maternity clothes - how much do we actually need?

[twinklestar2]

I'm due in August and have brought the following:

3 long sleeved tops
2 pairs of skinny jeans
4 jersey skater dresses
A skirt with a stretchy waistband (non maternity)

I work full time in an office and my company is prob on the casual side of smart casual,eg, today I wore jersey dress, jacket and long boots. We also have dress down day once a week, hence the jeans.

Do I need much more?

I'd say there's a decent chance that'll do you, eked out with a few of DP's jumpers and shirts perhaps? Although you will be sick of the sight of them all by the time you stop wearing them (October if you're lucky). Unless you're about to emigrate to a country where you can't get maternity clothes I'd leave it at that and top up only when you really feel the need.

Well once the weather warms up (hahaha) you are going to be boiling in those long sleeve tops, tight jeans and jersey dresses, but maybe wait till then to buy more?

I lived in linen trousers, cotton tips and a very light cotton dress at work last summer (smarter than smart casual). At the weekends I was either in my bikini or a sleeveless t shirt and leggings!

Oh and you'll presumably need some maternity tights to wear with the skirts.

The great news is that you won't need a special winter coat, so that's a saving.

I hardly bought any maternity clothes. I didn't start showing until 20 weeks and it wasn't worth spending a lot of money on something I was only going to wear for a few weeks. I just got some stretchy skirts, a couple of tops and a couple of dresses. I was also lent a couple of dresses and a pair of trousers. When I wasn't at work I wore leggings with loose tops (which I already had).

I've only got one pair of maternity jeans and one pair f black trousers, rest of the time I live in river island plain leggings they pull up right over my belly so comfy just in a size bigger xx

I had October babies and had:

one pair of jeans
one pair of black trousers
one long black skirt
one short sleeved black dress/tunic
4 long sleeved tops
1 black t shirt
Some long layering vests which were good for breastfeeding afterwards. And which I still wear for tummy coverage.
Bravado bodysilk bras.

I'm 38wks and only ever bought-

2pairs of jeans
One casual maternity dress
One 'going out' dress
One maternity t-shirt

I've mainly warn leggings and long tops, with vests underneath when chilly. Maternity clothes are a rip off personally!

make sure you save some money for about 30 weeks when nothing fits and you feel like ugh.. from experience..

Oh yes, if you plan on bf, when you do splash out on some summer maternity wear, resist the pretty dresses, and go for tops and skirts which you'll be able to wear postnatal.

I'd highly recommend one pair of maternity shorts. I had a July baby and lived in them! And keep an eye on New look, I used to pop in every couple of weeks and they'd often have sales... Got great summer vesty tops for £2/3

It depends how big you get as well. I didn't really wear maternity stuff till 27 weeks and utilised lots of my normal clothes until the end. I mostly lived in a maternity vest + short skirt with elastic waist +trainers in the summer. My normal skirts and shorts mostly fitted, under the bump. Some bumps are bigger than mine was though and you might want stuff earlier, and more of it! I was in scrubs at work which was handy.

I had a pair of jeans, about 4 tops, couple of bump bands, a swimming costume (though I just wore my bikini mostly), a pair of tights, and a couple of cute dresses. More than I needed probably.

Oh yeah and a couple of non wired bras which were ugly as fuck but comfy.

See, I view this differently. Being pregnant isn't easy. Yes, it's on,y for a short time, but i didn't want to feel frumpy and boring and naff all that time. So I had a few dresses that really showed off my bump. Some lovely t shirts and shirts, a couple of jeans, a smart pair of trousers and some shorts and a skirt. And some jumpers. I'm pregnant again now and plan on adding a few new items. On the New Look website things are v cheap. I don't see it as how little can I get away with - I'd prefer to make myself feel good and look good if at all possible during what is otherwise quite a hard time.

But each to their own

I have masses of maternity clothes, but mainly bought from eBay! That way I get a load of variety for a fraction of the cost, and as you all say, they're not worn for long so are in great condition.
Only things I bought new were underwear, swimwear, bras and leggings.

I'd recommend a couple of maxi dresses, either maternity or just a bump friendly style! They cover a multitude of sins!

If you buy breastfeeding tops - if this is what you plan on doing - then they will last you through pregnancy and beyond so you will feel that you are getting better value. Mothercare has some nice stuff for a reasonable price and they wash and wear well.
You need to feel good - how much you buy depends on whether you are a clothes-ey person to begin with. I bought LOADS!! Some people are OK in oversized DR's shirts and sweatpants, some of us, want to feel all pretty and in new clothes to get past the idea that we are fat!

