Avoiding buying maternity clothing + my fav maternity pieces.
Maternity clothing is expensive and I personally find it pretty useless to purchase special maternity clothing just to wear it those few months it’s actually needed. This pregnancy I vowed to get creative and shop/wear non maternity items for as long as I could before having to finally fall into the trap. I do know that at some point it’s super hard to avoid not buying maternity pieces and for that I do have some items that I have found to be more essential, as well as some super awesome maternity clothing lines that don’t scream “I’m in head-to-toe maternity!” I’m super excited to share some awesome picks and tips with you all that I hope helps!
Comparing this pregnancy to Laken’s I have gained 1/4 of the weight that I did with her and I feel so fortunate with that because it has definitely helped. With how large I feel I am very shocked that so much of my normal clothing still fits. What I have now that actually fits out of everything are a few dresses, two pairs of jeans, and about 10ish shirts. I can’t zip the jeans and the shirts def would show my belly and this is where my essential maternity pieces come in.
Let’s ignore the photo bomber lol and pay attention to this belly band. These Old Navy jeans are what I have been wearing this whole pregnancy and they’re a favorite. This belly band has saved my life and is only $16.99. To me, spending that much to save me from having to actually buy pants is a total steal. The belly band is from Target but is always sold out! I went to a few stores when I was looking and had no luck. I recommend buying online and they come in black, white, and beige. I ended up getting the S/M. I felt like for what it’s for it ran large and I feel super secure and supported with the size I chose.
The other must haves that I highly recommend to everyone is to purchase a few maternity tanks like these. They are $9.99 and come in seven different colors. I snagged a white and grey up with Laken and wear them all the time with this bump. I mainly wear them under my normal shirts that I wear and they’re so stretchy that it covers everything without looking weird. I wear a small in the tanks and feel very comfortable in them. I even wore them in the hospital after Laken because they were so comfortable. I also highly recommend investing and purchasing the SPANX maternity leggings(especially in the fall/winter)! They are $78 and the comfiest leggings ever. They don’t loose their shape, they keep your belly supported, they also are compressions leggings so they help with circulation in the legs, and they pass the bending over test! I truly can’t recommend them enough.
Tips when wanting to avoid maternity clothing
I have lost my patience way more than I’d like to admit that I have because it’s frustrating when you want to shop in the normal clothing section and have to keep in mind that you have a large bump to cover! There were lots of times I left the store empty handed and felt defeated. There were also a lot of times that I left super happy with my finds! Luckily the trend right now isn’t super tight clothing which automatically makes it easier when searching. Below I have some tips on finding normal clothing that you can wear throughout pregnancy!
Tip #1 – look for tops that are looser/flare out at the bottom. This tip is insanely helpful. In the photo above this is a normal tank that flares out. That automatically adds extra coverage at the bottom when you grow and doesn’t ride up!
Tip #2 – find things that you would wear normally and size up! This tank is one that I would 100% wear without a bump. I would have normally purchased a small and ended up ordering a medium. It doesn’t bug me that it’s going to be a little more loose after baby. My game plan is wearing it tucked in a little bit to high waisted jeans or knotting it off with high waisted jeans (this is what I normally do with tanks any way). The only thing that I may have to worry about are the straps being too long but a quick alteration will fix it right up.
Tip 3# – When searching for dresses you can usually tell on the hanger if it’s bump friendly. Look at the seam and if it separates the bust area from the rest it’s usually a sign it will work. Another trick is to look for dresses that are fitted around the bust and flare out. I have purchased quite a few dresses this pregnancy and every single one of them will be even cuter after!
Tip #4 – When looking for athletic clothing, it’s important to find bottoms that sit on the lower side of your hips instead of hitting you right across your belly. Also, look for a softer band for the least amount of discomfort. Most low-rise running shorts aren’t actually low-rise and sit nicer on the hips. Workout leggings are also a huge hit and I recommend looking at the yoga leggings. The waist band is way softer and there is a larger selection of stretch to choose from.
Tip #5 – Stick with the basics. It’s so boring sticking to a basic tee or tank but trust me when I say you will have the best if you do and it’s easy to dress it up! With basics you can size up and it won’t look baggy post baby. I love taking a basic tee and adding a fun cardigan or a studded jean jacket to add some spice.
Stores that I’ve had the best luck at with finding normal clothes:
American Eagle (dresses only)
Free People (tops only)
My favorite maternity item finds:
All of these items are maternity and they are the cutest!!! A lot of these pieces could also be worn post baby and styled super cute!
This post does contain affiliate links – thank you for shopping my links 🙂
xx-Kendra
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