Maternity clothes....a struggle.

aspielman · January 2013

I'm 23 weeks pregnant now and its the beginning of January...in Minnesota. I'm still fitting into my winter jacket but just barely! My husband, being the sweet man he is, tried to buy me a maternity jacket for Christmas. It was 1)too small and 2)too thin for a Minnesota winter. It was rain jacket material. So we returned it. But now I'm struggling to find a jacket to replace it with. I don't want a huge puffy jacket that will make me look like a house, but I don't want a thin flimsy jacket that I can't wear in the middle of winter either.

Anyone else having this problem? I've done lots of research looking for coats online but I just can't seem to find one that I think will look good. I'm not up for spending over $100 either!

mjsmith78 · January 2013

I was having the same problem, although I'm in Indiana. I couldn't find a coat that I liked or really wanted to spend the money on so I went to Burlington Coat Factory and bought a 1X coat instead. It fits perfectly and I was able to get the thickness and length I wanted. Not sure if you have one near you, but maybe online if you don't. It was only $50 too!!

kellmo · January 2013

I bought a cheap puffer coat from Walmart just 1 size bigger for my first pregnancy. I had my son on 12/22. Coat worked perfect. I will just wear that coat again if I need it.

sloturtle · January 2013

I agree with the above post about finding a coat at Burlington Coat factory. I live in Michigan, this is where my DH bought my Winter coat. GL

kaylakim · January 2013

I'm in North Dakota so I totally get you in the winter, freezing weather department! When I was pg with DD#2, I was due in February so I had to get through the whole winter. I had a dressy black pea coat that buttoned that I managed to wear until I had her. I just only buttoned the top two and let it flap over my bump. I wore a scarf to keep my belly warm and it wasn't too bad.

Good luck!

sugar212 · January 2013

I am in WI so I totally get where you are coming from! I have a fitted pea coat that I am barely squeezing into right now. I honestly don't even remember what I wore with DD1, but have been my old ski jacket. I am in need of a new coat anyway but I don't want to spend a ton of money for just a few months. I am going to try thrift stores.

JCWhitey · January 2013

I'm a soon-to-be-MN mama! I'm in California right now but just got back from MN. Even though I'm early my boobs grew a lot and my winter jacket wouldn't zip over them so I needed a new one for my trip. What worked for me was borrowing a jacket from a friend that was a size larger than what I usually wear and one of those jackets that is naturally long (like almost down to your knees). It fit great and was easy to layer under. So instead of buying a maternity jacket I'd look for a size or two up and see if they feel good. Another option is a place like Burlington Coat Factory (do those still exist?) and checking out their selection as they will have a wide variety to choose from for a lower cost.

mrshall10210 · January 2013

My regular coat, which is a semi-heavy, longer peacoat that buttons up, still *barely* fits me. If I'm feeling particularly squished, I just wear it unbuttoned. My arms/torso still stays pretty warm. That being said, I'm in WV, not Minnesota. Good luck!

laurenann82 · January 2013

I bought a puffy maternity coat from Old Navy. It's not very pretty, but it was only like $40 with one of the online sales that they have all the time. It's not as warm as my usual intense winter coat but it is good enough. I live in Chicago, which isn't as cold as MN but it was in the teens last week and I was warm enough.

DiFazette · January 2013

FWIW, i just tried on a cute maternity coat that was 50% off at Target. It was heavy enough for a everyday coat (not ski coat heavy). I was very tempted to purchase, but by the time i outgrow my winter coat in another few weeks, I'll have another 4 weeks of cold, so it just didn't make sense for me. Check it out:

https://www.target.com/p/liz-lange-for-target-maternity-long-sleeve-outerwear-tweed-coat-black/-/A-14109562#prodSlot=large_1_4

Eleventy11 · January 2013

bdifazio:
FWIW, i just tried on a cute maternity coat that was 50 off at Target.nbsp; It was heavy enough for a everyday coat not ski coat heavy.nbsp; I was very tempted to purchase, but by the time i outgrow my winter coat in another few weeks, I'll have another 4 weeks of cold, so it just didn't make sense for me.nbsp; Check it out:nbsp;https://www.target.com/p/lizlangefortargetmaternitylongsleeveouterweartweedcoatblack//A14109562prodSlot=large_1_4

This is a great coat at a great price. It is as thick as any other winter coat I own, besides puffy ski jackets. I bought a regular coat in a 1X last year because I didn't want to spend 60 on this coat. I'm very tempted to buy it for this pregnancy. You could always resell on eBay.

homebird · January 2013

Last pregnancy I got a wool pea coat from Old Navy (maternity coat) and it worked fine.

