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My Must-Have Maternity Clothing List

So a few folks have asked for a little post over here about my “maternity style” which makes me laugh because I’m not a stylish prego gal: I just want my maternity clothes cheap, durable, and comfortable. I’m one of those moms with dog hair on my shirt and half of a sandwich inexplicably stuck to the back of my leg whether I’m pregnant or not (as a sidenote, I’m very popular with both Burger and Clara for exactly this reason).

Us In Room Final

But I thought I’d humor you guys and just share more of a quick recap about how I get through being pregnant without spending an arm and a leg in the hopes that perhaps someone else out there will benefit from my love of Old Navy maternity jeans and big earrings to distract from my puffy pregnant face. So here’s my must-have pregnancy clothing list:

1. Old Navy maternity jeans. I like the full belly panel ones, because they just make my bump feel more supported (it’s a comfort thing). For my pregnancy with Clara I bought one pair that took me all the way through my pregnancy (from about 14 weeks to delivery day). Those babies stretch. So far with this pregnancy I’ve had one pair as well (I sprung for a new pair so they wouldn’t be stretched out) and they’re doing me right again. So I think it’s safe to say that they’re my favorite budget-friendly maternity solution.

2. A bra extender. This is a weird one, but later on in my pregnancy with Clara I learned that Target sold these little extender tabs that can be hooked right onto your bra hooks (they sell them with 2 eye-hooks or 3 of them, near the gel shoe inserts and stockings) and they make your bra a little wider around the ribs. I’m not sure about you guys, but my ribs expand like crazy when I’m pregnant, so it’s a super easy fix to allow my bras to work throughout pregnancy, and then I can pop the extenders off and wear them normally again when my ribs go back to where they belong (assuming they do this time… it took about 6 months after having Clara but they did last time).

3. Various stretchy shirts. This is an obvious one, but I love cotton because it’s comfortable and I’m generally a fan of v-necks (short girls with short necks hear my cry, v-necks are elongation devices!). So I have a bunch in a few colors (although the black ones are clearly my favorite). Some of them are made in the maternity department at Target or Old Navy, but many of them are just larger sizes from the regular departments at those two stores (or occasionally from the Gap or Banana clearance rack).

4. Big ol’ earrings. These are a favorite when I’m pregnant or not, but they seem especially comforting when I’m in the last trimester and my face puffs up and I want something (anything) to hide behind. A nice big and colorful pair of earrings might not be a full-on masquerade ball mask (which would probably hide more of the puff) but they make me feel a little less like people are staring at my puffiness or my tired eyes and a little more like they’re doing me a solid by whispering “don’t look there, LOOK HERE! Ooh yes, SHINNNNY! Keep your eyes on the EARRINGS!”

5. A simple pair of slip on flats. This pregnancy my staples have been some cute little leopard flats by Sam Edelman that I found at DSW for $39 a few months before I even got pregnant. And with Clara they were some cute little black patent leather flats by Steve Madden. Otherwise I’m tempted to flip and flap my way around town in flip-flops all the time, which feels a little bit weird (especially when it’s winter). So having some cute little go-to flats make me feel like I’m a little more pulled together, even if I do unknowingly have a hunk of granola bar stuck to the back of my arm. Oh but when I’m on my feet all day it’s nice to have some added arch support, so I might go for Puma sneakers if we’re running around all day or if we’re on-site at the showhouse (which is kind of a mud pit) for example.

maternity clothes for the cheap mother

Here are some old bump photos from when I was carrying Clara, and all the jeans were that very same Old Navy pair I mentioned. All of the shirts were from Old Navy or Target from the not-maternity section (they were just larger and stretchy) except for the last one with the dots (which was from the Banana Outlet, but also from their non-maternity section). Oh and that pink dress was from Target, but was a maternity dress. It’s nice to have one or two of those just for events where jeans wouldn’t be the best call. They can actually be crazy comfy like a big ol’ muumuu.

I’m probably forgetting ten million things, but I thought those were some basic things that help me get through being pregnant without dumping tons of money into clothes that I’ll only get to wear for a few more months while bowing to the porcelain throne (yes, that’s still happening, but this little bun of ours is so darn cute and wiggly that I can’t even be mad). What about you guys. What do you love when you’re prego? Do you have any favorite low-budget “cheater” finds (like bra extenders instead of buying all new bras)?

Comments

  1. Darlene says

    You are so funny! I have to stifle myself here at work to keep from howling with laughter over your comments about the stuck on food. I admire that you can laugh at yourself so easily. Best wishes with this pregnancy.

