Maternity Clothes

[Snookers]

Hey Guys!

I'm now 15 weeks and starting to think about maternity clothes. My existing collection of leggings and baggy tshirts has been fine so far and will probably be ok for a few weeks but just looking at maternity clothes. I am on a bit of a budget so don't want to buy loads of maternity clothes!

What would your recommendations be.

I don't really go out much and work from home so don't need work clothes or anything. Loungewear/leggings would be fine me. I am planing on getting a pair of jeans and a few nice tops for when I do go out (although with Covid, thats not going to be much at all).

I am thinking of under bump jeans rather than over bump but what are peoples experience with either ?

Any items of clothing you'd consider essential to get?

(this is the first kid).

Thanksin advance!

I bought a pair of over bump jeans and a dress. I was then given a bunch of maternity clothes from my neighbour who had recently given birth.
I preferred the over bump jeans to the under bump. I didn't have the biggest of bumps I was forever pulling the under bump ones up. The over bump ones still fit post partum with a tummy that is close to my prepregnancy tummy.

I would recommend a pair of jeans, a few pairs of leggings and a dress. I managed with existing t shirts and cardigans. In the final few weeks the dresses were the most comfortable and both fit post partum too

There are a lot of maternity bundles on ebay and other second hand sites. I was looking at these when my neighbour dropped off her old stuff

I’m further along and have been wearing maternity leggings loads. I have one maternity top but my advice is just to get oversized stuff in Primark. In the sale I picked up a couple of loose cut tops in a size up for £5 each.
I got my maternity stuff from Debenhams online (mostly Dorothy Perkins)

I had some great stuff from Matalan. Stretchy leggings and stretch Jersey tunic dresses that I wore CONSTANTLY.

Love leggings and wrap tops from dorothy perkins - if you google you’ll normally find a promo code for online. I’ve found asos horrendous. Check out H&M sale too.

Yes to maternity leggings! I didn't have any last time and now I love them. If you're planning on breastfeeding there are some quite nice maternity and breastfeeding tops you can wear postpartum too. I like jojo maman bébé but buy them in the sale or second hand.

I'd say it's definitely worth getting maternity leggings and a pair of maternity jeans. I lived in mine for months. I preferred over bump, as the poster above said, they seemed to stay up better and were more comfortable both before and after baby. I found there were some good inexpensive maternity wear options from asos, new look and an online shop called purpless (cheap and slightly less good quality, but a good range of tops).

Long tops/dresses with leggings were very practical I found and i still wear them now 2 years on.

I didn't find under the bump jeans that great for fit but you might get on better with them.

This is what I bought:

• 2 pairs of black maternity trousers (cheapish on Amazon)
• Several maternity tops from New Look (2 for £12)
• 2 maternity dresses (from Amazon - Happy Mama brand name)
• A few tops and leggings from JoJo Maman Bebe in the sale

This was enough for the whole pregnancy and didn’t cost too much. The black trousers were especially good as for the first 5 months or so I just wore them with loose non-maternity tops and it worked well.

Ive gotten all my maternity bits from Asda. Only problem is that you have to order online as they don't stock in store. I got leggings, couple of tops and a coat. I didn't want to buy too many tops so just use ones that i don't mind stretching over my bump.

I’ve got some lovely comfy leggings and tops from Jo Jo Mama Bebe, the tops were in the sale and will be great for after baby too.

Also the maternity PJs from next are literally the most comfortable thing ever and I’m so glad I got maternity PJs I wasn’t sure at first but I absolutely love them I’ve got two pairs that have seen me through the hot weather lovely to have something that fits properly to sleeP in.

Also today I picked up a lovely lounge suit from Sainsbury’s - I’m 37 weeks pregnant and just bought a couple of sizes up for the top and it fits and will be lovely for after birth so you don’t always need to buy specific maternity clothes especially for lounge wear.

I bought a couple of button up shirts and a couple of tops that could be undone at the shoulder, found these more economical as I was also wearing them for about 6 months after both kids arrived. I know you mentioned being on a budget - quite often I found that places like jojo had sales on maternity and nursing clothes. I found their stuff lasted forever. I have worn my stuff from them over and between both my pregnancies and for a couple of years after!

