Let's talk maternity clothes

[vvvvvfee]

I know it's early for a lot of you, but us early-mid July peeps are probably just getting ready to bust out of our pants... so, let's talk maternity clothes.

STMs...
-What basics do you recommend for a FTM?
-Did you go straight to maternity pants, or did you use a stop-gap measure first (i.e., hairband on your button, belly bands, sizing up in pants)?
-Where have you shopped for maternity clothes in the past?
-Did you particularly like a certain category of pieces from a particular store?
-Did you purchase maternity bras and underwear? Were they worth it or not?
-If you work in a business setting, where did you find were the best stores for workwear?
 
FTMs, chime in with any questions you may have or recommendations you need.

[kaeguri]

- tshirts, jeans/shorts. Dresses are great for a summer pregnancy. The soft crop top bras for sleeping/nursing/puttering around the house.

-I tried using a hair tie, and then a belly band but the hair tie created an obvious lump and the belly band kept rolling up/down and pissed me off, so I just did maternity pants/leggings.

-Old Navy is decent and cheap, motherhood has some cute stuff but more expensive, poshmark for used clothes is also great.

-I liked Old Navy's maternity leggings. I'm wearing them right now actually since I already started showing a bit at 13 weeks. And their v-neck cotton shirts. I basically wore that every day of my last pregnancy. And motherhood's nursing camisole tops for later.

-I wore a regular bra til I was like 34 weeks-ish? And a soft crop top bra at night because I started leaking colostrum at like 19 weeks and it was stupid. Then, soft cup, nonwired nursing/maternity bras until my milk supply settled at like 8 weeks postpartum. I didn't purchase maternity underwear last time, just got some cheaper, larger sized Hanes undies.

I'm not sure if it's just how my body is shaped, but I wear a size 8 in Old navy regular jeans but a XS/S in their maternity jeans. Leggings are life, especially capri leggings when it gets warmer with a loose tunic. I always preferred a full belly maternity pants last time, but I have a pair of side stretch Old Navy jeans and I really like them for now. May change when I start getting bigger. Once you hit 36 weeks or so, nothing will fit lol. Everything will be too tight (or it was for me). If you live somewhere hot in the summer, go for all cotton tops. I don't know why so many maternity tops are rayon/polyester but I couldn't do those at all, waaaay too hot and it stuck to me and just ugh.

[vvvvvfee]

i'd try to get a lot of tops and not as many pants. being due in the summer (this is my 3rd time), there are other, non-maternity options that will work for bottoms when you're hugely pregnant. particularly with my 2nd pregnancy, i wore a lot of maxi dresses and jersey-knit skirts with fold-over waistbands. max studio brand is great for those (pretty much constantly available in tj maxx/marshall's). you definitely will need pants before you need maternity tops. any tops that are cut fairly loose will get you at least partway through 2nd trimester. i wore undershirts every day, too.

i have pants in 1 size up from my normal size. this is a good plan IME because then you can wear than post-baby- it's depressing to be wearing maternity pants when you're not pregnant anymore.

i have a mix of stuff from kohl's, motherhood maternity, target, and old navy. anything i got from kohl's or motherhood maternity i got on sale- both are overpriced for what they are. target had a lot of good basics, but i had trouble with their pants for some reason. so all my pants are from MM and kohl's. i only have a couple of tops from old navy because they just started carrying maternity in my local store when i was pg with DS2. i feel like the quality was best at target and kohl's, although that may have changed.

i have a lot of target's ribbed white tanks that i wore as undershirts.

with bras, i sized up in regular bras. i am short, so i start to find underwire really uncomfortable as i get into 3rd trimester as my bump starts pushing up against that area. so i had to shop again for bras in 3rd tri. don't shop too far in advance- you don't know what will be comfortable or how huge your boobs will get (spoiler alert: ginormous). with underwear, i also sized up in regular underwear.

i work f/t but it's fairly casual so i don't have any recs for more formal stuff.

recommendations wanted!
-maternity leggings. i can't wear anything over-the-bump bc i find it uncomfortable-- pants i have that are over-the-bump i just fold it down. so something comfy and breathable but not see-through! also, what did you wear with them if you wore them to work? if you had a flowy top, how did you keep from looking enormous?

-i also have to go to a wedding in early april- so i need a fancy-ish dress (not black tie or anything, but a step up from a jersey-knit maxi dress) that is also comfortable. any thoughts on where to shop that's not too pricey? doesn't one ofor one of those dress-rental places do maternity now? i live in the northeast so it will still be relatively cold at that point.

[vvvvvfee]

Jan 8, 2018 16:46:24 GMT -6 kaeguri said:

Once you hit 36 weeks or so, nothing will fit lol. Everything will be too tight (or it was for me). If you live somewhere hot in the summer, go for all cotton tops. I don't know why so many maternity tops are rayon/polyester but I couldn't do those at all, waaaay too hot and it stuck to me and just ugh.

yeesssss to both of these. especially watch for pants-- it seems like a lot of maternity jeans are part polyester and give you the worst swamp crotch. expect you will get to a point at the end where you only have a handful of things that fit. also, shoes! you may go up in size- my feet got 1/2 size wider with DS1 and never went back. you may need to get some new shoes for 3rd trimester. luckily in summer you can wear sandals/flip-flops!