    Reply

  2. Hannah C. says

    Bra extenders are amazing! I wear a bra size that’s really hard to find in stores, so I use an extender all the time. Just as an FYI – you can also find them in Michael’s or JoAnn’s as well. They come in a couple different colors (nude, black, white) and the different hooks as well.

    Reply

  3. Kimberly says

    This is my second pregnancy but I just discovered Old Navy maternity jeans. Oh. My. Gosh. I got a pair on clearance a few weeks ago and I live in them so I bought a pair in another color this morning! I wish I had known about them last time around!

    Reply

  4. Sara says

    I didn’t discover bra extenders until the END of my pregnancy, so I totally bought new bras as I grew bigger and bigger (and BIGGER – I gained 40 pounds!). But once I figured it out, I picked up a few to use whenever another bean is on the way!

    I’ll also second Old Navy maternity jeans – so, so awesome. I also splurged for a pair of maternity skinny jeans from the Gap – LOVED them too.

    Reply

  5. Lauren says

    I suppose you’re used to it by now, but my heart cries a little for you every time you mention that you’re still bowing to that darned porcelain throne :(

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      Aw thanks Lauren! I’m getting really good at it. Like if it was an Olympic event, I might have a chance at qualifying! Haha!

      xo
      s

    • Danielle says

      It really doesn’t help- but Im right there with you Sherry! I did have a bit of a reprieve in the 2nd trimester, thankfully, but for the last week or so, the morning (all day)sickness is back in full force! Here is to April coming quickly.

  6. Kellie says

    I wore a BeBand (from Target) nearly every day of the pregnancy. And let’s be honest, afterwards too. I’m tall, and regular shirts are too short even when I’m not pregnant, so the larger-tshirt route was a no-go for me. But I could wear a longer tshirt with a BeBand under it to provide a longer layer and everything was golden. Plus it helps with the whole pants situation. Still too small for maternity pants? Just wear the BeBand over your unbuttoned jeans to keep them up. Need more support for Cletus The Fetus? BeBand. Maternity jeans keep slipping down? BeBand. Still wearing maternity jeans even though they are old and stretched out and you had your baby 4 months ago and you family hasn’t staged the intervention yet? BeBand. Yep. I swear by them.

    Reply

    • Kelly says

      I loved that BeBand too! It let me wear my regular pants more than half way through my pregnancy with the top button not done.

    • Julia says

      I agree. I had about 4 or 5 of these in different colors and just combined them with cotton long-sleeved shirts by H&M. Luckily colour-blocking was a thing during my pregnancy!

      That said, H&M also does nice stretchy pregnancy jeans that fit me throughout the whole nine months (although they officially recommend to switch to a bigger size at some point). And they sell stretchy nursing tops that can already be worn when pregnant.

  7. Tiffany says

    I love hearing tips from other preggo mamas! I am so jealous that you are able to wear stretchy regular shirts for so long. I can for awhile, but I carry like a giant beach ball in my belly so at 31 weeks, even some of my maternity shirts are not long enough! For me, the later in the pregnancy, the more I have to wear dresses or tunic style tops to cover the belly…which means even though I really wanted to avoid it, I bought more maternity clothes in the 3rd tri…argh.

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      Your bump sounds so cute though! Mine was more ball-like with Clara, but we joke that this guy is standing out and pushing his arms out to make me oblong this time – haha!

      xo
      s

  8. nichole says

    great tips! I have also been really lucky this time to find a few pairs of maternity jeans at thrifts stores for like $2 each! I also mostly go for longer stretchy shirts that are not necessarily maternity shirts – clearance racks at their finest!

    Reply

  9. Amy says

    I’m 41 weeks pregnant today and I’m just finding out about bra extenders??? All I’ve been complaining about for the past 3 months is how my ribs grew but I can’t find the right cup/rib size combo and I despise bra shopping. I don’t care that this baby is coming in three days, I’m going to Target tomorrow to find those things.

    Reply

  11. Julie says

    Like you, I’ll still wear some non-maternity shirts even when 9 months pregnant. Anything long and/or empire-waisted will work for at least part of the pregnancy. I prefer the fitted look so I actually look pregnant and not just like I ate a few extra dozen Christmas cookies, so non-maternity tops can help sometimes.

    I also found out during my last pregnancy that layering is your friend. Tees and tanks under cardigans can make a wardrobe seem twice as big and work for different seasons. Last time, I was due in January. This time, I’m due in June so today, for instance, I have a tank under a black cardigan. Later on, the tank will work by itself!

