Product spotlight: maternity clothes

pajamstagrams · September 2021

Figure I'd get this started since some of us (*cough cough* me) are approaching maternity pants 😬

Share your favorite brands, styles, etc.! Anything you love or hate? Relative price points ($-$$$)?

happynapper · September 2021

I’ve bought most of my maternity things on Zulily in the past. Specifically the Oh Mama brand for leggings. I’m a mostly SAHM, so other then my maternity scrubs for when I do go to work, I haven’t really needed anything specific. Zulily’s maternity clothes have been very affordable. What I will say though is that at this point in my life, apparently leggings with a side pocket have become a *necessity* to me (lol ridiculous I know) so I’m glad to see that Old Navy has their powersoft side pocket leggings in maternity now. I did order a pair but am feeling low key superstitious about taking them out of the package and washing until I have one more good ultrasound so I can’t give a firsthand account just yet.

b_1029 · September 2021

Curious if anyone has any business casual type recommendations. I didn’t end up having to buy any last time because covid hit just about halfway through my pregnancy.

And846 · September 2021

I bought a lot of basic v-neck and scoop neck shorts from target last time and wore with maternity denim. I wore old navy linen pants (non maternity) and lots of maxi dresses. This go round my company adopted a dress code so i will need to invest in a few pairs of denim and some nicer tops.

Last time i didn’t wear maternity clothes until 20+ weeks but I’m knocking on maternity jeans door.

hkom · September 2021

I tend to stick with old navy and gap. I do wish gap offered more bottoms with the demi panel because they are SO comfy and i really hate both side panels and full panels

pajamstagrams · September 2021

@b_1029 depending on how business casual you are, most places have tops that work. Pants are trickier, and were the absolute bane of my existence. I struggle with pants normally and it is so much worse with maternity wear, because business casual type pants are more limited, IMO, if you have big hips/thighs. Skirts were easier to find.

Favorite brands:

Pink blush ($): quality is okay, but orders are shipped quick and there's a huge variety of styles, and so many transition to nursing wear. I think they run a bit small, I'm typically a 8-10 in pants and need large or even XL/plus size pants from them, since they aren't the best for curvier shapes.

Seraphine ($$$): expensive, but good quality. Good for business casual/work attire, especially if it leans more formal. Ships from UK I believe so it takes a bit more time

Motherhood maternity ($-$$$, depending on brand): don't like their "real" pants (not curvy-friendly) but the shirts/leggings are pretty good.

Trunk Club/stitch fix: they both have maternity & nursing options (with trunk club you just need to manually write it in your notes I think). I've gotten some decent work blouses through stitch fix!

Cake maternity ($$-$$$): love them for nursing bras-- ended up buying bigger bras when pregnant and then used again while nursing, since my boobs didn't get too much bigger when nursing. I have a small band + larger bust (F-G when pregnant) so they have a decent array of sizes for bustier women.

Loft ($-$$): my favorite pair of work pants (they're more of a high ankle pant) are from loft. I loved them in maternity so much I bought the normal ones too 😂

Personal preferences: go for the over belly pants. Side panels never fit me right, so most of mine are over the belly, and I just suffered in the summer with how hot it gets. Also good to get tops that double as nursing tops! Will save you money 😜 but I did also end up buying non-maternity nursing tops (hard to find, but they exist) as well because I didn't want all that extra fabric.

b_1029 · September 2021

@pajamstagrams thank you! Yes, work pants have always been the bane of my existence even pre-pregnancy. I had a couple pairs of nicer (aka they had a button lol) leggings I was able to use last pregnancy with the top button undone, but I can’t get them up over my butt and hips anymore.

b_1029 · September 2021

I barely wore maternity clothes last pregnancy since the pandemic hit halfway through and I hardly left my house. Basically just wore my husband’s shirts and PJ shorts.

I loved the Ingrid + Isobel maternity tank tops from Target though (so soft and long), and got a pair of Jean shorts there I loved too! And pink blush for a couple fancier occasions (virtual baby shower and maternity pics)

pajamstagrams · September 2021

@b_1029 every single one of my normal work/dress pants have been altered in the waist, and has been since high school. I even have jeans and shorts that I've taken in as well. Actually maternity wear is nice in that regard because it's all stretchy elastic above the pelvic region so I never have to alter anything!! 🙌

abelchatovski · September 2021

I’m 6 weeks and put my jeans on for the first time yesterday since finding out I was pregnant and it was a struggle. So uncomfortable. Definitely going to be getting some maternity bottoms early

And846 · September 2021

I also got a lot of uses from dresses from Marshall’s last time. Being that our pregnancies will go through spring and summer i tend to invest more in dresses where i can throw on a cardigan or denim jacket!

Bababatty · September 2021

Last time I treated myself to a couple of orders from Stitch Fix, which I liked. But I also bought a bunch of things from a local children's consignment store since they usually have maternity sections, too, and I didn't want to buy all new things. I definitely recommend that to save some money. This time I want to try buying some used clothes off of ThredUp.

