Gigi, do you have Babies galore in your state? They have some really comfy crop top like bras that aren't too expensive (online too I think). They're quite soft and comfy to sleep in. I wore them when I was first pregnant (you know, when your boobs are so sore you can't touch them?) at night and they were great.
thanks scrappyfish, i googled babies galore and found their site easily. They have four locations in qld and 12 in nsw - none in my state. They do on-line shopping but i am thingy about buying clothing online - i like to be able to try it on first. I really like the look of their products, i found the crop top bra you mentioned and they even have it in black (impressed).

My continuing research on maternity clothing
First, tried to find maternity clothes in my fave op shop - that was a disaster, only two summer dresses available - very slim pickings. Had much better luck with buying opshop baby clothes, got six allinone romper suits, two newborn hats, sheet set for bassinet, for $7.

I trawled thru Baby Target and Big W yesterday for maternity wear. Baby Target has dressier stuff (e.g sequins and chiffon) nothing i was after - but Big W had more useful (to me) maternity stuff, and lots of tops in breathable fabric free of decorations. I am so itchy now that i can't stand any clothes with lace or beads or synthetic fabrics.

Big W Maternity also had maternity jeans, t-shirt fabric "dance" pants with roll down tops, adjustable trousers and shelf bra singlet tops.

Big W even had maternity underwear and a maternity sports bra near the maternity bras. I liked the maternity underwear better here as it was plainer and no scalloped elastic to annoy my skin around the legs.

I have yet to see any maternity sleepwear, maybe all preg women just wear nighties. It is so tempting to wear my daytime maternity "dance" pants to bed, so comfy around the waist.

So in my survey, of three shops so far, Big W is the current leader. The research continues (with what is available in my state). (Even though i felt sick as a dog doing it yesterday - struggled with really bad nausea for last hour).

I have dropped the idea of buying in the larger sizes dptmt instead of maternity, cos being short, buying the larger sizes, the clothes are also much longer (for tall people i guess) and then the proportions are all wrong for a shorter person. Makes you wonder what the heck is out there (I mean, flattering and proportioned clothing) in clothes shop land for the larger figured short person.