[kaeguri]

Jan 8, 2018 16:59:34 GMT -6 vvvvvfee said:

Jan 8, 2018 16:46:24 GMT -6 kaeguri said:

Once you hit 36 weeks or so, nothing will fit lol. Everything will be too tight (or it was for me). If you live somewhere hot in the summer, go for all cotton tops. I don't know why so many maternity tops are rayon/polyester but I couldn't do those at all, waaaay too hot and it stuck to me and just ugh.

yeesssss to both of these. especially watch for pants-- it seems like a lot of maternity jeans are part polyester and give you the worst swamp crotch. expect you will get to a point at the end where you only have a handful of things that fit. also, shoes! you may go up in size- my feet got 1/2 size wider with DS1 and never went back. you may need to get some new shoes for 3rd trimester. luckily in summer you can wear sandals/flip-flops!

My feet got wider too, waaahhh. Flip flops all day every day.

[goldenbird]

Anyone know good places to buy jeans that come in short length? I'm 5'1" and have short legs. Like a 30" inseam or even a couple inches shorter would be ideal for me.
I wear jeans to work every day so I'll need a couple pairs.
I could always have SMIL hem them buuuuut I can't do that until I tell her lol. Of course once I need maternity jeans I'll have to tell anyway. I tuck my shirt in at work all the time so once I don't people are going to notice.

[notmoose]

I'm usually the odd one out when this discussion happens. I hate maternity clothes, well mostly pants. I find them so uncomfortable. I hate pants touching my stomach and especially being over my stomach.

I've tried full panel, half, the side panel. They make my stomach sweat. Or they cut into my stomach and make me look oddly shaped. Or they roll/slip down.

If anyone has discovered pants that defy all these issues, I'd love to get a link!

Until then, I wear yoga pants.


I love target maternity tank tops. The wide strap ones. I also bought the same tanks but non-maternity and went up a size. They're reat great for nursing too because you can just pull one side down and it stretches.

[notmoose]

Jan 8, 2018 16:59:34 GMT -6 vvvvvfee said:

Jan 8, 2018 16:46:24 GMT -6 kaeguri said:

Once you hit 36 weeks or so, nothing will fit lol. Everything will be too tight (or it was for me). If you live somewhere hot in the summer, go for all cotton tops. I don't know why so many maternity tops are rayon/polyester but I couldn't do those at all, waaaay too hot and it stuck to me and just ugh.

yeesssss to both of these. especially watch for pants-- it seems like a lot of maternity jeans are part polyester and give you the worst swamp crotch. expect you will get to a point at the end where you only have a handful of things that fit. also, shoes! you may go up in size- my feet got 1/2 size wider with DS1 and never went back. you may need to get some new shoes for 3rd trimester. luckily in summer you can wear sandals/flip-flops!

omgosh yes. With DD I went from a 7 to a 9. 😧

I never made it back to a 7. I am 7.5-8 depending on the shoe.

Flip flops were my main shoes.

[tarheelmom]

I loved gap nursing tanks and jeans for my first pregnancy, so I got some Black Friday this year. SO disappointing! The jeans don’t have front pockets and are about 2 sizes too big (I was able to get same size maternity as regular before). The nursing “bra” I got is at least 4 sizes too big, the band isn’t just loose, but doesn’t even touch my rib cage. So now I just have an overpriced sleeping tank 😭

ThredUp.com is great from gently used maternity clothes at great prices. I will probably head there soon to see if I can find some of the older version gap jeans (underbelly, short length).

[mrsweasley]

notmoose I am the same with pants. I just got some maternity yoga pants from Kohls, aglow brand. They can be pulled uo like a panel or folded down. I've been wearing them folded down and they're pretty comfy. My regular yoga pants were getting too tight

www.kohls.com/product/prd-2980817/product.jsp

[mrsweasley]

My sister just mailed me back most of my maternity clothes from DD. Personally I like empire waist flowy stuff the best. I had some stuff I really liked and I haven't found much for sale right now that appeals to me

I never put my tops in the dryer because I'm tall and they would be too short by the end

[mrsweasley]

I have gone up a half shoe size with each kid, I'm hoping it's not so bad this time. I currently wear a 10

[kaeguri]

Jan 8, 2018 17:32:24 GMT -6 goldenbird said:

Anyone know good places to buy jeans that come in short length? I'm 5'1" and have short legs. Like a 30" inseam or even a couple inches shorter would be ideal for me.
I wear jeans to work every day so I'll need a couple pairs.
I could always have SMIL hem them buuuuut I can't do that until I tell her lol. Of course once I need maternity jeans I'll have to tell anyway. I tuck my shirt in at work all the time so once I don't people are going to notice.

Old Navy has a short length. I'm a 28" inseam and they fit me perfectly.