I second the recommendation above for over-the-belly (full panel) waist bands. I found them a lot more cozy and secure.

If anyone has any recommendations for maternity tights that actually stay up, I'm all ears. I spent the majority of my last pregnancy hauling those things up because they kept slipping down. I'll probably have to start wearing them again if our office re-opens as planned in November and I do not want to repeat that situation.

laeberge3 · September 2021

I actually have had a lot of luck with H&M's maternity clothes -- I especially liked their jeans!

jandawg · September 2021

@laeberge3 I had some great stuff from h&m!

Has anyone tried Storq?

kham130 · October 2021

Looking for pregnancy bra recommendations! I've noticed my boobs are now spilling out of my current bra 😬

pajamstagrams · October 2021

@karisahamdi you can either buy nursing bras now (they may not fit when you're nursing if you grow more) or you can just buy normal bras in a size (or 2) up. I went through multiple rounds of bra phases...first normal bras, then maternity/nursing, then had to buy some bigger nursing bras post partum. My boobs don't grow early on (*maybe* a half size bigger right now, if that) so for me I need to wait a bit longer to get new bras.

annashaf · October 2021

I absolutely love Cadenshae. It’s a New Zealand company (worldwide shipping) started by a personal trainer and mom of 5 kids (after her first was born) and they’ve really grown! Their line is mostly around athletic wear - pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, I will say that their clothing is so high quality and their breastfeeding clips/zippers so discreet, I wore/wear their clothing well after pregnancy and breastfeeding both previous kids. Their sports bras are wonderfully supportive and the leggings have a compression band to go over your bump, but can also be doubled over postpartum for extra core support. While a little expensive, a few pieces to compliment your wardrobe is definitely worth it in my opinion!

pajamstagrams · October 2021

HALP. I was going to buy more of my favorite work pants (LOFT Riviera pants) and they don't have the maternity style anymore 😭 they were the only pair of pants that fit because they were actually cut for curvy women.

That being said...anyone know of another brand that is generously cut in the thighs/hips (size 8-10 normally)? I have a small waist normally so going up 3-4 sizes to fit the thighs never works, even in maternity styles, because I end up with a ton of extra fabric in the waist.

pajamstagrams · October 2021

Me again...anyone have good recommendations for maternity outerwear? I live in the south, so I don't need a super duper heavy coat, but we occasionally drop to freezing or below, and I need a jacket below 60 degrees because I'm always cold, even more so when pregnant. Wool coats are sufficient usually for how cold it gets here. I'm so annoyed I'm going to have to spend money for coats I'll use for 3 months, but nothing I have will work since they're all so slim fitting, and let's be honest, haven't zipped up comfortably in a long time anyway 🙃

skc040512 · October 2021

@pajamstagrams I’m in the south, too and in the past, I’ve just gotten an inexpensive fleece from somewhere like Target or Kohl’s and sized up. I also am always so hot in the winter when I’m pregnant that I just go without half the time 😂. As for more fitted options, I did have one for one of my previous pregnancies from Motherhood that fit fairly well, but in all honesty it wasn’t super comfy and I ended up being too hot in it a lot of the time

skc040512 · October 2021

This time around, I am chasing 2 toddlers and homeschooling a kindergartener so I’m planning on basically living in leggings. I have a pair of joggers from Amazon (Colorfulkoala brand) that I basically live in and hopefully I can get away with just sizing up 😂 I’ve had decent luck finding moderately priced things on Amazon or by going through Marketplace listings. I’m 10 weeks now and my jeans already don’t fit so I see some shopping in my future lol

And846 · October 2021

I’m planning on just getting a HeatKeep jacket and sizing up this year! It’s like the Patagonia NanoPuff but a fraction of the price. Looks the same just doesn’t have the logo.

I’m in Florida and it’s perfect for 30-60 wether

kham130 · October 2021

@pajamstagrams wow I didn't even think about a coat for the winter 🤦🏻‍♀️ I live in New England and it can get very cold around here, so any heavy-duty winter coat recommendations would be great!

OneRainDrop · October 2021

@pajamstagrams I always just steal one of my husbands jackets haha 😆

jandawg · October 2021

@OneRainDrop @pajamstagrams I also stole one of my husband's jackets - he had an oversized Uniqlo one that was perfect!

pajamstagrams · October 2021

@jandawg @OneRainDrop ugh, if only, but he's not *that* much bigger than me. Sure, he's got 4" on me and 30 lbs, but I feel like there's not that much difference between a women's large and a men's large 😕

Bababatty · October 2021

@pajamstagrams Would a jacket extender like the ones from Make My Belly Fit work with your coats? https://makemybellyfit.com/ I didn't have to purchase one last time, but I may this year (although I'm leaning toward buying a dual maternity/babywearing coat this time around). I have Make My Belly Fit's baby carrier cover, so I can attest that their products are good.

