Maternity clothes?? Indispensable item? Where did you buy?

[gypsymoon]

Pregnant with DC3 and showing much earlier....can't help with all the rubbish I'm eating....but that's not why I'm posting! (mmm...fried fast food....)

I'm from OZ and maternity clothes over there were either HIDEOUS or ridiculously expensive - I just bought clothes a wee bit bigger and flowing tops. I looked a bit of a mess to be honest and did nothing to enhance the beauty of pregnancy but just managed to look like a walking kaftan.

So...from a purely superficial and vain perspective where can I get all those lovely maternity clothes I see women in the UK wearing? That obviously won't cost me a bundle...

And what was your most live in item and where did you get it? bear in mind that comfort is a big thing for me and I don't work so I don't need suits etc.

GAP maternity range is fab.

Hiya, only just found out I'm pregnant so can't really comment on most lived in items but have been trawling websites out of curiosity and this one looks quite good and pretty reasonable prices too I thought.
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

Also you can enter the site through the discounts bit at the top of this web page, I think you can get a discount through mumsnet and any extra savings are always a bonus!!!

Black stretchy over the bump jersey trousers fron peacocks, sooo comfy. here

I bought a few tops from www.mamafeelsgood.com and they're great - really comfy and I like the prints. I also got one of those belly bands which has extended the life of quite a few of my pre-pregnancy tops, especially work ones.

It's a little bit more expensive than your average crappy high street maternity gear, but I have found Mamas and Papas maternity wear really really lovely. I've bought a few things in the sale there now (which unfortunately is now over) but their winter stuff is lovely so I'm going to treat myself once a month I think. Their maternity trousers have those adjustable waistbands you find in childrens clothes, with the elastic/button thing, which is genius in my book as they are about the only maternity jeans I've found that don't fall down.

I've also just bought a load of big tee shirts and cotton shirts in the fat face sale, a size up from normally which I'm hoping will last to term. They do lots of smocky type shapes and nice loose cotton tops.

trixymalixy they look perfect! Thanks !

That's why I love MN....never would have found that site....whingeing Aussie that I am

...and didn't even know Gap did maternity clothes....we don't have Gap in Oz

Try H&M range which are a bit hit and miss but I like their over-bump trousers (although they are small-sezed). Cheapish stuff I head to Dorothy Perkins or Peacocks. Last time I was pregnant I got great stuff from Top Shop but I dont live near one now. New look do some cute stuff too but none near me do maternity either. I do just buy a lot of ordinary empire lines stuff from supermarkets and cheap shops too.

My most useful basics have been 2 maternity vest tops from Topshop (one black, one white), and my jeans from Jojomamanbebe - nice wide elastic waistband and still comfy at almost 32 weeks. Don't know what the situation is re international shipping though!

Early on I also bought a couple of bundles of maternity clothes off eBay - really handy for bulking out my wardrobe without spending a fortune.

I am still using the ANA WIZ bump bands that you can use in your normal trousers etc They are really good. Also got a few kaftans and floaty tops fom normal ranges. Will try a pair of maternity trousers soon though as leggings aren't quite stretching enough now!!

I live in Uk now Cally , so no worries on the shipping!

H&M maternity combat pants and funky stretchy t-shirts were my faves.

For work / smart I had maternity leggings and wrap dresses.

New Look do some younger pieces, Dorothy Perkins seem to have the best work items and H&M do good casual. If you have time to rummage in the sale rails you should get some good bargains.

And I had a foxy leopard print nursing bra from H&M last year .

some of the new look maternity tops, think they do mail order

What do pregnant mums wear in Oz? Big floaty tops?

H & M yes! I remember walking past their Oxford Circus store years ago and being irrationally cross, excited and envious at the gorg things in the windows.

We only have kaftans back home...and enormous, wide leg jeans

Topshop preggy jeans are great, and some of their other stuff too; once I got really huge towards the end though (I did have a ridiculously big bump...) I would have liked to spend all my time in stretchy yoga-type trousers (from Mothercare mostly) cos they were just the most comfy thing although they look a bit naff!

I got several nice bits for not much money last time by keeping an eye on the sales in Mothercare and Mamas & Papas. Also New Look sometimes has surprisingly good stuff. This time shopping is harder cos of toddler, but have ordered some things from Blooming Marvellous sale and from JojoMamanBebe.

Ebay has masses of maternity stuff, and you can get some of the expensive brands such as Formes for the price of something you'd buy in Peacocks. I'd say to try some stuff on in the actual shops to make sure you have the right size (as sizes can vary so much from shop to shop) and then get yourself on Ebay and get them for a fraction of the price.

I am a bit of an Ebay addict....

me too confused - but I've been banned by DH for the sake of our marriage

I just about lived in M&S trakkie bottoms. Not maternity but they accommodated my enormous bump right through the pg (worn over the top early on and then below bump later) They were great after having the babies too and psychologically it felt slightly less depressing coming home from hosp in non maternity clothes even if they were about 4 sizes bigger than my usual size! I bought them in a range of colours and TBH they were a godsend as I found a lot of maternity clothes a bad fit.

Two things:

-Old Navy over the bump maternity jeans from the U.S. (bought on ebay). I've worn them almost daily for the last 3-4 months.

--Isabella Oliver bump band in black. This was given to me, but has saved me so much money I would have gladly paid for it. I've been able to wear all my regular tshirts and my regular jeans unbuttoned by virtue of having the band!

black jersey roll top trousers from blooming marvellous

I love my next linen trousers so comfy they feel like pajamas! X

I agree about the next trousers linked above - I bought mine when expecting dd in the sale (4 a pair!!!) so bought black, brown, khaki and burgundy, there are loads of the same new on ebay. Lived in them for work, wearing them again for this pregnancy. Also bought their 3 packs of 3/4 sleeves and v neck tops, they still look fab. Bought underbump jeans in sale in asda - brilliant. Topshop have some lovely things though I find the dresses far too short.

Sorry for being really stoopid, but I'm only 12 weeks with 1st baby so a bit of a newbie still.

What are these bump bands everyone keeps talking about? Are they like bands of material to make your bump smaller? Where are they sold? How much for? When do you wear them?

I'm still wearing my normal clothes, but I know I'll be getting bigger soon and would like to know what a bump band is. Thanks

T

Bump Band

Actually doesn't show it really well, but it's a stretchy tube of double layered fabric that you wear when your bump makes it hard to button your normal trousers, and it looks like you are just wearing a long t-shirt under your regular shirt.