I've been doing a little maternity shopping lately... got some nice long sleeve shirts at H&M and their skinny jeans. Been wearing them nonstop the past few days and very happy with it all. Also got some tights which are fine. I got Blanqi leggings but I don't love them - thin/activewear material and the tag says they are prone to snags so be careful. And I did get a small snag already. Maybe I'll really appreciate the way it supports the bump later. I want to get a wrap dress and a basic pull on skirt and I think I'll be pretty much good to go. Trying to keep it minimal and comfy!
So far my maternity wins are a super comfy pair of H&M jeans I got for 50% off, a pair of Pea in the pod corduroy over the bump pants that feel like butter, and two work dresses from Seraphine. I've gotten some good tops from the Pea in the pod too. I still need at least one other work dress… Most of what I ordered from Seraphine didn't work out. Also, a pair of J.Crew under the bump jeans kept falling down.
Also, what is everyone doing for coats?! The coat extenders are so expensive.
@sister_c I scored some half of maternity jeans today too. Thank gooodness. They’re so expensive and seem to be rarely on sale. For a coat, I just left the bottom button undone on my pea coat with DD, and since I’m only a week behind that pregnancy this time, as far as time of year goes, I’m sure that will still work for me through winter. I’ve also heard of plenty of women leaving their coats unbuttoned altogether and layering a really big scarf down their front to block the wind where the coat is open.
@sister_c I'm lucky that my snowboarding jacket is really roomy plus waterproof, since it's more about the rain then the cold here it works out. Probably won't need it past February here anyways, so it only needs to make it a couple months.
Could you try snagging a coat in a size or so up at like goodwill or something similar to use for a couple months?
this is my backup acct. prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014 BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
Thanks @lyse01@thatbaintforbetty@HGRich! we have a long cold winter where I am, so I will need a coat that closes. Also, I recently read a study about the increased risk of postpartum depression for women whose last trimester is during the winter… so all of us. The authors suggested it was related to lack of sunlight and recommended consistent daily light exposure, so I am trying to walk almost every day even through the winter. Men's coat from Goodwill is great idea.
If y’all are like me and have suddenly realized your regular winter coat isn’t going to last all winter, H&M Mama has a burgundy puffy coat available on their site for $29.99. I’m a bit jealous of you ladies who live where it’s warm enough to get by with an unzipped coat, but this’ll probably be better than nothing.
Edit: @rennie1108 No idea why the link isn’t working, but if you search ‘MAMA Padded Jacket’ on H&Ms US website, it should come up. The navy one is regular price but the red is on sale.
I tried both clicking on it and copying/pasting and I still says page not found. I even just looked through all of H&M's maternity clothes and couldn't find it. WTH.
I think I'll just go for as long as possible with my normal coats and then wear a poncho or some shit. I can't justify spending a lot on a coat, which is why I wanted that $30 one so much! But I feel like I don't need one badly enough to actually go looking for one to find a deal lol.
Maternity clothes are just not doing it for me. I have a couple of items, but I’ve mostly been wearing my old pants with a button extender/belly band and sized up, flowy non-maternity tops. Every time I go to a maternity store I get scared off by the prices ($35 for a t-shirt??) or when I actually try things on they look terrible and make me feel depressed. BTW I got a bunch of awesome long sleeve tops and swing dresses (all non-maternity) this week at Old Navy for 50% off so I feel more comfortable stocking up on that stuff knowing that no one is trying to rip me off because of my current health condition!
ugh. I've hit a wall. I haven't left my house for anything other than work for like, 2 weeks. first of all- it's fucking cold out. but secondly/mainly: I have maxed out my maternity wardrobe and this late into the pregnancy, I really don't want to buy anything that I will only wear for 2-3 more months.
work clothes aside, the only pants I have are a pair of blanqi leggings that I live in at home, and ONE pair of motherhood skinny ankle jeans. (I ordered some skinny jeans from H&M that everyone has been raving about, but they just didn't work out for me. I'm afraid my thunder thighs have reached Guinness records).
the one sweater that was my go-to for going out was shrunk in the wash, thanks to my husband and I just don't feel good going out in public in anything else.
but I've got cabin fever like a mother. I know I need to get out. I started this thread, and this pregnancy, swearing that I would enjoy this pregnancy 'til the end b/c I know it will be my last and I've hit that funk. I think I'm just looking for encouragement to just splurge anyway. but the thought already hurts. idk why it's giving me so much anxiety.
@batmama31 I feel you. I hate maternity clothes and I’m uncomfortable in everything all of the time. I say splurge on one more pair of pants and one versatile top / sweater. We still have 3 months to go. And maybe you can find something on sale, or even a sweater that isn’t technically maternity. One of my favorite go-to sweaters is a wool tunic deep v that isn’t maternity but still works great because of the style.
Im in a funk too. I’m grumpy, I feel ugly and like nothing fits or looks good. I was just windowshopping on the madewell website imagining how nice it will be when I’m not pregnant, but I didn’t bother to buy anything. I just miss regular jeans so much!
@professormama, I get emails from maurices for their sales (I buy most of my work clothes from their store, too) and I actually got a little sad window shopping on their site the other day
@batmama31 sometimes I like to think of clothes on a “what is it worth per use” basis. So, $60 on jeans that I wear once? Yuck. $60 on jeans I wear daily for the next 90 days, and probably post partum while I return to normal? So like 50c a day? Worth it.
