Maternity Clothes

[PrePG]

Hi all:

I'm 9 weeks pregnant and my trousers are just starting to feel tight. We're going to be in New York next week and I wonder if it's too early to buy a few maternity items?

When did you start? When your normal clothes starting getting tight, did you just buy bigger sized normal clothes or did you make the leap into maternity clothes? No one knows at work yet, so I'd probably have to refrain from wearing them until I tell (at the 12 week mark) anyway!

buy matwear in NY if it;s cheap, but stick to next-size trous and long tops in the meantime - I didn't need matwear till 20wks, and you'll need them post-birth too

normal clothes for now in larger sizes
maternity clothes are cut a bit funny

Didn't need maternity clothes until 20 odd weeks. Work trousers were tight from about 13 so I just bought a bump band to see me through several weeks.

Buy it if it is cheap enough and have a fab time!

I've not bought that much - it just didn't seem necessary for such a short space of time. I have smarter trousers with cardies and vests for work and when home, it's joggers or jeans (jeans is a whole other thread!)

do bump bands work?

can you have your unbuttoned jeans beneath them

use a hairband between the button and the buttonhole - you will find a lot of maternity clothes too big at mo.

but if you find something nice in NY

thanks everyone! I think I might just pick up a few things while I'm there - although my mother can send stuff over or even bring me somethign when she comes to visit in May, I actually won't be there again until probably June, when I'll be 25 weeks or so. I think I might just get a few basics when I can actually see them in person - really the price differnce is amazing and I think even DH could be convinced

thanks!

Old Navy & Gap have great maternity clothes and so does Motherhood Maternity and they're all pretty cheap (especially compared to here!) Just get everything in a size bigger than you usually wear, even if it seems massive. I did a US shopping trip last time when I was 12 weeks and nothing from that trip fit by the time I was 34 weeks! If they're a good price, get some under the bump trousers that fit now as they're great for the transitional period when your old trousers don't fit but maternity stuff is too big.

Have fun! I'd look at pushchairs too, cheaper in the US and a bigger selection. I am so jealous of anyone who has a chance to go to Buy Buy Baby!

Joy hah! I used to love to go in there when I lived in NY - I would use any excuse!

The problem is DH will be with me on this visit and seeing as we haven't had our scan yet (although had two previous for cramping and subsequent follow up at 5 and then 7 weeks and all was fine) he's a bit apprehensive. As am I actually, but I could probably get over it for a bit of shopping Think I might have to convince him that it might be worth it to have a bit of a reccie seeing as we'll be there anyway. Just need to stop my mom from her buying binges!!!

Why would you need to stop your mom from her buying binges?

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ooh knickers

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next size up clothes will just look baggy round your bum & thighs. you can get early pregnancy stuff in mothercare but i have just bought next maternity jeans that are SOOOO comfortable and its a relief to not have anything on my bump.(i'm about 13weeks). hth

Buy Buy Baby in NY is great! It puts mothercare to shame.

I was pretty disappointed with maternity clothes in NY when I went at the end of January. I found the rails really crammed and hard to shop. However, I did pick up some good basics in Gap/Old Navy and did get a really good jacket in Mimi Maternity.

Bump bands def work, in conjuction with the hairband thing - I got a cheapy one from topshop for a fiver and managed to get away with regular trousers/jeans till about 22/23 weeks.

I wouldn't - too early I'd say. The hair band thing is a great tip. First time round I wasn't in maternity wear until 19 weeks, just my "fat jeans" until then! Maternity wear is designed for well into your second trimester and onward so it will hang off you now I think. Better to wait (you can get maternity Gap in High St Ken but looks like tents to me - I love Isabella Oliver!) and false economy to buy stuff now that won't fit!

I bought a few bits in the next size up at about that stage (during 1st pregnancy), and then moved on to maternity later. Found the bigger clothes handy post baby and was in them for about 5 months after each baby was born. I know that some people do spring back into their old jeans immediately after birth, but I didn't and I found the bigger jeans etc a godsend afterwards when the last thing I wanted to do was go clothes shopping!

That's wise advice, I second it!

Later in your pregnancy, when you can't wear anything BUT maternity clothes, you'll be SOOOO sick of them and yearning for your old clothes (I know I am).
Bump bands are great with the button undone underneath. I also borrowed DH's belt and covered the open button with that, plus a longer t-shirt pulled over it. Actually, my best buys have been maternity vest-tops.

I did get some fab black trousers from Blooming Marvellous which sort of had zips at each side and stretchy panels behind them, and some ties, that meant I could let them out very slowly and they fit from when I couldn't do my smart trousers up at first (and looked totally normal, so no one could tell), right through.

I also found some georgette skirts with elastic waists that were normal, and fitted me till 24 weeks, and my friend right through.

Sorry to highjack but which trousers were they cmotdibbler?

On a never ending quest for some perfect black trousers.

these ones. But if you take a 14 long, you'd be very welcome to mine for free. I really need to clear out the mat wear.

Thanks for the link. Not the right size for me, but I appreciate the offer!