    Reply

  12. Megan says

    Girl, you are adorable! In your, I’m just comfy in my own black top & big earrings way. I love it. And I’ve added more black tops to my wardrobe ($6 at Ross), thanks to you! Also, I rate my clothes when shopping from a tip you shared forever ago!

    Reply

  13. Sarah says

    I bought cheap short sleeve maternity shirts. I used them for both pregnancies even though I was pregnant in opposite seasons. I just put threw one of my non-maternity cardigans or jackets over the short-sleeved shirts when I was super-pregnant in the winter, and used the short-sleeved shirts on their own when I was pregnant in the summer. That saved me from having to buy multiple maternity wardrobes for my two pregnancies and basic short-sleeved shirts are cheap anyway.

    Reply

  14. Christy Niebaum says

    My go-to maternity jeans were Gap brand with the full panel. I had tried a pair with the demi-panel, but it cut into my belly too much and wasn’t comfortable. I tell ya’, though, thos demi panel jeans were actually very helpful in the 3 months postpartum when I was starting to lose baby weight, but still hadn’t made it back into my regular jeans.

    Amen on the bra extenders, girl! I had to buy new bras in my 2nd trimester and really needed new ones in my third, but I refused to spend any more money. I think my mom ended up finding them for me at Joann’s.

    Other than that, I had 2 pairs of maternity slacks and some nice maternity tops/sweaters for client meetings. My feet were crazy swollen the whole time, so I lived in moccasins or these very wide black flats from Target (in fact, had to toss them out after my feet went back to normal because they had gotten so stretched out). I had a few black stretchy maternity pants and plain, solid colored long sleeve stretchy tops. It was a very limited, but functional wardrobe.

    Reply

  15. Lindsay says

    Love this post! I’m sure it will come in handy whenever that time comes for me. Do you have any tips for not gaining a lot of extra weight during pregnancy? Do you change your eating habits?

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      Oh I always gain a lot (even when I’m throwing up every day, the doc is so proud that I’m gaining like a champ) but I think a lot of it depends on genetics. I eat and exercise pretty much exactly like I did before I was pregnant, just like my mom and aunts did, but we all still gain the same way. Happily a lot of it comes right off after birth (I think a fair amount is water-weight since we seem to be a swelly family, haha). Then there’s just a little left to lose at the end of nursing (that’s probably another genetic thing, but my body won’t let go of that last bit of weight until I’m completely done nursing).

      xo
      s

  16. Beth says

    I loved being able to use my regular pants longer by having this long piece of fabric with a series of snaps on them, which loop through a belt loop on each side and snap back onto itself. As long as you wore a long shirt, you could essentially leave the fly of your pants undone but it hooks through the belt loops and keeps your pants in place as tight as you need them to be. Good for those of us who can’t wear jeans to work. Although something really weird about being pregnant and having an open fly. I bought it at Babies’R’Us.

    I was overly lucky by working at a job where we wore aprons over our work clothes, so I would get to work and shimmy out of my coat and into the apron really quick so no one would see I was wearing my old button-downs that I could only button across my chest and then it was just a camisole exposed over my belly. Looked perfectly normal with the apron on. :)

    Reply

  17. Lindsay says

    Tank tops from Old Navy in non-maternity “tall” sizes are perfect for me so far. I’m on the tall side anyway, but for some reason their tall tank tops seem to be REALLY long. They’re also super stretchy, so they stretch around my stomach without being too tight and are still long enough (even after going over my stomach) to pass my waistband. :)
    Sadly, bra extenders would have been a no-go for me (even if I’d heard of them) since it wasn’t so much a band difference (I could switch from using the smallest hooks to the largest and be ok) but a cup size difference. Perhaps TMI, so feel free to not approve this comment!, but wow was I not expecting the 4 cup size update I got. Yeesh! Maybe it balances out my tummy? Or something? That’s what I’ll tell myself anyway. ;)

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      Haha! I bet a little of the “volume” thing too, but thankfully I just fill out my same bras a little better ;)

      xo
      s

  18. Brooke says

    BRA EXTENDER!! Why didn’t I think of that?!
    At 34 weeks my ribs are just now starting to expand, and it seems a bit silly to go buy new bras now. And everyone says not to buy nursing bras yet (b/c we don’t know exactly how big I’ll get). So, I’ve just been dealing with a little discomfort at the end of the work day (before I get home and can remove said offender). Sports bra in a larger size have been my weekend and nighttime BFF for a few weeks now.

