Doing a Little Shopping

Tue, Sep 1, 2009

All Posts, Everyday Life, Misc., Pregnancy Life, Pregnant

It’s that time, Internet friends. Time to admit that I can no longer hide my widening girth in my “one-size-larger” clothes that the books recommend. They say that rather than rush out and buy a maternity wardrobe, stick to regular clothes as long as you can and just get a size larger than normal. My favorite suggestion, though, is when they tell you to wear your husband’s shirts and pants. Have they seen my husband? Apparently not. If I can fit into my husband’s 6′8″ clothes, I have something else to worry about than my current dilemma.

But a dilemma it is since I am officially busting out of my clothes. I did try the Motherhood store at the mall, but didn’t like the way their pants fit. So during the past week, I have spent hours looking for maternity clothes online. I’ve looked at maternity boutiques, retail dealers, even eBay, all in the search for clothes that will fit me as the baby continues to grow.

It’s always been difficult for me to buy clothes because I’m tall and I need long pants. Add to that my tendency to carry my weight in my nether regions and then throw in some baby weight and you begin to see my problem. Oh sure there are cute maternity clothes for people who are tiny. People who, unlike me, don’t gain weight all over when they put on a pound or two. But I’ve already gone up a size and a half, even by maternity clothes standards, which presents a new set of challenges.

During my search, I did find several nice outfits, so I was feeling pretty optimistic. Like this cute sweater, for example. Isn’t it adorable? Versatile too as you could wear it with a shirt underneath or without. Oh. Wait a minute. What’s that? It costs $195.00? For a sweater that I may get five months of wear out of if I’m lucky? Moving on.

Maybe I’ll concentrate on jeans instead, as they’re a definite wardrobe staple and at this point, a must. Now these are cute. Cover up that not-so-flattering band thingy and they’ll be allright.

My only question is, why are they $118.00? I would almost expect to pay that much if they were like these 7 For all Mankind jeans (which are considered part of the “Designer Jeans Collection”). But the designer jeans cost twice as much at $210.00 a pair.

Hmm… for the sake of argument, lets say that I didn’t mind spending this kind of money on a short-term wardrobe. Let’s say that I wanted to order a pair or two of these cute jeans in the hopes that they would make my pregnant figure look good.

So I went to put the jeans into my virtual shopping bag, but suddenly realized that I didn’t know which size to order. Thankfully I found a sizing chart, which was good. At least I thought it was good, until I realized that my current size is considered a 2XL. That’s right, not only am I feeling huge anyway, but I am now considered an XXL. Let me show you the chart just to illustrate my point:

Unless otherwise noted, feel free to use the following sizing as a general guideline when ordering.

Size 0-2 = XS

Size 2-4 = Small

Size 6-8 = Medium

Size 8-10 = Large

Size 10-12 = X-Large

Size 12-16 = 2X-Large

According to this sizing chart, anything above a size 10 is considered XLarge. Exactly how is that supposed to make a pregnant woman feel beautiful while embracing her new curves?

Granted, not all websites are like this. Some are what I would consider “normal.” Gap and Old Navy sell maternity clothes online and they even use regular numerical sizes and they offer pants with long inseams. But their choices are somewhat limited so it would be nice to be able to go elsewhere.

Needless to say, all of this has made the maternity clothes shopping experience a frustrating one. I am happy to report that after hours searching, I ended up finding a few options. I bought these jeans from the Gap because they do come in “long” and they fit very nicely. I got them on sale for $55.00 so the price was pretty reasonable.

I also found an online store called RG Maternity that caters to tall women. Very tall women actually. Their pants have 36″ and 37″ inseams, and their clothes are cute. Since they’re much longer than the 34″ that I need, I figure I can hem the two pair of jeans that I got (they cost between $45-$65.00).

I also found a place that sells used maternity wear called Craving Style. You’ve gotta love buying a sweater for $10.00, especially when you know it will be used on a limited basis. They even have a 14-day money back guarantee! Since it’s much easier for me to find tops than it is to find bottoms, I plan on regularly checking their selection to find some good deals.

So now I have a couple of basics, which is a good starting point. It’s been challenging, this whole maternity shopping thing, but I’m learning it’s possible so I’m feeling hopeful. I will continue my search and eventually, with some more luck and a lot of perserverance, I think I will be able to put a suitable wardrobe together. Even if I am considered an XXXXXL!

