Maternity clothes on a major budget?

[Pembo]

Thank you all for the suggestions! I'm doing a little preliminary browsing everywhere...

I just came back from another ultrasound and DH and I are floored...there's a THIRD baby in there. I'm actually having triplets.

Looks like EVERYTHING is going to be on a budget for the next 18 years or so!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Good luck on the clothes shopping. It's been over 12 years for me but I still remember the overalls I wore ALL the time! I had shorts and long pant ones. They were so comfy. I'm not really a dress person but that would have worked too. Have fun preparing for your babies.

 

[Iowajes]

Triplets!

Congratulations!!

 

[auralia]

Try belly bands for now. They are a stretchy panel like a tube top for your pants so you can leave the unbuttoned. Then you can shop around more and ware your own cloths more comfortably! Motherhood and maternity had a clearance rack and try Craig's list. Also if you have a kid to kid type store ours has a maternity section. Even goodwill is worth a go.

 

[novatwinmom]

Congratulations! I had twins, not triplets, but even at 33 weeks when they were born "regular" maternity clothes were barely fitting.

For the next month or so, the belly band will work. After that, you're going to need to wear what fits. I basically gave up on style and color and would hit the clearance racks at Target and buy whatever maternity clothes were there in my size. Same with Goodwill. That's not to say you shouldn't get some clothes that you really like that make you feel good - but you're also just going to need some stuff that fits. And baggier versions of what you already own probably won't cut it when you're carrying triplets.

DO join your local multiples group. Soon. As in, while you're pregnant. They're going to be invaluable to you, particularly when you (inevitably with triplets) land on bedrest. Our local one has a great message board similar to this one, as well as an archive of "how much of ____ am I going to need for twins/triplets?" type documents. You'd also want to come to our consignment sales - both for maternity clothes and for baby/kid clothes. There are members that buy clothes there for the year, then the next year sell them back, often near the prices they paid for them at the sale, then buy the next year's wardrobe. You'll also find harder-to-find items that you're going to need - like a triple stroller! - used on our local classified message board. Hopefully your local group is similar.

I had something called the BellyBra that was essential from about 6 months pregnant on - my belly was heavy, and this spread the weight more to my torso as a whole instead of just my lower back. I got two on amazon (one white one black) and my FSA covered it. And do look into maternity underwear. Really, you can keep wearing them after you're pregnant, but the cut is SO much more comfortable once your belly starts getting big. I got some at Old Navy, whose return policy was great.

Speaking of return policies. Motherhood Maternity/A Pea in the Pod had really strangely short return periods. I'd use more "regular" stores so you have the "safety net" of a longer return period. And Kohl's had some of the same stuff as those stores, but you could use Kohl's coupons (I think?) and take advantage of their better return policy if you buy something now that doesn't end up working out later.

And sign up for formula coupons soon, regardless of what you think now about using formula. Because many many many "multiples" kids wind up sensitive to different formulas/foods and you just might need the "special" expensive formulas to supplement breastmilk (if it works) and you'll be glad to have the coupons!

But overall, CONGRATULATIONS! Even twins are a wild, fun ride - triplets will be even more so!

 

[JediBonas]

After 3 years and lots of medical assistance, DH and I just found out that we're pregnant - with twins! At only 7 weeks, I'm finding that I probably will need maternity clothing sooner rather than later (might also be the IVF meds that I'm still taking, so maybe once those are done, the growth will slow down )

I originally had planned to just shop in the plus-size department (I'm an XL top/14-16 bottom), but a friend pointed out that tops will be big all over/too wide at the top, and for pants I'll want the maternity panel to support the belly. So I've tried looking at Target, Old Navy, Gap, Kohls, etc. and I just can't find anything I like in my size. I know I'm too early for spring/summer stuff, but even transitional clothing - blah. One thing I really dislike is the trend of skintight maternity clothes (I'm 40; I didn't even have anything worth seeing when I was 20 )

Luckily I'm a housewife, so I don't need dressy work clothes. I'm not a fashionista, I'm not into clothing and shopping in general, but I'd still like to look nice. On the other hand, it has to be on a major budget, as we're going to need 2 of everything for the babies as it is. Maybe I'm being too picky and not looking hard enough? Any suggestions? Thanks!

First, congrats! I also have twins via IVF after 3 years of various treatments. I was pretty bloated from OHSS from about weeks 6-8 or so (which might be what you're experiencing) and then did ok in my regular clothes until 14 weeks. I recommend the maternity skirts from Old Navy, super comfortable and fit me my whole pregnant. Honestly, once you get up there in weeks even maternity tops won't fit well. By the end I was wearing my husband's old shirts (I'm pretty small framed and my DH is an XL), they were the only thing big enough to completely cover my belly.

 

[ljcrochet]

Congrats,

One of my favorite outfits when I was pregnant with my twins was hospital scrubs that I got at walmart.

 

[lauradis]

I mostly stole my husbands sweat pants and tee shirts for around the house. He found it adorable.

For going out I have couple of pairs of what people would call yoga pants and couple of button down dress shirts.

To tell the truth I dressed like a hot mess at the end and didn't care one bit. lol

 

[princessdi81]

Congrats! We went through similar trials - two years, numerous procedures and our ivf baby is now 7 months old. I found i didn't gain weight as quickly once I was done with the progesterone and estrogen!
I was about the same size when I found out I was pregnant - I lived in Old Navy maternity yoga pants. They have some that are compression-like, and holy cow are they amazing! I have them packed away for next time! (Planning a FET after we return from WDW next month!). As for shirts, I got most of mine at Target, Gap or Kohls. I disliked the Bella band from Target - I had to keep pulling at it so it'd stay in place.
I was a weird one though, I didn't gain much weight. In fact, I weigh as much now as I did the day I checked in to be induced! (Eek)