    I have LOVED the $5 leggings I bought from (of all places) Walmart. I originally bought them to wear while we were redoing our laundry room because I didn’t want to mess up my one pair of maternity jeans, and my pre-preg painting/work pants didn’t fit. However, I LOVED the way the felt so much, that I went back and bought 2 more pair and wear them all the time under dresses and tunics! They aren’t maternity, but I bought plus-size ones that are 2 or 3 sizes larger than I normally wear. (so… they are a 2X(I think) and I normal wear a L or XL)

    Also… skinny belts from target!! When paired with my non-maternity tops (usually just basic tees), they do a great job highlighting the bump, and show that, no I’m not just fat. :)

    Reply

  19. Wendy @ New Moms Talk says

    When I was pregnant with Susanna, I was a frequent visitor to JCPenney’s clearance maternity section online. Amazingly cheap deals.

    Also, because I never got huge with her, I often lived in race shirts. When my race and volunteer shirts got a bit snug, I just turned to my hub’s.

    I still remember doing stair repeats in a race shirt at 38 weeks at I stared at the snow-covered Wasatch mountains. And running at 40 weeks 6 days on the trails in my pre-preg running shorts.

    Finally, Kohls has some Barely There bras that have snaps/clips on them but they’re not nursing bras. I found them before I was pregnant, and just bought a bigger size when I was preg.

    Reply

  20. Sara says

    I bought a lot from Old Navy! Kohls actually had a pair of really soft, khaki shorts that I LOVED towards the end when I was roasting in my giant, puffy, swollen state. Crocs makes a shoe that expands and I wore those to work EVERY DAY in the end. (http://www.crocs.com/crocs-springi-flat/11977,default,pd.html). And I would hit sales at Motherhood Maternity. Since I had to work in an office, I bought three pairs of maternity pants and two dresses and just tried to make it all work. I tried to stick with tops that would work for work and casual. In the end, I was so uncomfortable I just rocked out different colored solid short-sleeved tops and the one pair of maternity pants that fit, my trusty shoes and some earrings to mix it up! :-) Aw, I miss being pregnant! (Sort of).

    Reply

  21. Brittany (Healthy Slice of Life) says

    I’m a full-panel girl too! So much more supportive.

    I’ll have to look into the extenders, too!

    This is my second pregnancy (due May 9!) and I recently discovered Gap’s maternity workout wear and I’m a huge fan of the shirts. I use them mostly for running errands, but the long-sleeved ones with the THUMB HOLE are awesome :)

    Reply

  22. HeatherM says

    I too LOVE old navy maternity jeans. My other favorite thing there are the old navy wrap dresses. I bought a few (for $15-25 each) before I got pregnant. They are perfect because they can grow with me. I can just move the waist tie up to empire waist height and the adjustable waist of the cotton dresses easily fits my expanding waistline. They are great for weddings, baby showers, etc right now. And when spring and summer hit I will probably wear them even more.
    Also, I hear ya on the bra extenders, though I think those aren’t enough and I’ll prolly have to spring for bigger bras soon (I had one break on me just this morning).
    Chicago has had a REALLY cold winter so far, so I’m finding trouble finding stylish thick warm sweaters and sweatshirts that fit my quickly-growing belly.

    Reply

  23. Mary says

    Full panel pants are the best! When I was traveling to the Lower 48 for work, I went to every Ross store I could find, as they were the only discount store that consistently has a maternity section. I picked up most of my pants that way.

    I wish bra extenders would have worked for me, but I had only a slight rib cage change (32 to 34) and a bigger cup change (g to I). Nordstrom Rack usually had a rack of discount bras ($5-15) that I’d try to check.

    The belly band sadly didn’t work at all for me. I have an hourglass figure, and it seemed OK in the store. The one day I tried to wear it, I had to pull it down every time I stood up. It kept rolling up to my waist, kind of defeating the purpose.

    Reply

    • Jessica says

      Ah! I am so glad I’m not the one with a less than co-operative belly band! First time mom and we haven’t told many people, so I had no one to ask – “what the heck?!” Everyone else has raved about them, but no dice for me.

  24. Carly says

    I love H&M maternity online! Their stuff is actually pretty stylish and makes me feel a little more like my normal self. They email some good coupon codes too. I do recommend sizing up.

    Reply

  26. Jessica says

    My favorite non-maternity pregnancy secret was $5 black leggings from Target. They are cheap and comfy and stretchy to fit the growing bump. I would pair them with tunics, long shirts, or dresses (that eventually became tunics with the growing bump). They were definitely a staple in my pregnancy wardrobe!

