Shop your closet!
That should be the #1 tip from pregnancy and newborn magazines. Instead of blasting us with images of "must-have" $60 sundresses and $45 skinny jeans, we should be advised that plenty of non-maternity duds can last us for at least two trimesters - sometimes all three.
Case in point: leggings! I stocked up last fall and winter, and non-maternity styles still fit me, nearly seven months along. My favorite brand, at about $6 a pop, is George, carried by Wal*Mart. I have at least four pairs: in black, gray, eggplant and chocolate. Some are footed versions, some are not; they're all totally opaque. (If you're wrinkling your nose because I shop at such a big-box store, just remember - we are doing pregnancy on the cheap! If you prefer organic cotton, sourced and made in the USA, that's awesome! Go for it! But that means my ideas probably won't inspire you very much!)
Those leggings don't get worn with tiny tops, of course. I have discovered that most of my swingy, flashy, Empire-waisted tunic tops (purchased mostly at Ross Dress for Less, usually for $13 or under) make fabulous maternity dresses. In fact, Five Below has sundresses for $5 that seem to be nursing-friendly. They're cheaply made and probably won't last long, but are great for around-the-house wear. I'm planning on getting a few more. They're kind of like really cute, knee-length muumuus. I also like to add waterfall sweaters (very thin ones, since I've tended to feel warm most of the time during my pregnancy), with or without stretch belts. In the fall and winter, I paired them with the leggings and boots.
Which brings me to the topic of shoes. Ladies, trust me: I am all about the shoe. I have wedges, ballet flats, heels, flip-flops, gladiator sandals, knee-high boots, ankle boots, stilettos, and some rather saucy footwear that probably should not be worn in public. I love shoes. Love them! I have been very loath to stick to "sensible" styles during my pregnancy. Flats might be comfy but they aren't always very flattering on me. But I have learned that your center of gravity really does change the further your pregnancy progresses, and shoes with a very high or thin heel simply aren't safe. They should be restricted to special events only - and bring a pair of flats with you, just in case. For my part, I compromised. I found a pair of $25 Crocs (yes, I know, CROCS) at the outlet store. They're black wedges which are both very comfortable and very flattering. They've got a sturdy, rubberized 3 1/2 heel that gives me height and confidence, but they feel almost like sneakers. They've become my everyday work shoes, since my office manager allows me to forego the (unreasonably expensive) maternity scrubs and wear business casual clothes for the time being. In addition, if you'll be heavily pregnant in the summer, stick to slip-on styles for your sandals. Or count on your partner to buckle your gladiators for you every time, because chances are you won't be able to reach them yourself!
Another money-saver is the maxi-dress. Most styles come in forgiving or stretchy materials, and can be easily dressed up or dressed down. If you're a shorty like me, most maxi styles are too long for you anyway, but the addition of the bump makes them the perfect length! (After the bump disappears, you can employ your super-cute lace-up espadrille wedges again.) Again, I found several styles at stores like Ross Dress for Less, TJMaxx, Marshalls, and Burlington. I'm fairly certain that I didn't spend more than $25 on any of them, and most were $15 and under.
Let's talk about intimate apparel. Without delving into too many details, your best bet is to stick with simple cotton panties and to purchase one or two new bras as your bustline changes during pregnancy. I never thought I would be singing the praises of a non-underwire style, but I actually love the Genie Bra (again, I found it at Wal*Mart for around $15, which is $5 less than the advertised price everywhere else). It's supportive and comfortable, even for a larger bust. I'll probably be using it when I breastfeed too, since it stretches to accommodate various sizes. I'll probably buy several more if it works out, because the idea of dropping loads of cash on a nursing bra makes me queasy. After all, you're supposed to buy at least three, they say: one to wear, one to wash, one to have ready to go. That could easily be upwards of $100. Most specialty shops, though, do have reasonable prices. Motherhood Maternity, for one, surprised me with a variety of very comfortable-looking bras priced around $20 to $25 each. I don't find that unreasonable, but I haven't tried any on yet.
In fact, I haven't set foot in a specialty shop during this pregnancy.
I'm fortunate, in a way, to be among the last in my circle of gal-pals to have a baby. That means that I have gotten about three garbage bags full of maternity clothes. mostly from my friend Jaime. (I'm also lucky she's kind of a fashionista, because these clothes are cute!) That being said, don't shun anything that's offered to you, even if it doesn't seem to be your style - or size. Jaime and I have dramatically different builds, but most of the clothes she gave me fit anyway. If nothing else, pick out a few things you like and hold on to the rest. Chances are, that generous Mama will eventually want them back to get her through another pregnancy. By that time, you might be able to throw in a few of your own maternity-friendly clothes, and then the whole process can start over again!
My final word of advice for this post is simple: eBay! You can find such amazing deals online and in thrift and consignment shops! If you're buying online and you're worried about the fit, make sure to purchase from a seller who accepts returns. A lot do not, and it's eBay's policy to allow that, so read carefully before you bid. I picked up a very cute white sundress with thick black straps that retailed at Motherhood Maternity for about $50. Since the seller was not charging for shipping and I was the only bidder, I ended up paying around $13. I'll be wearing this dress all summer! I also found two office-friendly dresses (one of which is also appropriate for nursing), and they each sold in stores for probably about $30. I think I paid about $9 each, as shipping was free for those, too. All of them fit just fine, even though I couldn't try anything on.
Next week, if I can convince my husband to play the fashion photographer, I'll be posting some pictures of outfits I've put together!
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