What did/do you wear in pregnancy?

[Dinny]

Hi, I'd like to know if anyone managed to get through most of their pregnancy without wearing maternity clothes. I'm kind of thinking jeans/tops in larger sizes... Is this possible? Really want to not spend lots on mat clothes (which seem to be miles pricier than "normal" clothes).

I am off to two weddings In June/July so will HAVE to buy some fab wedding outfit even when I will be the size of a house and i SO want to look chic and stylish but judging by the maternity clothes I have seen I will be FAR from that!! I may even have to wear a very smart sarong and try and do the ethnic earth mother bit although one wedding is too smart fro this - love Formes catalogue but little else!

Motherinferior - I was debating over those Seraphine jeans, are they really nice then?? Do you know anyone who has them?? I am SO close to flexing my credit card but wondered whether they are worth it as my jeans are too tight even the under the bump ones as i think the baby is growing in my butt!!!

Isabella Oliver online shopping is great for those situations where you have to go to a function pregnant but high street seems very casual like t-shirts and ghastly over the bump trousers - I miss fashion already!!!!!!

I recommend buying one or two pairs of practical trousers - i went to H&M and got one pair of poot leg black leggings and a pair of drawstring brown trousers that were really comfy - then i just wore them with stretchy lycra tops that were just on a 12/14 so they made you look less like a tent than some of the maternity wear and also showed off the lovely ump shape - after all it is something to be proud of! If you have to go somewhere special you can always buy a maternity dress from one of the more upmarket places like FORMES (I didn't) - it may be worth it if you will get a few wears out of it or are planning more babies in the future.

Gypsy style tops and drawstring trousers work quite well for growing bumps!

Hi Dinny,

I have tried bigger size clothing but I find it doesn't work terribly well with trousers, because if they are big enough to accommodate the bump then they are far too big on the behind! So in all three pregnancies I have had at least a few pairs of "proper" maternity trousers.

I have however had ordinary dungarees, loose pinafore style dresses and baggy cotton trousers with drawstring or elasticated waists which I have worn thoughout previous pregnancies. However I got rid of them all after DS2 'cos I thought I couldn't have any more kids - so now am desperately short of things to wear!

There was absolutely no way I could get away with bigger sized clothes only. My bump was absolutely massive from 6 months onwards so HAD to be in maternity stuff ... don't forget bigger sizes are bigger everywhere so you end up looking like a clown!

I got a couple of pairs of really good trousers from Formes (expensive but when you're wearing them every single day, its worth it and if you get a nice black pair then they're good for work or out) and then a few tops from H&M and Dorothy Perkins - my faves were tight and stretchy as they just grew with me and always looked nice. I did get away with a pair of v.low slung jeans from Top Shop in a size 14 which I managed to wear till I was about 8 months.

And although the over the bump things might look awful to you now, they're really really comfy and when its towards the end of your pg and you're so uncomfortable anyway, you don't need your clothes to add to it. But go for under the bump knickers every time ... M&S do excellent maternity under bump thongs. Still wear them now!

Low slung drawstring trousers sound the prefect idea but I'll definitely invest in a pair of black Formes trousers as I intend (hopefully) to have more children plus i think i'll wear them a lot as i have to be quite smart for work and i could dress them up for evenings out etc - my local Hennes has the smallest maternity wear section (its in Croydon) and so I will have to look out for another branch nearby with a better range but I generally just find that the tops in Hennes are just bigger long sleeved t-shirts with slightly longer fronts (or shirts with the same longer fronts) which is handy for casual but sometimes I can imagine I'll want to look a bit more streamlined and stylish for the odd meal or party or drink and the thought of ONLY having the option of drawstring trousers and long sleeved t-shirts makes me hyperventilate!!!! Seriously though its a shame we Brits don't have places like America - I was looking through FIT Pregnancy which is an American pregnancy magazine and they have seriously stylish and creative (some a bit TOO creative!) outfits but thers edfinitely room for improvement at Next and Hennes maternity ranges!

I heard a few of you ladies mention Ghost - i presume they are generous enough to fit bumps and don't actually have a maternity part???

My best buys were a couple of pairs of embroidered silk drawstring trousers from the Monsoon sale. Initially (and intentionally) very loose - but as it's that type of style it didn't matter - and then progressiveley less baggy around the waist, they lasted from when my ordinary clothes started to get tight right until ds was born.

I'm 5'8" and size 12-14 before getting pg and got HUGE but could still wear a medium ghost dress until practically the end - and a large one was still quite large even at the very end (38 weeks for me). I had to take in the top and it was a very pretty empire line dress. Ghost stuff stretches as you wear it so gets looser and looser, then pings back when you wash it. For cut price Ghost there is a gem of a shop in West Norwood called Phantom (I think! can never remember) which sells last season's Ghost (normally identical to this season's) at very reduced prices. When is your baby due? For a baby born in September it was perfect - saw me through from Spring right through summer. It also doesn't stick to you, but drapes, which is much more comfortable than clingy Lycra in hot weather.

I think its depends on lots of things, like the size and shape you were pre preg and your bump, your personal style, if you have to look smart........etc

So if you were a size 14, put on weight everywhere and feel at home in gypsy tops and embroidered dresses and combat trousers, you might get away with size 16 clothes in stretchy fabrics. But if you have to look tailored for work and you are a size 8, you will probably need SOME maternity clothes.

I wore normal clothes to about week 25 but after that had to wear maternity trousers ( I was a size 8 and only grew on my bump so even size 12 normal trousers hung off my thighs & bum and looked stupid)). I still don't fit Next size 8 maternity trousers (now at week 32)but find H&M small mat trousers comfortable and cheap ( £15 - 20). Havent tried any of the more expensive ranges like Formes and I'm not a floaty dress person ( though I think its a really cool look on others).I found most of my pre preg tops were too short ( unless you feel like showing off your bare bump???)

