What you ACTUALLY wore for pregnancy and beyond

[WardrobeMilkStress]

Right, so I am ALMOST at the 3 month milestone and I have no blooming clue what maternity wear I'll need... A couple of my girlfriends have given me their list of what they actually wore so it would be brilliant to hear yours. Hoping to get some inspo and do a big online order tonight and with any luck (fat chance) everything will be amazing and I will wear it all to death.

Leave lists below including brands please!

I got most from eBay as didn't want to spend a lot on something I wouldn't wear for long. I thought serephina jersey dresses were a god send for work.
I bought skinny jeans new - Asos and George at Asda were my favourites for actually staying up. I thought Next and JoJo were shit.

I wore a lot of jersey long sleeved tops with them. What I did waste money on and never wore were maternity shirts and blouses.

I'm 22 weeks and am living in over the bump jeans from matalan, they're comfy, they stay up, think they were £20. Tonne honest they're the only maternity things I've bought, I'm managing well with longer cut too and vest tops with stretch which I wear with open shirts and cardigans.
Luckily I don't need to get anything for work as I wear entetnally unflattering theatre scrubs.

Gap maternity - t-shirts, jumpers and jeans. Always a bargain in the sale, often 30-40% off.

Seraphine - work clothes. I got one of their packs - skirt, vest, dress and leggings for £80. Ok quality. Expected better for the price.

Isabella Oliver - beautiful stuff, wanted more but had a great white shirt for anything smart.

Sleep bras - medela from amazon.

Buy what you need when you need it!

Agree with not getting maternity shirts, but I'm busty so have loads of belly room in shirts anyway so maybe if you're a different shape youll need them.
I lived in normal clothes with just the top button undone then a maternity belt thing - basically a strip of Lycra that covers the top of jeans etc so no-one can tell that you've undone what you're wearing. They're cheap - a few pounds online.
Overbump jeans much comfier than underbump ones

I'm 20 weeks now and so far I've used:

• 2 pairs of jeans from New Look maternity (blue and grey)
• 2 T-shirts - one New Look maternity & one ASOS - for days when I'm feeling bloated etc. They match with everything and extra tummy/boob space! (grey)
• 1 dress (not actually maternity but bought it in a 16 rather than my regular 14 and got it with a high waist so it skims the bump!)
• new black work pants

You really don't need that much, I'll probably get some more dresses/baggy stuff in 3rd trimester.

Maternity leggings - best fitting and comfortable George@Asda and great for after birth as super comfy.

Jersey tops from H&M they're cheap and wash really well and I wore afterwards.

Maternity jeans from H&M I ordered a size up from normal andt they're great - over bump rather than underbump variety.

I've ordered a few things from mamalicious and to be honest they've all been disappointing - over priced and poor fit. New look maternity is pretty good as is ASOS.

With both dd1 and this pregnancy I am just living in leggings/jersey top with non maternity long length cardi over the top! Oh and really lightweight trainers as I have horrific spd! I look so glam :/

I bought h&m skinny jeans x2 and about half a dozen h&m jersey tops in various colours this time round. I also had a decent looking pair of black trousers by mamalicious and 2 dresses for work.

By about 30 ish weeks I got uncomfortable again and bought new look maternity joggers and new look maternity jeggings. Also a pair of canvas trainers in a bigger size as my feet swelled up a lot.

Then I smashed my leg up at 33 weeks and bought a few knee length jersey skirts so I had something to go over bump and cast, but hopefully you won't need that

I have worn everything to death (except the jeggings which got cut off) but my style may be more casual than yours.

I have lived in:

• 2 pairs of maternity leggings from M&S (The M&S ones are a lot more comfy and better quality than a couple I bought from other shops.)
• 2 pairs of maternity chinos from Zalando (they weren't expensive so I got 2 different colours!)
• 1 pair of maternity jeans from Next
• A few maternity t-shirts from Next, New Look (bought from ASOS) and a Zooples one in the sale (bought from Zalando)
• A big cosy maternity cardigan from JoJo that was a present and I've worn it A LOT
• A maternity dress from Debenhams
• A maternity coat, worth it as I've been pregnant over the winter, but you might not need one?
• A maternity tankini as I did a lot of swimming (and I'm planning to wear the top half in the birthing pool!)
• A pair of loose cotton maternity trousers for pregnancy yoga

I've also got away with wearing a few non-maternity things, a long tunic, loose/stretchy jersey dresses, and an oversize shirt from ASOS.