If you go to the next website and click on clearance, type in maternity and there’s some really cheap jeans there.

Over bump jeans are much more comfy as you get bigger. My best and most comfy maternity stuff is from Gap

Thank you all!! Will definitely have a good hunt around on those websites. Definitely think baggy and very cheap tshirts will be a must buy at some point! :D

I am 39w and found clothes I can fit into at home, nice stretchy size up leggings that go below the bump, home trousers that are stretchy also below the bump, I've got loads of loose fit dresses and t shirts that still fit, lots of loose jumpers. It was easier in summer and lockdown though. I'd get a pair of maternity jeans if you like wearing jeans, if not a pair of over the bump leggings as they would keep your lower back warm as well. eBay is great for second hand maternity wear. I found it's mostly marketing though, I've got 2 pair of jersy bodycon type of dresses one next nursing/pregnancy, one primark but size up, both look great and fit equally good! Also will be wearing both when the baby is here as they have buttons all the way down for easy access.

T shorts are best when they are stretchy! Also got maternity bra but still fit into my sport bra that I find very comfy. The best is no bra though for me

I've purchased mine from boohoo maternity range and lots of their items are below £10.
I've also purchased baggy shirts which will double up as nursing tops xx

In my opinion over bump jeans are much comfier during pregnancy but not great for afterwards. I didn't bounce back to my pre-maternity self so found that the under bump jeans were better for after baby was born for a while

I am an overbump gal as you can tuck them into your bra to stop them falling down (inevitable) and it’s a bit smoother looking.

As for tops my main issue is all my usual t shirts for too short at the front so I have been living in the longline vests and t shirts from primark and just adding my usual jackets cardigans etc.

I'm 28 weeks now and I've been wearing nor al leggings just rolled down at the top as I prefer under the bump, 1 pair of under the bump jeans and ive got 1 or 2 nice maternity tops. For the rest of of tops I've just gone tonprimark and bought the cheap vests and long sleeved toos and sized up 1 or 2 sizes. I also bought a Jersey material dress sized up 1 size.
primark are selling some amazing pjs atm which look like loungewear so I've been wearing those on my days at home too.
Everyone has different preferences with maternity jeans but I bought some from boohoo, they're over the biml and they are awful, tight on the legs but over the stomach way too big and they fall down constantly

I was adamant I wouldn't need maternity clothes and left it late, I'm 29 weeks and have only just bought some and I wish I'd done it way sooner!! I got a pair of leggins from lovr leggibs, quite expensive at £17 (tall version and that includes delivery) but so soooo worth it. I wear them nearly every day lol! Really thick, over the bump and mega comfy. I then bought a load of chewp tshirts from supermarket or boohoo. They are having an online sale currently and I got 4 maternity outfits for £20!! Highly recommended looking there. Good luck!!

Love leggins even!!

Useful advice from everyone here!

I'm only 13 weeks but my bloat (I know it's not a bump yet - first baby and I'm a "curvy" 5ft9 so don't expect to see anything anytime soon!) hasn't fit in my normal jeans or skirts since 8 weeks even though I've lost 10kg with morning sickness etc and look loads thinner everywhere except my tummy! I finally bought some leggings from Love Leggings after the 12wk scan and they are fab - wish I'd bought them sooner. Not the cheapest but so thick and soft and stretchy. I've worn them every day since I got them and ordered another pair so I can put these in the wash!

I'll be watching this thread to see what people think on under/over jeans. I'm avoiding the idea at the moment - it's so hard to get jeans that fit anyway and I'd prefer to try on but trying to avoid shops atm.

I bought black over bump jeans and got a free pair of under bump denim jeans and much prefer over bump! Under bump just fall down constantly, even at 33w.

I bought a summer dress, a winter dress, a couple of long tops to cover the bump band, a pair of leggings and a long black skirt which I wore a lot in summer.

Other than that, I mostly wear stretchy tops I already own, some wrap dresses I already own etc. I live in my leggings most days - great for WFH.