https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 18 May 2026 10:04:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458571 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:32:43 +0000 Greentea 2458571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like Asos- they have some maternity packs. I got a couple with leggings, a dress, a skirt, and a long tank. All black and intermixable. I got some blouses, a jeggings, and some cute Ts. It's been great! First time around I hardly got anything except some jeans, and shirts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458544 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:15:07 +0000 MoonMoon 2458544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't show until close to 6 months, so for the majority of pregnancy I just used clothing I already had, but that was bigger or looser. In total, I think I had 4 maternity tops, and borrowed two maternity dresses from a friend. Those came in handy the last few weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458537 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:11:23 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2458537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For business casual maternity wear (FT WOHM): </p> <p>- Black and Gray pants.<br /> - One skirt (black or khaki<br /> - 2-3 dresses that could also be mixed for weekend wear<br /> - 2-3 summer casual dresses (I was pregnant during summer)<br /> - 3-4 tank tops<br /> - 6-8 maternity tops (to wear to work but also on weekends)<br /> - 1 pair of jeans<br /> - 2 pairs of shorts </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458395 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:42:24 +0000 youboots 2458395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wore lots of leggings. Several Target light sweaters and Gap sweatshirts. I got some casual shirts on clearance at Motherhood Maternity. I did not need anything too dressy so that helped. I got 2 pairs of Paige maternity jeans. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458389 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:38:44 +0000 brownepiano 2458389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only things that really were/are essentials for me with a Feb and a June baby are tank tops and maternity jeans. The tanks you could stock up on at any point. The jeans you should wait till you need them and go try them in person. Everyone likes something different.</p> <p>Fwiw - I wouldn't count leggings as a staple if you aren't already a leggings person. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458315 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:50:51 +0000 Mrs D 2458315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My faves have been:</p> <p>-2 isabella and oliver dresses...not cheap but very versatile between work and date night. Also super comfortable.<br /> -Nice layering pieces for work...I got some tank tops from Liz Lange (target) that I could wear with cardigans/wraps that are non maternity. I basically only had to buy two maternity cardigans because I was able to use non maternity ones.</p> <p>The bella band was a fail for me - but I know girls who have loved it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458260 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:23:41 +0000 DesertDreams88 2458260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hand down my favorite, most worn items I purchased. Haven't worn any other bras since July, bought another 3 pack in October. The tank tops are cute, stretch a LOT, and perfect for maternity, nursing, and after.</p> <p>[attach=5393/16/o2eb3i.337x600.Screenshot_2016-02-11-11-17-52.png]</p> <p>[attach=5393/16/o2eb3j.337x600.Screenshot_2016-02-11-11-17-03.png] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458241 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:13:02 +0000 DesertDreams88 2458241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I believe you are due later this year, like October-ish? Not sure of the weather where you live...</p> <p>For summer: shorts one size bigger (bonus: they're longer too!), coobie bras, loose tank tops (already had), summery dresses (already had).</p> <p>For fall/winter: skinny maternity pants for work + about 7-8 short sleeved maternity tops and cardigans (already had). I only bought one pair of jeans bc I can't wear them at work and they were too uncomfy by month 7.</p> <p>Winter accessories: Moccasins one size up and a maternity coat. </p> <p>All time: 7-8 short sleeved maternity shirts as already mentioned, fold-over leggings (already had), maternity/nursing tanks, and seamless non-underwire nursing bras (my chest grew a lot in the early 2nd trimester but didn't grow afterwards.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458239 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:12:38 +0000 jape14 2458239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My due date with my first was the end of August (delivered in early September); for a summer pregnancy where I didn't really need maternity clothes until about 18-19 weeks (end of March?), in the South, with a really casual work environment (academia), my staples were:<br /> - 1 pair of navy ponte pants (Minnie pants from J.Crew)<br /> - 2 pairs regular denim maternity jeans (one JBrand, one Topshop)<br /> - 2 pairs colored denim maternity jeans (grey from Topshop, navy from H&amp;M)<br /> - 1 pair white maternity jeans (Jbrand I think?)