Maternity Wear Troubles

[SaraLB21]

Hi all,

My name is Sara and I am currently at student at the University of Huddersfield. I am in my final year and for my final major project I am focusing on issues within the maternity wear market.

My friend who is currently expecting has issues finding clothing that fits her properly as she is petite, and also finds a lot of brands are over priced for what is being provided. So I wanted to look into this further...

If you could reply with any issues you have had with maternity wear that would be much appreciated, and how you think it could be improved. Or shops/brands who have found great, or not so great! Or if you think that the maternity market is fine then please let me know!

Thanks! Any replies are much appreciated!!!
Sara

The problem is that your shape changes, so I spent £60 on two pair of mat jeans at 20 weeks, one from mothercare - the bump band ripped that week, got them replaced, then at 34 weeks they stopped fitting. Bad quality and ripped so can't even give them away or sell them on once they don't fit anymore !!b

The others from jojo are too tight after being too big at first and the bump band has run on the inside.

I have been wearing normal clothes which are just bigger and leggings for ages now.

You need quality but affordable and the clothing market just doesn't do that.

Same as troopers; big bust and most things make me look like a lollipop, despite being size 8-10 (ok 12 -14 for bust).

Biggest challenge is i CANNOT, despite trying about a dozen places (including internet) find a pair of jeans that do not fall down. My bum just isn't big enough to stop things slipping down in the crotch. With 2 active young boys, jeans are my uniform, and it's been a nightmare. Even the over the bump ones keep dropping (and also do not help my heartburn as any extra pressure makes it more painful).

I find most maternity clothing terribly boring and rather ugly, so have just bought larger sized regular clothes in stretchy material. I'm quite happy to live in leggings and dresses though...

As others have mentioned, nursing clothes are unbelievably difficult to come by, especially when you return to regular size.

I haven't found nursing tops to be difficult to buy - Bought lots from h&m and mothercare. Most are quite plain, such as white or black short sleeved tops, which I can combine with a non maternity cardigan. Not loads of choice, but some simple basics....

Again hate the fact you have to order online and can't try in in shops.

Also really struggling to find petite/short jeans. Am only 5'2".

I would be considered as petite - 5'1 and 7st 8 before pregnancy. My bump is huge and I showed very early on, so finding clothes to fit was difficult at first.
Gap are excellent for maternity wear - good quality, but not cheap. I made many mistakes buying t-shirts / leggings from New Look (instore) which were too big in the bust for me and quite boring looking. I wished that I had spent less here at the start of pregnancy and bought more quality items from Gap. Gap, however, only deliver maternity online, but postage is free on maternity items.
I also found Topshop jeans to be fantastic and wore them right up until week 37 - not too long and looked exactly the same as non maternity.
ASOS (online) is fantastic for choice, but quality can sometimes be sporadic. Great sale prices.

Good workwear trousers are NOWHERE to be found - luckily my employer allowed me to wear black skinny jeans to work. I don't think I could have gone 6 month(ish) wearing static polyester trousers!
You can usually find voucher codes for Gap and students can use their student card for discount.
My biggest problem with maternity wear is that if you are all bump then you are held to ransom to the uncomfortable over-bump leggings that sag at your knees and cut into your bump!

I'm a size 22 and have J cup boobs. So tops are really hard to find as are good maternity bras. Lots of brands only go to an 18 or 20 (as if fat people never get pregnant) and nearly everything is online. Have found a range at Bon Prix but it seems very expensive! I'll probably live in stretchy maxi dresses for this pregnancy too!!

I'm size 8 and find h&m fab for modern on trend maternity wear especially jeans ( skinny ones too). A lot seem to think just being pregnant makes you far so overall things tend to be bigger but h&m don't do thus and make a size 8 true to size but with a bump allowance. Great price for what you get.
I found a lot of 'maternity wear specialists so over priced. Asos great value too.
Hth

Thanks for starting this thread I was so frustrated trying even on line the maternity shop. My issues
-34H bras prepregnancy, cant find pretty maternity bras in this size
-Where sells maternity knickers that again pretty and don't cost a fortune.

• want a pair of cropped combat trousers, only pair I can find is £50.
• most dresses are jersey and who want to wear that for work/over summer.
• styles are either skater dresses, which too short, or body on which not comfortable with for summer.
• too many slogan t-shirts, I didn't revert to a teenager when pregnant.

What I want is some floaty cotton dresses, style like the 50's tea dresses with some extra space for bump, some work dresses which minimise bump preference short sleeves or sleeveless as can still wear prepregnancy cardigans. My one purchase which has been great is morthercare over bump jeans, with removeable bump band for post pregnancy

Hestia - any reason why you specifically need a maternity bra? I'm a similar size and haven't had maternity bras in this or my previous pregnancy. You're absolutely fine in wires if they fit properly. I have regular fittings at bravissimo due to growth. I haven't found a good sleep bra though - I'm stuck with soft cup nursing bras, but they're functional at least.

Hi, I'd say the main problems are:
Only available online!
Lack of style, Topshop and H and M are best for not making you look like a frump!
I'm a petite size 8 normally so a lot of maternity clothes drown me until right near the end. I think petite and tall an plus size maternity ranges are a great idea. They also don't wash very well, so black skinny jeans bought near the start of pregnancy are baggy and faded by then end!! Good luck with your course.

Hi,
Thank you for all the responses! They have really helped outline some major issues within the maternity and nursing wear market!
My course is Fashion and Textiles with Buying, Management and Retail.
I'm looking into a business/range plan that could be created to try and help resolve some of the problems within this sector.
Thanks again for all the feedback

I'm 5ft 3 and a size 10-12 and went maternity shopping yesterday. Biggest problem was hardly any shops stock ANY maternity wear. It's all online. Which is a huge pain as I am in between sizes and need to try it on!!

Next, M&S, and New Look all told me they stock NO maternity wear. Found a tiny tiny range in Debenhams and H&M. Nightmare.

I don't need maternity wear yet (10w4 today), but I have been looking at what is available (in case I'm lucky enough to get far enough to need it!)

I have so far found that pretty much anything that is work-appropriate is in black. As I am very fair, black makes me look washed out. I really don't want to look washed out!

I'd like to see more work-appropriate clothing e.g. skirts and smart dresses in navy, with sky blue or plum or similar coloured work-appropriate tops.

I'm 6'2", size 12-14. Apart from 2 pairs of trousers (I don't need black plain trousers), there is nothing for Tall women. And sorry, but 5'8 is not tall!!! Inside legs longer than 35", longer sleeve lengths, longer body lengths etc are needed. Not just 'the next size up' in regular clothes as someone once stupidly and ignorantly suggested.