Do I need a maternity coat?

[Actually444]

Hi all! Does anyone have any opinions on maternity coats? I'm 11 weeks pregnant. I'm due end of May so not expecting to have a bump until late December I guess? And even then it will be tiny! But I'm wondering if I'll need a maternity coat for Jan-March? Do you think I'll have a bump big enough that will require a new coat, or is it a waste of money? There's a nice one at asda for £45 with the removable panel. But I don't want to waste money if I don't need to. I also have a very decent winter coat that I don't want to stretch out! Thanks!

I personally got one with my first baby due at end of April. I needed one by December in the sense that my normal coat was very tight over the bump and uncomfortable. It was one with a removable panel too, so I wore it the next winter without the panel. The other thing it was useful for was wearing with the panel in when baby was in a baby carrier as it could keep her warm and dry when out for walks. I kept it for my second baby 4 years later who is now 10 months, still wear it over her in the carrier to walk my oldest to school.

You could always have a look on Vinted/Ebay to get a cheaper one, or see how your bump grows.

Depends what style your coat is. I'm 6 months with #3 so huge already and can still get in my usual coat with the waist let out - it's a roomy Adidas parka.

You can buy zip in panels for your ordinary coats so you don't have to fork out for a full coat, and then as an added bonus you can babywear with your normal coat once they're here

One of my friends just brought a normal coat a few sizes up and that was fine for covering her bump (she had a May baby nd started showing more mid December) but wasn't suitable for putting over her and baby in sling during spring.

As someone else has mentioned vinted is great, I've been watching some and the normal high street brands such as Asda ones get listed for as low as £5

@Nursemumma92 may I ask did you buy your normal size in maternity or do you size up? I'm very early but looking out for things when they are on a good offer as trying to budget for maternity leave etc

I didn’t bother (DD born end of May), and just wore a thick scarf over the opening of my coat when I couldn’t fasten it up.

I was heavily pregnant last winter (DS born January) and I bought a maternity coat from Seraphine. I also bought a wool coat from Vinted in a couple of sizes up, and ended up wearing that the most. I sold the Seraphine!

Depends on your lifestyle I think and how much you are outdoors.
I had an April baby and got a horrific parka thing in two sizes bigger for £8 on eBay I think. For a May baby you may well find that you don’t need a maternity coat as such. It also depends on the style of your existing coats (how much room there is in them) and whether you absolutely need to do them up.

I had a February baby and I managed in mine until the last month, then I wore DH’s ancient Canada Goose jacket (from when he used to live in North America) and tried to rock it like it was some kind of style statement. My first was a June baby and I didn’t have a significant bump until well after winter coat weather was done.

Yes. Get one. I got a Seraphine goose/duck feather second hand. My baby came along in November but I got plenty of wear out of it- before and after 🙂

I had my baby in February and just wore my regular coats undone, with a scarf if necessary. I tend to run hot though.

Ooh thanks so much everyone!!! I think I'm going to see how I feel in a month or so, depending on how I go! Vinted is a good shout too!

DS was a May baby and I got the £65 Seraphine one with the removable panel in about December last year. I got away without buying one for my older DD as she was due in late September. I am short so showed big and early with both pregnancies, so there was no fudging it squeezing into non maternity gear! I also justified it by thinking if there’s one time in your life it’s not worth being cold, it’s when you’re pregnant and already have a pile of stuff going on that’s vaguely uncomfortable or inconvenient. I’ve yet to use it with the sling but I did use the maternity hoody with his sister, so no doubt the coat will get a few runs out over the winter. For £45 I’d go for it, or see if you can get a Seraphine one off Vinted- with the latter you’ll get your money back if you resell it.

No. See near the time. In my first pregnancy I was able to wear my normal size coat that had a slightest generous cut (dec birth). This time round (due nov) I’ve needed a maternity coat but only since october. I bought one to use with baby in a sling as I realised when you return to your normal size and normal coat it then doesn’t fit over the baby.

DD was born in January so I was fairly heavily pregnant last winter. I bought a couple of seraphine coats on Vinted and marketplace and am still wearing them now as they’re great for babywearing, but also adjustable enough not to look baggy post pregnancy.

DD was born March and I didn't need a maternity coat. It was cold that year too, we had snow

I stole one of my dad's coats. He's big enough that it kept me warm and dry without spending out money on one

I would totally get one of the zip in panels if the coat you already have has a zip. Zip Us In do different kinds of zip so you can get one that matches your coat. As PPs have said, you can then also use it for babywearing and do your coat up over a baby carrier.

DS was due Match 19h. I wore a roomy winter jacket cut like a cape, even when n the Alps at -17 at Christmas. Pregnancy was like having an internal radiator.

My first was due end of march, but I never bothered with a maternity coat! I wore my normal winter coat but just open with a big scarf on. I was always absolutely roasting anyway!

I have a waterproof baby wearing coat, it essentially fits a baby carrier with toddler in, with a zip out panel. You might find you gey very hot later in pregnancy, I didn't actually wear a coat all winter (2 January babies).

I'm 31 weeks pregnant now and don't have a maternity winter coat.
Personally decided to wear the coat I got when pregnant with my April 2022 baby - I just sized up on standard line clothes.

Right now the coat is only snug on my bump when I'm sat down so I just unzip it.

Obviously if you want to shop then go ahead as it is fun but personally I don't bother with maternity wear- instead I focused on nice nursing clothes because I breastfed for 18 months

@ttcsolomumtobe I just got my usual size so that it fits nicely without the panel in as a normal coat, but generous enough to fit a huge bump/baby in carrier in with the panel in.