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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Maternity wear buying- good or bad experience?

41 replies

Clareyfairy24 · 22/10/2015 09:35

Has anyone else found maternity wear shopping hard work? H&M shoved in children swear section- note...I am not a child!

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LBOCS2 · 22/10/2015 09:48

I've found it hard in real life, so instead I just bought a load of bits from H&M and JoJo online and I'll send back anything I hate.

3timesascrazy · 22/10/2015 09:56

I've found it an absolute nightmare! this is dc3 but I swear it wasn't this hard with the other 2 - the eldest being only 2.5 Confused
On the high street it is practically impossible, the very small options I have found are very plain and work wear like. Online obviously has more of a selection but I like to try things on and CBA with buying and sending it all back

Brindler · 22/10/2015 10:02

Ugh also driving me mad. This will be my last pregnancy so I don't want to spend out loads (am also on a rather tight budget). Last pregnancy was through summer so most of my old mat wear is totally inappropriate! Have been obsessively ebaying but everything seems to be snapped up on there! At least I know where to sell my stuff anyway!

JaniceJoplin · 22/10/2015 10:26

It's a nightmare.

The only shop that sells near me ( and I live in a destination shopping town) is JoJo. They don't even sell normal vest tops - the only ones they sell have an incorporated bra for when you want to not wear one (as if with my norks!). Their leggings are all made for people over 5ft 6 - they would cover my feet and it's just all a bit too mumsy, although the quality is good.

I bought vest tops from New Look online. Dreadful. They had no spring to them whatsoever, large, shapeless and the white was see-through. They went straight back and because returns are not free, the 'trying on' experience cost me £5 :(

I wanted to order from Gap, which is now only available online. I threw my toys out of the pram at this point, as I had a £70 credit voucher with Gap, but they would not let me use it online, or send to a store and pay then, so I told them to stuff their maternity wear.

I bought a dress from Asos, which was horrid. Nasty, cheap material and a neckline so high that I looked like I was smuggling balloons. It went straight back, luckily free returns with them.

I eventually ordered 3 maternity vests from Next. They were not bad, but looked nothing like the website. They were ribbed cotton and not smooth. But heck, by this point I was getting desperate so I kept them.

I'm 6 months and that is all I have bought.

By some miracle, my normal jeans are still fitting under my bump and I may just buy those extender things to make them bigger if I need to. I have extender clips for bras left over from last pregnancy.

I have a few regular tops which are longer than normal which are working out ok. Plus a few dresses that are just bulging with the fabric to fit the bump (I am aware I am probably ruining them...). I have found shirt dresses work well and tunic style dresses as long as they are cotton / a bit stretchy. Cardigans are fine as long as you don't desire to button them all the way down.

But overall, yes, a flipping disaster. I can't wait until I can shop like a normal human again...

BeverlyGoldberg · 22/10/2015 10:36

I bought a cape which saved my life this time last year. Nice and chic, keeps you warm and flatters your bump

Mummatron3000 · 22/10/2015 10:41

It was impossible to buy any maternity clothes in an actual shop where I live. All done online. Which involved ordering lots & having to return lots too. I found next to be best - lovely stretchy wrap dresses.
But trying to find a wedding outfit was bloody awful why am I always pregnant when I'm invited to weddings?

LBOCS2 · 22/10/2015 10:43

Janice, try H&M for vest tops - they've always been the best IME.

cth1982 · 22/10/2015 11:49

I actually gave up on maternity clothes and opted to buy normal ones in a much bigger size than normal.

Only maternity items I ended up with are M&S Bras and Over the Bump Jeans (total godsend).

Brummiegirl15 · 22/10/2015 12:10

I really struggled at first and absolutely hated it. Felt like I looked scruffy and a real frump.

Was sick of going into shops and seeing literally 4 rails and that was it.

I don't want a t-shirt that says "hands off the bump" - I want to look nice and professional.