Where did you buy your maternity clothes? Did you/do you have issues with the market, or is it just me?

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Tags: maternity clothes, Pregnancy Life

33 Comments For This Post

Kristy Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 5:02 am

Let’s also mention the fact that for some reason many maternity tops have these plunging necklines, as though all modesty is gone. I actually made some panels to stitch in the necks of some of my blouses. I’ve had good luck with shirts fitting otherwise, but often struggle to find a good fit in pants. I am also frustrated by the lack of pockets in some pants as well. With two small children, I always carry my keys in my pockets so I’m not digging for them when we’re out. You might also use a band (they can be found many places) to hold up your unbuttoned pants for a few more weeks and then you’ll have it post baby when you’re in between maternity and regular clothes again.

Joanna Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 5:19 am

I was an Old Navy shopper. I’m short so didn’t have to worry about pant length (other than hemming) and since I was at home, I didn’t have to worry about my work wardrobe. I highly recommend the yoga pants. I spent most of my last few months in those pants because the jeans got too tight and I didn’t want to order a new size just to wear for two months. I agree with the insanity of the prices on maternity clothes. You no longer can plan the spacing of your children based on what’s best for your family, but rather trying to be pregnant during the same season so you can reuse maternity clothes!

I have to admit, my “Whaaaaat?” moment came when I stumbled across the maternity thong. I can think of nothing I wanted to wear less when hugely pregnant than thong underwear. (*waves to your mom*)

Amber Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 5:25 am

I shopped at Motherhood Maternity because it was cheap, but honestly I hated the way the jeans fit. I couldn’t keep them up! The sagged all the time. Not pretty. I also bought some things from Old Navy online. I liked that I could order long inseams, but the jeans I had were too snug in the thigh and too loose in the waist – a standard problem for me, so no surprises there.
Best of luck! I know it can be really frustrating, and you’ll feel like you have absolutely nothing to wear. But just wait till you’ve had the baby! Then you’ll REALLY have nothing to wear!

Sarah L Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 5:38 am

My best luck has been Old Navy maternity jeans. I love them! As of now, I have 4 pairs. I love them all. 2 are real waist (with an adjustable waist which is awesome), 1 pair of full panel, and 1 low rise. Their shirts are very comfy and cute and true to size. Right now they’re having a good sale on summer stuff and I love layering camis and tanks with cardigans so I will wear them while it’s still warm and then again when it gets cold. Gap stuff seems a little steep to me. I mean, I’m already 4 months pregnant.
I agree with Joanna about the thong. I actually bought some “maternity underwear” at Motherhood over the weekend and can’t tell a difference between them and my regular bikini underwear. Waste of money, IMO!

Mom of 5 Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:13 am

So glad you found the long jeans. Take heart, maternity clothes have always been difficult to find – even when I was pregnant (please don’t say the stone ages…). Anyway, glad you’re finding sites that offer style and reasonable prices. Can’t wait to go shopping together to get some tops for you. I know you’ll look marvelous in your choices!!

Ambulance Mommy Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:17 am

Kohls and Target both carry maternity lines, and the prices are incredibly reasonable, so you didn’t feel like you are doing something awful like paying $150 for a pair of maternity clothes!! (i think maybe Wal-Mart does too)

a few things to remember though…what might fit you in your second trimester may not fit in your third. it just depends on how you carry. will you carry really low, and thus need larger pants? will you carry very high and need shirts with more give? will you outgrow your maternity clothes in the last 6 weeks and have to go back to buy more stuff in larger sizes because you still have to go to work like me

(or, will you go on wearing your smaller maternity jeans for a long time post pregnany because they are so incredibly comfy that you don’t want to go back to the old style!!)

the secret to maternity clothes is to realize that it might not fit like your old clothes, but that’s ok. you are pregnant, it’s obvious if you are in maternity clothes, and no one is expecting your clothes to fall in exactly the right places that it did before. and don’t go to the expensive stores. its really not worth it.

emilyG Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:30 am

I bought eBay.

I would look every day, at the LOT clothes, where one person is selling a big bunch of clothes altogether. I found a person in my size, who had cute maternity dresses and shirts, and a couple pairs of pants, and went with it. There was stuff from brand name stores, and I got it for super cheap. And of course, they’re in very good used condition, because they were only worn for a limited time.

