Scared to buy anything, even maternity clothes...

[Cherryblossom200]

Hey everyone,

This is my first pregnancy and I'm 14 + 2 days, and rapidly growing despite the fact I'm only petite! I'm a size 8 normally, but my tummy is really starting to show now and I can't do up some of my work trousers etc but I'm really scared to start buying maternity clothes and things for the baby. I'm going to slowly start buying things for the baby after my 20 week scan, does this sound about right?

I feel so silly with all this supersticious stuff, but I'm scared of buying new clothes so I'm just trying to stay in my normal stuff for as long as possible?! Am I crazy for thinking like this??

x

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Lot's of people choose to hold on a bit longer before buying baby stuff, and some get so excited they want to rush out and buy stuff really early on!

However, you may struggle to get to 20 weeks without any maternity clothes (although some people are totally fine - not me, 3rd pregnancy and out of my normal trousers at 10 weeks!) so you might just have to be brave and start getting a few bits and pieces.
Maybe a couple of bump bands/belt extenders to help your normal trousers last a bit longer?
You are safely through the 12 week scan now so there is a very very good chance that everything will go well with your pregnancy now. I find when you start to feel him/her kicking it all becomes a bit more real and you feel more reassured that they are ok in there.

I tried to stay in my normal clothes as long as possible but I'm also a size 8 and was in maternity clothes by 16 weeks.

Why are you scared? You're past the 12 week milestone so you can start to relax and enjoy being pregnant.

It sounds like you can't get away with maternity trousers soon. Some people swear they can just not zip up the trousers and use a hair band to hold the trousers up over the button. But I can't figure out how that could work as then everyone can see you haven't done your zip up.

If you normally will wear non tight fitting clothes then wrap or floaty dresses, tights, leggings and tunics might see you through to 20 weeks. If you don't wear this stuff then it's a waste of money to buy them as you won't wear them postnatal anyway. You might as well get some maternity work trousers and jeans now. I found with the trousers I can wear my normal tops for a bit longer if I layer them with a longer vest.

FWIW I am 35 weeks and can still wear some of my normal tunics and dresses with maternity leggings. (My maternity jeans bought for the first/second trimester no longer fits).

There definitely is no need to hurry buying baby stuff. After 20 week scan is still plenty of time.

I was also size 8 but this is my second pregnancy and I have to give up on normal trousers and jeans by about 14 weeks.

It doesn't sound silly at all. I'm 34 weeks and until two weeks ago, all I'd bought were maternity clothes.
I've only bought stuff for hospital bag so far and a crib which is hopefully coming today but I have a list of other things I need. I think there are some benefits to buying late - in that I've had more time to research and I think I would have bought stuff early on that I might have later regretted.
I think around your stage, I bough a pair of maternity trousers out of desperation, and normal clothes but in a size larger or styles that were looser. I think I will still wear those normal clothes again after birth.

As I got bigger I had to buy maternity clothes. Having said that, I struggled to find maternity clothes I liked, so if you see anything you like, I'd say you should buy it!

Good luck.

I bought a bump band today because I honestly can't keep going like this. But even pressing the click button to buy the band was scary! I honestly feel so silly. This is as far as I'm going to maternity gear for now!!

Yes I'm looking forward to the first kick :) x

missingcaffine is this your first? You can start wearing normal clothes again straight after birth, if you have clothes in those looser styles (ie not a pair of skinny jeans). The bump really deflates and all you are left with is a wobbly tummy and a bigger bum. Don't forget to pack something nice in your hospital bag for leaving. I took a lovely dress with tights last time.

I don't think you're being silly either. I'm 23 weeks now, but held off on maternity clothes as long as possible, and I'm still loathe to spend too much on them. I think I initially bought a fairly cheap pair of trousers from Next and some fitted maternity vests/tops (the ones that look pretty normal except with a bit of ruching at the side so they grow with you).

H&M, New Look, and Dorothy Perkins are good for cheaper stuff.