pajamstagrams · October 2021

@Bababatty maybe?? My main coats are buttoned or wrap (I checked, it still won't fit around a 20-25 wk bump lol) but I do have a zip up puffer I wear when it gets really cold so maybe I'll just do that 🤔

And846 · October 2021

Maternity denim…i saw a friend comment on the ad. Abercrombie has maternity jeans. Of course they don’t have a category online but If you search “maternity” on their search bar it will come up

Bababatty · October 2021

@pajamstagrams Yeah, I think the jacket extenders are a great idea but they're all for zippers, which is annoying. (I loved the carrier cover because I could use it with my wool button-up coat since it clips in, but that doesn't help your current situation. ;-) )

b_1029 · October 2021

Does anyone have any old navy maternity jean reviews? Looks like they have several options for panels, I don’t know which to do other than the fact I know I hate side panels.

pajamstagrams · October 2021

@b_1029 so I don't have their jeans, but I do have a pair of their shorts that are side panels (which I normally hate) and they were the only shorts that fit me. I didn't wear often, but they were good enough. I think they were a little big in the waist/small in the hips as per usually for pants for me.

b_1029 · October 2021

@pajamstagrams good to know! I need to buy a “nicer” pair of jeans, my best friend gave her all her maternity clothes and the only jeans have holes in them. I figure I buy jeans to wear into the office that I can alternate with leggings and dresses/tights in the winter 😆 assuming we ever go back..

pajamstagrams · October 2021

@b_1029 my favorite jeans are from Nordstrom (1809(??) Brand) and I have a Liverpool brand that I got from stitch fix. Both over the belly 👍

I definitely wore my black jeans (almost jegging like, tbh) to work, I just bought a size up and it was a bit baggier than normal 😂 now our dress code is a lot more lax post covid so wearing jeans any day of the week is pretty acceptable

Eta: I think 1809 (or whatever the brand) runs small, I'm normally an 8-10 in jeans and I bought a XL in the black jeans (they do fit looser) and I have a L in normal jeans, and they're almost too short for me, and are comfortably snug.

Bababatty · October 2021

Question: all my pants were full panel last time, so I don't have any experience with the side or demi panels. But I see a lot of people don't like side panels--what are the major issues you encountered? I need to get some more pants (I'd forgotten I have a lot of skinny leg pants and I absolutely hate the feeling of my calves being encased right now--but oddly have no problem with leggings; maybe because leggings are more flexible). So wondering if I should experiment with panels or just go with what I know worked in the past.

pajamstagrams · October 2021

@Bababatty the issue for me is they didn't stay up. I have a small waist relative to my hips and thighs, so I size up to fit. I usually have to alter my pants, and I felt like taking the waist in on a maternity pant was dicey. With full panel, it goes well above my waist and therefore eliminates the normal 3-5" waist gap I have 😂

You could always experiment though. And I will say I had some full panels that kept sliding down as well, so they aren't perfect. But definitely better. At least I know my butt crack won't show 🤷‍♀️

b_1029 · October 2021

@Bababatty same on my side panel pants not staying up. I guess it also helped that the one pair of full panel jeans I had have belt loops so I was able to hold them up that way. I’d tuck the full panel into the bottom of my bra on the others to help them stay up 😆

eta so I guess I had the same issue with all maternity jeans last time. I want to find some that fit me better this time so im
not constantly feeling like I need to yank up my pants.

kham130 · October 2021

@b_1029 I just bought the Old Navy ones the other day! I love their normal jeans so figured it'd give them a try. I'll let you know how I feel about them once they come in.

I did try the Target ones the other day and I really liked the funnel panel ones! My only issue is I'm short and they only had regular at the store so they bunched at my knees. If I don't end up liking the Old Navy ones I'll probably go back to those in short.

And846 · October 2021

The target full panel are great! I tried a few side panel and i did not lie them. I unpacked my maternity clothes and sadly need to get more since 90% of what i have cannot be worn to work now.

I’m in that awkward phase of regular clothes are too tight and maternity is to big…So im doing the good ole hair tie trick with my denim

Bababatty · October 2021

Thanks! This is helpful! @pajamstagrams I also have a smaller waist relative to hips and thighs so I think I'll skip the side panel if you were having falling down issues for the same reason.

@b_1029 Tucking it into your bra is genius! I might try that when I have to start wearing maternity tights. Those were the bane of my existence last time.

pajamstagrams · October 2021

Thought I'd share my recent experience....

Once again, stitch fix came through with h great maternity options! Got some cute sweaters for work! (striped and rouched, so gonna hold off on wearing because they do scream "maternity", plus it's still hot AF here)

Trunk club was disappointing. I guess I thought they would actually pull from their maternity selection for tops, because Nordstrom does have some, but they gave me all normal tops, in my normal size. Which isn't gonna work anymore since I'm actually showing, and even sizing up just makes me look wider and larger. They did pick maternity jeans, but of course I asked for no jeans. So I wouldn't recommend TC for maternity, but they did do a great job picking out nursing-friendly tops from normal clothing so I'll resume post partum.

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