So, where are you buying your maternity clothes from?

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I've bought a few bits online but I like to try clothes before buying, see how they fit, feel the material, even more so when my body shape is changing and I don't know it so well.

I went to Chelmsford today and hardly any shops had maternity clothes. Debenhams had a poor selection, a few maxi dresses from the end of the summer and some casual jersey dresses and tops. Mother care only seemed to have gym clothes. The only decent selection was in H&M but even that was a bit casual.

I work in an reasonably casual office but appear in court regularly and I'm 40. I don't want to wear leggings and tshirts for the next 6 months but don't want to spend a fortune.

Any recommendations?

I tried Asos, but sent pretty much everything back. I then bought lots from Jojo Maman Bebe and have been really pleased with the quality.

I've used Jojo but they still lean towards lots of jersey. Their wraparound tops are great. I like yummymummyretail too.

Waiting to receive clothes then have to make a special trip to the post office to send them back annoys me.

H & M but I orderd online x

Jersey seems pretty ubiquitous in maternity clothes and high street shops don't seem to stock much.

In my first pregnancy we were on holiday in York and I found a great maternity clothes shop. But sadly that is too far to travel this time.

Mothercare have Blooming Marvellous and a sales assistant told me that they're getting Mamalicious soon too. Really good range at the retail park store at Lakeside.
I find it amazing that women have babies EVERY DAY and yet decent maternity clothes are so hard to find. I did a massive Gap order and it all went back bar one pair of trousers. It seems to be a bit trial and error...

I bought all of mine second hand on eBay... Serphine and Isabella Oliver. I was on a budget and brand new they were too pricey for me. I just found those brands so flattering and well cut/well made, washed beautifully. I gain a lot of weight on my thighs in pregnancy and my calves get swollen, so the skinny jean trend in maternity wear just kills me. I envy those mums-to-be who have pencil thin legs througout pregnancy. Seraphine has lovely jersey trousers which are loose- fitting/flowing, but smart. I always find trousers the hardest thing to get right in my pregnancies.

I've found it really hard to find maternity trousers in natural fabrics. And I've never worn leggings before, so I'm certainly not going to start now. I'm finding it harder this time due to needing winter rather than summer maternity clothes.

Gap online. They've been doing free delivery on maternity stuff, and had a 30% deal last week, which was handy. Other than that, Seraphine, ASOS, Debenhams.

I said that last time pico, but maternity leggings are lovely and comfortable.

Fabrics are bad, aren't they? Most of the trousers I've seen are really nasty polyester.

Has anyone tried Vertbaudet?

Primark jeans have honestly been my best buy, I never normally shop there but bought a lovely long skirt too which has been great.

Next maternity has been where I got staples for work and they've been lovely. Friends told me to stock up on vest tops as they are also useful after the baby is born,when nursing and I've bought longer style vest tops cheaply in matalan. It means I can still wear lots of pre pregnancy tops over the vest top even though I'm 36 weeks.

I've got a pair of red jeans from mothercare and they sit way too low, I'm constantly pulling them up. I also bought a dress for work from there, thought it was nice but look very frumpy indeed in it. I look better in a stretchy jersey dress I already owned. Red herring from debenhams have been nice but a little bit boring so good for the basics.

I've splurged on very pretty scarfs and more chunky costume jewellry to brighten up and change outfits.

I just had a look and the clearance section of the next website has loads of stuff going very cheaply, including some pretty dresses that can be dressed up and down. I've bought loads of maternity wear but I haven't spent huge amounts.

Most of mine are from h&m and topshop. If you buy h&m online, I'd get the next size up as their sizing isn't very generous. Topshop, you pay a little more, but it doesn't stretch out if shape and is good quality. Asda online have some ok bits. Can't comment on quality though I'm afraid, as I haven't tried it yet. Good luck. It's a minefield out there!

I ordered some bits it the asos sale last week and they were lovely, don't think they are worth the full price though.
I got a lot of things from new look as the prices were very reasonable

Marking place. Last pregnancy I borrowed a lot of things from friends but they have now moved away or are pregnant at the same time as me! So may need to do some shopping.

The few bits I bought were from Jojomaman (trousers and bras and one top - I find a lot of their tops and dresses a wee bit frumpy though), one Isabella Oliver in the sale, and a couple of Asos t shirts (but most of their stuff was a bit too man made for me). Also a local charity shop (lots of pregnant women where I live!)

