Maternity coat quandary

[NLBerry]

Hi all I was wondering if there’s any advice in maternity coats? Am due in Jan so need to weather the cold weather - especially as I’ll be outdoors a lot. I also don’t want to spend a lot as I won’t be using it for long.

I like the idea of coats that have the extra panel so can used, once baby is here, round a carrier.

I started off as a size 10 and have only put on a stone so far. I bought a size 12 coat from ASDA that is great except, without the panel, it’s already very snug on my six month belly. And my bump very small at the moment - as everyone seems to joy in telling me. I’m expecting to grow quite a bit in the next while. One of the comments on the coat has agreed it’s snug and they got a bigger size. Do you think the panel will see me through the third trimester? If I have another baby I hear I will likely be bigger and would rather not have to rebuy a coat.

There’s loads on eBay but they are 8-10 or 12-14, often with no extra panel, so not sure which to go for and returns is usually tricky on these sites, plus I will have to pay postage. I’m not going into any shops because of covid so have to buy online.

I also have size 14 coats from my larger days. Wondering if these could possibly see me through.

Any thoughts, advice or links to solves-it-all affordable coats would be gratefully received.

I had the seasalt plant hunter maternity coat.

It is expensive (£150) but I bought it as a waterproof coat to wear long term as I didn’t have one.
I was 10-12 and I bought the 12. It was actually roomy enough that I didn’t use the extra panel until the very end.
Now I don’t have my extra pregnancy warmth it’s roomy enough to wear a jumper under this winter.

p.s I found I was a LOT warmer than usual when I was pregnant, so you might find that one of your bigger coats not zipped up might be fine.

I had my first child end of December and didn't even have a coat. I bought a maternity jumper at some point as an extra layer under my usual coat which I left open.
To be fair I wasn't that much outside the last month of pregnancy, so this worked for the short trips I did.

Second baby is now due for February and I will need to have a look for a coat as due to first child going crackers indoors, I'll be spending a lot more time outside.
Not yet sure what I'll be getting.

Thanks both of you. Oof £150 is a stretch. It’s what I would normally happily spend but covid hasn’t been kind to our income. @Peachi82 do let me know what you pick! I’m not really going indoors due to covid so want to be comfortable on long walks and (hopefully) skulking at the back of outdoor carols. I’m up for spending up for £50. And if there’s a recommendation for trusty coats that have second hand versions on eBay so much the better. Best of luck with your bumps x

I walk a lot as part of my commute, so I bought a maternity parka from gap. I can't remember what it cost but I don't think it was crazy and I wore it everyday for two pregnancies so it worked well for me. I think I could only have gotten away without a maternity coat if I drove everywhere.

Why don't you buy a maternity coat that will see you through spring? I teamed mine (wool maternity coat from Gap) with a wool poncho when it got really cold. It seems wasteful buying several coats in different sizes when a maternity coats that will see you through the whole pregnancy exist

I bought a zipusin panel which can be added to normal coats to make them maternity/baby wearing coats. Meant I had my usual range of coats (warm, waterproof, gilet etc) without having to buy lots of coats. Great for when baby came along too and was in the sling.

I bought mine from Asda too and just had to size up twice to accommodate bump.
I didn't want to spend a fortune on a coat I'd only wear for couple months.

Oooh the panel sounds amazing!!!! I will at those. @roses2 any suggestions of coats I can layer-up under would be good. I don’t have any coats at the moment.

@RainyDayzs yeah the size up might be. It’s a decent, cheap coat

I’m also due in Jan and I’ve been pondering about buying a coat. I am really trying to limit how much maternity specific stuff I buy though as don’t like the idea of something I won’t get real use out of!

I have quite an eccentric style of fashion, so may not be for you, but have you thought about a cape instead of a coat? I’m hoping that with my pregnancy warmth I’ll be able to get through winter wearing my capes instead of a coat. I have a faux faux one, and one that belts up. The main drawback is that they’re not usually waterproof (although you can get some that are!)

