Help me through the minefield of maternity clothing and avoid OH t shirts and jogging bottoms!

[OMGBFP]

Been too busy thinking about baby clothes to think of maternity clothing!

How many pairs of maternity trousers will I need?
Trousers - under bump, over bump, narrow bump band, stretchy pocket bits?
Which would you say you found more comfy? Any good quality but reasonably priced brands?
I've lots of flowing style tops which should suffice so do I really need any specific maternity tops? Do I need nursing tops or can I just use normal tops with ease?
Are dungarees out?

Do NOT NOT NOT go to Mothercare or M & S for bras. I am small back/big bust and both these places tried to get me in bigger backed stuff just to fit the bust....result not good - unsupported, achy boobs and now buggered boobs. Get yourself in touch with the local NCT bra fitting service and get yourself measured by them - they measure for maternity bras as well as nursing bras. You are not obliged to buy if you don't like their stuff but they cover all shapes/sizes and order stuff in - so they will tell you your true size not the size they have in stock that will possibly fit you (although offer you zero support). The bra is the most important thing. If you do not sag there you will not end up looking like a peanut! Bust/Bump definition helps and is way more comfortable.

Once bra sorted then take yourself somewhere with a decent maternity section and try on both under and over bump trousers to try what you find most comfortable as it totally depends on your individual shape. In fact one of my friends lived in maternity denim skirts for her second pregnancy as she struggled with any type of trouser. Then scour ebay and even ask around/ask on Freecycle. Then when wardrobe started that way see what gaps you may have. Start with maybe a couple of bottoms and 2-3 tops and see how you go.

Oh and whatever you have you will be totally sick of the sight of it by the time you have DC :-). And enjoy.

"Peacocks is no more sadly,"

Our local peacocks is still going!

I used to find H&M the best, and also there was a dept in Debenhams which was good.

Couldn't STAND under-bump jeans. Ended up with serious Builders Bum and SO uncomfortable.

Last I looked online for Peacocks the website was no longer available. Our peacocks has closed down but they never had maternity wear in the store anyway. I did get some nice stripey t-shirts from Peacocks but I have managed to outgrow them now!

I found Mammas and Papas great for trousers and jeans. Reasonably priced and good quality. I found underbump the most comfy.

If you need a bra I highly recommend Pretty Pregnant if you have one near you. They stock great range of brands and they do an expert fitting and recommended an ideal bra (prior to this I went to every high street shop and bra on the market and found none to be comfy!).

Congratulations and enjoy your pregnancy!

Dungarees were do-able when I was pg, amazingly comfortable and particularly good if you have a toddler/non walker to run around after as you do not have any spare hands to hoik up your jeans, which if maternity always seem to fall down.

I had a lovely Isabelle Oliver top I had from Freecycle but I flogged it as it was such an enormous faff to do up and readjust every time you needed to go to the loo.

After 3 pgs I can say:
yes! to ebay for more exciting/pricey items on the cheap
yes! to George at Asda (saw me through pg no.3 and beyond)
yes! to New Look - got some lovely stuff
yes! to Topshop if you want something a bit more "fashion" and don't mind lining the pockets of evil Philip Green
no! to wrap dresses - had one for pg1 back in 2004/5 when I was doing a proper job and had to look smart. By the end of pg I felt like a cross between a Greek widow (it was black) and a badly wrapped kebab.
no! to maternity tights - wear leggings instead as the tights have a weird saggy gusset that make you feel like you've pooed yourself.

Do nice things with your hair/make-up/accessories and this will distract from the fact that pg clothes are really a bit boring :)

I know it's a while since I was pregnant - but a bought some stuff from an NCT Good as New Sale and also from here. Though I didn't really buy much stuff. One thing I wish I hadn't done was to wear my nicest shoes, 'cos afterwards they'd stretched and didn't fit me any more

Think as well about after the baby's born. If you can get away with buying clothes which are 1 or 2 sizes too big now, then you'll be able to wear them afterwards as your belly goes back down. There are loads of sales on at the moment, so you should probably be able to pick and choose.

Good luck

I'm on my second pregnancy and have bought most of my things this time around from Topshop, they do mid-price fashionable stuff, and if you order on-line and it's not right you can take it back to your local branch. Although it's worth remembering that comfort is key and it might be a good idea to go up from your normal size.
Even though I've been lent/given loads of things it's still nice to have the occasional piece that you've chosen, and is'nt stretched to billy-o by yourself or someone else!
Congratulations!

ooh ooh ohh Discussion of the Day!

My notebook is bulging now with hints and tips and that :) thank you all!

My plan of action atm is:

1 pair over bump jeans (get later) - New Look
1 pair deep waistband/under for shortly, jeans are digging in just there New Look
No tops as got plenty but will look for a JoJoMamanBebe wrap top on Ebay
3 longline vests with ruches at the side (initially thought matalan but am boycotting them due to my local store's treatment of Peacocks (handing gathering customers money off codes if they say peacocks at till - as the poor employees were making their way out
I have 2 jersey tube skirts that I could probably use as bump band type things? well will try anyway! if they don't 2 bump bands!
1 pair under/deep waistband wide leg linen look trousers - but I've forgotten where I saw them now fgs M&S maybe?
some lo converse as can't do flip flops, they don't work on me
and some candystriped dungarees

Dorothy Perkins do yoga trousers that are like leggings with a big stretchy over-bump section and bootcut. They look really comfy but a bit smarter than leggings.

