tips for cheap alternatives to maternity clothes

[joaninha103]

Just had a brainwave when in Matalan yesterday - tried on a boob tube as a skirt. The 'boob' bit becomes instant bump support, nice and high over bump and you have a cute jersey skirt in hundreds of colours and all for a couple of £

Also for tights I just cut straight through the elastic bit of the waistband and stretch it- instantly adds a few extra inches. Not as good as maty tights, but for the first few weeks it made wearing tights a lot more bearable!

Now that it's warmer I just wear hold ups/stockings. No more sweaty crotch or tight waistbands and looks smart for work!

Any other tips/clever ideas you've discovered?

I've found bump bands to be great for wearing over your normal work trousers. Perhaps not quite as comfy for over jeans. So I'm 31 wks and still managing to wear my normal work trousers but with a bump band over to hide the fact they are gaping open!

I'm still wearing a lot of my 'normal' big tops although you do need to compromise a bit on how flattering you want your clothes to be if you do that! Mat tops tend to be cut better around the bump. I've found that the days where I just wear a big top I get a lot more comments about how pregnant I look!

I'm 28 weeks and still wearing my non-maternity vest tops, long sleeved t-shirt tops etc (H&M & Next). I have brought a few maternity tops but they are too big for me still, so I would just say buy normal ones. I havent even had to go up a size, especially the H&M ones are so lovely and long and stretchy and I think only 3.99!

I also still prefer many of my non-maternity stretchy bodycon dresses - they just give a better shape IMO... and the patterned trousers with elasticated waists that are all the rage at the mo are brilliant! I have some from Next and Topshop and love them!

I'm 29 weeks and also wearing pre-maternity jersey tops, with a bump band if they now come up a little short.

I've been doing the tights trick too.

Has anyone bought longline but slim-ish fit tshirts on the high street recently? I looked in H&M expecting a whole range and could only find vest tops, or huge baggy tshirts.

Partner's jumpers? My dh's jumpers work well over the massive bump I have...

Jersey dresses and tunics work best out of my existing wardrobe, as well as any skirts with a roll-down or very elastic/loose waist. The only trousers I have that do that are some yoga pant type things :)

As well as buying cheap stuff that can work as maternity, consider buying maternity things that are nice enough to work afterwards. I've got some great H&M t-shirts that I intend to keep post-maternity. If I'd bought some in a bigger size they might be cheap but would just get chucked afterwards.

Cheap long vests are good because if you end up breastfeeding you can wear them under tops - pull them down a bit (doesn't matter if you stretch them if cheap) while pulling your other layer up, and you can feed quite discreetly :)

Harem pants from Next - patterns, and just plain black. £16 each. I've 24+5 and still wearing them quite happily. I dress the black ones up for work too, look smart even though you're wearing pajama bottoms!

Bump bands.
Deliberately loose 90s style tunics and t-shirts from Primark + maternity leggings/tights.
Harem pants or any summer trousers with elastic round the waist, 1-2 sizes too big = underbumps.
Cheap 'one size fits all' maxis (from markets/dodgy temporary shops). Ditto slightly too big stretch jersey dresses (e.g. from Everything £5 www.everything5pounds.com/floral-check-print-dress-p-31129.html )

TBH I've only bought maternity bottoms (and 2 dresses for events): all my tops are loose tunic ones plus bump bands and they're still ok nigh on 27 weeks.

I've just discovered using sarongs as skirts! I've got a couple already so it's free. Just use a couple of safety pins to make sure you don't end up showing a bit too much thigh in a breeze, but they're cool and comfy to wear and you can tie them a bit higher to wear with a regular vest top. Awesome!

Primark vests cost 2 pounds, just went a couple sizes up and they were perfect for pregnancy and a couple months after.

Bundles off ebay can be a bargain too.

Just beware, even if you don't feel you are stretching your normal clothes, you probably are. I have tunics and pyjamas which I can't wear now as the belly or waistband is saggy.

I'm wearing harem pants a lot too. I also got a maternity dress in Lidl yesterday for 8 euros and it has nursing panels too I'd never have thought to look in there it's a coral pink colour and soo comfy!

I wore summery dresses as long tops with leggings lots and lots of room ! Then after having baby you can wear the dresses as normal

eBay! I've had great bargains on there. Best buy so far was 2 pairs of New Look maternity jeans for £1.99 I think, and they're a really good fit.

The long skirts that have the very deep waistbands so you can wear then as dresses - I have two a size up and there's lots of room in them.

Primark and asda in bigger sizes and maternity stuff from new look are keeping me dressed at the minute.

Anything made from Jersey material. Maxi dresses in a size or two up. Long vest tops in ribbed material stretch loads. And any dresses with an empire waist/elasticated waist you can push up. I'm still in some pre pregnancy leggings at 30 weeks!