To be fair I have bought quite a lot because it's my first pregnancy and I'd like a second child eventually so I'll hopefully be able to wear everything again. I am pretty sick of my maternity clothes though and looking forward to getting the rest of my wardrobe back!

I didn't get or wear any maternity clothes. I just got normal/ everyday clothes (for want of a better expression) in the next size up.
Leggings, loose dresses.
Most of my t shirts fitted me until the end anyway, as did my tracksuit bottoms, and I only needed the next size up leggings and dresses around the 7.5/8 month mark.
Again I wore my normal bras, just got some normal bras in a bigger size, same with underwear.
Even to take to hospital I just got large knickers, and black or dark navy tracksuit bottoms and t shirts. A couple of long nighties, and black pyjamas.
I knew I wouldn't be breastfeeding so didn't need to worry about maternity bras or anything.
I did get a couple of pairs of maternity jeans but hated them, they were so uncomfortable (both the over and under bump ones), so I gave them to the charity shop while I was still pregnant).
I didn't see the need for actual maternity clothes tbh.

I had the following items which I wore to death:
2 pairs over the bump skinny jeans from mothercare, one black, one blue
One over the bump denim skirt from jojomamanbebe - worn and washed daily for weeks post c section as well
Two stripy t-shirts, one short sleeve, one long, and two wrap t-shirts, also from jojo
Black shift dress from jojo which I wore to work often
Black maternity trousers for work from next
Red stripy two part top from mothercare
Swimsuit from mothercare
A couple of nightdresses from mothercare, although more useful afterwards.
Also had a non maternity dress from phase eight which I'd had before which I wore often and also ment I felt more like "me"

These, not so much:
Stripy dress from Jojo, as frankly too short
Linen sleeveless top from jojo, couldn't be arsed with the required ironing
Under bump black jeans from mothercare as they kept falling down.

Also wore generic stretchy tank tops over the summer, which sort of work with over bump stuff. Also leggings and flat shoes!

I made extensive use of the "elastic band round the button loop" trick, which kept quite a few items in circulation longer.

I think I found the jojo stuff to be of better quality, certainly they seem to have survived the hard usage I've put them through!

I would suggest you only buy stuff you really really really like, as frankly I became sick to death of a lot of it. And happy shopping!!

Im mostly still wearing my pre-pregnancy denims at 24 weeks but I do wear asos maternity leggings which are really comfortable. I bought asda ones on recommendation but the bump space is too big for me and they fall down and end up looking like hammer pants.
I still wear my normal tops too. I doubt I'll need maternity tops at all as I often just wear xl t-shirts anyway

I find maternity wear such an expensive short term purchase.

Nobody has even mentioned Topshop! I was told this was the place to go... Am I mistaken?

Two paIrs of nl maternity jeans (very comftable)
Normal tops
Trainers

I put the lot in the bin afterwards and bought new clothes that fitted

Currently 30 weeks...so getting to the all I want to wear in pjs stage!

Seraphine bump kit... really useful if you want to be smart at work

Seraphine over bump jeans & trousers, worked from early on and still comfortable now

New Look leggings x2

Then I bought cheap vest tops, long sleeve tops and shirts from normal H&M range in a 14 (rather than a 10) and made do with some of my more stretchy work dresses.

I bought as little as possible, partly because I didn't want too much but mainly because most of it is ugly (and too much black)

New Look did some good maternity stuff by the time I was pregnant with my 3rd. Like a bump band which you can wear with an existing loose-ish top to extend the life of your normal wardrobe.

Jersey fabric stuff, like tunic-style tops did me well for pregnancy and afterwards. Still wear one of the tops I bought for pregnancy now, as it's comfy and just looks like a long top which covers my bum.