I did buy quite a few things that weren't strictly maternity wear so worked post preg as well - empire line dresses, open front cardigans, etc. So would recommend keeping an eye out for those.

I think very few stores stock a full maternity range so you really have to buy online and send stuff back. Bit of a pain but some companies make it easier than others.

I think we do the same job! I got some dresses from ASOS and Seraphine (less keen on the Seraphine despite them being 3x the price of ASOS as they haven't washed that well). A few from Isabelle Oliver. For Court, I wore a black Seraphine or IO dress with an IO jacket. Scarves became my friend.

Gap have some great 3/4 cut offs I wore for more casual office days.

For out of work, mothercare are great (their yoga trousers feel like you are wearing heaven). I found everything at H & M cheap and itchy except their T-Shirts which I think are the best around.

The website "purpless" does good, basic jersey dresses I used for work. Very reasonable too.
I wore su it jackets with them (open, non maternity) for smarter wear, cardigans otherwise.

Next have nothing in store anymore, and their online offering seems to have been inspired by checking out the nearest granny and repurposing the designs. They have an awful lot of casual stuff too.

Topshop is best, IMO and decent quality. ASOS have some nice looking stuff but the quality is variable. H&M was also v casual or dull IMO, and I agree with whoever said the fabric was itchy.

I'm planning to stick to a few pairs of trousers and jeans from Topshop and try and size up in some tops/dresses to see me through as long as possible.

What's IO Becca? Don't know that one. I'll check eBay for Seraphine and Isabelle Oliver.

I know companies ate not stocking maternity ranges in store for totally legitimate business reasons but it really annoys me. I feel like they're saying pregnant women shouldn't leave the house or work!

Last pregnancy I bought a lot of cheap bits from H&M and New Look and a few from M&S (which I think no longer do maternity) and JojoMB. Having a limited wardrobe means they all got washed a lot and frankly the cheaper stuff is looking very manky now I'm on my second pregnancy! The stuff at JojoMB is nice quality and washes well, the only prob is that I need a 14-16 and their L is a 16-18 so the stuff is a bit big on me, but it's still comfy.

I've just stuck to a few simple things from Topshop and Asos but I've been embracing the jersey! I've found that for smarter occasions like work and weddings etc it's good to get a simple base for your outfit (tops, trousers or dresses- black is always good) and then make it smarter with non maternity things that still fit like coats, jackets, shoes and accessories. I've found maternity clothes really boring though- I will scream if I see anymore navy polka dot or breton tops.

I got some good bargains in the Mamas & Papas sale - surprisingly. Their dresses are great. Other than that, bits from H&M (yes, you have to go up at least one size) and Gap. Topshop jeans are brilliant but everything else overpriced and badly cut, for me, anyway.

Mix and matched, as PP have said, with jackets, cardies, shoes, scarves from pre-preg wardrobe so I still feel like me.

I've found it surprisingly liberating, only having a capsule wardrobe!

It's so frustrating having to adapt your style to what's available rather than buy your style in a maternity fit!

I don't know what it's like being pregnant in summer but I find winter clothes are mostly black and navy with the occasional pink or red for variety. I was made up to find a teal green dress in H&M.

Black is fine, even obligatory for court but not every day.

Sorry IO is Isabelle Oliver.... I was just being super lazy

I'd also second the recommendiom M & P. I got some great dresses for £9 each which filled out my work wardrobe and made me feel like I wasn't wearing the same 5 things on repeat.

Also little known fact that Boden have some of their maternity wear in clearance but it's odd sizing.

I bought loads from Red Herring - although I did get it online in the sales. I found them to be the best when it came to sizing as it was consistent.
For casual wear, I just got bits from New Look as they were cheap and surprisingly lasted !
Asos was simply awful - the sizing was all over the place !

I got a swimming costume from Vertbaudet, brilliant fit and the catalogue is v tempting. I'm 6' so got a pair of jeans from JoJo in tall (bit flappy round the ankles), a smart pair of work trousers from Long Tall Sally (too long, had to wonder web the hem!). Need to find that pair of Goldilock 'just right' trousers!!
Good luck :-)