But, I’ll admit, that I love eBay a little too much. I have a problem. But this time, it was okay.

emilyG Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:34 am

OH. and I was famous for the hair-rubberband-through-the button-loop trick in my before-jeans. I bought one size larger in jeans, and wore them buttoned for a while, then with a hair tie for a while, then with one of those bella bands at the end.

Sabrina Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 7:12 am

I was fortunate the first time to be able to borrow a few from a friend but still had to purchase some and the second time I had to buy more. I loved the adjustable waist slacks(with snaps) and was able to wear them throughout the entire pregnancies and as ugly as the panels are? They felt WONDERFUL.

I tried to really stay on the cheap range considering they were for a short time. I found most of mine at J.C. Penney and a few things at Wal-Mart. I just couldn’t stand the idea of spending SO much like the specialty stores charged.

Now there are 2 or 3 local thrift-type stores who only carry maternity clothes and baby/kids stuff. If you have a store like that, it would probably be worth checking out.

Mindee@ourfrontdoor Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 7:59 am

Oh Tabitha. I feel for you. When I was pg I was sure that they only made clothes for women 5′5″ or under. I was sure it was a conspiracy to keep tall people from reproducing.

Also, my butt was just plain huge. In fact my sister asked me if my butt was pregnant too.

I cried.

Have you looked at Target?

Kristina P. Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 8:30 am

I’m glad you found some item! I know that Target also has a maternity section.

Janet Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 8:47 am

I can’t help myself… I have to share these two blogs with you. Every time I check in with them now I think of you and your journey into Motherhood!

See: http://marriageconfessions.com/confessions/

and

http://glamlifehousewife.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Janet

Jessika Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 8:51 am

I’ve heard the bella bands are good. Or just buy regular jeans that fit and sew a bit elastic band on them. I mean, you only need a couple of good pairs. I cannot imagine your frustration! Hang in there!

Kate Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:01 am

Oh, maternity clothes, how I cannot WAIT to need you!

Although, I feel your pain (except my problem is being short, not tall). I feel like I can barely find clothes to fit NOW (not pregnant!), I can’t imagine what it will be like with a bowling ball in my abdominal area too!

cali Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:36 am

have you tried target and old navy?? those worked well for me, and old navy has tall sizes if that’s an issue for you…

Jenny Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:38 am

Shopping for maternity clothes sounds like torture to me! Especially since you’re going to keep growing so I’m assuming that your first round of maternity clothes isn’t going to get you through the whole pregnancy. I have no idea, but that sounds logical to me. That’s something I’m not looking forward to doing!

Jenny Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:41 am

Oh, one other thing. Do you have “Just Between Friends” in your area? I’ve had friends rave about it. It’s like a giant consignment sale/garage sale….but with just baby stuff and I think they have maternity stuff too.

joy Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:44 am

My problem is being a plus sized petite person and pregnant. Forget about finding anything flattering. Luckily for me Motherhood Maternity has been my place to go to for both pregnancies. I still have stuff from my first pregnancy but since it was during the winter time most of the stuff is jeans and long sleeved shirts. This time around, I needed shorts and short sleeved shirts. At least part of this pregnancy will be during the fall, so I hope (cross my fingers), I can still fit into a few of my pieces from the first pregnancy. The whole maternity clothing is a racket just because of how brief you wear the clothing. The other thing to buy is one of those band things (http://www.ingridandisabel.com/bellaband.html) that you can slip over your existing jeans and pants so they last a little longer.

Terra Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:55 am

I had a heck of a time finding stuff (particularly pants) that I felt good in. I ended up shopping at Old navy, (which only carries maternity online now for the most part), Target and Kohl’s. No one has a really GOOD selection, and I too was’t willing to spend that kind of money on clothes I was only going to wear for a few months, even if I have four children.

Eryn Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 11:19 am

Maternity shopping sucks!!!! Especially since you’re spending money on stuff you’ll wear only a few months. I got some stuff on eBay, and I wear a lot of sundresses and skirts with elastic waistbands. That way I don’t have to pack them away after I have the baby and they’re usually cuter too! Yoga pants and sweats work wonders too…and if all else fails I’ve had some luck at Old Navy

Genevieve Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 11:43 am

Make sure you walk around and sit down in the dressing room! For some reason I CANNOT keep certain maternity pants on my body. They slip right off! Weird! I ended up needing to buy a belly band just to keep my pants on. Didn’t matter that they were they pricey should stay on my behind kind of pants!

