So it's that time already, huh?

alileecam

I was getting dressed this morning, and I tend to layer. However, it's about... um... 90 degrees already here in NC and my maternity clothes just weren't calling my name this morning.

So I put on a pair of maternity pants (elastic back waistband, real zipper dealies) and a non-maternity shirt that's big on me regularly and that I wore a lot at the beginning when I was still concealing, along with a light shortsleeve cardi. Mirror check, looks fine. Shirt's a little snug in the belly, but grazing, not hugging.

However, now, sitting at my desk after lunch, holy S is it tight and ugly and unflattering. So I'm coming to accept it: I am too pregnant for my regular clothes now.  I think it even rolled up like a window shade at some point exposing belly. I tug and I adjust... it's just not cute.

I can't be the only one. Anyone else still trying to mix it up with their regular wardrobe and failing--or succeeding? I still have some dresses that are non-maternity and working okay, but shirt selection is getting slim.  And of course all my lightweight summer maternity dresses aren't all that office-appropriate. Any tips for stretching the maternity pieces so it doesn't seem so limiting? Any tips/pieces that you have and are loving?

sfelix13

I also layer....I like to wear a tank under everything...and I love the Target ones..and have a million.  So I have been basically stretching the crap out of them until yesterday when the hubby told me maybe I should just invest in some maternity ones cause apparently these were no longer working like I wanted...LOL...Basically you see the sem of the bottom of the tank and then a few inches down is the seem of my maternity shirt...Looks a little silly...LOL

acoop719

all of my longer pre-pregnancy tops are still working (i.e. the tunic type ones that typically cover your butt...usually worn with leggings). They are definitely snug but I don't have to worry about them riding up. None of my pre-pregnancy pants fit anymore (well, they fit with the whole hair-tie and bella band deal, but SOO uncomfortable when I sit down, so I stopped wearing them). I do have a few pre-pregnancy dresses that still fit, but when I bought maternity clothes I just bought spring/summer ones that were either sleeveless or short sleeved and have been wearing sweaters over them until it warms up...since I knew I wouldn't need to buy sweaters :-) 

Andreabks

going to have to get new summer dresses this year.  my boobs were big to begin with, and have grown especially recently.  (glad i haven't bought sundresses yet)... i'll thrift store if i can, but may get a few inexpensive Targes ones if they're babydoll style.  I hate leggins as a rule (wore enough of them in the late 80's as a kid) but will probably end up in some capri/shorts ones to make dresses work better and not have to worry if they're a little high in the front...we'll see if this works for me or not.

3xMommie

My longer tops fit but no way my jeans are fitting.

yvdukana

Not much pre-pregnancy fits me anymore. I stopped even trying my jeans when I switched over to maternity ones at 16 weeks. Some long tops I was getting away with still at 21 weeks, but I seriously popped at 23 weeks, and so I'm just more comfortable in maternity wear. I have my little "uniform" as I call it, basically I live in my ON full panel flare maternity jeans, an ON maternity perfect tank, or the LL nursing friendly tanks from Target, and a long open cardi from H&M that is non maternity, since it still can't make up its mind whether it wants to be 80 or 60 here. My bum at home clothes I can still get away with, yoga pants and now large, baggy t shirts. I tried on some of my dresses a couple weeks ago, and they were still fine, but I haven't delved into dress season yet. 

sdlaura

A bunch of my pre-pregnancy tops fit fine.  I'm really short though, so tops are always long on me to begin with. 

As for bottoms, I only have one stretchy skirt that I can still wear under the bump...

alileecam

I just saw this link on the 2nd tri board... maybe I'll try a few of these:

https://sewlikemymom.com/diy-maternity-clothes/

I have a sewing machine that I rarely use (I'm not really handy with it), but this looks pretty easy.

