Hi everyone

I'm only 6 weeks tomorrow but already freaking out about the fact there appears to be quite a lack of maternity clothes in sizes bigger than 20!!! I am currently a 22

If anyone can recommend anywhere I'd be really grateful - online or high street are both cool.

I've only found Simply Be so far, but the range was fairly limited.

Joo
xxx

i was in dorothy perkins the other day and there maternity sizes go up to 24-26 i think. they are good value for money too, hope this helps hun xx

Im not pregnant now but when i had both of mine i had either an 18 or a 20 in maternity wear, i got mine mostly from mothercare and dorothy perkins. Im pretty sure next directory go up to at least a 22 in maternity wear too. Congratulation btw Joo, im a nosy cow and read all the post on hear and remember reading some of your old posts, hope all goes well for you this time round x

forgot to mention peacocks always did a good range when i was pregnant with my second and im pretty sure they went up to a 22/24 and are good price too x

wow dotty p's and next? cool! I didn't even bother looking there - I just thought there would be no way they'd sell them!

Thanks girls!

Thanks for your note emmalou - its kind of you to remember! we are feeling really positive with this little bean and keeping everything crossed he is here for good!

xxx

Hiya Joo

I'm an 18-20 so I have a good idea how you feel but I've found that the best thing was to buy a load of maternity vest tops from H+M that are lovely and long and I just put them on underneath my normal clothes.
I can still get away with that and I'm due in 2 days

Lucie xx

Hey Joo, 1st of all congratulations on your pregnancy.
I was anything from size 18-22 when I got pregnant. So I was really worried about buying maternity clothes too. But I'm now 36wks and I've managed fine.
I bought 2 pairs of jeans from Simply Be, a few xl tops from H&M, the XL in Gap maternity tops fitted too.
Also I found that the style of some of the clothes in teh shops meant that if I bought a normal size it covered bump no problem.
The only thing I had an issue with was trousers for work. I ended up buying elastic waisted linen trousers from Evans in a bigger size. i finish work next week and they will probably only just fit ! Might need to wear jeans to work instead (who cares, it's my last wk !)
I've spent most of my time at home i pj's, trackie bottoms etc so it's been fine. Good luck, you'll manage to get loads of stuff.. S x

Most of my maternity wardrobe has come from next and simply be, like you I'm usually a 18-20.

The next stuff is really good quality, I recommend their linen trousers with the huge elastic waist band that you can fold down in the early stages then as you get bigger use the whole band to support your bump.

I've also bought a few tops in Monsoon, I've found that a Monsoon size 22 top fits me quite nicely (mainly smock tops), and it shows off my bump so I actually look pregnant rather than just overweight.

Although evans don't do maternity I've also bought a few tops in there, just buy a couple of sizes bigger than you usually would and you should be ok.

Good luck with the pregnancy!

Hi joo, hope you and bump are keeping well! Have you tried new look? Some of there stores have a maternity range and the have larger sizes, i was a size 20+ with my last pregnancy. Good luck, enjoy shoppin while you can. lol xxxxx

I second the H&M recommendation! 1. because I really like their mat clothes, and 2. when I was in there the other day I was getting annoyed because it seemed that in that particular branch there were ONLY size 20+.

26+1

Edited due to abysmal spelling (hmm, hope I've spelt abysmal right....)

[Modified by: PinkToothbrush on August 28, 2008 04:03 PM]</p>

Thanks so much everyone - I feel loads better now. I'm not expecting to go out and buy masses of stuff, its mainly I think I will need some smart trousers and a few tops for work.

I am chuffed with H&M too, I like their stuff and the prices are good.

I really wished I had made more effort with losing weight before getting pregnant, but it would have taken me ages and we couldn't wait - I'll just pretend I'm having triplets and that's why my belly is so doubley huge!!!

xxx

I think there are several shops on E-bay too that have brand new clothes, or loads of people selling second hand stuff as well. I have a size 40 back so have struggled getting a maternity bra from normal shops but managed to get some lovely bras off E-bay.

I was gonna suggest most of the above but also i think New Look online do maternity im bigger sizes, but also try there normal plus size range. I found that i bought mostly clothes in normal shops just a size bigger if needed.

Hi, I'm a size 24 and I did find it quite hard to get clothes. There are some decent things on ebay - I found the plus size maternity stuff in the shops was a bit expensive for something I'm only going to be wearing a few months. If it helps I only started wearing my maternity trousers last month (I am 31 weeks today!) and before that although I noticed a difference no one even realised I was pregnant! Am hoping that means I will be a bit thinner when this one is out!

i've managed by just buying bigger sized clothes (not maternity) from the likes of evans...i had to have smart clothes for work but i just took the attitude that i'm pregnant and they'll put up with what i'm comfortable in and in my last few weeks of work i just wore black comfy pants that i bought from tesco with a nice top! x

Joo, don't worry. I didn't start wearing anything maternity until about 21wks (I was determined to make it halfway in my own clothes) and I've found that it's only in last few weeks that I've really started to have a proper bump (am36+1now). I think that my big tummy that I've provided for baby was roomy enough for quite a while.Only when baby has got considerably bigger that it needs to stretch out and make more room.
In fact a few people have said that now that my bump is getting bigger it actually makes the rest of me look smaller ! Don't worry, don't think anyone will accuse you of having triplets. S x

I too am plus size and got most of my bits in dolly p's sale. i had no real belly (my prob before baby was arse and thighs!!) before being pg but i got about 6/8 wks and none of my bottoms fitted anymore so had to go shopping. i was very nervous about going so early but had no real choice.

I have to say i have had great use out of my maternity bits cos i am still wearing them 5 months after she was born!!!!lol!!! not good really but value for money and all that!!! I've just joined slimming world and hoping to be back in 'normal' clothes by xmas, if not earlier!

comfort has to be the biggest consideration after money. i lived in my maternity combats, linen trousers and maternity joggers right at the end.

i got some good bits in asda. they are 'normal' clothes but the way they were cut etc was perfect - and still are great now too.

take care hun and hope all continues to go well for you.

lara xx