Hokie Deb Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 12:04 pm

–>I was thankful to get a lot of maternity hand-me-downs which I passed along.

http://www.WebSavyMom.com

Renee Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 12:49 pm

Thanks for the Craving Style link. I checked it out and found a few things that I hope work out well. Got chilly at night here in the Northeast and all my maternity clothes are capris and short sleeves. Now, I have to start all over for fall. Great blog…I’ll be checking in. Thanks!

Tressa Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:51 pm

If you are certain that you are going to have more children in the future – maternity clothing is more than likely a good investment.
I remember seeing the all-too-cute clothing hanging in the store windows, beckoning me to come in and purchase them only to have them carry a huge price tag. I too am tall – 6 feet – and have problems finding jeans that fit. I do live in a warm climate and can avoid that problem all together by wearing capris.
When I was pregnant, I got away with purchasing three items that were actual maternity items: A white shirt, a pair of shorts and a pair of capris – all found, believe it or not, at Wal-Mart – they fit perfectly.
I found, though, that I got away with wearing tie-waste items that expanded with me and stretchy skirts that I already owned. For shirts, I was able to wear they style that I like so much – empire waste shirts that were already in my wardrobe. I also was able to pair stretchy tanks with button-ups that I left open (for the layered look).
That was four years ago already, but I have talked with my also-tall cousin, who says the greatest invention in the world for pregnant woman is now a stretchy band that goes over the pants you currently own. Just leave them unbuttoned and put this band over them to hold up your pants and secure your growing belly. I am uncertain of the name, but I have seen it in the windows of maternity stores and it only costs around $50.
Good luck.

erin Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 7:04 pm

Bella Bands are awesome. Invest in one or two. I got mine at Target for $17.

I was also an Old Navy girl, especially for maternity pants. Their pants generally do not fit me (I have too much weight in my thighs and bottom and not enough in my waist, apparently) but the maternity pants did. I loved the Real Waist stretch twill pants for work, I got them in khaki and gray and practically wore them out. I really liked the maternity jeans I got from them too.

Try dresses also, even if you’re not much of a dress girl. I know it is coming up one cold weather, but you’ll likely find that a) your metabolism will change and you’ll be warmer than usual anyways, and b) you might not like wearing things with a waistband. I HATED wearing pants unless they sat either under my belly, or with a huge belly panel that stretched over my belly. None of this across the belly crap.

Target also often has cute maternity stuff, especially on the sale rack. And don’t blow your wad all right now, because the things that look cute now (or when you are 6 months along) won’t be so cute when you are 8 1/2 months pregnant and not even your maternity blouses will cover your belly. At 37 weeks I “splurged” ($5 from the sale rack at Target) on a new silky top that was long enough to cover my belly.

And one final thing (this is a long comment, sorry!) – be sure to get a good bra to sleep in. It’s annoying to sleep in it, but as your breasts swell and are tender, you’ll be glad you did. And you’ll be used to it by the time you’re nursing and need to sleep in one so that you don’t leak all over the sheets at night. Oh, the things you have to look forward to!

Melody C Says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:18 am

You’ve given me another reason to avoid pregnancy! I need those 36″ inseams and a waist that’s a size smaller than hips. I don’t like shopping for clothing as a general rule and it sounds like I would probably learn unique ways of wearing sheets and belts (a la toga) rather than actually putting forth the effort required to find nice clothes! That said, I might suggest some maternity dresses rather than jeans/tops. Comfort and ease!

Meili Bell Says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:42 am

Hi! I just found your site through The Pioneer Woman and thought I’d let you know that I love it! I just might become a regular visitor. I live in SLC. It’s always funny to randomly meet others on the web who have ties to my city.

Good luck in your search for maternity clothes!

Jane Says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am

My ‘mom’ group had four of us who were in different stages of pregnancy for years. Only one of us worked and three of us sewed. We had THE BOX. The box held all the maternity clothes the four of owned and it made the rounds to whoever needed it. We pruned out the old worn things and added new as needed. Often the first notice that someone was expecting again was a phone call saying ‘take the box to …’. My favorite picture of us was all four lined up: newly pregnant through hugely pregnant and two inbetween pregnant. The first of the kids to get married was just this summer. Time flies.