    Reply

  27. Leah says

    Sherdawg, have you ever considered getting something more supportive for your feet/back? I’ve never been pregnant but I can only imagine that your feet/back can hurt? My friend swears by Danskos. To be honest, they aren’t cute, but they are really comfy and good for your feet and back!!

    So excited to see nursery pictures!!!

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      I definitely love the arch support from my Pumas on days that we’re running around!

      xo
      s

  28. Emmy says

    Yay! I was one of the ones who asked about your prego wardrobe so I’m very happy to see this post. I need to get some jeans…our local stores don’t carry maternity in-store, so I have ordered a TON of stuff from Old Navy and Gap maternity to figure out what I like. Thank goodness for free shipping and returns. This weekend I got a beband and it’s kind of more brilliant than I even expected. I will probably get at least one more in another color.

    I’m 16 weeks now, so I still feel like I’m in that “maybe she’s just chubby” stage. But my co-workers swear that it looks like a nice round baby bump to them, so maybe it’s coming around. I have found some decent flowy tops in non-maternity stuff lately and I can still (barely) button my dress pants under the bump, although it makes me step on my hemlines. Ugh. I hope our kid is as cute as your bean to make it all worth it!

    Reply

  29. Megan says

    Black pants for work (with full belly band) and my favourite are black maternity yoga pants! I also get those with a belly band. Just more comfy!

    Reply

  30. Mary says

    No tips, just want to say I’m jealous you can stay in non-maternity tops! I’m 30 weeks and I can no longer delude myself into believing mine still cover the belly. Even a couple of my maternity shirts are too short! Gonna have to get some tanks and tees this weekend to keep myself covered. :-)
    Also, I loved my Old Navy jeans early on (ridiculous heartburn saw me in maternity pants way early) but I guess my belly grew weird? :-) ‘Cause now they’re all saggy under the belly. I got some from Sears though (don’t remember the brand) that I’m IN LOVE with.

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      I actually never shared bump pics as I went with Clara either (we made that grid of them and shared it a few weeks before she came) so I’m doing the same thing with this pregnancy. Just sharing random pics with my bump in them, like the Christmas tree pic or the one from the nursery (at the top of this post) and then I’ll make the grid when I’m further along and have more than a few random shots :)

      xo
      s

  32. Dani says

    Just curious (please dont think I’m being judgy at all because I’m not trying to!) is it normal in the US to wear regular bras all the way through? In Australia they recommend shifting into maternity bras from about 15wks at the latest, to reduce pressure on the milk ducts. Its not a band width thing, more so the part of the underwire that comes up the side pushes things in a little.

    Anywho, for anyone who is interested, Bonds make awesomely comfy maternity bras that instead of having three or so rows of hooks, they have SIX – so you can wear the band normally at the start, then loosen it off as your ribs expand out, then tighten it back to normal when you can :) No extenders needed and you can wear the same bras through the entire pregnancy AND breastfeeding periods.

    My pants saviour in the first few weeks was a hair tie – looped through the button hole in my jeans and then hooked onto the button itself to allow for another couple of inches. It got me through the awkward more-bloated-than-pregnant stage at work without having to buy new pants! (And now I live in Jeans West maternity jeans, soooo comfy)

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      So interesting! I never heard that, even though I took a breastfeeding class while prego with Clara (I nursed for 14 months with her).

      xo
      s

    • JustAng says

      Yes, I was also told no underwire/sports bras during pregnancy and during nursing. I think they say it can lead to plugged ducts. I actually just finished breastfeeding my second baby, so my 2.5 year old has only seen me in nursing bras. When I changed to a real bra the other day, she took one look at me and asked, “Mommy, are you a mermaid?” Blame it on Ariel!

  33. Nichole says

    I just wrote a post on my (tiny, itsy bitsy) blog about maternity clothes!

    http://theluckielife.blogspot.com/2014/01/on-maternity-clothes.html

    I am totally with you on the Old Navy maternity jeans, except I am more a fan of the low-panel ones…different strokes for different folks, I guess! But they seriously changed my life…I went from being whiny and uncomfortable about all my clothes to feeling like a new person! We’ll see if that lasts me into the third trimester…love seeing your updates on the bun!

    Reply

  34. April says

    Did you take bump photos with this bun like you did with Clara? I’d love to see those if you don’t mind sharing.

