Very petite, pregnant with twins, and winter is coming.

October 13, 2018 1:11 PM

I need one or more maternity coats for my increasingly odd proportions. Where can I find such a coat?

I am 5'2" and small-framed, thin before pregnancy and thin now except for a bump that, due to the fact that it contains two babies and not just one, looks about 6-8 weeks ahead of where I am. Where I am is 19 weeks.

It is getting cold. I am in New York. I am going to be increasingly pregnant the colder it gets. I am already at the point where none of my pre-pregnancy coats zip or button. I need a fall maternity coat, for right now now, and a warmer, winter maternity coat for later.

I am concerned, because I have already noticed that most maternity clothes are sized for bellies that contain one baby, not two. I have hacked this by ordering only extremely stretchy clothing. Coats are generally not as stretchy.

So, what do I do for coats? Do I need to buy a plus size maternity coat? Would that even do it? I remain extremely small through the shoulders and, really, everywhere else except my stomach area, so that may not work. What have other very small women with very large multiple-bellies done for the winter?

posted by millipede to Shopping (23 answers total)

I live in Chicago where obviously people are going to need to coat up in the winter, and I've seen a lot of pregnant women in coats. I don't know what the ideal coat solution is, but I've seen a whole lot of women who wear something double-breasted with a belt, but unbuttoned and just belted to the best of its capabilities, with scarves to make up the difference.
posted by phunniemee at 1:20 PM on October 13, 2018

For fall I maybe a poncho or a cape coat and then in winter, wear it over other layers.

I was not pregnant with twins but I was winter pregnant and I wore a lot of layers.
posted by warriorqueen at 1:33 PM on October 13, 2018 [4 favorites]

You may be able to fit a bump extender meant for a normal coat into a coat that's already designed to fit a bump? There are lots of brands of bump extenders, so ask around in your neighbourhood Facebum mom group and check Craigslist and Facebum Marketplace, which is an amazing resource for all manner of baby and kid gear. (and congratulations!)
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:48 PM on October 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

I cannot personally vouch for this product, but maybe a maternity coat extender would help? You could still have a coat that fits through the shoulders and more material in front where you need it. Both my babies were born in December, in Colorado, and I wish I could remember what I did for coats. Layers, I think.
posted by danielleh at 1:49 PM on October 13, 2018

There are approximately 900,000 groups for mamas of multiples and like, even if your local club is populated by Trump voters or something horrendous like that, they are still going to 100% be an amazing resource for everything from what stroller systems for multiples work in your specific city to, well, winter coats. They will also probably be an epic source of handme downs and 2nd hand uh winter coats.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:17 PM on October 13, 2018 [5 favorites]

If by New York you mean NYC, note that the Lord and Taylor on 5th ave is closing. It might be worth trying things on their if you can stand the crowds, because even if what you get is not quite perfect, it’ll cost you a bit less than regular maternity prices.

For the prices they have right now, it might even be worth getting something and having it tailored.
posted by bilabial at 2:27 PM on October 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

Congrats on the pregnancy!

My style suggestion: Possibly a swing coat style? They're basically bell-shaped with tailored shoulders/arms and a very wide hem.

I have another thought that may relate, which I am trying very hard to think about how to raise tactfully and without raising alarm. It's pretty common for women who are bearing twins to spend the last part of their pregnancy on medical orders of bedrest. My best friend spent probably the last two months of her pregnancy with twins flat on her back. I bring this up not to scare you--I hope you have the easiest and most healthy pregnancy, of course--but because as you head into winter you may find yourself not spending very much time out of doors at all. Might be something to talk about with your doc at your next appointment, and factor that into your outerwear equation.
posted by Sublimity at 2:53 PM on October 13, 2018

When I was pregnant in NYC, and similarly petite, I made do with my down jacket unbuttoned from the belly down and a pashmina wrapped around my middle. It kept me perfectly warm - even though I get cold very easily - and of course it easily adjusted up and down from a little pregnant to very pregnant and back down again as well as served me very well since. It also makes for a nice cover up when you are nursing in public and want a little privacy. Just make sure it's a real pashmina made from 100% cashmere (I got mine here).
posted by rada at 3:13 PM on October 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

My slightly-small coworker (bigger than me, and I'm your size), pregnant with twins in snowy Canada, gave up entirely and just didn't close any coats for the winter. She compensated with an absurd quantity of scarves, when necessary.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 3:17 PM on October 13, 2018

I have never been petite, but while pregnant with twins over the winter in Wisconsin I focused on layers because no store-bought jacket was going to contain that belly. I would wear my husband's thermal long johns, a long sleeved t-shirt, a thick cardigan, and then a hooded cape coat over it all. Towards the end the belly wouldn't fit, but for me (and a lot of twin moms) I was too miserable to go anywhere and had to take early work leave anyway.