<br /> - 2 pairs maternity shorts (white denim and navy/blue print, both from Gap)<br /> - 4-5 maxi dresses (2 print, 3 solid; from Gap, Splendid via Shopbop, and Asos, I think)<br /> - 3 knit knee-length dresses (army green, black, both Splendid via Shopbop; bright blue Rosie Pope - splurge from Shopbop for my shower)<br /> - 2 jersey skirts, one knee-length (Gap), one maxi (Splendid)<br /> - 3-4 solid knit tank tops (Target maternity section, Gap)<br /> - 3-4 print short-sleeve or 3/4 sleeve tops (Gap, H&amp;M, Old Navy)<br /> - a few solid short-sleeve shirts from Gap<br /> - bras (I went up three cup sizes during my pregnancy but I like a structured bra, so I just got cheapo bras from the VS Pink line)<br /> - 2 bikinis to wear on our babymoon (due to boob growth I couldn't wear my old ones - just got cheapo ones from VS up a few sizes - I liked the ones sized like bras)</p> <p>pretty much everything except for the bras/bikinis I wore in the maternity version of my pre-pregnancy size. I went to two weddings when I was around 7 months pregnant and just went up a size in a regular (not maternity) jersey dress.</p> <p>Things I didn't buy were:<br /> - leggings (I don't really wear leggings except to exercise and rarely in the summer) or yoga pants (my regular lululemons fit fine under the bump)<br /> - any exercise clothes (Nike tempo shorts underneath the bump worked just fine + stretchy tops from lululemon, gap, etc. or my husband's t-shirts)<br /> - cardigans or blazers/jackets (my regular ones fit just fine open even through 41 weeks, so I was able to stretch my options by wearing maternity tanks/shirts with my regular cardigans, my regular denim jacket over a dress, etc.)<br /> - underwear (regular underwear fit fine throughout, although of course I got some large granny panties for PP)<br /> - shoes (my feet never swelled thank goodness!)<br /> - any cold weather items (sweaters, coat, jackets, etc.)<br /> - any work clothes (except the ponte pants to wear to a conference I organized right when I started needing maternity clothes and freaked out!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458217 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:03:53 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2458217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had 2 September babies, and maxi dresses were a must for me. They were incredibly comfortable and kept me cool in the summer months. I managed to get this with a coupon, and it was my most worn maternity item by far:</p> <p><a href="http://www.loft.com/maternity-mosaic-v-neck-maxi-dress/404162?skuId=20596699&#038;defaultColor=6600&#038;colorExplode=true&#038;catid=catl000046" rel="nofollow">http://www.loft.com/maternity-mosaic-v-neck-maxi-dress/404162?skuId=20596699&#038;defaultColor=6600&#038;colorExplode=true&#038;catid=catl000046</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458189 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:46:42 +0000 gingerbebe 2458189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wore existing leggings with dresses a lot in the beginning. My favorite tanks were actually the plain ones they sell at Costco - they are long and stretchy - that I already owned. I wore them under everything to smooth things out. </p> <p>I couldn't stand underwires on my ribcage as soon as 2nd trimester hit, so I switched to either slippin cutlets into my tanks or wearing Coobie bras. </p> <p>As far as legit maternity wear, I bought a few plain, cheap v-neck tops from Old Navy and Target. I had a black jersey foldover skirt both in long and short lengths (Gap and Old Navy) and some gauchos for lounging around in (Old Navy). I also had 3 pairs of maternity pants in black - the under the belly kind with the wide soft waist band - that I wore to work. I had 1 pair of jeans - the under-the-belly Old Navy ones with the elastic panels on the side that look more like real jeans. I wore a lot of loose open cardigans over everything. They have served me for both pregnancies and they were in opposite seasons. (I've just worn a coat over my clothes this pregnancy).</p> <p>I bought 1 pair each of full panel yoga pants and leggings for the 3rd trimester and post-partum. I mostly just wore big t-shirts and PJs at home. </p> <p>The biggest expense was probably shoes. I was pregnant in the summer the first time and took a tumble here and there in my existing shoes, so I bought a pair of black Dansko sandals with adjustable buckles and a low, solid heel so that I could stay cool, accommodate my feet swelling, and still have a professional work shoe. They were adjustable so I could wear them after the baby too and they are super comfortable and worth the $100 I spent on them. For this pregnancy, its been cold so I've been wearing $50 fur-lined Crocs to work and then change into a comfy closed-toe wedge that I keep at my desk if I have to walk around the office. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458166 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:29:34 +0000 yoursilverlining 2458166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely don’t buy anything just yet. People carry so differently – I was in maternity pants by 10 weeks (the band thing didn’t work well for me), but my cousin wore her regular jeans until she was almost 7 months. No reason to buy clothes if you won’t really need them!</p> <p>You’ll also want to think about the weather. Do you live somewhere where you’ll need to potentially buy heavier late winter/early spring items, or stuff that would work for next fall? Or can you focus more just on summer stuff? </p> <p>What’s your work dress code? Will you need to buy professional maternity wear? What’s your style / what do you like wearing?