https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 31 May 2026 12:28:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2625076 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 21:04:26 +0000 ElbieKay 2625076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in the NYC area, and my son was due in late February. I just used my regular coat and left the bottom button or two open. It was fine. I am not usually outside for protracted periods anyway.</p> <p>Even if it takes awhile to lose the baby weight, I think your coat would still fit unless it is extremely form fitting.</p> <p>In your situation, I would make do without purchasing a maternity coat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2624098 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 10:43:01 +0000 snowjewelz 2624098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was due in Dec last time, and Jan this time, and did not and will not use a maternity jacket. If it was cold I'd just wear my normal jacket unzipped and add a scarf or something. I live in the suburbs so I normally am not really walking far distances outdoors anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623296 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 17:04:59 +0000 Goldengirl 2623296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone, definitely convinced now not to buy a maternity jacket which is great! I don't think I'll need it. As for dealing with babywearing, maybe I'll just buy a cheap winter coat in a larger size if it's necessary... or just not go out when it's very cold which is probably likely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623286 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 16:48:26 +0000 Finfan 2623286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an early November baby last year in Michigan and it was 70 degrees the day we left the hospital. I didn't need a coat at all. My plan was to wear one of DH's if necessary and I did buy a cheap fleece from the Columbia outlet in a size bigger as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623268 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 14:07:52 +0000 Shantuck 2623268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit7: I have that coat as well and am due at the beginning of November. It hadn't occurred to me that it might still work if it gets cold. I love that coat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623256 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 13:13:22 +0000 Modern Daisy 2623256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would skip the maternity jacket! You can probably get by just fine wearing your regular jacket unzipped/buttoned. I don't thing the cost would be worth it since you'd only need it for a couple of weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623251 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 12:39:23 +0000 Littlebit7 2623251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i wore my tried and true Jcrew long belted puffer for my entire pregnancy (I was due at the end of march, so it was COLD for my entire pregnancy in NYC). It was like the magic coat...it just kept fitting and fitting and fitting. I never grew out of it. It was my regular size. I'd look at one of those (jcrew factor sells them as well). The belt is so flattering, and the coat is apparently cut generously. Plus, you will be able to wear it forever, pregnant or not.<br /> <a href="https://factory.jcrew.com/womens-clothing/blazers_outerwear/Petites/PRDOVR~B4310/B4310.jsp?color_name=Black&#038;srcCode=FAGGPF00001_99103613679_192724339_13187519779_62293577359_c_pla_pla-62293577359_9003488&#038;sisearchengine=197&#038;siproduct=B4310&#038;noPopUp=true&#038;gclid=CNX5uqm6mc8CFQpkhgodpP0AZw&#038;gclsrc=aw.ds" rel="nofollow">https://factory.jcrew.com/womens-clothing/blazers_outerwear/Petites/PRDOVR~B4310/B4310.jsp?color_name=Black&#038;srcCode=FAGGPF00001_99103613679_192724339_13187519779_62293577359_c_pla_pla-62293577359_9003488&#038;sisearchengine=197&#038;siproduct=B4310&#038;noPopUp=true&#038;gclid=CNX5uqm6mc8CFQpkhgodpP0AZw&#038;gclsrc=aw.ds</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623226 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 10:30:46 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2623226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a maternity/babywearing coat. I've had three January babies in Toronto. I didn't actually need it in my third pregnancy because the weather was mild enough before her delivery but I used it a lot immediately after she was born.<br /> The coat extenders are great, there are a lot more now than there were when I was pregnant with my first. Makemybellyfit, Kokoala </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623221 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 10:15:32 +0000 MOMTOLITTLEB 2623221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO was born in early December and I just wore a North Face jacket unzipped. It fit fine after the baby was born, I lost my big belly quickly- I wore regular tops right after and mostly maternity leggings for comfort. This time, I'll be pregnant all winter so I will buy a coat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623220 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 10:06:51 +0000 KayKay 2623220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have 2 coats that somehow have fit mostly over my belly throughout my 3 pregnancies (one is a Mountain Hardware fleece, one is a Marmot down). I also bought, during my first pregnancy, a nicer heavier wool coat that is more of a "swing" style, so I can just belt it above the bump when pregnant...but it's still cute belted/buttoned normally when not pregnant too. </p> <p>I've always lost the baby belly fairly early/easily, and even if I'm carrying a bit of extra pudge, my regular coats have always fit fine once the baby is out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623218 