Haven't read the whole thread so apologies if I'm repeating what's already been said.

Skinny styles of jeans work best, and stretchy pockets way better than a band at the front. Stretchy pocket skinnies will also serve you post birth with a belt til you get back in your usual jeans.

A few long vests and a bump band or two and you should manage, though given the weather you might want a couple of dresses, the internal furnace is making it very warm recently!

ASOS have nice stuff that's not too expensive and looks like "real" clothes!

You're the first so far to recommend stretchy pocket style :) had kind of discunted them as they didn't seem to allow for much growth?

I've just realised I will need a coat as due in winter, if i get a swing coat I will look like Hattie Jaques can't think what other style would do though?

I got some ace maternity jeans from this web site called www.yummymummymaternity.co.uk/

H & M trousers are too short for me, but this web site has a variety of lengths and styles. I got some long skinny jeans which look nice with the voluminous tops I have to wear so i look like less of a pudding. They cost £45.00 which is pricey, but I'm having twins so I figure if I'm going to be really massive I deserve a treat!

I love over bump trousers. I would think about wearing them in normal life cos they keep your kidneys warm!

The only other thing I would recommend is some cheap PJ's.

Rather than buy expensive maternity ones, I just bought some extra large ones in Primark. Cheap as chips and very comfy. Great for when you get to that stage when you are bathed and ready for bed by 8pm every night.

I'm another one who has never found the right maternity jeans. The over-bump kind (and I've tried a whole bunch of different brands and sizes) were too big around the bump initially, so they fell down, and then when I got bigger, the band would roll itself down gradually as I walked, which means I have ended up mostly wearing my own pre-pregnancy jeans with the button fastened under my bump - not ideal.

I like the Mamalicious maternity clothes, as they are a reasonable match to the kind of thing I usually wear, anyway. I also wear a lot of pre-pregnancy wrap dresses and stretch jersey dresses for work, with flowy cardigans.

GAP has a sale at the moment, that includes 60% off a lot of their maternity range, and has some quite nice things. I've also lived in their non-maternity GAP Body yoga trousers, which have a wonderful soft roll-down waistband which is perfect for accommodating a growing belly.

Check eBay for a coat - you will probably pick up a bargain.

I'd advise waiting until you know how big you're going to be.

I'm aware I'm in a minority, but my bumps were so small that I was turned away from an antenatal coffee morning two days before giving birth able to stay in my normal clothes throughout most of both pregnancies.

I could have saved myself a lot of money.

I am a size 20 and also starting to panic about maternity clothes. So far at 13 weeks I am ok in my normal yoga pants but what when I grow. It seems that very few places do a size 20.

The stretchy pocket kind generally have tabs inside to adjust as well, the over bump ones just fall down on me all the time, especially if they aren't close fitting - showing your bum every time you move is not for me! I also think skinnies tend to look better when you're pregnant as the proportions work with floaty/voluminous tops whereas if you wear baggy jeans you need a tight top or you just look fat rather than pregnant.

I am a shortarse size 12 with big boobs when not pg and I'd say I have been averagely pregnant looking both times apart from the humongous chest, if that helps!

Re. a coat, I'd wait and buy one off ebay if you need one. You might find the "internal furnace" that is pregnancy means you cope fine in a cardigan and a light jacket.

scarborough84 don't worry, if you like yoga pants just go up a size as needed and buy tops/dresses a size or two bigger - the only maternity stuff I've really bought is jeans. Have you looked at M&S maternity, it's online only so I have never bought anything but I would have expected them to carry size 20 - also I'm sure Mamas and Papas go to a 20 and their sizes are very generous.

Anyone who is only just looking into maternity clothes now will not need a maternity coat! It's a massive waste of money if you are going to be pregnant in the spring/summer period. Just layer up with jumpers and cardigans if it's cold. You won't be feeling the cold much anyway!

I had a winter baby (early November) and just wore my parker. My 'proper' coat was ok undone. If you don't plan on going on big walks, you should be fine in big, chunky cardis.

Besides, you'll have pregnancy heat to keep you warm!

I bought a cheap, slightly swingish coat from Primark in the autumn when pregnant with my winter baby and found that it coped admirably with my humongous bump! This time around I got some real bargains in the Jojo Maman Bebe sale (dresses reduced from £35 to £9 ) - probably too late now, but I'd have a look in the summer - lots of the stuff can be worn in any season. Congratulations!

I'll be due in November and live in Scotland nuff said lol

I just wore my coat open... (was due in November). Due September 1st this time and am still wearing my winter coat - top button only!

But I really came on this thread to heartily second the recommendation of the Gap maternity sale - have gone in twice in the past few days - MASSIVE reductions - got a gorgeous wrap dress for £15 (originally £40) and two incredibly soft long sleeve tops for £4 each (down from £15 each). Tried on their jeans and leggings and was unimpressed, mind. But it's a proper sale and worth a look.