 

LeanneOfHonour

I had a cute dress that I wore at my bridal shower with bare legs, it was awesome!  I thought I'd try it on again for a lunch out with the family, since it was such a loose-in-the-belly-dress.  Well, My boobs and belly filled up the entire thing, and my bum and lady parts were out in the open.  YIKES.  My dress is now a shirt.  however it looks great with tights!  HA.

DemoDoll

The same thing just happened to me yesterday so I decided to stop trying to make my regular clothes fit. I bought a shirt from ON when I was 18 weeks in the regular section that fit super cute with my medium sized bump....tried to wear it yesterday and I felt huge and ugly all day just because the shirt was too small and kept riding up. When I wear my maternity shirts I don't feel huge and they are sooo comfy!

The only pre-pregnancy clothes that fit me are my cardigans and also tank tops that are super long with the lace on the top and bottom and don't have a bra in them.

If you have a lot of cardigans like me, I think it's worth it to invest in a few cute maternity tank tops that you can wear the cardigans with. You can accessorize to make the outfits look different, like with a light weight scarf or colorful jewelry.  

Rox2012

So far I have purchased one maternity top and bottoms and to be honest I don't like how they feel. I am still wearing all of my Pre pregnancy clothes right now. I don't think I will buy maternity unless it is super cute or comfy. I am going to try to do the one size up thing in regular clothes... We shall see

lynde129

I am fully in maternity pants since about 3 weeks ago.  I only have three maternity tanks, and 2 maternity tee's that I have been pairing up with my old cardigans and I have quite a few loose and flowy tops that are pre-pregnancy that I can still wear.  Some of my regular shirts I can still wear too as long as I put a long tank underneath to hide the maternity pants seam.

ken&jennifer

I've been pretty much all maternity all the time for a while - except things like tank tops and PJ pants.  Over the weekend I did a pair of pre-mat cargo crops with the ol' elastic band tie-close covered by my belly band.  It looked fine and people told me I looked cute, but it definitely is lower on the comfort scale than just wearing maternity

FYI - this was the outfit - maternity sweater, non maternity tank and crops...  and new stroller!  woohoo!

 

jennhugsjake

I'm carrying low so I've been exclusively in maternity pants for awhile now. Tops I've had more luck with, except the other day I wanted to look cute. So I put on a prepregnancy empire waisted top that beforecwas just a little too big. My husband LOL'd at me and said I looked ridiculous. I guess its all maternity wear for me from here on out!

shanns81

yvdukana:

I have my little "uniform" as I call it, basically I live in my ON full panel flare maternity jeans, an ON maternity perfect tank, or the LL nursing friendly tanks from Target, and a long open cardi from H&M that is non maternity

 

This is my uniform, too!  I gave up about 3 weeks ago on my non-maternity clothes with the exception of a few fitted t-shirts that I can still wear layered with a tank.  I'm pretty sure those will be done in another week or so though as they're doing the window shade rollup as the day rolls on. 

Twizzle

wow, I can't believe so many of you have lasted so long in regular clothes!  I feel like I'm already outgrowing my maternity clothes.  I am carrying a lot lower this time though so maybe that's why.

latnprincess

Funny you should mention that!  Today I am wearing a maxi dress with a shirt underneath (so I don't have to wear a cardi on top cause its hot here too). This shirt is riding up my belly!  Thank God no one sees it, but I can feel it and its annoying, lol!  I used to wake up and be smaller in the mornings and now am same size as day before and get bigger in the afternoon.  No turning back now ladies!  LOL!

bigbootyjudi

I had this same problem! I ended up taking a trip to Old Navy and bought a few maternity dresses that I could dress up or down and they are the most comfortable thing in my closet! I'm so done wearing jeans/shorts/anything constricting especially when it's hot outside because I sweat WAY more than I ever did before I was pregnant and clothes sticking to me is just not a feeling I'm up for. I bought a few shirts there as well, ones that were kind of "flowy" so as not to hug my stomach. They have a great selection and the best part is, most of the time, their stuff is on sale!