Jenna @ Newlyweds Says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:12 pm

Oh yes girl, maternity clothes, are either too expensive or crap!! Yes I said it, though I did love my gap maternity jean long and lean, I have long legs also!!
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=6017&vid=1&pid=582472

Its funny in the beginning of my pregnancy I was happy to be given lots of clothes from family and friends of varying sizes, I remember going through the XL sized maternity clothes and thinking, I will never been that big, but let me just tell you. I loved my XL’s!

the inadvertent farmer Says:
September 5th, 2009 at 7:21 am

I love the Levi jeans I got from JCPennys. Other than that I mostly just bought ‘up’ a size or two I usually hate maternity clothing. The exception was when pregnant with twins…then I had no choice. Good luck trying to find your maternity style! Kim

Making my Mark Says:
September 5th, 2009 at 1:56 pm

I’m glad you manged to find something.

I sent you an email a few weeks ago, but I donn’t know if you got it. I’ve changed my URL to http://dropletsonajournal.blogspot.com/ I just wanted to make sure you knew so that you don’t miss any posts (when you’re interested)

Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com Says:
September 8th, 2009 at 4:13 pm

I received a million maternity hand-me-downs and that made a world of difference. It’s HARD to find maternity clothes that work for you, not just because they’re costly and don’t fit well, but also because it’s easy to get exhausted with the process. I wound up donating about half of the hand-me-downs because they would never fit me, but I am so thankful for the ones that did fit.

That said, my best fits were Old Navy. I loved the wide-panel style of jeans the most because I felt like it offered more support (and my belly button wasn’t sensitive, so why not?) and Old Navy was one of the only places that sold long pants with that style in spring. Most places stopped selling long pants in February – presumably because our summers are so warm – and while that makes sense, I just never was able to convince my boss to let me wear denim shorts or capris to the office.

Good luck finding maternity clothes that fit!

Molly Says:
September 21st, 2009 at 6:49 am

I have used Gap and Old Navy online for maternity the most. I love my Gap maternity jeans!! I live in them and my Old Navy yoga pants. I find Motherhood stuff is poor quality and after one wash of a dress I bought this summer it looked faded and old. I’ve also had a lot of luck at consignment stores. It takes a bit of hunting, but as a previous poster said the clothes are gently used since it’s such a short time period. I’m a month ahead of you, due January 12th, and am currently hunting for a cheaper winter coat. The ones I’ve seen cost more than I paid for my pre-pregnancy coat!

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Kristy Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 5:02 am
Let’s also mention the fact that for some reason many maternity tops have these plunging necklines, as though all modesty is gone. I actually made some panels to stitch in the necks of some of my blouses. I’ve had good luck with shirts fitting otherwise, but often struggle to find a good fit in pants. I am also frustrated by the lack of pockets in some pants as well. With two small children, I always carry my keys in my pockets so I’m not digging for them when we’re out. You might also use a band (they can be found many places) to hold up your unbuttoned pants for a few more weeks and then you’ll have it post baby when you’re in between maternity and regular clothes again.
Joanna Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 5:19 am
I was an Old Navy shopper. I’m short so didn’t have to worry about pant length (other than hemming) and since I was at home, I didn’t have to worry about my work wardrobe. I highly recommend the yoga pants. I spent most of my last few months in those pants because the jeans got too tight and I didn’t want to order a new size just to wear for two months. I agree with the insanity of the prices on maternity clothes. You no longer can plan the spacing of your children based on what’s best for your family, but rather trying to be pregnant during the same season so you can reuse maternity clothes!

I have to admit, my “Whaaaaat?” moment came when I stumbled across the maternity thong. I can think of nothing I wanted to wear less when hugely pregnant than thong underwear. (*waves to your mom*)
Amber Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 5:25 am
I shopped at Motherhood Maternity because it was cheap, but honestly I hated the way the jeans fit. I couldn’t keep them up! The sagged all the time. Not pretty. I also bought some things from Old Navy online. I liked that I could order long inseams, but the jeans I had were too snug in the thigh and too loose in the waist – a standard problem for me, so no surprises there.
Best of luck! I know it can be really frustrating, and you’ll feel like you have absolutely nothing to wear. But just wait till you’ve had the baby! Then you’ll REALLY have nothing to wear!
Sarah L Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 5:38 am
My best luck has been Old Navy maternity jeans. I love them! As of now, I have 4 pairs. I love them all. 2 are real waist (with an adjustable waist which is awesome), 1 pair of full panel, and 1 low rise. Their shirts are very comfy and cute and true to size. Right now they’re having a good sale on summer stuff and I love layering camis and tanks with cardigans so I will wear them while it’s still warm and then again when it gets cold. Gap stuff seems a little steep to me. I mean, I’m already 4 months pregnant.
I agree with Joanna about the thong. I actually bought some “maternity underwear” at Motherhood over the weekend and can’t tell a difference between them and my regular bikini underwear. Waste of money, IMO!
Mom of 5 Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:13 am
So glad you found the long jeans. Take heart, maternity clothes have always been difficult to find – even when I was pregnant (please don’t say the stone ages…). Anyway, glad you’re finding sites that offer style and reasonable prices. Can’t wait to go shopping together to get some tops for you. I know you’ll look marvelous in your choices!!
Ambulance Mommy Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:17 am
Kohls and Target both carry maternity lines, and the prices are incredibly reasonable, so you didn’t feel like you are doing something awful like paying $150 for a pair of maternity clothes!! (i think maybe Wal-Mart does too)