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      Aw thanks April! I’ve taken a few (probably as many as I had with Clara at this point) so I don’t have a big grid yet. Will probably share them all at the end when the Barnacle is here!

      xo
      s

  35. Jaime says

    Its a relief to hear that I wasn’t the only one unable to drop the last of my baby weight until I STOPPED nursing!! I gained 52 lbs (and at 5’3″ it was NOT cute) but lost 40 lbs the first 3 weeks. I nursed for 8.5 months and not only could I not drop the last 12 lbs but I GAINED another 6!!! It was so frustrating after having been told how nursing helps you lose the weight and to see a few of my friends whittle down to their PRE-PREGO weight while eating like there was no tomorrow. Meanwhile, I was still RAVENOUS (I easily ate more than when I was prego)but not losing a pound…ugh. Our nursing adventure ended just before the holidays so I am looking forward to dropping this weight! Disclaimer: Despite my previous statements, I do realize I was so lucky to be able to breastfeed my daughter as long as I did and I wouldn’t change it for the world, or the weight. ;)

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      Aw, you’re so sweet Jaime! I think that’s totally normal. My mom warned me that no matter what she did she couldn’t get that last bit off until my brother and I stopped nursing. I think keeping some extra padding helps the milk not dry up or something in some people? Good luck with everything!

      xo,
      s

    • Avone says

      Same with me. I have nursed three children (earliest weaned at 16 months) and never could lose the weight until after I stopped. Nursing burns calories, true, but apparently some of us need the fat stores to produce good milk.

    • Kate says

      That’s definitely normal! My MIL and I were just talking about this, and she said that she had the same thing happen with 3 out of 4 of her pregnancies. I know some of my friends who recently had babies have said the same thing.

      I actually was down to 10 lbs under pre-pregnancy weight by about 5 months, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be; I’ve been very run down and having some other mild health oddities lately that my doctor attributes to the fact that my body is having trouble keeping up (although, at almost 12 months I’m still pretty much at cow status for the amount of milk I put out, haha). I know it stinks, but at least those last lbs are a sign of a healthy body that can provide well for your little one! :) (Not trying to compare miseries or anything, just trying to add on a silver lining.)

  37. Sarah F. says

    I’ve definitely tried to not buy too many maternity clothes. It helped that a kind coworker who is about my size generously offered for me to borrow any of her maternity wardrobe! She was due last year at the same time so I inherited a couple pairs of jeans and a billion shirts and sweaters. Luckily my Old Navy tanks from pre-pregnancy days have tons of stretch to accomodate my big chest so I’ve been able to keep those as layering pieces. I’ve also hit up consignment stores for cheap additional pieces. My $5 consignment maternity jeans I bought at 14 weeks are still my favs at 36 weeks! My one splurge was a Motherhood Maternity pea coat. It was on sale, and it sure is nice being able to button a coat all the way over the bump!

    Reply

  38. Kim says

    RIBS!! Yes, mine stretched like crazy for both of my kiddos. I wish I had known about the extender. Great find!!

    Enjoy the season :)

    Reply

  39. Meri M says

    One thing I did in my 2nd trimester once I had to unbutton my jeans was loop an elastic hair tie through the button hole that would then fasten to the actual button to act as a poor-man’s waistband “extender.” As it was sitting under my belly, you couldn’t see it. It worked well for awhile, until be belly dropped and I couldn’t even zip any more. :) The BeBand from target has been great for me almost this entire pregnancy (I’m 36wks)…for whatever reason, maternity jeans slide down on me so the Beband from keeps them in place. And the band also is an awesome shirt extender for me as the baby drops.

    Reply

  40. Erin says

    When I’m close to the end of my pregnancy, I like to go shopping for non-maternity styles that still accommodate my belly and will cover a post-partum tummy. That way, after baby is born and I still can’t fit my old clothes yet, I have something thats a) new, and b) not maternity, so I don’t feel like I’m cheating. LOL That gives me the boost I need to get through those last few weeks. I also LOVE Old Navy maternity jeans. I have a pair on now! (31 weeks with boy #3!)

    Reply

  41. darcy says

    I LOVED old navys maternity jeans too….AND there black twills — like khakis but black! SUPER comfy and soft!! Also, I really loved dresses (with leggings & boots for winter!

    For my 1st pregnancy, I lived in the belly band with most of my work pants, but for my 2nd time, it was SOO uncomfortable!

    I wish id have known about the bra extenders — that would have been great!

    You look adorable!

