnancies. Mothercare can be pricey but do a good range.

Oh and Red Herring maternity do some nice pieces as well. Agree that New Look jeans are comfy too.

I'm a massive fan of Next maternity jeans - the only ones I've found which fit and are comfy. They do great over the bump ones, but also really good ones with jersey panels above the pockets plus adjustable straps on the inside. Highly recommended. I have struggled to get the range in shop to try, partly because they tend to keep a limited range of maternity gear in stock, but also the size issue (I'm the other side from you - a shortarse size 8, and it's impossible to find them in store). So I just ordered a massive pile online and got them delivered to my local shop (free - you only pay for delivery to your house), picked which ones worked and fitted and am sending the rest back through the shop (again, free).

Are you sure the Oxford St H&M didn't have maternity? They hide their maternity stuff beside the babywear normally... presumably because they think us pregnant folk shouldn't be shopping among normal humans.

Also agree Next are good for jeans and work trousers, and seem to be true to non-pg size. I am also a 16. I also got some nice ones online from La Redoute, they have good sales so you can normally get something cheaper than normal.

Sympathise about wanting to shop in person...

another vote for next. i got a pair of jeans and black trousers from them and found they did the whole time. I'm very much an over bump person but i like waistbands high any way. i miss them they were so comfy and cos i was skint and could only afford two pairs they were constantly washed and lasted brilliantly.

Debenhams over bump jeans go to 18 and have seen me through both pregnancies. Miss them!

I asked two different H and M staff members, Casperella. One had no idea - looked as if I'd asked her where the clothing specifically for three-legged people was kept! - and the other said they only stocked it in the Regent St branch, not the Oxford Circus one.

The John Lewis information people wearing the Miss World style sashes were funny. The guy said they used to have a maternity section, but didn't any more, and I said 'Because women stopped getting pregnant', but I think my sarcasm passed him by!

Thanks, everyone, for all the leads. Isn't it odd that the clothes pregnant women wear are so 'invisible' and niche? It's hardly an unusual condition! Pregnancy so far is making me feel very political.

HardCheese I'm afraid it's not particularly secure and requires regular hoickage if you stand and sit a lot.

Basically I use a red elastic band that the postie dropped on my drive (you can use a hair bobble if you have one)

Doubled over, then hooked round button, through button-hole, then back over button. With the fly undone. Bump band over the top to disguise the rather unsightly arrangement.

I'm 17weeks though and can't see this arrangement lasting much longer!

Lots of places that had longer length maternity jeans in store when I was pregnant with DS don't have them any more! Grrr.

eBay is good for non-freakishly-tall types though, I got a lovely bundle for £15 posted the other day of dresses, tops etc.

So with regards maternity wear, do you go with your Pre-bump size?

Yes spannermary pre pregnancy size. In theory. I had to go up a size in tops towards the end of my pregnancies though due to bump size.

I got a load of maternity jeans lectins and smart trousers from H&M in st Albans. if ur London based it's really not a far journey 25 mins on the train from Kentish town or west hampstead or 30 mins in the car. It's well worth a look they have a good range of stuff in all sizes :)

"Isn't it odd that the clothes pregnant women wear are so 'invisible' and niche?"

It's crazy isn't it? I went round my local high street stores, and only one had any maternity wear.

I found these nice ones from Debenhams www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_103020583547_-1?breadcrumb=Home~Women~Maternity+clothing

Available in blue and black. And soooo comfy.

All the other stores only had some skinny jeans and other skinny trousers.

Just to re-iterate New Look for black work trousers. I managed to get mine in a sale at the start of the summer and have managed with one pair of work trousers and using the size 16-18 dresses I already own (there are some benefits to being plump prior to getting pregnant and owning a wardrobe fo stuff that "skims" the tum and bum - not that there is much skimming at this point though ).

For jeans, I managed to get some next jeans on ebay for £1.76 (!) and once I knew they were ok went and bought another smarter pair at full price.

On a seperate note, Maternity tight sizes seem a bit weird. I had to get XL in h&m but the ones I got in debenhams (no idea what brand they were) only went up to L and are actually bigger.....maybe I'm shrinking

Don't waste your time in H&M. I'm a size 10 and just had to buy a size 18 jeans from them . I am in my third trimester though.

Dotty P's online have some good over the bump jeans (i'm a 14/16 normally) which are very comfy and some very comfy yoga pants. I agree re H&M jeans banana. I really struggle with their trouser sizing.

I love H&M maternity trousers and Jeans. I have seen up to size 20 in there and also they got a pair of black trousers that you can wear both for working out and smart depending on the top you are wearing. They are so comfortable They are £17 and because of the material you can wear them all the way through the pregnancy they are not tight fitted. Best of luck!