Congratulations, it's going to be an experience!
posted by Syllables at 3:49 PM on October 13, 2018

I had the make my belly fit extender Danielleh mentions above and it was great, highly recommend. It’s designed to turn into a cover for baby wearing after pregnancy so it’s quite large/extends out. I wore it till 40 weeks in MA and it kept me warm. (I’m petite, 5 ft, but didn’t have twins.) I think it might be a great option for you.
posted by john_snow at 4:08 PM on October 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

My twins were born in June, but I’m similar sized. At 8 months I fit in size large or extra large maternity tops, I’d expect an extra large would do.

Second on the mothers of multiples (m.o.m.) groups, they are a fantastic source of gently used maternity clothes and matching bouncy chairs.

Don’t plan for 9 full months, 37 weeks is full term for twins. Side note, I got a pair of lululemon wide legged yoga pants in a size 6, and wore them to the hospital to be induced. They were the only pants that fit at the end, and they weren’t even maternity.
posted by Valancy Rachel at 4:54 PM on October 13, 2018

I’d buy a second-hand man’s overcoat and get it tailored.
posted by Ideefixe at 5:34 PM on October 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

I was pregnant with a singleton in Minnesota during the winter, and I did not need a special winter coat. I focused on layers especially on the extremeties, but my pregnant body was a furnace and it didn't matter that my coat didn't close. I take public transit and it was not a warmer-than-average winter. I'd recommend focusing on layers that will fit over the bump and really great gloves. You may not need to buy such a specialty item for such a short time.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:43 PM on October 13, 2018

I'm also pregnant with twins but slightly bigger than your build and I would suggest a plus size maternity coat with a lot of long scarves to cover your front. I'm 25 weeks and every thing has gotten bigger save for my shoulders. Also, you're going to be way warmer in the winter with those two buns in the oven. I'm in Texas and my husband refers to this time as the "coldest winter ever." Congrats on your babies!
posted by Attackpanda at 6:46 PM on October 13, 2018

I had a maternity cape and it was amazing and I almost want to get pregnant again to have an excuse to wear it. I’m on Team Cape!
posted by whitewall at 1:05 AM on October 14, 2018

I gave up the pretense of (feminine) style and wore my husband's coat. I also wore his sweats while lounging at home. Men's coats (and clothing in general) are cut just a bit roomier. At the very least borrowing from your partner or even another friend might get you through for the short term while you look for another solution. But your best bet is to check in with moms of multiples groups on social media.
posted by vignettist at 5:43 AM on October 14, 2018

Nordstrom.com has several gorgeous maternity coats. I would size up, order a bunch, see what fits and return what doesn’t. They have free shipping and returns.
posted by curtains at 7:34 PM on October 14, 2018

Uniqlo had a really great mid length (well, long on short people like us) swing coat when I was there the other day. It was $80. They generally also have reasonably priced down coats and ones that wrap like bathrobes. Definitely worth checking out. They will do alterations on sleeves, etc. for free!
posted by dancinglamb at 2:38 AM on October 15, 2018

Response by poster: Just a note: I'm not opposed to buying a maternity coat! I am not opposed to buying a coat I use for only a few months of my life! Price is not an issue! I don't need to find a used coat or a coat on sale! My issue is that I feel a regular maternity coat, designed for a woman harboring merely one fetus, will not suffice for the eventual size of my twin belly. Everyone who is recommending plain, non-maternity coats, or men's coats: please perform a google image search for "twin belly" to see what needs to be covered. It doesn't just need to be big. It needs to be big in a very specific way.
posted by millipede at 7:57 AM on October 15, 2018

I bet you could zip two jacket extenders together, if one isn't sufficient for the double fetuses!
(I put this one in my regular coat when I was pregnant last winter.)
posted by anotherthink at 9:22 AM on October 15, 2018

There are a few maternity coats on Gilt.com which would work well as your fall coat. I'm 8 months pregnant (with a singleton) and petite (5'1" and thin pre-pregnancy) and purchased a Kimi + Kai Mia maternity coat last month. I'm happy with the coat since it fits now but still has plenty of room in case my bump continues to grow.

I've also had good luck with the maternity selection on Asos.com. Asos has worked really well for maternity clothes that fit my petite frame and bump. They have a few coats right now that are "oversized" or designed for you to wear while carrying your baby.
posted by zamdaba at 10:21 PM on October 15, 2018

I would pick a maternity coat from the destination maternity website and get it a size up (so probably a medium for you). They have convertible coats that after maternity are supposed to be zipped up around a baby in a carrier on your front so they have more room to expand than a coat only for a pregnancy of 1.
posted by WeekendJen at 12:38 PM on October 19, 2018