    Reply

    • Adrienne says

      I love their black twill pants, too! It’s my one pair of ‘dress pants’ (luckily I can wear jeans to work) and they’re so comfortable.

  42. Kate Craig says

    I hate maternity pants – I can’t find any that don’t sag! So my favorite pregnancy outfit is a dress and leggings – great for the post partum pooch, too! But let’s get real, I was in sweat pants unless I was leaving the house ;)

    Reply

    • Allison says

      Ha, this makes me feel so much better! I’m reading all of these, like who are these women who are so pulled together and get dressed?! I’m not pregnant yet, but I’m already a fan of workout clothes around the house, and I’m such a baby when I’m sick, I can’t imagine being sick every day AND getting dressed and looking cute! Props to you guys!

  43. Angie says

    My tipps basically have all been shared so far. I’m now at the stage where my jeans are getting uncomfortable (especially in the evening) and since I cannot button them up anymore, I just use a hair tie and a belly band to cover it up until I get maternity pants :) I’m planning on stocking up on long tanks and shirts, though.

    As for the weight loss, I can’t speak from experience (yet), but I heard that it’s better to keep above your pre pregnancy weight until you’re done breastfeeding because there may be residues of medication etc stored in your fat cells (if I remember and translated correctly)…

    Reply

  44. Caitlin says

    I love everyone’s tips – ON has definitely been my hero so far too! Just can’t justify paying full price for maternity clothes. Question for any preggo swimmers – has anyone found a bathing suit that works for lap swimming, fits your belly and isn’t $80?? Help!

    Reply

    • Meredith says

      Not preggo, but I am a swimmer: Dara Torres said in her book that when she was pregnant she just kept buying Speedos but in bigger sizes. That seems like the best bet. A friend who is a swimmer got a decent-ish one on clearance at Target, but I think that was a random lucky score. I’m a big fan of swimoutlet.com for cheapish suits! I go for the “grab bag”–you don’t get to pick the style, but you can’t beat the price. :)

    • Jenny says

      I just got a maternity excercise top from my sis that I’ll wear to the pool if I end up there anytime soon. Not made for it, but with pre-preg bikini bottoms I think it’ll work out nicely. I don’t know where she got it, but workout tops are easier to find than bathing suits, and more useful since they can also double as regular tank tops in summer…

    • Darcy says

      I think I got a bathing suit at Motherhood on sale for around $30(in 2012 for my last pregnancy) — a halter style tankini, that covered my big basketball very well. Even the bottoms had nice full coverage! I really liked that bathing suit, and felt like it was well worth the money. I love swimming, and we went to the pool a bunch that summer, and into the fall we have indoor pools, so it got its price per wear way down!! Would definitely recommend it!

    • Mary Beth says

      Ooh, thanks for the great swimsuit tips! I’m only 14 weeks now, but I’ve got a beach trip planned for next June a few weeks before my due date – I’m totally gonna need to look back at this!

  45. Ashlee says

    I did the exact same thing, except for the bra extenders.. I didn’t even think of that. The bulk of my pregnancy was in the spring (little man was born in July 2013) so I wore larger sized maxi dresses that I found at Target. A few of them were just beach coverups and I’d throw a cardigan over it for work and wore cute (stretchy) sandals.

    I’m going to have to look into those extenders though… I’m still waiting for my ribs to go back to normal.. and my shoulders widened, but we’re going to call them “swimmer’s” shoulders, sounds nicer than linebacker ones.

    Reply

  46. Lisa says

    Im 28 weeks and have a pair of the old navy skinny jeans with a full panel, but I can’t keep them up! All day they are constantly sagging, and i have to hike them up. When I wore a be band it just seemed to roll up making things worse. Any tips ladies? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      Oh no! Anyone have tips? Sometimes I think it all depends on the shape of your bump (if you have a long torso/are tall, your bump isn’t as pokey and might not hold them up as easily, haha).

      xo
      s

    • Jessica says

      I had the exact same problem with the full panel pants and the belly band! Personally, the demi-panel pants just worked better for me.

    • rachel K says

      I had that same problem with my Old Navy jean skirt (that got me through this entire summer in my 3rd trimester) and I actually brought it to a tailor and had the panel taken in a little. It was stretchy enough that even at my largest it was still comfortable (you can always fold the panel down if needed), but it fit much earlier.

  47. Carolyn says

    Love the tips and the bra extender will be my next purchase! Didn’t try it with my first one, but think that’s the answer instead of sizing up and buying all new bras.

    I’m due right around when you are (Easter Sunday!) so it’s fun to see your updates about baby Boy.