Kind of like this one: https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=73736&vid=1&pid=328985012 (ooh, it's on sale!)

Not sure if that's warm enough for Minnesota though. I've never been there.

(Edit: just saw that this one is Jersey material, not wool. That probably wouldn't work, lol. Maybe one of these?

https://www.motherhood.com/maternity/outerwear-all.asp)

babykk · January 2013

I found a black pea coat at Kohl's. They have the tiniest maternity section ever though. Good thing the temperatures have been pretty mild in MN, but you never know when that will change!

HarleyKins · January 2013

I bought the Old Navy maternity frost free coat. It's basic black and I jazz it up with their cheap scarves. I bought a Medium and thought I'd never fill it but here we are...surely but slowly filling it up!

We're in Wisconsin... pretty cold and I find this just perfect!

I think I paid $45 or $50 - check every day online until they have a 30% sale. Also, I think Target Maternity has some on clearance.

DiaMT · January 2013

I'm right there with you! I live in MT and up until 2 days ago was wearing my nice wool coat. It didn't dawn on me until 1 button popped off and 2 more came loose that my belly is now too big for the coat. So now I'm wearing my husband's coat, not cute or classy but it's warm. I was thinking of shopping for something this weekend........if you can't find maternity, maybe something a couple sizes too big? Then next year you could always have it taken in so it fits when you're back to your normal size.

ocho2002 · January 2013

I bought a wool pea coat from Gap maternity and the frost free puffer from ON maternity during my my last PG and love them both. I think ON still makes the frost free. Its a little bulky, but has a waist cincher. I think its cheap too. I wore it until I delivered. Its REALLY warm. I wear it all the time this PG. Its nice because its parka length.

Snapdragon750 · January 2013

I wore DH's old down coat all winter with my first. When I wanted something a little fancier, I borrowed a friend's maternity coat. I also didn't want to spend a hundred bucks on something I'd only wear for a few months!

AZMagnini14 · January 2013

I got one online from Destination Maternity. It was originally $100 and I got it for $20 plus $7 shipping just yesterday. Right now they have 50% off coats including coats already on sale.

StrikeGirl · January 2013

Old Navy or Motherhood Maternity sale?

sdtchica13 · January 2013

Last time around, I bought this coat in purple, and it was perfect:

https://www.destinationmaternity.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=930950070&MasterCategory_Id=MC8

I am in NJ, so it gets freezing here too!

littletex74 · January 2013

I'm in MN, too - in the cities. Before my pregnancy, I lost about 25 lbs, and boy my XXL LLBean parka (the one, pre-pregnancy, I was gonna toss because it was too big) is now coming in handy. So that might be a start - hit up resale shops like Everyday People in Mpls for a parka one size too big. Now you did say you preferred to not get something puffy but winter in MN is the great equalizer - nobody looks fashionable! If you really abhor puffy coats, find a peacoat (Old Navy and JC Penny have cute, inexpensive ones) - maybe one with a swing to it - and then layer, layer, layer. Smartwool or silk undershirts (check REI or Sierra Trading Post online) go a long way in keeping you warm (and if they're snug, no one will know!) Layer a wool sweater over those and you'll be set. P.S. I saw a bunch of wool-blend peacoats on sale at Target a few days ago. Not sure if they were maternity or womens but, depending on your size they might word. I'm a 14 and have found that some women's stuff works for me as maternity. Also, if you're in the cities, the Salvation Army in the warehouse district (off Washington and 9th) has a basement where Target sends all of its samples and overstock. Lots of maternity stuff, most $6-10, brand new. It's a hunt, but sometimes with it. Good luck!

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