[badwolf]

I do love my old navy pants. I would look at second hand baby consignment places. They have a lot of barely used clothes and you just get more for your buck. I also think this is the best time to be very pregnant. My first pregnancy I barely bought any maternity because I just wore a lot of loose fitting summer dresses.

[cara]

goldenbird - I’m 5’1 as well and have had good look with Jessica Simpson brand maternity pants. They were my favorite pairs when I was pregnant with DS.

[cornflakegirl]

I'm probably going to be pulling out some maternity pants out of my closet soon. I've been living in yoga pants and leggings for a couple weeks now.

Last time I got a couple pair of jeans, some leggings, and several different style of tops. I absolutely hated the belly band and could only wear full panel pants. goldenbird I'm only 5'2 and got my jeans at motherhood. I got most of my tops from either target or old navy. Nursing tops were great to sleep in and then I could still wear them when BF. I went up in bra sizes twice, once in 2nd trimester and then again in 3rd. Luckily my feet never swelled so I could wear normal shoes until the last month when I lived in flip flops. I also had to get a maternity coat that I purchased in motherhood. I still have all of my maternity clothes so I will just need some summer clothes since DS was born end of April.

[notmoose]

Jan 8, 2018 18:53:29 GMT -6 mrsweasley said:

notmoose I am the same with pants. I just got some maternity yoga pants from Kohls, aglow brand. They can be pulled uo like a panel or folded down. I've been wearing them folded down and they're pretty comfy. My regular yoga pants were getting too tight

www.kohls.com/product/prd-2980817/product.jsp

Ooh, I put a couple pairs in my cart. I'd be willing to try those thanks!

[vvvvvfee]

goldenbird, also 5'2" and i have gotten petite pants at motherhood (on clearance, of course!). i'm lucky that my mom is also willing to hem my pants for me! although it is relatively easy to do yourself- you can use that iron-on hemming tape where you just fold the pants under and iron it.

[potatocakes]

I only like full panel pants. I'm ok with the band in shorts, though. I did the band with my normal pants, but I probably won't do that again since I already own maternity pants!

My favorite work pants are from LOFT, they have the best panel. I wore many of my shirts through second tri, and LOVED dresses throughout (I'm not much of a dress girl, normally). When I needed shirts, I stocked up at old navy. I kept wearing my normal sweaters throughout, since I wear an open cardigan about 90% of the time to work. I was also able to keep wearing my same shoes, although they for sure stretched out, but I went back to my normal size after the fluid was gone.

I am mostly up a cup size in bras (but I have many in this size from when I was nursing, but only morning and night for a while), and by the end of last time I lived in the soft coobie-type bras (and knockoffs from Amazon) that I continued to wear for nursing/pumping.

[catspajamas2]

I had a fantasy that I could make it to 20 weeks without maternity clothes but it is coming crashing down. I am miserable in my too tight pants today (I'm 15 weeks tomorrow). I have to go home and find my maternity stuff in storage.

My work is on the formal side of business casual so maxi dresses are a no go. I usually wear black pants and maternity tops. I ordered a couple of pairs of the pixie pants from old navy maternity today just to have something new in the mix. I tend to keep wearing my non maternity blazers but don't button them.

Has anybody ordered from pink blush maternity? Their clothes are cute but I've not tried them before.

[catspajamas2]

potatocakes,I didn't realize LOFT had maternity! I'm off to investigate, thanks for the tip!

[mrsweasley]

I've been wearing my regular tees with my maternity pants but they're definitely getting short 😭

I'm going to do a little Kon Marie refresh so I'm going to see what I can clean out before I box up my regular clothes to make room for maternity in my dresser

[bananas22]

I will usually try the hair band trick and a Bella band for a few weeks and then I just go to maternity pants because they are so much more comfortable.

I've had good luck with work pants from Gap. I actually have one pair that's under the belly that I liked so much I wore between pregnancies as well. I'm on the shorter side (5'3) and I have a pair of Jessica Simpson jeans that I love.

For shirts, I try to stick with mostly solids and then mix it up with jewelry and open cardigans. I've found tops at Target, Loft, and Old Navy that I like.

I would also second the recommendation for maxi dresses and the skirts with fold over tops. They are nice because they are comfortable to wear while pregnant and they transition nicely to postpartum.

[catspajamas2]

I have my maternity pants on today, and hallelujah they are comfy!

[catladymeow]

I'm only 7 weeks and considering ordering maternity pants. I don't know how those of you that are further along have managed!

Any tall ladies with recommendations? Last pregnancy I wore jeans that looked like flood pants. I noticed that Old Navy had tall jeans but the reviews all say that they stretch out and look weird and sag a few hours after wearing them. Gap in Canada doesn't have tall length in maternity. Sadface. I remember from last time that Thyme and Motherhood were both a no-go for tall length.

[klw]

BJ's had some jeans that were stretchy at the waist so I bought a pair in the next size up. I might get a few more because they are super comfy. I recently lost 53 lbs and when I bought all new jeans they are more form fitting so they definitely wont last very long right now. I still have my maternity clothes from DD, but they are 5 years old so I need to see what still works. I am a preschool teacher so luckily, I don't have to dress up during the day.