Maternity Clothes Rant 😭😭😭

[WaitingTillJuly17]

I'm 14 weeks and it's come to that time when my clothes are starting to get a bit uncomfortable. I decided to try Mothercare to get some jeans and one or two bits for work to start off with but everything in there was sooooo frumpy looking! I tried on some overbump jeans but I felt exposed as the waistband is so low that it barely half covers my vagina, is that normal?! I then tried on a dress but it was so unflattering and already had a split down the seam which made me question the quality!

A part of me resents even having to shell out on a whole new wardrobe especially as I normally buy clothes in the sales so I can get good quality clothing at more reasonable prices (think coast, monsoon, house of fraser etc) but those clothes last a long time, not for the 10 months or so that I intend to be in maternity clothes so it seems unreasonable to pay over the odds for them!

Can anyone tell me where to get a good pair of jeans that will cover my modesty and some modern outfits, pleeeeeeeease!

I didn't buy maternity jeans as I spent most of my pregnancy kneeling by the toilet, and they would have been uncomfortable but I did get an amazing jersey midi skirt from missguided for a tenner that I wore to death, not technically maternity but stretchy enough to last the entire pregnancy in one size up from my pre preg size. Double layered fabric so not see through either, and they do them in loads of colours, and you can wear over or under bump.

For outfit inspiration have a look at nine in the mirror, it has high end clothes that work as maternity wear, split into sections for each trimester. I just used it to see what sort of outfits would work

I gave up on half presentable trousers and wore leggings and tunic tops for casual and skater dresses (non maternity) for smart. Had 1 maternity dress and 1 top but generally found maternity stuff a pain.

Maternity tights sucked - I teamed dresses with H&M maternity leggings (eventually cut down to shorts to prevent chub rub as summer arrived) and knee high boots (hiding supportive insoles) or sandals in shorts season.

I run a maternity clothes buy/sell group in Facebook, I agree it's ridiculous to spend loads on clothes that you'll only wear for a short amount of time.

I've got a pair of joni(jonie?) Jeans which I believe are topshop? And a pair from h&m, first ones are under bump and the latter are over, I prefer the underbump personally! They're both like skinny jeans as I found the 'mum style' ones fit really weirdly! For tops just go for your next size up, asda are good quality and saves you forking out ridiculous prices for maternity clothes! (I'm 33 weeks and still managing with normal tops in bigger sizes)

I found it very hard to find nice maternity clothes in any of the shops people usually recommend from high st. Got some regular dresses in bigger sizes from M&S that lasted until third trimester. My best buys were from Next online (the shops here had little stock) and I got two nice dresses in Dorothy Perkins that got loads of compliments. Primarily though I wore dresses either from the more expensive sites like Seraphine or I wore leggings with vest top / cami dresses with kimonos / long cardigans. That was my uniform and I have loads of kimono type tops now that I can still wear. Asos have a midi cami dress that you can put loads of things over, I bought 4 black ones!

Asos and boohoo I absolutly love for all maternity. This dress was a bargain £8 from asos x

I didn't really buy maternity clothes. I was like you OP, in that I resented paying for a whole new wardrobe just for a few months' wear.

I went to H&M and bought some stretchy jersey dresses a couple of sizes bigger than I usually would, a few floaty tops (again bigger sizes) and I got some decent leggings from River Island.

I go on eBay. I don't have a massive clothes budget and don't want to spend a lot on clothes I'll only be wearing for a few months.

I tend to find styles I like on Pinterest and then look for the clothes I'd need on eBay. Brands that I've found to be good are:
H&M
New look
Asos
Next (even though I'd never shop there normally)

Or borrow? I have away a load of maternity clothing as I sadly knew I wouldn't need them again. I was very happy to do so though!

Fat face tunic tops

Dorothy Perkins for jeans, black skinnys etc. Next for more more dressy work ones.

I like being comfy when pregnant - last time I was told I needed business dress for a course at 8 months pregnant, (usually casual dress in our office) and I snarled at my bosses, bosses boss that I'd wear what fit and he would be lucky I was there. He backed away slowly from the crazy pregnant lady saying I could wear what I wanted

I've just bought 2 hoodies, 2 long sleeve tops, two short sleeve tops and a pack of 3 bump bands from Asda. Two short sleeve tops and two long sleeve tops from peacocks, and two pairs of red herring jogging bottoms from Debenhams to supplement my stuff from DC1's pregnancy.

I had the joggers last time and they weren't at all like a jogger - really thick material - I wore a hole in one pair last time but they'll be ok for around the house.

Debenhams have money off and peacocks have delivery on offer for 99p.

Im 12 weeks Thursday and gone from a 14 to 16 already got some jeggings from Asda with an elastic waist band for now. And living in leggings the rest of the time .

I tried buying bigger at first but found it fitted bump and hung everywhere else so caved and got maternity wear!

I found H&M the best for jeans, have a couple of pairs that I've got loads of wear out of. H&M is also good for casual tops etc.

Seraphine has some nice things, though expensive. I got a few nice knitted dresses and jumpers from there, and I find I just wear the same things a lot when I'm pregnant, so I don't feel so bad spending a bit more. I'll probably pass them on to friends when I'm finished with them.

JoJo is quite good, as is Asos. I've also stumbled across some nice things randomly, like some lovely maternity swimwear in Tesco.

Top shop! Revelation to me as a 40 year old pregnant Mum. But great.

H&M £3.50!

The dress I shared is just a "mama" stretchy dress. It's SO soft and comfy.

They also had a shirt dress thing which was £15 I think. It's lovely to wear.

I got a few nice things from seraphine and Isabella Oliver and the rest from H&M and asos who do multi packs and cheap deals

I bought some over the bump skinny jeans from H&M at around 16 weeks and they are still going strong at 31 so far. They are a size larger than I usually take, don't know if this is a maternity thing or a H&M thing though as I don't have any other jeans from there.

I've also bought some dresses and a tube skirt at H&M that I'm happy with. I also found Mothercare very frumpy. I found a couple of tshirts in basic colours but wasn't tempted by anything else.

Otherwise I have bought a few nice things from Topshop (tops, leggings and swimwear) and a decent amount of stuff from ebay which has included mainly H&M, Topshop and New Look. I've bought myself a jacket and coat from eBay for Autumn/Winter and saved myself a fortune.

I've also been wearing a few tops and dresses from Fat Face that aren't maternity wear, but are cut quite well to go over a bump.

Great suggestions thanks everyone! I've ordered a couple of pairs of New Look jeans so will see what they're like. The bump band sounds interesting, I might look into those! Don't want to go overboard just yet but I've looked at all of the sites you've mentioned and found some clothes I like which is a relief!

Unfortunately there isn't anyone to borrow from, I'm the first in my friend group to take the plunge so I guess I'll be the one passing on the clothes!

Thanks again!

I get all mine on email except a new pair of jeans. Get over the bump jeans rather than under the bump. At 14 weeks you just feel fat. As time goes on and you a proper obvious bump, mat clothes look better. Try and wait a bit long. Maybe just get some loose dresses and leggings for now.

Asos! Tho if you're planning on having more than one kid, doesn't hurt to spend a bit of money.

I bought a few things from Isabella Oliver the first time around and got a lot of wear out of them (choose stuff you can breastfeed in).

Def go for the bump bands. So so useful.

YY to using a hairband on your normal jeans for now and an extra long vest to cover. I resented buying maternity clothes for just a few months too, but you may find that you continue to wear them for a couple of months postpartum too if that helps you justify any new purchases!