I also detest the look of the over the bump trousers but have found them really comfortable. The under the bump ones just fell down! The only people who ever see the big expanse of elastic are you & your nearest and dearest and comfort is my priority now i'm afraid.

I have one pair of maternity jeans from Next (very horrible looking but quite comfy) and apart from that had a trip to Matalan and bought a stretchy skirt for work and a pair of jeans a size bigger than usual, plus a couple of baggy tops. Have unfortunately now grown out of the jeans as of last week, but have a vague hope that I might be able to wear them on my way out of hospital

You can buy 2nd hand maternity clothes at the NCT Nearly New sales.

I found that buying ordinary bigger clothes didn't work for me as I am a small build and they would just be too big in other areas. Matty dungarees seemed to work best as it meant I could wear ordinary tops underneath or a cardigan on top. They are nice and comfy but it can take a bit of time to go to the loo with all that unhooking!

Dinny - I started by just buying bigger sized clothes but ended up spending a fortune by having to change them so regularly. Maternity clothes are expensive but they do normally see you through the duration of your pregnancy. In my first pregnancy i got really fed up with the cost of maternity wear and started up my own second hand maternity clothes business from my spare room but was amazed at how little business i got....i thought it was a great idea but for some reason others obviously didn't, maybe i was doing something wrong who knows but i was selling Next, H&M and loads of other well known makes! Bit depressing really because i felt sure i was onto a winner

I have a friend who is pg whenever I am not. She went first, so I then added to our wardrobe. She then did her second, and I am greatly looking forward to getting back my enhanced wardrobe ready for this one. We were epecially clever to have a Jan/Feb baby each first, and then an Oct one each (except she doesn't know yet).

Blooming Marvellous over bump trousers. One black pair, one beige. Soooo comfortable, I only got through my last 4 weeks at work by first promising, and then allowing myself to wear them to work along with a jacket or blazer. My friend said she wore the beige ones constantly all last summer.

I find this thread fascinating - that what is so comfy for one person is a nightmare for someone else. I would hate to have under bump trousers!

Blimey,

I think you would need to be quite petite with a neat bump to avoid maternity gear completely. I might have got away with it until 23/4 weeks, but now at 32 weeks unless I bought a size 30 tent dress from a specialist retail outlet for 'larger ladies', I just can't see it.

I found H&M maternity wear reasonably priced and reasonably stylish...

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For trousers I think you have to buy maternity stuff. I found under-bump styles always fell down after about 30 weeks since I no longer had any hips for them to sit on. (Well, I still had hips, but they were outclassed by the bump.) I bought three pairs of maternity trousers on ebay, one of which I really liked and the others I tolerated. I mostly bought large size ordinary clothes for tops though, including a fleece jacket from Primark for 3.99 which we have now cut up and are using as fleece liners for dd's nappies--how's that for recycling?

I found I could sort of drape the drawstring around the bump, and I think the bump - which was quite spectacularly large - was quite distinct from the rest of me in disturbing graft-like fashion.

I just like the look of the Seraphine jeans, I've not tried them I have to admit!

This time I have bought some larger clothes (I am normally size 10) and have bought size 14 mainly in Asda sales to make a start and am surprised at how long they are lasting. Some of them have gradually got too small but today at 28 weeks (with a fairly reasonable bump) I am wearing a size 12 jersey top for work. Think I would get a gap with trousers but its OK with a skirt. Am now completely out of non-mat bottoms - pair of medium jersey trousers from H&M for £10 lasted until about 3 weeks ago. Should be OK for afterwards though.

I detest the restriction of a maternity wardrobe...

I managed without mat clothes through whole pregnancy (hated all of them. Found all really uncomfortable). I survived with trousers that tied at the waist from White Stuff and FatFace that I already had. They sat under the bump which I found most comfortable. It just got to the point were they didn't tie any more!
You can buy maternity belt things from Grobag. They extend your normal jeans and include and infill bit so you basically don't do the jeans up any more . Haven't tried them but they look a good idea to me.
Hope you find something comfortable.

another vote for Hennes - i bought two pairs of stretchy flarey type trousers, two tops, (one quite smart for evening) and two shirts all for about £95 which should last me. I also bought some under bump combats from jojomamanbebe and they keep falling down now (30 wks) so bit of a waste of money i think. My mum bought me some jeans from a shop in New York (pea to pod i think, it was recommended by someone on here) - and they are briliant. Stretchy band around the top, but otherwise look like normal jeans. I think i'll be wearing them post birth !

Hennes Hennes hennes.

Everytime

I am 5'10" & find they are one of the only high st shops to stock maternity trousers longer than a 31" leg.

got a pair of jeans from NEXT idrectory, but their XL sizes sell out so fast.

the number of times I have spoken to snotty sales assistants in Dorothy perkins, mothercare etc is unbelievable. Apparently there is not enough call for tall maternity.
Annoying really - must be as much need for tall clothes as for maternity in larger sizes.

thinking of starting a cheap maternity shop for tall & wide mamas!! since not all of us haev the budget of Elle McPhearson!

any way rant over! I had to buy new stuf fthis time cos my clothes from ds were tatty/ too small. - my excuse & sticking to it!

I thought I'd just but some XL combats and that would be fine but they looked terrible, they fitted round my bump but looked ridiculous and too big everywhere else.

Hennes is the one. I lived in maternity jeans. They didn't have the front bit cut out and a knitted section in the middle either, I hate that! They were as normal as you can get! I also had some black jersey trousers and a couple of basic tops for later on and 1 white shirt for work.

My girlfirends and I share out the maternity clothes when one of us is pregnant as well. makes it much easier to get through it feeling good about what you are wearing but not spending a fortune.