First timer, 12 weeks preggers, what maternity clothes to buy!

[mumtobe23]

Hi all, I'm 12 weeks and 4 days, I'm not showing too much but am definatly starting to fill out now.
I'm quite petite and so I'm not expecting to properly show for a few more weeks yet, anyhow, I'm going shopping tonight & I work in an office enviroment so will need new office clothes to buy.
As I'm still "normal" size can any one advise me on a few bits to get so that when I do get bigger I have things to wear? Thanks!

i wish someone had advised me during first pregnancy ro buy some good quality maternity clothes.

now in my third pregnancy i've had to buy new clothes each time as my dorothy perkins/mothercare ones have not lasted the constant wearing.

this pregnancy i have:

bought some nice empire line tops (from boden and monsoon)

decent couple of pairs of trousers (formes)

nice wrap cardigan from jigsaw

Next is great for maternity clothes. Don't buy on the bump jeans as they fall down when you move. If you want jeans buy the ones with stretchy material that cover your bump (not the most attractive but with a long top look good). V. comfy and practical. Congratulations!

NEXT- they do fab over the bump jeans (which are by far more confortable than on the bump) fopr about £20 & also new look (on the web)..they have a fab range & its very cheap too... also M&S online- they are quite cheap too.
x

Its so exciting, planning your maternity wardrobe. I remember buying my first pair of maternity jeans, getting the back and trying them on, only to burst into floods of tears as they seemed so gigantic!

So, I would say take your time, and buy lycra

Topshop do maternity on line. I like their undies, for something not massive and a bit different. I have a nice leopard print feeding bra.

Sports bras make good maternity bras.

H&M are fab.

Personally I didn't 'invest' in quality maternity wear because by the end of each of my pregnancies I hated it all and wanted to burn it. I bought new stuff for each PG, and gave it away.

And get some nice 'loungewear' (i.e. not dodgy pjs) for after the birth when you are resting at home and gazing at your newborn.

Good luck, enjoy your pregnancy.

It is true that when you buy from Next they feel foul and big when you get them. However, I DID grow into them eventually. They are good when you are very PG!!!

Also I've not worn tights at all - hold ups are the way forward!

Try not to buy too much yet. I know it's exciting but trust me, by the end of the pregnancy you will hate all of your maternity wear so try and put it off for as long as possible. And you don't know yet what you will like most and what will feel most comfortable.
I personally found Next best for trousers (esp work trousers) and H&M best for tops.
Congratulations and have fun shopping!

Hi, be aware you might not get too big!
I'm almost there (I have to look smart for work too) and still only have one pair of maternity jeans - Topshop, one pair of black Next trousers for work (size 8, petite and still too big), New look bump bands and the rest is either stuff I already had, or a couple of dresses that go out from under my boobs.
I've not had to buy any maternity knickers or tights, but am obviously pregnant so its not like I'm not showing - so don't feel you have to get loads just because it says maternity on it. I'm in my 20's, and just found lots of maternity stuff was either too big, even in an 8, or frumpy. My advice would be to wait and see - but dresses are better than trousers.

I'm saving my money for fab things I can keep once the baby arrives and my tummy is back to (relatively) normal
Congratulations!

Congratulations!
My favourite maternity clothes by far are Isabella Oliver ..... great quality, and well designed. Quite expensive though .... If you can, I would buy a couple of their tops (the tunic is fab, and the butterfly sweater in navy).
Their jeans are pretty good, but keep falling down a bit on me - but so do all other maternity jeans in my experience. The noppies "over the bump" jeans stay up the best for me.
I do not like Formes at all - but may suit you better as I think it is designed for more petite ladies!
Good luck and enjoyxxx

My best tip is if you want to wear tights - just wear normal ones under your bump. i found maternity ones fall down all the time.

Think Formes have shut down now. Credit crunch has hit....

I HATE the under-bump skinny jeans I bought - you can't walk more than a few paces without them falling down - over-the-bump definitely more comfy!
And vest-top with supportive bra-bit from Gap or M&S good for night time.

For the first 3-5 months I would just get clothes in a loose / empire design, in a size larger than usual, as official "maternity wear" has a habit of making you look three months more pregnant than you really are.

