Contrary to what you might think after reading the title, this blog is not about dancing pregnant woman! For the past few years, my circle of friends has been churning out a lot of babies. I conceived around the same week one friend gave birth, and that same friend conceived again around the same week I gave birth. Meanwhile a trunk load of stretchy pants, empire waist shirts and other maternity clothes has been passed around like a hot potato. That is the maternity shuffle.
Buying a whole new wardrobe of maternity clothes can get really expensive, and in this economy, who has cash for that? Considering you only need your maternity clothes for 5-6 months, why not split the cost between friends by sharing?
I borrowed maternity clothes from two friends, which filled my closet to the brim! I picked up my own pieces here and there and added them to the shuffle after I had my son. No sooner did I slip back into my skinny jeans when three other friends announced their pregnancies. Currently, my clothes and the clothes I borrowed are split between the three of them. I plan on using them again when they are done for my next pregnancy. The clothes in circulation keep increasing, which is fun for everyone!
If you are worried about not getting your clothes back, make a list of the items you are lending and who you are lending each item to. You could also keep a record by taking a digital photo of each item (which also comes in handy if you ever intend on selling your clothes online). Also try sewing in a small tag or marking an existing tag with your initials. If you have something you would really be upset to lose, put it aside before lending out your wardrobe. One more tip: always leave tags that include washing instructions in the garment so your friends will know whether to “tumble dry low” or “lay flat to dry.”