a few things to remember though…what might fit you in your second trimester may not fit in your third. it just depends on how you carry. will you carry really low, and thus need larger pants? will you carry very high and need shirts with more give? will you outgrow your maternity clothes in the last 6 weeks and have to go back to buy more stuff in larger sizes because you still have to go to work like me

(or, will you go on wearing your smaller maternity jeans for a long time post pregnany because they are so incredibly comfy that you don’t want to go back to the old style!!)

the secret to maternity clothes is to realize that it might not fit like your old clothes, but that’s ok. you are pregnant, it’s obvious if you are in maternity clothes, and no one is expecting your clothes to fall in exactly the right places that it did before. and don’t go to the expensive stores. its really not worth it.
emilyG Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:30 am
I bought eBay.

I would look every day, at the LOT clothes, where one person is selling a big bunch of clothes altogether. I found a person in my size, who had cute maternity dresses and shirts, and a couple pairs of pants, and went with it. There was stuff from brand name stores, and I got it for super cheap. And of course, they’re in very good used condition, because they were only worn for a limited time.

But, I’ll admit, that I love eBay a little too much. I have a problem. But this time, it was okay.
emilyG Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:34 am
OH. and I was famous for the hair-rubberband-through-the button-loop trick in my before-jeans. I bought one size larger in jeans, and wore them buttoned for a while, then with a hair tie for a while, then with one of those bella bands at the end.
Sabrina Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 7:12 am
I was fortunate the first time to be able to borrow a few from a friend but still had to purchase some and the second time I had to buy more. I loved the adjustable waist slacks(with snaps) and was able to wear them throughout the entire pregnancies and as ugly as the panels are? They felt WONDERFUL.

I tried to really stay on the cheap range considering they were for a short time. I found most of mine at J.C. Penney and a few things at Wal-Mart. I just couldn’t stand the idea of spending SO much like the specialty stores charged.

Now there are 2 or 3 local thrift-type stores who only carry maternity clothes and baby/kids stuff. If you have a store like that, it would probably be worth checking out.
Mindee@ourfrontdoor Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 7:59 am
Oh Tabitha. I feel for you. When I was pg I was sure that they only made clothes for women 5′5″ or under. I was sure it was a conspiracy to keep tall people from reproducing.

Also, my butt was just plain huge. In fact my sister asked me if my butt was pregnant too.

I cried.

Have you looked at Target?
Kristina P. Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 8:30 am
I’m glad you found some item! I know that Target also has a maternity section.
Janet Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 8:47 am
I can’t help myself… I have to share these two blogs with you. Every time I check in with them now I think of you and your journey into Motherhood!

See: http://marriageconfessions.com/confessions/

and

http://glamlifehousewife.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Janet
Jessika Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 8:51 am
I’ve heard the bella bands are good. Or just buy regular jeans that fit and sew a bit elastic band on them. I mean, you only need a couple of good pairs. I cannot imagine your frustration! Hang in there!
Kate Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:01 am
Oh, maternity clothes, how I cannot WAIT to need you!