    One tip I wanted to add: Pregnancy tights. I got them because I needed to dress up for work, and frankly, I was tired of the stuffed sausage look in my pre-pregnancy tights. So I went to Amazon and bought these http://amzn.com/B005MIUPJQ (Preggers Maternity tights). No joke, changed how I look at my maternity wardrobe. I’m dressing up more and feeling MORE comfortable! I highly recommend them. They have a “compression stocking” aspect that I wasn’t looking for, but now that I have them, it makes wearing my knee high boots all day NOT an issue. Ok, done raving about preggo tights, but had to share. Hope you are doing well and thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply

    • Jeannette says

      I agree with you on the tights, when it was FREEZING here last week, I even wore them under my leggings and managed to stay warm the whole day.

      I really lucked out with a wide variety of a maternity wardrobe. I knew I *might* be pregnant this winter, so last winter when I was buying my winter wardrobe I bought a little bigger/baggier hoping I could wear them this winter, and even at 30 weeks I am wearing about 50% non-maternity clothes. Old dresses are becoming tunics, and my leggings from last year are low enough to still be comfy too, and I’ve really liked that because I crave variety, and if I had to stick to only my maternity clothes I would be so bored!

  48. Katie says

    Thrift stores all the way. It was also helpful having a mother-in-law who loves to shop, and since she didn’t know the gender of her first grandbaby, she could only de facto shop for the little one by buying me clothes :)

    My tip would be that if you have to purchase tops, try to get ones that can translate to nursing. i.e…Ross had one-size-fits-all long, stretchy camis for like $5. They totally stretched over the belly, and I still wear them underneath regular shirts for nursing-in-public ease (shirt goes up, cami comes down) and belly-slimmingness. Target also has some “nursing friendly” maternity shirts, but most of them tend to be a little more snug along the belly. Awesome for when the bump is because the baby is still chilling inside; not so awesome for when the “bump” has become less round and ball like and more extra-skin and flabby like.

    Reply

  49. Diana says

    When I was pregnant I loved leggings! Either Old Navy or Gap sells two pairs together, one gray and one black, and I lived in those for several months. I often wore them under dresses.

    I had problems finding stuff that didn’t look ridiculous because no retailers seem to think 5’0 people get pregnant. Even the smalls looked ridiculous on me, but since I had a huge tummy I couldn’t get away with wearing non-maternity clothes for all that long. I also needed business casual wear since I worked in a semi-formal office.

    Hoping this will help someone else who is petite: A few companies that I had success with were Olian (shirts and dresses) and Mine for Nine, which lets you rent stuff. The jeans I lived in on weekends were Paige Maternity. I found good maternity work pants at Ann Taylor Loft (since they sell petites). Gap (regular) t-shirts actually worked almost until the end because they are long in the torso and super soft, but I did end up getting a few maternity Gap t-shirts during the third trimester. Not all of this stuff was budget friendly, but it kept me covered and often feeling good about what I was wearing.

    I ordered almost all of my maternity stuff online, and the rest I got as hand-me-downs… because apparently most stores only carry down to size S and not size XS. I basically had 5 work outfits that I rotated through each week, and my trusty jeans + t-shirts for weekends.

    Reply

  50. Susan says

    I feel so bad that you are still getting sick! have you tried any medication? I took medication for morning sickness while pregnant, after I threw up at my desk at work I was just having a really hard time functioning. Hope it goes away soon!! You are a good mama!

    Reply

    • Young House Life says

      I tried one lighter dose of something and it didn’t work for me, but the heavier stuff isn’t recommended for me by my doc because I have some annoying allergies to certain medications, so alas, nothing really seems to solve it other than getting through the day and looking forward to when this baby is here.

      xo
      s

    • Caitlin says

      Sherry- I don’t know if you’ve tried this or if it would even work, but my mom used to have this OTC anti-nausea medicine that she would give me when I was sick that was essentially sugar syrup. I just googled it, and apparently homemade sugar syrup is a semi-common natural home anti-nausea remedy. Since it doesn’t have any actual medications that you’d be allergic to, maybe it might help? Either way, hope you, John, Burger, the Bean, and the Barnacle are doing well!

    • Rachel says

      I’ve heard of this too…My sister-in-law was hooked on Laffy Taffy with her first pregnancy and swore that it helped take the morning sickness away. My mother-in-law, who is a pharmacist, explained that the sugar content in the taffy acts as a natural anti-nausea medicine! Go figure!

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