Maternity Clothes or Bigger Sizes?

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   ThePracticalMommyposted 13 years ago

   Upon the showing of your baby bump,did you buy clothing at a maternity clothing store or department and buy the latest maternity styles or did you buy regular clothing in bigger sizes?

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      Baileybearposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      depends on how big you get, your budget & whether you want to look pregnant or overweight.   I never buy anything in the latest styles.
      I like wearing pants.  I got a great pair of maternity pants at a sale that I could let out gradually.
      My mother whipped me up some things that had elasticized waist that could be let out - use an elastic that has button holes in it so can adjust.
      Be aware that most people get bigger up top too, so may need larger size than before while pregnant & breastfeeding

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   Monisajdaposted 13 years ago

   I am frugal so I bought some sale items in larger sizes and it actually looked great on me. Pregnancy clothing is on average more expensive. I was also lucky to receive used pregnancy clothes from my playgroup friends.

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   xanzacowposted 13 years ago

   I shopped the thrift stores. Amazing what you can find in there! I must say, I bought both maternity and larger sizes.

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   tasksgirlposted 13 years ago

   I don't think larger sizes would work for me, I am 16 weeks and not really showing yet but my jeans were already getting way too tight and I am very petite and short so I actually had to buy XS Petite maternity jeans! lol  if I tried to buy bigger sizes of jeans I would probably just look ridiculous
   
   That said I don't think I will be buying many maternity shirts or any more jeans or pants.. maybe just a few.. they are so expensive.

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   WryLiltposted 13 years ago

   I found some awesome extenders for my jeans and wore them all the way to the end. Basically one end goes around the button and the other end has a button to go in the hole, plus a piece of cloth to hang down and cover the zip area.
   
   And I went clothes shopping and found lots of tops that were flowy and hung down. That and long loose dresses.

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6. 91

   ThePracticalMommyposted 13 years ago

   Maternity clothes are so expensive, aren't they? I like some of your ideas about sharing with other mommies, buying from thrift stores and finding ways to make regular clothing last longer. Thanks for responding! Any other ideas out there?

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      Baileybearposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I got a fabulous sleeveless dress in knit-sweatshirt material from 2nd hand shop.  It stretched comfortably to fit, then I wore it afterwards too.  I was out with my hubby (post pregnancy) and these guys in a car called out 'Hey lady in the black & white striped dress!'

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   Lupozeeposted 13 years ago

   Due to the fact that i was only a bump and hadnt put any weight on my upper body i managed to fit into my size 8 dresses but as the bump got bigger i bought size 8 dresses but the baggy ones that way after the baby i could still wear them.  Plus maternity clothes didnt make me feel pretty so i only bought maternity jeans.
   
   enjoy your pregnancy

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   workingmomwmposted 13 years ago

   I never really had to buy maternity clothes. I bought one pair of jeans and one pair of pants at a thrift store for my first pregnancy because I didn't know better. I never really even got that big. People at work didn't know I was pregnant until I went back after maternity leave and they said, "Wow! You've lost a lot of weight." Um, yeah. Had a baby!
   
   Lifelong weight struggles meant I already had regular clothes in a variety of sizes. And having a mother with major body issues helped, too. She always thinks she and everyone else is bigger than they actually are, so she was constantly buying me 2X and 3X clothes. I can't wear them normally because they fall off of me, but when I was pregnant, they came in handy!

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   Giselle Maineposted 13 years ago

   Depends where you live.  In my area, there weren't too many stores with a good maternity section nearby, so while I did have to get maternity pants, I just bought 1X (=16W) tops instead of maternity.  The tops were cuter, more fun, better selection AND cheaper than maternity tops.  Best of all, they were loose - unlike maternity tops which were clingy to show off the bump... but I didn't want clingy because my butt was also getting larger at the same time, LOL!! As an added bonus, I found it much easier to sell off 1X tops at our yard sale afterward, than it was to sell size S maternity tops!!

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      Baileybearposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      actually my butt getting bigger was the first signs of my pregnancy to outsiders!

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      1. 91

         ThePracticalMommyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         That's funny! It happened to me too with both of my pregnancies...

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    Chaotic Chicaposted 13 years ago

    For my first two pregnancies I was young and insecure and refused to buy maternity except for what I had to for my military uniforms.  Being military I was on a budget and shopped sales and thrift stores.
    For my next two I was more confident and proud of my baby bumps so I gave in to maternity pants which are more comfortable but because of price I still shopped thrift stores, yard sales, and accepted hand me downs.  I wanted people to know that I was pregnant, not fat. 
    My mother went further and sewed her own clothes throughout her pregnancy with me.  This way she knew everything fit on her the way she wanted and she was able to have something unique to her.

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       ThePracticalMommyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I like what you said about your mom. I wish I had that talent!

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