Although, I feel your pain (except my problem is being short, not tall). I feel like I can barely find clothes to fit NOW (not pregnant!), I can’t imagine what it will be like with a bowling ball in my abdominal area too!
cali Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:36 am
have you tried target and old navy?? those worked well for me, and old navy has tall sizes if that’s an issue for you…
Jenny Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:38 am
Shopping for maternity clothes sounds like torture to me! Especially since you’re going to keep growing so I’m assuming that your first round of maternity clothes isn’t going to get you through the whole pregnancy. I have no idea, but that sounds logical to me. That’s something I’m not looking forward to doing!
Jenny Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:41 am
Oh, one other thing. Do you have “Just Between Friends” in your area? I’ve had friends rave about it. It’s like a giant consignment sale/garage sale….but with just baby stuff and I think they have maternity stuff too.
joy Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:44 am
My problem is being a plus sized petite person and pregnant. Forget about finding anything flattering. Luckily for me Motherhood Maternity has been my place to go to for both pregnancies. I still have stuff from my first pregnancy but since it was during the winter time most of the stuff is jeans and long sleeved shirts. This time around, I needed shorts and short sleeved shirts. At least part of this pregnancy will be during the fall, so I hope (cross my fingers), I can still fit into a few of my pieces from the first pregnancy. The whole maternity clothing is a racket just because of how brief you wear the clothing. The other thing to buy is one of those band things (http://www.ingridandisabel.com/bellaband.html) that you can slip over your existing jeans and pants so they last a little longer.
Terra Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:55 am
I had a heck of a time finding stuff (particularly pants) that I felt good in. I ended up shopping at Old navy, (which only carries maternity online now for the most part), Target and Kohl’s. No one has a really GOOD selection, and I too was’t willing to spend that kind of money on clothes I was only going to wear for a few months, even if I have four children.
Eryn Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 11:19 am
Maternity shopping sucks!!!! Especially since you’re spending money on stuff you’ll wear only a few months. I got some stuff on eBay, and I wear a lot of sundresses and skirts with elastic waistbands. That way I don’t have to pack them away after I have the baby and they’re usually cuter too! Yoga pants and sweats work wonders too…and if all else fails I’ve had some luck at Old Navy
Genevieve Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 11:43 am
Make sure you walk around and sit down in the dressing room! For some reason I CANNOT keep certain maternity pants on my body. They slip right off! Weird! I ended up needing to buy a belly band just to keep my pants on. Didn’t matter that they were they pricey should stay on my behind kind of pants!
Hokie Deb Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 12:04 pm
–>I was thankful to get a lot of maternity hand-me-downs which I passed along.

http://www.WebSavyMom.com
Renee Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Thanks for the Craving Style link. I checked it out and found a few things that I hope work out well. Got chilly at night here in the Northeast and all my maternity clothes are capris and short sleeves. Now, I have to start all over for fall. Great blog…I’ll be checking in. Thanks!
Tressa Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:51 pm
If you are certain that you are going to have more children in the future – maternity clothing is more than likely a good investment.
I remember seeing the all-too-cute clothing hanging in the store windows, beckoning me to come in and purchase them only to have them carry a huge price tag. I too am tall – 6 feet – and have problems finding jeans that fit. I do live in a warm climate and can avoid that problem all together by wearing capris.
When I was pregnant, I got away with purchasing three items that were actual maternity items: A white shirt, a pair of shorts and a pair of capris – all found, believe it or not, at Wal-Mart – they fit perfectly.
I found, though, that I got away with wearing tie-waste items that expanded with me and stretchy skirts that I already owned. For shirts, I was able to wear they style that I like so much – empire waste shirts that were already in my wardrobe. I also was able to pair stretchy tanks with button-ups that I left open (for the layered look).
That was four years ago already, but I have talked with my also-tall cousin, who says the greatest invention in the world for pregnant woman is now a stretchy band that goes over the pants you currently own. Just leave them unbuttoned and put this band over them to hold up your pants and secure your growing belly. I am uncertain of the name, but I have seen it in the windows of maternity stores and it only costs around $50.
Good luck.
erin Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Bella Bands are awesome. Invest in one or two. I got mine at Target for $17.

I was also an Old Navy girl, especially for maternity pants. Their pants generally do not fit me (I have too much weight in my thighs and bottom and not enough in my waist, apparently) but the maternity pants did. I loved the Real Waist stretch twill pants for work, I got them in khaki and gray and practically wore them out. I really liked the maternity jeans I got from them too.

Try dresses also, even if you’re not much of a dress girl. I know it is coming up one cold weather, but you’ll likely find that a) your metabolism will change and you’ll be warmer than usual anyways, and b) you might not like wearing things with a waistband. I HATED wearing pants unless they sat either under my belly, or with a huge belly panel that stretched over my belly. None of this across the belly crap.

