10 Hot Tips For Choosing The Best Maternity Clothes For Your Growing Baby Bump

Having a baby and starting a family means not only additional costs and a strain on finances, it also means that you will be having loads more to do and plan. In addition to planning your birth and packing your hospital bags you will need to plan and shop for your growing baby bump!

While you may want to go out and spend loads of money and time shopping for cute maternity clothes many moms to be are wanting to save money and shop sparingly. Let’s face it, spending a fortune on special maternity clothing that you may never wear again might not be the best idea. That said there are plenty of ways to ensure that you get the best deals and have a great maternity wardrobe to show off your baby bump.

1. Start Buying Early

If you see a lovely looking maternity item in the shops but you are not big enough yet for maternity clothing then buy it anyway – you may pick up some stunning bargains this way. It will save you money plus it will mean that you have some maternity clothing stockpiled for when you need it.

Trust me you will be big before you know it. You don’t want to wake up one morning and find you suddenly have nothing to wear. Shopping under pressure is never fun, chances are you won’t find exactly what are looking for and have to settle for things that are not very flattering or comfortable.

Buying over a period of time will ensure that you buy things you love and your expenses are spread over a longer period of time.

2. Choosing The Right Size

If you are pregnant with multiples you will probably need to buy a few sizes up to accommodate for the extra weight. If you are pregnant with one baby then you should be able to buy your current size. Most of your weight will be in your tummy area.

If you are pregnant with multiples you will need to start wearing maternity clothing much earlier than if you are pregnant with one baby.

3. Wear Layers

Buying clothes that you can layer means that you can wear comfortable and stretchy items underneath and dress up your outfit for work or going out with other clothing items. This may also come in handy if you are out for the day and the day starts cool but warms up. You will be getting quite warm with your big tummy and fluctuating hormones – it is nice to be able to take layers of clothing off as needed.

4. Adapt Clothing For Pregnancy

There are plenty of items of clothing that can be worn during pregnancy and when you are not pregnant too – think cardigans, baby doll dresses and stretch pants.

You can also get an stretchy maternity pants extender for your normal pants that expand them to accommodate for your big tummy.

5. Try Different looks

For clothing ideas for pregnancy check out DressLikeMe Maternity. You can also find loads of fun ideas on Pinterest. Let’s face it, your body shape is going to be completely different and you may have no idea what may look flattering for your new shape.

Spending some time searching for ideas will be well worth it – when you are out shopping you will be able to recognize a great garment immediately.

6. Choose Stretchy, Breathable Fabrics

Since you are pregnant you will be feeling hotter than ever, so make sure that the clothing you choose is light, stretchy and made with breathable fabrics. Remember that while cotton is breathable and can be very stretchy, it can sometimes lose its stretch and start to look and feel worn out. Consider looking for a fabric that has a little spandex in it so that your clothing keeps its shape and keeps its stretch.

Leggings are great to wear when you are pregnant, they are comfortable and look great with most outfits – you can wear them under a dress or top in winter to keep warm. You may even be able to get away without buying maternity leggings if you wear them under your belly.

7. Maternity Underwear

It is not just your tummy that will be larger, chances are high that your bra size will be going up considerably too. Your body will be preparing for breastfeeding and you will most likely find that your breasts are larger, fuller and even a different shape.

When you buy maternity bras make sure to only buy a few at a time. The shape and size of your breasts will change as your pregnancy progresses which means you will probably need to buy some more bras before the end of your pregnancy.

You can also buy maternity panties if you don’t feel comfortable in your non-maternity panties. There are some lovely maternity panties that support your belly too, which will give you added comfort and support.

8. Plus Size Works Too

Very often the maternity section in a store doesn’t offer a very wide range and you may find that you are just not finding what you want or need. If this is the case remember to check out the plus size section of the store too, there may be some great affordable items of clothing there that will suit your new figure and accommodate your growing belly.

There may even be more of a range available in the plus size section of the store than the maternity section, so don’t overlook it!

9. Don’t Forget Shoes

You may have loads of shoes already but you need to keep in mind that it is very common for pregnant women to have larger feet – this means that you could find your shoes don’t fit you anymore! This increase in shoe size could be permanent.

If you do need to buy new shoes when you are pregnant look for a sturdy shoe that has no heel or a very low heel. Avoid shoes that are restrictive, leaving room for your feet to swell a bit.

10. After Birth

It may seem like buying maternity clothing is a waste since you will only be wearing them for a month or two while pregnant but keep in mind that your body will not go back to its pre-pregnancy state immediately. Your tummy will be swollen for a while after birth and it will take a while for you to lose that extra weight. You will most likely find that you need to still wear maternity for at least a few weeks after giving birth, perhaps even a few months more.