Winter coats, is it worth buying maternity one?

[Titchypanda]

Just wondering if other mums and mum's to be have bothered with maternity coats. Baby due in January and I can just about fit into my normal winter coat but not for much longer. Should I look at getting a bump friendly one or just buy one a few sizes bigger to accommodate bump as it grows?

I just returned the Next maternity padded jacket with panel. It was utterly shapeless on and the collar was massively wide. I looked like the Michelin man

Was just looking at the Zip Us In panel on Amazon (I think someone mentioned it earlier in this thread). How did it fit/ look on your normal jacket?

YY Redkite, it's usually quite warm in my office so I'm hoping to get away with non-maternity cardigans (which I obviously won't do up) plus a coat for the journey. I think a coat is actually good value if you wear it most days over the winter.

I didn't with my first as I was due in October, so started to get big in the summer. And I worked in an office anyway so it was just walk to tube, walk to office, and back again.

With my second due in March, I was a cheapskate and just bought a cheap parka that was massive. I looked awful as it had no shape and was supposed to hang flatteringly down, not stretched around a Weeble. Plus my needs second time around were very different - I was out all day trudging about with a toddler. March was very cold when she was born and so was April, so would have appreciated a nice coat.

My third and last is due end of March/ April and I am splashing out on a proper maternity coat this time! Trudging round the park with pre schooler and toddler, early morning walks to pre school and gymnastics and swimming etc.

If you're pregnant the majority of the winter months, and/ or you spend a lot of time outside, it's very, very, very nice to have one. If it's your first and you're due in Jan/ Feb or sooner, I wouldn't bother.

But if it's your first baby and you're planning to have more, you could get more use out of the coat.

And it's cold from November to February so still worth getting a coat if you're due in Jan or Feb!

True ^ but if it's your first, I was thinking more about usage in terms of you're just going to work driving or getting public transport. With my toddler, and while pregnant, I am out five plus hours a day. Definitely needed. So if you're undecided/ don't have the money, you could definitely get away with making do first time around.

Ah i see your point Red. I guess it depends on the person - some people might do a lot of walking even if they don't have a young child, some people with a young child might not.