Clothing that actually works

[HomeHypno]

Right, how does one achieve that perfect smooth bump look? Not the one with bulges and lumps of ill-fitting clothes pile-of-frump one? There are so many retailers out there and I don't want to spend a fortune. Those of you who have tried and tested them tell me where can I get a belly band that is stretchy but firm, broad and doesn't slide our of place and comes in at least a few colours? I bought Mothercare one which is disappointingly narrow, floppy and rolls boths on top and underneath. I want one that also conceals waist extenders and the fact that none of my trousers fit properly....

How about nice v-neck maternity jersey tops that accommodate the bump but don't accentuate one's already enourmous rack ?

I swear by my newlook over bump jeans, the denim only goes to hipster hight but the elasticy bit goes right over top of bump but it's quite firm so keeps your wobbly bits all tidy and neat, they were only £15. they also do belly bands in black white and blue that are good but iv only ever seen them online.

I gave up on belly bands & bought a load of cheap, long stretchy vests (the £5 ones from sainsburys are my fave).
I've lived in them, they cover a multitude of lumps, bumps & gaping flies. And they have thicker straps to conceal huge bras.

But I can't find any maternity jumpers that don't make me look like a potato.

New look and h and m do multipacks of strappy vests or long sleeved tops in their (online) maternity range. Cheap and cheerful. Never bothered with bump bands myself. Over the bump trousers all the way too, much smoother outline and no exposing the stretch marks like me today
It's also amazing what normal clothes will fit over - I was wearing an empire line non maternity top when I gave birth to ds :)

I agree with new look over the bump jeans or jeggings, they seem to smooth everything out rather than squish it in like under bump ones do, I suppose it depends on how big your bump is at the moment as to wether they'll stay up though! The new look maternity tops seem to have the belly ruching (is that the right word?!) in the right place too, others seemed too high or low and they are inexpensive. Primark cheap long line vests in a size or 2 up from normal have been brilliant, and I've bought a few non maternity tops in a couple of sizes bigger if the shape worked too.

Thanks guys, that all sounds very useful! I am not overweight but looking like a sack of potatoes regardless has really knocked my confidence - seems that buying normal clothes in a bigger size isn't the answer....

The reason I am particularly after belly bands is that I have a lot of work trousers that still fit leg and (somewhat) arse-wise but I need something to cover up the gap caused by trouser extenders, that is not a giant empire line top or loose, draping cardigan. Any recommendations for online retailers? I buy a lot on web but maternity wear is new to me and I hate making expensive mistakes.

BTW it seems ironic that after years of longing to conceive while teaching hypnobirthing and working in the 'business' I have got it pretty much covered homebirth, doula, antenatal class wise etc but none of that prepared me in the slightest for HOW TO GET DRESSED IN THE MORNING . It seems I assumed pregnant women just automatically look fabulous....

Ha! I also thought it was all neat, high bumps and looking effortlessly chic!

How wrong could I be...

I got a bump band from topshop maternity for about £7. Was brilliant for over my open jeans. Sadly the jeans no longer fit and I can't find any others that do! I'm a real short arse at 5'1 and have tried on countless pairs of jeans (inc the new look ones) and all no good. So for now I'm living in over bump leggings from mothercare which do smooth me out enough. I second the vest tops from primark. Long and stretchy and very cheap.

i got my belly bands from "a pea in the pod" which is a us store but they do ship to the uk. they're fab and i'm currently wearing one for my 2nd pregnancy and have leant them to two friends for theirs, so in all 4 pregnancies and they are still really firm and smoothing and hold up my normal trousers.
i also splashed out on a nice pair of decent maternity jeans (mavi) which seemed extravagant at the time because they were (still are) the most expensive pair of jeans i own, but i wear them more than 50% of the time and feel great in them so i recommend treating yourself. maybe one pair of work trousers from isabella oliver if you need to be smart for work.

I like maternity dresses with normal size leggings underneath. I've yet to find a pair of maternity jeans/trousers that don't give me an odd belt line round the middle where they stop.

I got the mothercare bump band which I find really comfy and doesn't roll up so much if you wear it inside out

I didn't think I'd prefer over the bump jeans to under but I do. Under the bump tends to feel a bit restrictive but over gives a nice smooth line under tops.

Long vests for me too, I wear the cani dress ones from primarni.

How far along are you? I found before I had a proper bump (so before about 18 weeks) when I wanted it to look more bump and less fat control knickers were best. I got som huge ones from m&s that come just under my bra and they gave me a nice shape without the little ripple in the middle where uterus stops and fat starts!

Oh I do love a nice pair of fat control knickers ! My old stash no longer fits though, and I also had the problem that they made things so smooth all low-cut trousers were sliding down because they didn't have their usual fatty lumps to hang on to....

I had a look at Pea in a pod-website and will think about ordering. Trousers and tops are definitely the way to go for me, mainly for work needs, skirts, dresses and low cleavage really don't do it when I show my customers/patients yoga poses and back stretches and generally crawl around on my hands and knees for pure fun.... If I could get away with it, I'd wear the 'Hands off my bump'onesie I saw on NewLook website and nothing else....

I got over the bump jeans from peacocks & they are fab...think you can only get them online though. Got belly bands from new look too which are also good, 3 pack black, blue & white & I got them in shop

My best tip is not to use maternity stuff, just wear normal clothes, this has the added bonus that you don't need to buy anything new and you can carry on wearing the clothes after if you do want something new. I've actually made it through all my pregnancies without maternity stuff just going for stretchier waistbands towards the end -leggings, jeggings, long line vests, empire line dresses worked well but tbh there were only one or two of all my dresses that didn't fit near the end. Most untailored skirts worked fine, and the easiest bump band is a nice scarf tied round like a sash - I did try the regular kind and they all fell down.

I used bump bands from New Look in my previous pregnancy and they were fine but TBH after a while I gave in and bought maternity jeans and work trousers.

My under-bump maternity jeans from NL are a pain as keep sliding down, however I've not got that big a bump even now at 23 weeks. Been wearing jeggings from Sainsburys that are really comfy and flattering (!) so might just get the next size up the more I grow.

Has anyone seen a nice, plain long-line cardigan? Can't find any I like to wear over tops :(

Uniqlo is great for cardigans, I bought two long, buttonless ones that pass nicely for a bit of fake cashmere. I have one from Zara, too but that sadly doesn't wash very well so bit of a waste of money I am afraid.