Topshop is good but very small. Their bump bands are great so you can still wear your normal jeans for a bit longer.

For jeans make sure you get jeans that are normal at the back and only stretchy at the front otherwise they will fall down (hope that makes sense?), ASOS is good.

And don't bother with anything fancy unless you actually have an occasion in mind. I bought lots of pretty dresses and nice tops that didn't even fit me in the last month didn't end up being worn.

Currently 38 weeks and second pregnancy. By the end of my first I didbt want to be reminded of being so huge during pregnancy I gave all my maternity wear away so this time round I only bought a few bits.

Most was from H&M:
3 pairs leggings
3 joggers
3 long jumpers
Long vests - some maternity, most not
1 pair overbump boyfriend jeans
2 overbump skirts
1 dressy maxi
2 maternity maxis which I haven't worn yet but may yet now that it's getting warmer!

Other stuff I wore a lot was non maternity:
2 hush harems
All my coats and jackets
A lot of my Jumpers were fine to wear
midi dresses, some are still roomy enough to wear

I had 2 x topshop dresses. Both very short and ended up as tops but not big enough to last me for the third trimester. I wasn't fussed about TS maternity wear at all OP

Hush Harem pants, super comfy for pregnancy and afterwards.

Maternity jeans from top shop (old though) and maternity tights were essentials for me. Couple of jersey tops and leggings nice to have. Really depends how big you get, I was able to wear lots of normal clothes even late on first time round, second time I was bigger. If you have a local buying and selling group on Facebook for kids stuff I'd suggest looking in there, I've seen bundles of really nice quality things on mine sold for very little. Congratulations!

Topshop maternity Leigh overbump skinnies are the best ever. I've worn mine to death. Really nice soft denim and look the same as normal jeans when on. Buy in your normal size, perfect fit.

I also really rate these Topshop non maternity oversize split side T shirts as they dress up or down really nicely:

m.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/split-side-t-shirt-6389321

I have in black and the beige/nude on the link. Great with the jeans, statement necklace and heeled ankle boots.

Asda do nice quality maternity leggings and tights.

Primark do basic 'Cami dresses' in a range of colours (I have black and grey) at the moment for about £4. I'm a 10, bought a 16 and have plenty of room for growth. These look great under oversize cardis/open shirts/loose pre preg tops with tight and ankle boots.

Topshop had an amazing maternity range when my sister was expecting her first, but he's 11 now

I lived in just normal clothes from normal shops and finally got a pair of maternity jeans around 6 months from H&M, they do very skinny slim fit ones

I personally found maternity clothes massive and even if you get your usually size 8 they are cut so massive around the bum legs

I just lived in leggings, normal jeans and popped hair band over button to allow for bump

There are so many lovely clothes about these days you don't need maternity

Ooh I also got some maternity PJs from Next, the trousers are under-bump and very comfy... I suppose PJs weren't strictly necessary as I've been able to get away with wearing my usual nightwear for most of my pregnancy, but the maternity ones have been by far the most comfy (and nice to have a t-shirt that covers my bump properly)

I'm 29 weeks and so far the only specifically maternity things I have bought are two pairs of jeans from H&M and a maternity puffa jacket from New Look (totally embraced the bulk with the jacket but my god it was such a relief to be able to actually button up my coat during the cold spell).

For jeans I bought and returned ASOS, Gap and Jojo Maman Bebe jeans because they were all huge and unflattering. So I think for jeans it's worth going into shop and actually trying things on rather thn taking a punt on eBay.

For the rest I bought a few non-maternity things from eBay second hand (a couple of Toast bamboo dresses, a COS jumper, a jersey dress from &Other Stories). My jersey skirts that I had pre-pregnancy are getting a lot of wear too. I'm still mostly wearing the same tops and jumpers as before, just with long vests underneath.

I am mega vain so would wear leggings only at home and at yoga classes but have tried to choose clothes that I'm comfortable in. These are working out fine so far, although I'm thinking I may have to size up my tights soon (and again I don't go for specifically maternity ones).