Target also often has cute maternity stuff, especially on the sale rack. And don’t blow your wad all right now, because the things that look cute now (or when you are 6 months along) won’t be so cute when you are 8 1/2 months pregnant and not even your maternity blouses will cover your belly. At 37 weeks I “splurged” ($5 from the sale rack at Target) on a new silky top that was long enough to cover my belly.

And one final thing (this is a long comment, sorry!) – be sure to get a good bra to sleep in. It’s annoying to sleep in it, but as your breasts swell and are tender, you’ll be glad you did. And you’ll be used to it by the time you’re nursing and need to sleep in one so that you don’t leak all over the sheets at night. Oh, the things you have to look forward to!
Melody C Says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:18 am
You’ve given me another reason to avoid pregnancy! I need those 36″ inseams and a waist that’s a size smaller than hips. I don’t like shopping for clothing as a general rule and it sounds like I would probably learn unique ways of wearing sheets and belts (a la toga) rather than actually putting forth the effort required to find nice clothes! That said, I might suggest some maternity dresses rather than jeans/tops. Comfort and ease!
Meili Bell Says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:42 am
Hi! I just found your site through The Pioneer Woman and thought I’d let you know that I love it! I just might become a regular visitor. I live in SLC. It’s always funny to randomly meet others on the web who have ties to my city.

Good luck in your search for maternity clothes!
Jane Says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
My ‘mom’ group had four of us who were in different stages of pregnancy for years. Only one of us worked and three of us sewed. We had THE BOX. The box held all the maternity clothes the four of owned and it made the rounds to whoever needed it. We pruned out the old worn things and added new as needed. Often the first notice that someone was expecting again was a phone call saying ‘take the box to …’. My favorite picture of us was all four lined up: newly pregnant through hugely pregnant and two inbetween pregnant. The first of the kids to get married was just this summer. Time flies.
Jenna @ Newlyweds Says:
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Oh yes girl, maternity clothes, are either too expensive or crap!! Yes I said it, though I did love my gap maternity jean long and lean, I have long legs also!!
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=6017&vid=1&pid=582472

Its funny in the beginning of my pregnancy I was happy to be given lots of clothes from family and friends of varying sizes, I remember going through the XL sized maternity clothes and thinking, I will never been that big, but let me just tell you. I loved my XL’s!
the inadvertent farmer Says:
September 5th, 2009 at 7:21 am
I love the Levi jeans I got from JCPennys. Other than that I mostly just bought ‘up’ a size or two I usually hate maternity clothing. The exception was when pregnant with twins…then I had no choice. Good luck trying to find your maternity style! Kim
Making my Mark Says:
September 5th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I’m glad you manged to find something.

I sent you an email a few weeks ago, but I donn’t know if you got it. I’ve changed my URL to http://dropletsonajournal.blogspot.com/ I just wanted to make sure you knew so that you don’t miss any posts (when you’re interested)
Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com Says:
September 8th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I received a million maternity hand-me-downs and that made a world of difference. It’s HARD to find maternity clothes that work for you, not just because they’re costly and don’t fit well, but also because it’s easy to get exhausted with the process. I wound up donating about half of the hand-me-downs because they would never fit me, but I am so thankful for the ones that did fit.

That said, my best fits were Old Navy. I loved the wide-panel style of jeans the most because I felt like it offered more support (and my belly button wasn’t sensitive, so why not?) and Old Navy was one of the only places that sold long pants with that style in spring. Most places stopped selling long pants in February – presumably because our summers are so warm – and while that makes sense, I just never was able to convince my boss to let me wear denim shorts or capris to the office.

Good luck finding maternity clothes that fit!
Molly Says:
September 21st, 2009 at 6:49 am
I have used Gap and Old Navy online for maternity the most. I love my Gap maternity jeans!! I live in them and my Old Navy yoga pants. I find Motherhood stuff is poor quality and after one wash of a dress I bought this summer it looked faded and old. I’ve also had a lot of luck at consignment stores. It takes a bit of hunting, but as a previous poster said the clothes are gently used since it’s such a short time period. I’m a month ahead of you, due January 12th, and am currently hunting for a cheaper winter coat. The ones I’ve seen cost more than I paid for my pre-pregnancy coat!

Valuable Internet Information » Doing a Little Shopping Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 6:02 am
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Doing a Little Shopping | From Single To Married Says:
October 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 am
[...] So I went to put the jeans into my virtual shopping bag, but suddenly realized that I didn’t know which size to order. Thankfully I found a sizing chart, which was good. At least I thought it was good, until I realized that my current …More [...]