Maternity clothes help please!

[xRRx]

Hi ladies.

I'm nearing the end of my first trimester and have been looking at some sales on maternity clothes so hoping to buy a few bits.

This is my first pregnancy so not sure how and when I'm going to grow! And I know this will vary so much from one person to another.

I would like to know what your general experience was with sizing and any recommendations for where you bought your basics like leggings/tights/T-shirt's/casual dresses/jeans.

Did you need to size up or did you get your regular size in maternity versions?

Thanks ladies!

Usually regular size fits. I got a few long tops and jumpers from new look and h&m. Leggings from asos. One pair of jeans from h&m but find them less comfy as I get bigger.
You might need a coat depending on the time of year you are due.
I wouldn't spend too much, you'll be finished with them before you know it.
Boohoo leggings and jeans are crap BTW.

Hi, congrats on the pregnancy. It's also my first, I'm 33 weeks but don't have a massive bump. I have a pair of super skinny maternity jeans from H&M (over the bump stretchy band they're in my usual clothes size and I've been living in them since about week 24) and I just got some maternity leggings from Love Leggings (in my usual size but I think if I had a bigger bump I'd need to size up one, they do recommend going up a size on their website). Otherwise I've been wearing dresses with leggings or normal tops/baggy jumpers with my jeans. I did just get 2 maternity shirts and a coat in the newlook sale which are light and really comfy, they're in my usual size too and fit fine with room to grow!

@Crazybirdlady @LemonRizzle
Thank you that's all really helpful!
Congrats to you both too 😊

Congrats on your pregnancy! I wore my normal RI leggings but had to size up eventually.
I got most of my maternity tops / shirts / dresses from New Look and jeans from Next (I'm also petite leg and they fit like a glove!)
Had a few bits from H&M. I literally woke up the morning I got to 14 weeks and couldn't fasten my jeans. It was like I'd just popped overnight! I was away from home at the time and had to use a hair bauble to extend my normal jeans. Good luck! X

Sorry, should have added that I stuck to my normal size!

I’d size up just one size bigger for a bit of room but if it’s maternity clothing it’ll be nice and stretchy at the waist already. Boohoo online has some decent things with sale prices. A few t shirts, tops and bottoms should see you through X

I only ever bought my original size, usually that fits.
I bought a number of non-maternity things that I still wear now, empire line dresses etc. So you might want to start in the non-pregnancy section.

@auldmaw
I will remember that hair band trick!

I find it hard to buy comfy jeans in my normal size so let's see how it goes in maternity! I'm tall and slim but have wide hips!

I have heard you just "pop", it sounds insane!

Thank you so much for replying x

@Worriesome thanks! Reassuring to hear you didn't go crazy with a new wardrobe, and that you just needed a few of each thing.

@xRRx - definitely don’t get a whole new wardrobe, just essential pieces because it adds up and you won’t get much use of them after baby is born.

T shirts you can just get oversized ones or even from men’s section as they are larger anyway. As long as they are roomy. The bottoms you want to get maternity ones so you have that nice stretch on the waist x

@MySocalledLoaf thank you! I have a few looser fit items/elasticated bottoms already that hopefully will see me through. Who doesn't love an elasticated waistband!

I have a close family wedding at 20 weeks too so will be on the hunt for a lovely dress which will be a fun purchase I'm willing to splurge slightly more on and hoping it'll get a few more wears before the baby arrives!

@Worriesome good tip with mens stuff... DH might have to share his T-shirt's 😂

If you're tall you might be lucky enough but at 5"2 I was huge by 6-7mos and couldn't have got away with non-maternity. Very much depends on your shape. If you're like me it's better to get half decent quality stuff if you can because it's going to be on a constant wear-wash-wear cycle for six months, including post partum.

I would stay away from boohoo tbh, I got a few bits from there when pregnant with DD and they really didn't wear well so went in the bin rather than stashed for the next pregnancy. I got most of my tops from gap's maternity range though; they were marginally dearer (constant discount codes online) but better quality and will do me again this time around.

Also look at secondhand- if you type in "Seraphine size 12" or "Isabella Oliver size 14" or whatever into eBay you'll get some real bargains, especially for the wedding guest dress.

I recommend Happy Mama.

www.happymama.co.uk/maternity-clothes/maternity-dresses.html

The quality is fine - easily lasted me a pregnancy and a bit afterwards.

