Can I have a rant about maternity clothes?

[dodi1978]

Urghhh, I have really had enough at 30 weeks pregnant!

1. Most high street stores only sell them online. So you order, they don't fit, but out of desperation you keep some in the end in order to, well, be dressed for work.
   

1. Don't get me started on jeans. I've given up on them this pregnancy. I can't wear skinny jeans when I am not pregnant, so why should I do so now? But that seems to be all you can get. Even those I ordered that were not advertised as 'skinny' didn't fit comfortably (I am a size 16, fair enough, but I can find well fitting non-maternity jeans fairly easily).
   

1. I have precisely three pairs of trousers that fit well (basic black trousers for work, all same make / size). Nice, over-the-bump stretchy bit that is neither too tight nor too loose. Unfortunately, the current weather is a bit too hot for them.
   

1. A few weeks ago, before my holiday, I bought two pairs of linen trousers from Jojo Maman Bebe. Ordered online (of course), and on trying them on they seemed to fit well. I needed some urgently for my holiday, so I kept them despite them being literally miles to long (about 15 cm!!!). Never mind, had them shortened.
   

But, bad luck yet again... once worn for a bit, the over-the-bump stretch gets so loose I literally have to hold them up. When I am sitting down, the linen bit sits right under my bump and is far too tight. I was so uncomfortable at work today I left an hour early because I couldn't bear them any more. Won't be able to wear them for work again when I am sitting down all day.

Arrgh! What do do? I think I'll just have to alternate my two maternity dresses again and look out for a third in the sales... but then my legs sometimes chafe when it's hot and I walk for extended periods of time.

Rant over. Please join me!

[Mymouthgetsmeintrouble]

What about getting some non maternity stretch jersey skirts just go up a size or two the primark ones are only a fiver and would be fine for work , good for the heat and comfortable

[Bluebird126]

There's some good advice here! Randomly my most comfy item is a pair of £14 linen trousers from ASDA of all places! Size 14 with loads of elasticity still going strong at 26 weeks, come right over the bump - and I am huge!!!

[YoungGirlGrowingOld]

Tights are what are currently pissing me off OP! I have tried buying normal tights in a bigger size but they fall down and go all Nora Batty round the ankles. The only maternity tights I can find are 60 denier and black and it's too bloody hot! I have bad thread veins so hate bare legs.

I have bought 5 tent dresses for work and I am not even 5 months yet.

[Seekingmiracles]

The high street is a absolute joke! I'm getting so fed up of the lack of stuff available.
I brought 2 pairs of jeans from topshop, both the same style, one in a 10 for now, one in 12 for when I'm bigger. The 12 is smaller than the 10 and both lose there stretch very quickly so I'm constantly pulling them up. As for there maternity vests?! Who ever designed them has clearly never been pregnant - they're no where near long enough.
And the underwear!! Jesus! Apparently you become pregnant and all sense of wanting to feel nice should go out the window! They're all hideous and remind of the stuff I wore when I was a child going through puberty!
Rant over

[bloomburger]

Isabella Oliver and hush supplied my whole maternity wardrobe. Hush Harem pants were amazingly comfortable and IO leggings too.

I hated most of the high street maternity offerings, I don't wear tents on a day to day basis and I think they make you look far bigger than you are. At least whilst pregnant you've an excuse to flaunt your shape.

[mum2Bomg]

Not sure where you live or what's close but I've found buying larger tops helpful and also H&M has been a godsend! I have also bought a couple of stretchy mid-calf length pencil skirts and hoiked them right up under my bump. They're comfy and they're log enough.

Hope that helps?

[divadee]

I have just bought 3 pairs of long length jeans from vertbaudet. I'm hoping they fit ok and don't have to be returned.

I'm still looking for nice thick long black leggings though. Ones that don't show skin as soon as you bend over!

[Bravada]

Loved my dresses from Seraphine

[carebear841]

I am so done with maternity wear too!!! I haven't looked nice in the maternity bits I bought since about 32 weeks. I have ended up going to primark to get cheap cotton dresses in 3 sizes too big and cropped leggings to wear. think it's worse because I'm so short at 5 foot! I haven't even started to think about nursing wear yet (probably should as 37 weeks preggers now) but equally hate the look of it!

[divadee]

Just to let you ladies now. Jojo maman Bebe have a good sale on at the moment. They are normally expensive but some really good prices at the moment.

[YoungGirlGrowingOld]

Seraphine also has a good sale on it seems! just bought 5 new dresses

[Noodledoodledoo]

George has been best for me. Gave up on trousers being comfy ages ago. Have some 3/4 length leggings I wear under skirts/dresses to prevent rubbing as am a size 20.

Two pairs of jeans do nothing but fall down continually.

Asos were also good.

Online thing doesn't bother me as I do most of my clothes shopping online. Also got a few good bargains from eBay.

Am selling on most of my stuff on ebay as we speak 40 weeks today so work stuff listed already!

[Queenofthebrae]

I thought because I live in a smallish city that was the reason there were no maternity clothes in shops here, good to know I'm not alone. I'm currently 32 weeks, normal size 16 with but currently with a massive bump! Luckily I work in an office where they are being tremendously flexible with what I wear at the moment. I'm currently living in black / white maxi dresses, long stretchy black skirt from Primark, and (unfortunately) leggings. George at ASDA have some nice loose summer clothes in their sale. I've bought very little actual maternity clothes for the very same reason OP, too much to-ing and fro-ing getting stuff online and returning it, instead have reverted to loose or stretchy regular clothes.