Re jeans - I would get some normal jeans with a really low rise waistline. I am 35 wks pg and have put on nearly 2 stone, but my old rise jeans still fit (cheap & cheerful from New Look). I bought 3 pairs of maternity jeans inc ones from Blooming Marvellous, Jo Jo Mamam Babe and Next and they all fall down!

I also agree re tights and pants - you don't need special preggie knickers - just low rise M&S pants that sit below your bump anyway.

Jeans from Topshop are good-nice strong shape that withstand wearings and washings. whichever you choose, you will find yourself undoing buttons, taking them off at the end of the day.However- I really didn't want to go down the 'I just want to be comfy' look and end up in tacksuit bottoms at 25 weeks til the end- too depressing.

Tights- Urban outfitters bigger size are great. I didn't bother with maternity but neither did I go cheap. Your normal knickers will see you through no problem. I have stored my reallynice lingerie away and am wearing my 'tier two' knickers. Going to wear them til the end, not care if I mess them up post-partum, then got out my good stuff when I am ready and buy some brand new bra and knickers. See it as a chance to wear out some not so great knickers.

The biggest disappointment have been some quite expensive Seraphine tops and jeans-jeans are massive on the thighs and tops WAY to short. Just wear your longer tops/summer and spring dresses over your jeans and if you need to supplement, go for some cheap, tubey stretchy dresses for over your jeans or leggings. Yu can still wear your cardis- don't go mad on maternity 'knitwear'. Looks frumpy and so so aging and you are better spending £60/£80on a really nice lightweight maternity mac to see you thorough spring summer and a n other pregnancy.

Try and hunt down some REALLY long, close fitting vests in black and white- I mean sort of top of mid thigh, to go under other tops.

Couple of nice scarves to trail over bump to make you feel less naked if out without a jacket in early summer.

A few spare plain cotton pyjama bottoms for the evening when you get in from work. You can keep your plain tops on, put your bottoms/slippers/wooly socks on and still look quite nice rather than worn out scruff. Exception to the knitwear rule- a nice long wooly cardi is useful for evenings at home. Much better than depressing dressing gown, and less 'invalid'.

Gap always got some good plain maternity basics in a constant sale- siad tube dresses,long cardis for eve, plain tops.
Avoid shirts for work-look messy. don't go mental with jewellery esp earrings. Those two things apply anyway

People keep talking about topshop jeans - when I looked in there they only had skinny leg ones . These have never been a fashion favourite of mine (I have horse rider's thighs lol). I thought that pg wasn't the time to start.

I still don't have any maternity tops thinking about it - I'm nearly thre now though, I think that now is difficult because it will be getting warmer.

Hi Brettgirl2 both my pairs are bootcut and mat. I would look like a horror in skinny (and secretly think that most people do I'm afraid!!...) On-line if not in store?

lol I looked in store and was really frightened off by them. I've been amazed since by everyone raving about them . I should have known that I had clearly not seen the whole range. Even if you had the legs of Kate Moss I think they would look rather odd on a heavily pg woman!!!!

I just went mad in Zara's sale - they're selling off smocky tops and dresses, perfect for maternity, for practically nothing. I got a dress for £3 reduced from £40, really nice floaty tops for £3 reduced from £20, etc etc. Hoping they'll seem me through until the summer (I'm due end of June), when I might buy a summer dress or two. I think the sale's ending soon, if it hasn't already, so hurry!

I have yet to find a pair of maternity tights that don't fall down. Maybe my bump just isn't big enough yet.

Gap maternity trews are good for the early stages - they have a smallish supportive band that doesn't fall down, but is quite tight.

I agree with those that are saying to hold off for a bit. I found I got widder on the hips so did need maternity clothes but friends have got away with normal trousers with bump bands. Perhaps buy yourself some leggings, long tops and nice boots for now and buy other stuff as you go.

I had jeans (essential imo) from jojomamanbebe which were excellent.

I'm 15 weeks and have a nice baby and cake bump -
I can only recommend the 'bella band' mentioned by others. Also a long vest like this one under your work jacket here

I bought some mat jeans and a mat denim skirt in H&M - cheap and a big relief after all those straining buttons.

Enjoy