Sooner or later, you will need to shop for maternity clothes. You may decide to wear some of your husband’s clothes or buy regular clothes in larger sizes early in your pregnancy. You will find that as your pregnancy progresses, oversized regular clothes won’t fit as well as maternity clothes. Maternity shirts and pants are specially designed to make room for your expanding belly.
When you visit the maternity clothing store, you may experience sticker shock. The prices in most maternity stores can be quite high. You can find less expensive clothing at discount stores, such as Target, K Mart or Walmart. Another way to save money is to borrow clothing from friends or family members. I swap with my sister in law. Since the clothes are only worn for a few months, they last through several pregnancies.
Depending on your job and lifestyle, you may find you don’t need a lot of clothing. Look for pants, skirts and shirts that are interchangeable. This will allow you to pair shirts with different pants and skirts, creating more outfits for less money. Start off with a few of each and mix and match to create a wardrobe that seems larger. Remember you won’t be wearing them for long, so you don’t need too many.
There are some things you won’t want to share, such as bras and underwear. Underwear made for pregnancy is unattractive, but will be more comfortable. Buy at least four pairs, so you won’t need to wash as often. If you really hate the idea of maternity underwear, you can continue to wear you regular panties for several months. Another option is to buy bikini underwear in a larger size.
Your breasts will grow throughout your pregnancy. A well fitting bra gives support and is more comfortable as your bustline expands. You can buy maternity bras, or purchase nursing bras if you are planning to breastfeed your baby. This will save money, as you can continue to use the same bras after the baby is born.
Shop for new bras in your second trimester. Buy a bra that fits well when fastened on the tightest hook. As you grow, you can loosen, until it fits well on the last hook later in the pregnancy. The cup should fit well without causing excessive cleavage. Nursing bras can be adjusted in the strap to loosen the cup as your breasts grow.