I had the same dilemma! Only had a small bump over the winter in my last pregnancy as wasn’t due til May, and didn’t want to splash out this time as I’m due in January and won’t be having any more. I’ve just bought a maternity parka coat from new look. It was £50 but then they had 20% off. I’ve bought my usual size, there’s plenty of room, it’s cosy, and I think will possibly zip up over a carrier for the rest of the winter too. I’ll probably sell it on eBay afterwards.

I just wore a big scarf with an open coat. I was so warm all the time anyway.

I was size 12 with small waist before, bought a big cagoule I never used and managed fine with size 14 coats I already had in the end. eBay must be the way to go if you do need maternity wear.

Hi OP. I had exactly the same issue when I was pregnant a few winters ago. Baby was due end of Jan. I wanted something warm, waterproof and bump covering. I am a size 10. I actually brought an Aldi snowboard jacket, which was £26, in a size 16. It was great, did everything I needed it to. When DD was born I was able to zip it up around her in the sling too. When she was older and went in the pram/buggy it was still great for long lockdown walks. Also it washed really well and dried quite quickly too. Handy if baby is sick/toddler covered in mud! I brought it from the middle aisle racks, around the beginning of November and still have it now. It’s great.

@GemmaRuby

I had the seasalt plant hunter maternity coat.

It is expensive (£150) but I bought it as a waterproof coat to wear long term as I didn’t have one.
I was 10-12 and I bought the 12. It was actually roomy enough that I didn’t use the extra panel until the very end.
Now I don’t have my extra pregnancy warmth it’s roomy enough to wear a jumper under this winter.

I have been looking for a waterproof maternity coat and looked at this one, is it possible to turn panel over for when baby here? It doesn't show it which puts me off. I have school run to do and due in April so I will definitely need a waterproof coat.

Hi @sexesam do you mean putting the panel in upside down so there’s more room at the top for a sling?
I haven’t tried but just looking at the coat I think you probably could. I’ve packed the panel away with my maternity things so can’t try it out and say for certain, sorry.

P.s. the panel is made from thin waterproof material, not padded like the rest of the coat, so maybe it is designed for that.

www.next.co.uk/g25105s1/445406#445406

I bought this one and have just started to wear it now it's turning colder. Highly recommend for the price, nice and warm and good quality. Sizing seems good too... I'm 32 weeks and still has some room it it to grow having bought my normal/prepregnancy size. Removing the panel will allow me to wear it as a normal coat too maybe next winter (if I loose the pregnancy weight 😉)

I'm also due in January and a similar size to OP.
I don't think I'll bother buying a maternity coat now, just wear a coat open with a poncho over it. I haven't been scrimping on maternity clothes generally, I have 6 dresses, a few skirts, a few jeans and tops but think I'll not get much use out of a specific maternity coat, in the early days bringing the baby out I think they'll be wrapped up in the pram.

The one @Colinthecaterpillar35 recommended looks good but only available in size 20 or 22 now.

I got mine from boohoo and new look. But there’s quite a few on eBay.

I live in Glasgow so cold and wet, Christmas baby and a February baby, never had a maternity coat.

Baby 1 used one of DHs fleeces and a big cardi thing.
Baby 2 I was out more I used one of my own I could barely zip it at 8 months but was OK again at 9 months something to do with the way the bump drops in the last few weeks.

If you already have bigger coats I'd wear them and only buy if you really really need to it seems a waste to buy a coat for the sake of a couple of months.

I was due last Christmas and ran very warm! I survived without a maternity coat, just used a Topshop swing style coat and a Zara puffer jacket that I wore open.

Have a look on Vinted, you’ll pick up a bargain that you can then sell on. And it’s more sustainable!

I got a panel style one second hand at my local Fara Kids for £11, was originally from Jojo. Definitely recommend looking for second hand!

I used a regular (i.e. non-maternity) cape in pregnancy. Once DS arrived it also worked over a baby carrier, if I left the top button open for his head to poke out. Mine's this one by Kate Moss for Topshop - it's aeons old but im sure there are similar around still