Dorothy Perkins also really nice and not too dear.

Maternity tights - buy the best and most elastic that you can - you will feel more comfortable for them.

Things like waterfall cardigans (don't start fashion snobs!) are a great idea as they can be snugged around you, can be used to feed and last afterwards too.

I'd add a couple of pairs of overbump leggings as well. Heaven on Earth.

Thanks everyone. I'm really into clothes too Princess Watermelon!

Everything I have brought is from New Look, apart from the maxi skirt which is Monsoon.

I'm thinking what I buy I can keep for baby number two too! And I can wear afterwards for while.

I think I need to add some vests for when weather gets better...

You needn't spend a lot of money. I bought a pair of mat jeans at new look for 15 quid, wore them for months then sold them for 10... there is no need to feel uncomfortable / miserable or look hideous while pregnant imo.

I prefer to have more choice to be honest, as others say I think its worth it if you are usually quite into clothes. But then I get the rage if I can't find anything to wear in the morning so it's worth it! If you are happy to stick with a capsule wardrobe though then great, much cheaper.

I never buy full price clothes though, I go for the clearance section of asos, tesco, new look, asda, jojo maman, next etc. Was looking at tesco clearance earlier, they have some 70% off bargains at the moment incl some nice dresses www.clothingattesco.com/sale/all-sale-womens/icat/wm-sale#esp_cf=pdxtfit&esp_filter_pdxtfit=Maternity

Also if you have any friends who were recently pg ask if you can borrow theirs with a promise to lend them yours in the future? Me and my friends do this and we now have a massive sack of stuff between us! Would backfire if we were pregnant together tho!

The jeans I brought were in the sale for a tenner, the dresses were in the sale £5 each and the tops were £15 for 3. Bargain I think!

I was thinking of getting these and returning the (unworn) black jeans. Might be more versatile: www.asos.com/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3154934

Beware the second pregnancy occurring in a completely different season...! Hardly any of my summer maternity wear was any good for this pregnancy, due in 6 weeks. I get massive, and from early on too, so was exclusively in mat wear by 3/4 months. Bought lots from Facebook groups (don't get on with eBay) and even that's been hit and miss. I stopped work in January but would have probably needed more tops if I were still working.

Staple wardrobe for me is:
Maternity overbump jeans
Overbump purple cords (in Next sale and I LOVE these)
Overbump black leggings (H&M)
Variety of maternity tops (around 4-6)
Maternity vest tops
One maternity jumper (jojo sale)
Maternity wrap dress (my extravagance for Christmas, from jojo)
Maternity tankini
Overbump jogging bottoms and top (2nd hand)
Maternity winter coat - have lived in this from H&M

I'm starting to grow out of some tops already or they've shrunk and I hate being uncomfortable so haven't minded buying some stuff full price. That said, with the weather warming up I've been wearing maternity tops with my non-maternity cardigans etc.

I had
2 capped sleeved tops,
2 vest tops,
1 pair shorts
1 pair leggings
1 pair combat pants
1 long sleeve top
1 smart top
1 summer dress

The rest was non maternity stuff and dh clothes,
It did my 3 pregnancies and I sold some of the stuff on eBay so well worth the price.
I had 3 summer pregnancies though so didn't need a coat
It was either h&m or red herring from debenhams

I was due last September and had a large wardrobe if maternity clothes as intend to have another and figured I may as well buy them from the off to get more wear

Maternity coat
Swimsuit

Jeans
Two pairs black trousers
Five shirts for work
Few t shirts
One expensive black dress
One black cheap maxi

Bought other tops in size up and they were good for postpartum wear

Two maternity nighties
One nursing sleep top
Three pj bottoms

Definitely save some shopping money for a bit later on as it gets a bit dull having only a small selection to choose from!

Just ordered new jeans @ 27 weeks :-)

I do get that if clothes are your thing then you might want to get a wider variety of stuff rather than go for the hair shirt bare minimum. I found H&M good for quirky cheap stuff that relieved me from the tyranny of the sensible capsule wardrobe choice. But I'd still say wait as long as possible to get stuff (unless it's super cheap in a sale) because if you buy early and it doesn't work with your particular pg shape you'll be annoyed.