I've seen some lovely maternity dresses on Seraphine in the sale, but they are summer dresses so seem pointless as I will be at my heaviest in the winter months. I can get away with dresses fine, but it's trousers I'm struggling with. I simply can't do the zip up. I really didn't think I would be showing so soon as I'm little!? I think in 2-3 weeks I will have no choice but to start buying pieces of maternity wear.

But with t-shirts etc I think I can just get away with buying a couple of sizes up.

cherry try new look. They have a lot of really cheap maternity clothes for the smaller sizes. (I have been told it's bad if you are larger). They have bump bands and I found cheaper clothes are less scary! It's psychological I'm sure.

Awww thanks guys :) I am so pleased to have found this forum. Sometimes I'm a bit nuts thinking all these nutty things, nice to get some reassurance.

OneLittleToddle, you are soooo right! I think it's a psychological thing so maybe a few cheaper bits at the start will help.

cherry stick with the dresses then if you like dresses. Trousers are a pain and as you can see a lot of us smaller women also struggle early. I think I can wear normal tights till 18 weeks or so for work. But then summer hits and I just go without tights and went bare legged! (Though I have 2 pairs of maternity tights for colder days like today).

Definitely don't buy summer maternity clothes now. You will need more of it over winter. If you are really struggling and need stuff for now maybe hit the summer sale dresses instead. At least then you can still wear them next summer. Or just something cheap and cheerful

Do I really need maternity tights? Sorry I'm being a bit naive here, but don't normal tights still fit? I have so much to learn ha!

The waistband on normal tights can be an issue, cherry. It's not always that they don't fit, it's that any kind of pressure on your abdomen can become hideously uncomfortable!

ahhh ok! thank you

Yes like twiglet says it's where the waistband lies on normal trousers and tights that make them very uncomfortable. I have some normal joggers and leggings that I can still fit under bump. But the band really digs into the bump and that really hurts.

I've made it to 30 weeks with one pair of maternity jeans, 5 pairs of maternity leggings and normal stretchy dresses. I think dresses are OK for ages if your boobs stay normalish.

Congratulations :)
I'm currently sat at my desk with my work trousers unzipped lol trying not to forget each time I stand up.

I'm just going to buy bigger 'normal' clothes - I am assuming I will still be a bit 'bigger' afterwards so will probably be a good investment.

I don't plan on buying anything until after 20 week scan either. It's not stopping me making a mental list of things I want though!

onelittle yes this is my first. Good to hear normal clothes should be okay soon after.
I've pretty much lived in maternity dresses since around week 20, but then I've been ridiculously hot this summer! Found some lovely maternity dresses on asos - which also have some pretty good sales intermittently. I've only worn trousers/jeans once in the last few months. Sooo hot all the time! Even when it's not hot.

I really don't want to spend too much ok my maternity wardrobe as I'll only wear the clothes for a few months. I'm going to buy a few pretty autumn/winter dresses, a few of those cross over wrap too thingys from Jo Jo Maman, try look awesome. And some maternity jeans, leggings and tights oh and some vest tops too. I think that should be enough! Oh and a nice festive maternity jumper for Christmas!

Congrats to all you lovely mummies to be too xx

Sorry was not meant to say 'on' my maternity clothes not 'ok' ha

Hi cherry, I started out a size 8 too. Don't be too scared to spend a little bit on nice clothes, I took a long time to get out of maternity jeans (maybe 4 months I think) and it was a bit depressing that I'd bought really poor quality stuff and it looked terrible. Think of it as pounds per wear and it might help coz this stuff is going to be in high rotation. Oh and if you want to breastfeed keep boob access in mind. I wish I had thought of that when I bought my mat clothes

Congratulations!
I just bought maternity trousers today and I'm only 7+2, my trousers were so uncomfy (3rd baby and I already have a small bump!) if you need more comfortable clothes buy them! I hung off buying baby stuff til after the 20 week scan though.