In the end I bought stuff from JoJo and Seraphine online, plus and this is no help to you, I've just been on hols to the States and maternity shopping was a dream!! Big stores with racks full of stuff. So stocked up there

I've probably definitely spent a bit, but I was sick of being miserable

Jelly101 · 22/10/2015 12:28

I thought it was a nightmare tbh. I just bought a pair of leggings and jeans in the next size up and a few baggy tops. All the maternity stuff out there is really dull IMO. I could barely find anything I liked.

Stepawayfromthezebras · 22/10/2015 12:35

I've only had any luck with online shopping. The maternity range in stores is rubbish - just thin jersey vests and a few pairs of ripped at the knees skinny jeans.

Online I've bought maternity jeans from Next and ASOS, some vests from GAP and then some tops from eBay - I've had luck with non-maternity empire line tops from there and I bought a fab maternity Fair Isle tunic-y top for the grand total of £2 Smile

waxweasel · 22/10/2015 12:38

Vertbaudet is the place for jeans. Other than that, I'm struggling. Last time (2.5-3 years ago), my mum bought me a load of dresses and tops for Xmas so I'm rewearing them. I think they were mainly Mothercare, New Look and Mamas and Papas but I've not been able to find anything remotely as nice this time.

CarShare · 22/10/2015 14:21

I like a few things I've bought:
Topshop jeans in Leigh style- they're not just for skinnies which I was relieved about
A short denim skirt in the sale at Seraphine
H&M three quarter length sleeve round neck tops and a sweater with a studded star pattern on it
M&S over bump PJ bottoms
Boots maternity tights (although the thin ones fall apart very quickly)
Long (non maternity) cardi's from Zara and Fatface to streamline everything

Agree that it's generally hard work and 80% of stuff ordered has been returned!

Graciescotland · 22/10/2015 14:26

Nightmare; gap maternity t's were good though and helped layer up my previous summer maternity clothes. Vneck ones were stretchy enough to hoik down for bf too.

Autumn2014 · 22/10/2015 14:55

I've just had a look on the Dorothy perkins website and see that they have 25% off all clothes including maternity wear. Just thought I'd mention it in this post.

KatharinaRosalie · 22/10/2015 16:43

I got a few really nice work things from Esprit maternity- according to most retailers, all women quit work the minute they start showing and can live only in leggings and tunics from then on.

LBOCS2 · 22/10/2015 18:13

I didn't know Dorothy Perkins did maternity wear!

TaliZorah · 22/10/2015 19:12

Why not just buy normal clothes in a bigger size? I didn't see the point spending money on something I'd only use for a couple of months so just borrowed some larger clothes. Much easier.

Icklepickle101 · 22/10/2015 19:32

Gap online, my favourite jeans ever!! Have already promised them to my boss when I'm done (she's not pregnant/planning children!!!!)

waxweasel · 22/10/2015 20:19

Because jeans/trousers in a larger size just wouldn't fit properly. And for work you need things that are vaguely tailored and smart looking, not just massive. I have bought a few floaty drapey tops that aren't maternity, but they'll only work up to about 7 months - then the bump gets so big it always ends up lifting them. I hate having the bottom of my tummy hanging out!

TaliZorah · 22/10/2015 20:57

I had a tiny bump (measured 31 weeks at 38) which may be why it worked for me! I think I bought one maternity item and that was it. It just seems like such a waste because they're expensive!

bringthethunda · 22/10/2015 21:00

I was in h and m today and nearly got the rage on. Looking for jeans to wear tucked into knee high boots. I am usually a size 14 so I went for the size 18.... Couldn't even get them past my feckin calves. I am not that chunky yet!!! I hate jeans shopping anyway but it's worse when you're feeling a bit lumpy anyway.

NoArmaniNoPunani · 22/10/2015 21:08

I've found cheap stuff from eBay has been the best

ThursdayLastWeek · 22/10/2015 21:10

eBay eBay eBay - it's how I'm surviving this pregnancy

KatharinaRosalie · 22/10/2015 22:05

yes they're expensive and as for tops, I did mostly buy non-maternity ones, just roomier cuts and designs that worked well all the way. But trousers/skirts 2 sizes bigger to fit the bump would have looked ridiculous when the rest of me stayed the same size

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