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 09:44:18 +0000 ShootingStar 2623218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my November baby I didn't need a maternity coat. I just wore the coat I already had. I either wore it open or was able to just barely get it zipped at the end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623208 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 08:20:54 +0000 Foodnerd81 2623208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a December baby in New England and did not need a maternity coat. Mostly I ran hot anyway and I got an oversized warm fleece best that I could zip<br /> Over my belly, under my regular winter coats that didn't zip anymore. That worked pretty well for baby wearing too since the fleece was a little stretchy. </p> <p>And yeah everyone loses the belly differently but you would probably be able to fit into your regular coats within a couple weeks as long as they aren't super fitted and structured. I wore mostly yoga pants, nursing tanks, and cardigans or zip up hoodies for the first few weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623204 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 07:37:22 +0000 looch 2623204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another option is to find a coat in a few sizes larger...I did this when I was pregnant and it worked out great. It was also interesting that the year when my son was born was the warmest on record. I was outside with no coat on in January, when there is normally snow on the ground! </p> <p>So you just never know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623202 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 07:18:36 +0000 PinkElephant 2623202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bought a secondhand Gap maternity coat for my November baby, just in case. I figured I'd rather have it onhand than ha e to rush out and spend $$$ at the last minute. I figure if it doesn't work for the first month or so of baby wearing (and or accommodating a chest that is big from nursing) as well, I'll just resell it, no big deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623197 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 06:52:31 +0000 delight 2623197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They make inserts as well to zip into your coat to extend it and then you flip it around and use it with your coat for baby wearing. Similar to what @My Only Sunshine: recommended. My SIL bought an insert for her November baby and I am borrowing it for mine. Here is one of the Canadian companies:<br /> <a href="http://www.kokoala.ca" rel="nofollow">http://www.kokoala.ca</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623191 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 06:12:03 +0000 maddyz 2623191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could wear my normal coat through my winter pregnancy (Feb baby in NYC) it just kept fitting me somehow.</p> <p>A friend used her dh's extra coat and that worked, not super stylish, but it got her by for a few weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623184 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 04:00:25 +0000 tinyperson 2623184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first was born early December and I didn't gain a ton so my non maternity coat was fine. I'm also in Canada but we don't typically get the snow and cold till end of December/early January. My second was born in May, so I was pregnant over the whole winter. I ended up getting an M coat that will convert to a babywearing coat for the upcoming winter and then to a regular coat after that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623181 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 02:36:51 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2623181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Goldengirl: Some stores make a maternity coat with an interior section that can be flipped upside down for baby wearing or taken out to be a regular coat. I think they call them 3-in-1 coats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623177 Sat, 17 Sep 2016 23:24:22 +0000 lamariniere 2623177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had my two end of November and end of December. I found that I was so warm from being pregnant that I didn't ever really feel cold towards the end. I had a wool trench that I was still able to belt around myself and didn't need to purchase specific maternity outerwear. As far as bouncing back, everyone is going to be different. I definitely still had a belly, but was able to close my coat when leaving the hospital and didn't need anything specific. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/maternity-clothing-dilemma#post-2623175 Sat, 17 Sep 2016 23:07:21 +0000 Goldengirl 2623175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Baby is due end of November and I'm in Canada so it will likely be chilly by that point. I'm wondering if I need warm-weather maternity clothes, and specifically a maternity winter jacket.</p> <p>For those who had babies beginning of winter and live in a cold climate, what did you do? I feel like a maternity jacket would only be good for a few weeks maybe so seems not really worth it... but would I wear it for awhile after? I was also thinking maybe the maternity jacket would be necessary for babywearing and in that case would be worth it... but since I'm assuming those coats are tailored more for a belly vs a baby who sits higher up, I'm thinking that might not work anyway.</p> <p>And on that note, how long does it typically take to lose the baby belly, i.e. to wear my regular winter coat/regular pre-preg clothes again? If it would take a couple months then I'll definitely need stuff to get me through the dead of winter. But if it's fairly short-term I don't want a bunch of stuff I'll wear once or twice.</p> <p>Any advice? </p>