</p> <p>My essentials were:</p> <p>Professional clothes (blazer, pants, pencil skirt, 2-3 professional dresses)</p> <p>Tops (long and short sleeve, 3-4 each)</p> <p>Casual dresses (3-4)</p> <p>Tunic and leggings (several of each)</p> <p>Jeans (1 pair. I couldn’t wear jeans at work, so they only got worn on the weekend, and even then I often just wore tunic + leggings instead)</p> <p>Shoes (my feet went up more than 1 size due to swelling)</p> <p>Bras (I went from an A cup to DD, so yeah. Several bras…) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2458141 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:12:33 +0000 alphagam84 2458141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maternity tank tops from Old Navy! You can dress them up or down and wear them alone or with a cardigan/sweatshirt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2457787 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 09:10:37 +0000 looch 2457787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love a good maternity clothing discussion, I did all the things that you're not supposed to do and ended up with a complete hodge podge of things that I hated! And, when I got to the end, I hadn't planned on my feet/legs swelling, so I didn't have appropriate shoes.</p> <p>I would start by looking at the months you'll be pregnant. Are you going to be spanning seasons? Do you need work clothing, leisure clothing, work out stuff? Any vacations or special occasions in that time frame? This will dictate if you need any bigger ticket items, like a coat or a fancier dress. Then I'd start looking online, getting a feel for how much things cost versus what you want to spend and set a budget. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2457772 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 08:58:42 +0000 schubr03 2457772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I lived in maternity leggings and a pair of skinny maternity work pants. I also bought like 5 maternity solid color shirts that I rotated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2457659 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 06:41:44 +0000 iheartleopardprint 2457659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>26 weeks with lo3, and still haven't bought any maternity clothes as the way I am carrying doesn't really call for specific maternity clothes yet. My shirts all fit still, it's summer here so summer shorts all fit still. </p> <p>Considering how early you are, I would wait before purchasing a wardrobe. You don't know how you will carry, or what sizes you will need, ect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2457650 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 06:28:24 +0000 ValentineMommy 2457650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me it was:<br /> For Fall/Winter pregnancy:<br /> 1. a good pair of jeans (ones that could be worn to work or out) I basically lived in them. Maternity ones were a necessity.<br /> 2. a lot of long tunics/sweaters<br /> 3. Leggings</p> <p>For Summer:<br /> 1. All the maxi dresses. There was seriously nothing better or easier! I could get away with non-maternity ones, if they were empire waisted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2457649 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 06:27:34 +0000 Tidybee 2457649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got a lot of use out of my belly band because I got bloated quickly but with my first, maternity pants were too big until around 18-20 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2457637 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 05:30:24 +0000 lamariniere 2457637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only maternity specific clothing I bought was jeans. I was very wait and see, especially with my first pregnancy when I worked in an office. I ended up buying a few stretchy knit H&amp;M dresses as time went on, but from their regular line, just a size up. I didn't like wearing maternity pants, so I lived in stretchy dresses and skirts at work. I was able to make most of my regular tops work and most of them didn't stretch out. Just about all of my clothes were fine PP. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2457610 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 01:17:00 +0000 LindsayLou 2457610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not typical, but I hated most designated maternity clothing. For me, most of my maternity wardrobe was stuff I already owned, I also didn't start to show until 20+ weeks, and even then I carried high. It also helped that I was due in august, so I never needed cold weather maternity wear.</p> <p>That said, my essentials were:<br /> -looser waisted khaki work pants (wore them for 30+ weeks, with the hair elastic trick)<br /> -slightly larger blouses for work (for early pregnancy)<br /> -regular jeans with a hair elastic<br /> -a couple of cute maternity sweaters for when I wanted to look pregnant before it was obvious<br /> -2 pairs maternity shorts<br /> -3 or 4 maternity tshirts<br /> -lots of long tank tops, I wore these every day, and they're surprisingly not stretched out<br /> -2 or 3 comfy pairs of leggings<br /> -3 or 4 dresses. I wore an empire waist dress over leggings and a tank to work every day the last two months<br /> -1 or 2 cute maternity dresses</p> <p>The only maternity specific clothes I wore were shorts, tshirts, and one dress. I bought pants and tanks, but hated them all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/startessentials-kit#post-2457568 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 23:36:43 +0000 stiletto_mom 2457568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've read on some mommy blogs about wardrobes with versatility and budget in mind.</p> <p>These included leggings, belts, tunics, a belly band (is this essential?) and a few basic maternity tops</p> <p>In your opinion, what items make up a versatile maternity wardrobe? </p>