@batmama31 I’d start with the clearance at motherhood, I always find some great deals there. I got both my Jessica Simpson jeans and couple of shirts for like 75% off. Also most of my shirts I wear are not maternity. I’m more comfortable in tunic like and dolman sweaters/shirts. Sometimes I just go up one size from pre-pregnancy
@batmama31: I also agree with @lyse01 about cost-per-wear! But also if you are just not finding maternity jeans you love, you might look at dresses, especially fits that would also be good postpartum? There are a LOT of cute wrap options right now!
@batmama31 and @professormama I feel you both with the funk! I'm tired of only having the few maternity items to wear, but don't like a lot of the maternity clothes and hate the idea of spending money on things that are so temporary. I recently did an order from H&M (mostly because their return policy on clothes ordered online is pretty good) of all non-maternity dresses, and it gave me a little pick-me up. Like @TheSouffleGirl said, wrap dresses are luckily in right now so that gives a few options. Same with shift dresses! I felt a little more normal after ordering a few things that weren't pregnancy specific.
Side note: the one pregnancy thing I did order was a maternity/nursing bra, and man am I glad I did. I had been living mostly in sports bras and giant bralettes, mostly because I had no idea what my new cup size was. Once I found out, and realized I had gone up like 4 cup sizes, I was so discouraged because the only bras is those sizes were SO EXPENSIVE. Also, after the breast reduction I had many years ago, I felt like I was almost back to square 1 and felt like going through surgery had been such a waste. Anyway, since around the middle of my second tri, I had been having excruciating upper back pain (like in between my shoulder blades). Couple days of wearing a supportive maternity bra, and the pain has almost disappeared! I'm kicking myself a little now for waiting so long...
What about checking out ebay? I have found a few good things on there. I liked getting a deal and knew that the previous owner had probably only worn them a few times as well.
I've had good luck with Motherhood Maternity jeans on sale for like 16 bucks, although I'm starting to think I bought a size too large. I didn't want them really tight because I knew I'd get bigger - or thought I would in the thighs - but they are a teeny bit on the "baggy" side (for stretch jeans, that is). While they are super comfortable, I don't think I'll get used to them stretching out so easily.
@kate_e_nb: I too just changed into my nursing bras, and it was a relief! I on-purpose waited too long because I friggin hate how bulky and ugly they are and really needed comfort as a motivator.
Re: maternity wardrobe
Married 7/6/13
EDD 2/5/21
DD 4/19
Also, what is everyone doing for coats?! The coat extenders are so expensive.
For a coat, I just left the bottom button undone on my pea coat with DD, and since I’m only a week behind that pregnancy this time, as far as time of year goes, I’m sure that will still work for me through winter. I’ve also heard of plenty of women leaving their coats unbuttoned altogether and layering a really big scarf down their front to block the wind where the coat is open.
prevously helloblueeyes
Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014
BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
If y’all are like me and have suddenly realized your regular winter coat isn’t going to last all winter, H&M Mama has a burgundy puffy coat available on their site for $29.99. I’m a bit jealous of you ladies who live where it’s warm enough to get by with an unzipped coat, but this’ll probably be better than nothing.
Edit: @rennie1108 No idea why the link isn’t working, but if you search ‘MAMA Padded Jacket’ on H&Ms US website, it should come up. The navy one is regular price but the red is on sale.
https://m2.hm.com/m/en_us/productpage.0393993004.html
Every time I go to a maternity store I get scared off by the prices ($35 for a t-shirt??) or when I actually try things on they look terrible and make me feel depressed.
BTW I got a bunch of awesome long sleeve tops and swing dresses (all non-maternity) this week at Old Navy for 50% off so I feel more comfortable stocking up on that stuff knowing that no one is trying to rip me off because of my current health condition!
work clothes aside, the only pants I have are a pair of blanqi leggings that I live in at home, and ONE pair of motherhood skinny ankle jeans. (I ordered some skinny jeans from H&M that everyone has been raving about, but they just didn't work out for me. I'm afraid my thunder thighs have reached Guinness records).
the one sweater that was my go-to for going out was shrunk in the wash, thanks to my husband
but I've got cabin fever like a mother. I know I need to get out. I started this thread, and this pregnancy, swearing that I would enjoy this pregnancy 'til the end b/c I know it will be my last and I've hit that funk. I think I'm just looking for encouragement to just splurge anyway. but the thought already hurts. idk why it's giving me so much anxiety.
Im in a funk too. I’m grumpy, I feel ugly and like nothing fits or looks good. I was just windowshopping on the madewell website imagining how nice it will be when I’m not pregnant, but I didn’t bother to buy anything. I just miss regular jeans so much!
I feel you both with the funk! I'm tired of only having the few maternity items to wear, but don't like a lot of the maternity clothes and hate the idea of spending money on things that are so temporary. I recently did an order from H&M (mostly because their return policy on clothes ordered online is pretty good) of all non-maternity dresses, and it gave me a little pick-me up. Like @TheSouffleGirl said, wrap dresses are luckily in right now so that gives a few options. Same with shift dresses! I felt a little more normal after ordering a few things that weren't pregnancy specific.
Side note: the one pregnancy thing I did order was a maternity/nursing bra, and man am I glad I did. I had been living mostly in sports bras and giant bralettes, mostly because I had no idea what my new cup size was. Once I found out, and realized I had gone up like 4 cup sizes, I was so discouraged because the only bras is those sizes were SO EXPENSIVE. Also, after the breast reduction I had many years ago, I felt like I was almost back to square 1 and felt like going through surgery had been such a waste. Anyway, since around the middle of my second tri, I had been having excruciating upper back pain (like in between my shoulder blades). Couple days of wearing a supportive maternity bra, and the pain has almost disappeared! I'm kicking myself a little now for waiting so long...