[KitKat1985]

Oh I'm so with you OP. Nearly 22 weeks here and have quite a large bump already (stomach muscles have failed miserably since having DD). Not many shops seem to sell maternity clothes in-store which is annoying as I like to try stuff on, and getting stuff that is suitable for work is a bloody nightmare. All I've got so far is 3 pairs of black trousers (that to be honest are too hot in this weather) and a couple of old smart-ish tops from last pregnancy. Can't seem to find any maternity shirts or smart tops in the shops. Just floaty dresses and casual tops. Apparently the retailers all believe that we give up work the second we conceive?!?

[ThinkPinkStink]

I am with you (sista!) - I'm 29 weeks, and I HATE over the bump jeans, and under the bloody bump jeans...

With over-bump ones the weird low-waist band sits uncomfortably on the hips, and the pull-up stretchy bit is too hot and falls down and the cut is basically frumperoodles... whilst under bump jeans sit directly on my bladder (as if I don't need to pee all the time any way).

I'm currently actually enjoying wearing:

• Overbump black leggings from M&S and Debenhams
  
• Flat black leather sandals: www.clarks.co.uk/p/26117526
  
• Black maternity vests (New Look, come-up large)
  
• Black beach-cover-ups (light weight cotton, black): debenhams.scene7.com/is/image/Debenhams/064020648260?wid=1250&hei=1250&qlt=95 and www.newlook.com/shop/womens/tops/black-lace-panel-kaftan_382326209?extcam=UK_PPC_PLA_3823268_CR_100732147954_DV_c_PPI_62820857599&tmcampid=155&tmad=c&tmplaceref=UK_PPC_PLA_3823268_CR_100732147954_DV_c_PPI_62820857599&gclid=CJyrnpyDh84CFVIaGwodVpEC5g
  
• Massive celeb style sunglasses
  
• Massive fabric tote bags (with hardly anything in them because I'm too frocking tired to carry things)
  
• Sweat
  

Other things that I rate:

• Maternity tights - massive godsend, might wear these for the rest of my life (M&S ones are really good quality, Boots are fine)
  
• Oversized stretchy/jersey dresses (usually from M&S) not maternity wear, just a couple of sizes bigger than normal
  

I might need to buy some maternity knickers next - Jeepers.

[divadee]

One thing that might help ladies with the problem of vest tops being too short. Long tall Sally sell long length vest tops and their normal vest tops are long anyway as they are designed for taller people. That might help some of you out!

[SaraC8]

I'm 28 weeks, 5'3 and a size 16ish (not put any weight on at all but just have changed shape lol), I'm a hairdresser and at work most of the time but have lived so far in stretchy high waisted skinnies from matalan in a size 18, I now fold them down and use a hair bobble on the waist even though they are still fitting, the button pops out too much if I wear them up haha. Using my pre pregnancy tops which were sort of baggy and floaty. Today I've got on leggings and a black cotton non maternity sundress from matalan. I bought some size 18 over bump skinnies from Asos (I've had normal 16's before and were tiny so ordered a size up) and they're bloody massive. Still too big for me now So I've given up too

[Farfromtheusual]

I have literally been living in asda George leggings, and a couple of pairs of wide leg stretchy trousers, one pair from asda, one from peacocks and the other from h&m. I was wearing h&m skinny trousers until I bent over one day and split them up the crotch (I also get leg chafe) 😂.. If you're wearing dresses, I've found a pair of shorts underneath is good to help with chafe, like leggings type fit/material but shorts.

[JeNeRegretteRien]

//www.vertbaudet.com do a good range of jeans and trousers in different cuts and lengths and have a sale on at the moment. I had a great pair of over bump jeans, but their under bump ones didn't work for me. They also have ones where you can change the band, but it's attached with a zip, which I found a bit weird.

[FloweryTwat]

ASOS leggings are great, also I wore some yoga type wide leg trousers from mothercare - but this was a couple of years ago now.

[Pixie2015]

For positivity I went to next outlet and the didn't have any maternity out one of the assistants took my size and bought me back a pile of cheap dresses and skirts at £3 -5 pound so took them all and that's me happy - topped up in the frugi sale x

[BerylMeeps]

Matalan tshirts one size up, George @asda mat jeansx2, leggings X1, and primark/matalan adjustable strap vests. My bump even at 38w is luckily still quite self contained and I fit into my baggy/drapery pre preg clothes (not so baggy now!) but the under bump stuff hurts 😢

[Bluebird126]

divadee I'm as tall as you (re your previous post) and have found M&S prego leggings are a great length and good quality, far better than Mothercare.

[divadee]

Thanks for that bluebird. I looked at those earlier and it was a toss up between those or the George at asda ones.

[DesignedForLife]

I'm 36 weeks and long given up on maternity clothes, and am living in size up/two size up regular maxi dresses that have a bit of give. Means I can buy a couple of cheap one rather that shell out £45+ per dress for things I'll only wear for a few months.