I have just had basics from new look / ASOS
Jeans I had both types under the bump to start off with then over the bump when ur bigger. Boohoo is cheap but need to be selective as some stuff is shite, but I found pj's good from there also Matalan and just a size bigger than normal. I also just got joggers in a size bigger than normal

Most things go for your normal size in maternity. You can get bump bands to make stretchy normal tops okay to wear a bit longer. I had to use those and maternity tops at the back end of my twin pregnancy because I was huge.
I have gone up a size in my maternity leggings this time as I have big babies so they will be comfier later on. Been wearing them since the 1st bloat at 8wk and they're a bit baggy still but don't fall down at 20+5. Mine have all been from new look this time. Still managing to wear my normal PJ's though the tops are starting to ride up now.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. It really depends on how big you get and your bump shape, what feels comfy to you and what style u like to wear.

Also it will change at different times of your pregnancy. I Liked h and m maternity the best. They are also doing free delivery and returns online at the moment with 100 days to return so useful to try things on, which I think is the only way to know really though I know there’s a real need to feel prepared.

I like the H&M over bump jeans that had a stretchy jersey on the tummy and held up when I wasn’t too big but stretched when I grew. I tried the ASOS ones but they were miles too big for my bump.I wore this with primark black long sleeve tops and a couple of jackets that I could wear open both in my own size.

Best of luck with it, with a bit of trial and error u will find what works for you!

Im 27 weeks - i struggled to find bits i liked as im also tall. I got 4 pairs maternity leggings from M&S, which came in long length. Then a couple of nice tunics from Seasalt, which i rotate with some roomy non-maternity wear (empire line!). For jeans, i tried so many pairs and in the end found a great straight leg pair in Seraphine - not as dark as i would like, but the only pair i could find that fit me in the leg. Then ive just bought a couple of lighter dresses ready for summer from H&M Mama range. Hoping that will see me through!

I bought as little as I could get away with and I wore a lot of my normal clothes right the way through pregnancy or at least until the third trimester. Things like loose tops, skirts with elasticated waists, leggings, tights, PJs, cardies and jackets (just didn't fasten them) etc. Didn't buy much at all and focused on basics that would all go together easily. Most my bits were from Dorothy Perkins, H&M, and Boohoo. Cheap and cheerful. The only thing I really invested in was bras as that was so important for comfort, I'd recommend regular fittings, at Bravissimo if you're DD+. I'm pregnant again and I am going to buy a couple of pairs of shorts as for some reason I didn't have any last time despite it being a summer baby, I think I got away with wearing skirts instead but now with a toddler those skirts wouldn't be practical so need some shorts.

Re: over or under bump bottoms, I had a pair of underbump jeans and underbump leggings which never fit me properly that I got rid of. Underbump jeans, leggings and tights are much more comfy.

Get your regular size

You don't need loads, just some basica you know you'll wear. For me that was a couple of pairs of jeans, some leggings, quite a few t shirts and a few jumpers. Get some bras too. I found my usual knickers were fine. I'm in my second pregnancy now and reusing most of my maternity clothes except a couple of bits I got got recently.

I like gap maternity clothes, h&m is good for jeans and I recently got some good quality bits from Sainsburys for a good price

Thank you all lovely ladies! Everyone's been so helpful!

@Ellpellwood

I recommend Happy Mama.

www.happymama.co.uk/maternity-clothes/maternity-dresses.html

The quality is fine - easily lasted me a pregnancy and a bit afterwards.

This website looks good!

I can recommend ‘Love Leggings’ maternity leggings. I’m tall too and they have been much more comfortable than maternity jeans or trousers. I’ve found that because I’m tall my bump is not as big as shorter women as there is more room in my torso and so less need for it to stick out, so maternity jeans need holding up or they fall down! Leggings are comfy too when in third trimester and hips and other parts of your skeleton begin to ache. Comfort is so important. Go with your pre pregnant size at first. I’ve gone up a size now that I’m half way through the third trimester - just for added comfort.

I’m tall too and just had my first baby.
Asos do tall maternity leggings which I loveddddd! I still wear them now as they’re super comfy and just look like normal high waisted leggings. I also got some longer jeans in maternity from new look.
Aside from that I just got some regular baggy style T-shirt’s in a size up and didn’t have to buy anything else. They’ve come in handy now too as I’m still a little bit off fitting in my pre-preggo stuff!
Don’t buy anything until you have to as I nearly re-did my whole wardrobe with maternity stuff but thank god I didn’t as it would have been a waste!
Congrats ☺️

Personally I wouldn’t just buy normal clothes a size bigger. I did that first time and they just made me feel fat and frumpy! Total waste of money. H&M are good, so is Gap. I didn’t love Jojo stuff but seraphine does nice things that have lasted into my second pregnancy I’ve bought a few nice things. I don’t agree to only but a few things because you won’t wear it for long. You don’t want to spend 6 months feeling rubbish and you’ll almost certainly wear some mat clothes for at least a month after giving birth. Good luck!