One way to make 'normal' clothes last longer into pregnancy

[MrsD'ville mkII]

I prefer my clothes reasonably fitted, I'm not generally a baggy person, but of course that's no good when your tum's swelling on a daily basis. Not keen on buying a fortune's worth of new clothes so I've been wearing stretchy dresses over (my one, prized pair of maternity) jeans, but fancied one of those bump bands that bridges the top-waistband gap (I also hate that chilly kidneys thing when your top rides up!). I think I might have hit on a home-made solution: I've put a stretchy spaghetti strap vest, of which I have an army in different colours, underneath my top but it's just sitting under my bra and over my hips with the straps folded in. It might be a bit precarious, I'll find out when I go on the school run in a minute, but walking round the house and up and down stairs it's absolutely stayed put. I'll be really thrilled if this turns out to be a goer!

[Annpan]

Oh I did just that same thing... I never got round to it but always meant to cut off the straps and sew it to be a bit more fitted.

I had one bought tummy tube (I don't know what they are called but that name suits) I bought L/XL and by the time I was 8 months it was really tight, mind you I had the bump of the century. The vest tops coped (as you have described) for much longer - I was over my EDD by 2 weeks when I finally popped.

[Russian Doll]

hunny what size are you i have some nice stretchy tops that i lived in while pregnant...im a size 12 the toips are about 12 to 14

[Magpie]

You can also make your normal jeans last a bit longer (in the beginning stages at least) by looping an elastic hair-tie through the buttonhole and around the button. Gave me a few extra weeks in them!

[MrsD'ville mkII]

hunny what size are you i have some nice stretchy tops that i lived in while pregnant...im a size 12 the toips are about 12 to 14

Umm, I'm a size 12-14! I'm very happy to take anything on loan and look after it, if you're offering. I've asked on Freecycle for tops but no joy so far.

The vest is holding up well but I do have to pull it down a fair way over my hips otherwise it rides up while I'm pottering about. Will still be a good solution though, and a friend was saying she found that sort of thing handy when she was breastfeeding as it avoided exposing acres of post-baby tum!

[Russian Doll]

hunny what size are you i have some nice stretchy tops that i lived in while pregnant...im a size 12 the toips are about 12 to 14

Umm, I'm a size 12-14! I'm very happy to take anything on loan and look after it, if you're offering. I've asked on Freecycle for tops but no joy so far.

The vest is holding up well but I do have to pull it down a fair way over my hips otherwise it rides up while I'm pottering about. Will still be a good solution though, and a friend was saying she found that sort of thing handy when she was breastfeeding as it avoided exposing acres of post-baby tum!

no probs hun just pm your addy and ill send it on..dont worry about returning it though put it back on your freecycle

[mrsflibble]

My friend Kate has recently spent a fiver on 5 bandeau tops (boob tubes) from primark. she's wearing them over jeans which are held on using the hair band method. they look quite funky so far, but the bump's not that big yet lol!

My maternity stuff went to charity ages ago; about the time jim had a vasectomy. All apart from one pair of trousers and a vest top which is sooooo comfy and covers my hips trousers are kept for "slob" days, mmmm elasticated waist.

[MrsD'ville mkII]

I thought I'd had a real original stroke of genius lol! So far they're working really well, don't see me needing to splash out on any 'proper' bump bands at this rate

[Esther.R]

What a good idea, too late for me I'm afraid as I am 30wks now and rather large I bought a bump band and have used it loads but I have loads of vest tops I could have used.