Plus size maternity clothing

[Potatowoman]

Can anyone help me? I am a size 20/22 and 11 weeks pregnant. I am already having real problems researching where I can find maternity clothing to fit me. According to most maternity clothing suppliers you are not allowed to get pregnant if you are larger than a size 18!!! Has anyone had any luck in this area, or can give me any suggestions? I know that Next go up to size 22 on some of there lines but not all.

i was going to suggest Next.

if you don't mind cheap and cheerful then asda do them.
i had exactly the same problem-if you are our size then why would anyone want to have sex with you!!!!
i think dotty perkins also go up to a 20 or 22.
i survived with a pair of trousers from blooming marvellous, some dungarees from mothercare and some cheap t-shirts from asda!
oh yeah- mothercare do a few bits( well used to)

you could try ebay too

I got a lovely summer top and skirt for a wedding (but wore it loads afterwards too) from Debenhams in their Casual Club range - there's nothing online, but might be worth a look in a shop, in case they still do them (also not too expensive!). Also Next for skirts and trousers, and Blooming Marvellous for some tops (found their 'bottoms' too small or too long for me).

I had some nice stuff from Debenhams.

ASDA have stopped doing maternity stuff now! Shame because it was great and cheap and cheerful.

TopShop do maternity but not sure on sizes

asda have stopped? what a shame
there's no way topshop would have anything in that size

there's a couple of threads here:

\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1012&threadid=35949\one}
\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=49&threadid=7803\two}

and not sure if it's mentioned there but theres a nearly new place callled the Maternity Exchange in BOurne end - they have a website

FunMum.com do plus plus sizes.

i googled maternity clothes, plus size and it came up with lots of options.

EBAY EBAY EBAY
All the way
Ebay is great
I am ttc and am size 30. There are loads of shops on ebay that do plus sized maternity wear. Cheap too!

I bought a few things from bjorn and me(online),when I was pg-they also do formal wear and go upto about a size 30.
I mainly bought a few things on Ebay when pg that were a size bigger than normal and found that to be ok.I was also a size bigger than you and had no problem finding things to wear.HTH.

You may also find that you don't really need maternity stuff. I'm bigger than you admittedly (26) but I'm 35 weeks and still in ALL my normal clothes. I find the only time I can lose weight is when I'm pregnant! I've changed shape obviously so my really fitted jeans are a bit uncomfy, but the more baggy stuff is fine and all the tops are fine too. You could just consider buying one size up from your usual size in normal clothes but with elasticated waists and longer length tops to see you through the pregnancy.

Totally agree about the frustration of people thinking you cant get pregnant above a size 18, what's that about? Also, frustrating that you take AGES to show and even when you do, people will think you're still fat and you have to explain to everyone, yes I am pregnant now give me your seat before I sit on you!!!

Good luck - let us know if you find some fab clothes somewhere.

You may also find that you don't really need maternity stuff. I'm bigger than you admittedly (26) but I'm 35 weeks and still in ALL my normal clothes. I find the only time I can lose weight is when I'm pregnant! I've changed shape obviously so my really fitted jeans are a bit uncomfy, but the more baggy stuff is fine and all the tops are fine too. You could just consider buying one size up from your usual size in normal clothes but with elasticated waists and longer length tops to see you through the pregnancy.

Totally agree about the frustration of people thinking you cant get pregnant above a size 18, what's that about? Also, frustrating that you take AGES to show and even when you do, people will think you're still fat and you have to explain to everyone, yes I am pregnant now give me your seat before I sit on you!!!

Good luck - let us know if you find some fab clothes somewhere.

potatowoman... I have some bits I have brought and have not fitted or not liked on or too small now... mostly from ebay- if you want first pickings let me know and i'll email a pic to you so you can see them before they go on ebay.

There's a website called Room for Two that does reasonably priced made to measure maternity wear right up to size 30. I,m 18 / 20 on the bottom and used them with dd.

oooh ooo- so excited! have just been in m& s and they have started doing maternity stuff again and they had lots of size 20's. might be worth seeing if they go up to a 22.Nice stuff too! pity i'm not pregnant!

Come on, everyone knows big girls don't have sex, babies, or, for that matter, any money.

I was an 18 when working in the City, and when pregnant with DS1. And it was essentially impossible to get nice tailored women's clothing of any sort in that size, never mind nice maternity clothes.

Cache-cache just barely cover 18, but I did get some good stuff from then.

I totally agree that it's so frustrating when you are a plus size and pg. I am a size 24-26 although have found am actually losing weight whilst pg. I have bought normal size and one size up clothes from Evans and have found that M & S plus size do some nice stuff although expensive. There's a lady on Ebay selling American maternity wear which do larger sizes and are really nice - how come the Americans can do it but the UK can't? I was really disappointed in the high street manufacturers, especially Mothercare who you'd think would be a bit more understanding! I had a problem finding maternity bras too but have found some support bras at a company called Ample Bosom (no, really!) who have a website, would highly recommend them.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Lots of brilliant suggestions, thanks for taking the time to write. It is also really nice to hear from other women in the same situation (I am not the only one!). I have also just had some trousers (size 22) delivered via next directory which have fitted fine with room for growth! Their tops aren't quite so generous though.
Not wanting to start off another ranting subject, but I had my booking in midwife appointment last week and was told I couldn't choose to give birth in the local midwife/GP lead unit because my BMI was over 35. Has anyone else had a similar problem? Anyway I am going to have a consultant appointment to discuss further, and to air my views on the subject!!!

pol25 - thank you for your offer. Having just found a few bits from next I think I am ok until the weather gets warmer! Thanks Potatowoman

Re the BMI limit, I had the same experience. In my local MW led unit the limit was 30 and mine was 31 at the time! They are quite stubborn on this unfortunately. It is quite silly really because some skinny ladies put on 5 stone whilst pregnant and I put on 1.5 stone in total. The problem is that MW's are not allowed to use any common sense. Good luck with the consultant - I hope you manage to change their minds.

I had the same problem re. BMI & consultant potatowoman.

When I went for my appointment with the consultant, he didn't even comment on my weight, and in the end I asked if he thought it would be a problem. He just said "as long as you are eating sensibly then there shouldn't be a problem". End of conversation.

Although I had my dd in the hospital, I still had a completely wonderful, midwife only, waterbirth. I didn't see a doctor at all, until they came to do the baby checks just before we left.

Just because you may have to have your baby in hospital, doesn't mean it has to be a birth with lots of intervention. Stick to your guns and write a really clear birth plan.

I used ebay when pg with DD as you can also get stuff from the usa and even with shipping it is as cheap as buying here.