one thing a few of my friends found was just to go to walmart and look thru the plus size clothing area. They found decent clothes there that weree a couple sizes bigger. I have the opposite problem in that maternity clothes NEVER fit me so i have to find reg. clothes that somewhat fit but usually dont! hope that helps a little!

My sister had the same problem - she ended up doing everything online she told me. Motherhood, Lane Bryant, JC Penney's. How frustrating.

Oh I feel your pain!! I had the same problem with my 2 pregnancies- I got by with some great stuff from JC Penney maternity- yes, you have to order on line, but I found them to be OK quality, and I really enjoyed the 4 piece wardrobe I got for about $100- it was black jersey and very versatile.

I also found that the Motherhood in Northgate mall had a small plus size section in the back right hand corner, as does the Motherhood outlet in Smithfield.

Also check out this book and site- I found it VERY useful. http://yourplussizepregnancy.com/

Good Luck!

I am a plus size women myself, actually a Tall Plus Size women so I have even tougher challenges with clothes in general and pregnant was worse. I have just had my second son a little over a week ago. Depending on how your body is changing will really depend on your options. Personally, my hips and thighs are thicker than my waist and I always have to buy clothes with belt loops/drawstrings to keep them up, so when I was pregnant I was able to wear my "street clothes" longer. I also had some drawstring pants & capri's that I was able to wear my entire pregnancy (both).  Just buying the next size up in clothes like this is just as simple.  I didn't go to any local stores this pregnancy because I had clothes from my first I was able to wear, but for new things I found online to be the best. This last pregnancy my maternity clothes were too big up until the final weeks, I had the problem where my "street clothes" were snug/didn't fit but I wasn't "round" enough to fill the Maternity clothes, it was rough but worked around it. Personally the cost is a little more, but I found great quality business and casual clothes on Lane Bryant's website, even in Talls. JCPenney's had a few good items as well. Yes, you do have to deal with imperfections, just don't fit right and sometimes wrong stuff. But you don't have to deal with the hassle of going to the Post Office to return things, you can go to (and I use this very often and encourage others to use) USPS.com and print your shipping labels, pay for postage, tape the label on your package, and then do Carrier Pickup and your mail carrier will pick up your package at your door, or other designated location, pretty simple. I have found this very helpful in my personal life, while on maternity leave, during the holidays, etc.

I wish you all the best in your pregnancy. Being a large women and pregnant isn't always the easiest thing, people don't know if you are just big or pregnant, at least until you get a belly (if at all). Take care of yourself.

The Motherhood Maternity in Triangle Town Center has a plus size section. I also found some things at J.C. Penney. It's too bad that the selection for plus size women is so limited. I don't understand why there isn't more availability...

Try Old Navy...they have stuff in large sizes that is cheap and cute and you can return it to the Old Navy store near you even if they don't carry maternity. I would order TONS of things and keep what fit. The sizes are all over the place, so order what you like in three sizes (what should fit, plus one up and one down) and just return it all. My husband FREAKED OUT the first few times the giant boxes showed up but I would end up sending 80% of it back.

I actually had a couple of ON items that I was sad to leave behind after my second (and last) child was born...

I had the same problem. Motherhood XL?? Its more like a size 8! I had alot of luck with Old Navy! VERY inexpensive and held up very well. I also got lucky and found some 16 size jeans and shirts at Ross of all places. Hang in there!!!

I also had alot of luck with OLD NAVY online! I also ordered a lot from the GAP online too...they have larger sizes and their Maternity selection is so cute. I was able to find a lot of good quality work outfits from the Gap. And their return policy is wonderful, FREE!

Unfortunately, maternity clothes have come a long way but still have far to go in the Plus Size and Petite departments. Many independent retailers can't turn over plus size and petite inventory quickly enough to be able to afford to carry.

One boutique line that does a great job with plus size (and offers some petite options too) is Olian Maternity. It's sold locally at Cravings in Raleigh and Belly Blossom in Durham. Those shops don't regularly stock plus sizes or petites but you can get a feel for what the line looks like. Olian can be found online at many retail sites and the sizing runs pretty true to size; it will help to know that as you look.  XL in most boutique lines is equivalent to a size 14 and sometimes a 16, depending on style and fabric.

As well, remember: maternity clothes are designed for your belly to grow and for you to stay in your pre-pregnancy size -- unless you gain noticeably in the bust or hips/thighs/rear areas. If you notice a lot of change there, you may need to size up.

Cravings will special order plus size pieces for you but they do have a "no returns" policy on special orders. Finally, Lane Bryant's online maternity collection has a reputation for being really good.

For special occasions, consider working with a good seamstress to have something made that will specifically flatter your figure. It's often much less than you might expect!

Good luck!

Some retailer entrepreneur needs to note the opportunity here!!! We tall, or large women are TOO big for maternity clothes when we get pregnant. And I am not overweight, just a large women who looked nine months pregnant at four months with both my kids. It took years for shoe stores to realize they had a market for stylish size twelve shoes. Get with it marketers!! Large women need maternity clothes too!!! I had to buy the hugest plus sizes I could find, but not cute maternity clothes. Good luck, anonmom. Wish I still had my old maternity clothes to give you!

You may already have found what you need, but I've also had luck with consignment shops...The Red Hen in Carrboro has a plus size section, and reasonable prices since everything is used. Also I thank my co-worker every day who shared her maternity shirts with me...what a life saver!

Hi there! If you can hang on until Oct-November, there will be a great new maternity store opening in Raleigh that will carry plus size clothing. :) Details to come! Thanks!

Ele

Hi! Yes, kaseymour is absoultely right. We tried to carry Plus size in my maternity boutique in Durham, but did not get the demand that it takes to move the products.

Japanese Weekend has great maternity clothes, and an Xlarge is a pre-pregnancy size 16-18.

Olian tends to run small in their bottoms, though with the new tunic styles and swing tops are running more true to size.

Good luck!

Tina
www.bellyblossom.com

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JcPenny is where i had to shop...the motherhood maturnity was so unfair a small shirt would be 9.99 but they would make me pay 24.99 for the same shirt just bc i'm bigger than most..that's trash in my opinion. Good Luck!!!

I've had the exact same problem. I have managed to find some great deals on eBay though. http://maphiaclothing.com/wholesale-plus-sized-clothing/ is where I start. They might have a maternity section.

I would just try buying plus size clothing that's bigger than your usual size ( a few sizes up) so it will give you that extra room you need