The ultimate guide to buying maternity clothes on a budget

I don’t know about you, but the thought of buying maternity clothes is always an intricate task.

The thought of how much your body will change over the months and the short amount of time you will spend wearing items from your wardrobe is enough to dishevel a Mother’s spirit.

Not to mention the money aspect.

When you are preparing to bring a new life into the world, you can expect your spending to add up quite quickly.

From prenatal visits to the actual birth, car seats to cribs, and formula to food, you can bet that money will be a little more tight for awhile – which makes buying a full maternity wardrobe all the more difficult.

Why would you want to spend hundreds on a wardrobe when you’ll only be getting a few month’s of good use out of it???

As a Mother of (almost) 4, I can certainly relate to this dilemma.

That is why I have created this ultimate guide to buying maternity clothes on a budget.

So you can look great during these fleeting months AND not feel guilty about spending extra money when you don’t need to!

(THIS POST PROBABLY CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. OUR FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY IS PRETTY BORING, BUT YOU CAN FIND IT HERE)

You only need 1 pair of jeans

One good pair of maternity jeans is really all you need to get through a few months of use.

When you first become pregnant, you probably won’t need them right away anyways, so try to hold off for as long as you and your growing belly can.

You can make your regular jeans last longer by using a rubber band through the button loop or buying a sort of band to hold up your pants once they get difficult to button.

Once you can’t fit into your normal clothes any longer, it’s time to find a new pair!

I personally like full panel maternity jeans, as they are much more comfortable with my growing belly. I typically carry my babies lower, so any other style isn’t extremely comfortable, especially in the last trimester.

Just make sure that whatever you buy, you’re going to LOVE wearing for awhile & will provide you with the most amount of comfort!

Layering is a must

This is mostly for the fall and winter pregnant Mommas, but it can also be applied for spring and summer babies too.

I’ve experienced 3 winter pregnancies so far and I can say that even when it’s cold here in the Midwest, I live in t-shirts throughout the entire course of it all.

So, the majority of my wardrobe consists of tees that are comfortable and versatile.

When it gets really cold, or when I want to polish up my outfit a bit more than around-the-home casual, I will throw on a cardigan over my basic tee and instantly create a much nicer look.

Best part about maternity layering?

You don’t need to buy maternity specific layering pieces like cardigans, open front sweaters, and vests.

You can buy regular styles and use them again and again after your pregnancy.

This has been a life-saver to my maternity wardrobe this time around – I made sure not to waste my money buying specific maternity pieces, but things that I could also use later on.

Consider non-maternity pieces

Just like with layering, you don’t need to wear a full maternity wardrobe just because you are pregnant.

You can choose non-maternity items that you can wear before, during, and after your little one arrives.

The good news is that flowy shirts and dresses are a mega hit right now, so investing in options that serve a duel purpose (and that you can wear for much longer) will be a better bang for your buck!

Before I got pregnant this time, I was pretty fortunate that I had several pieces in my closet that fit this bill.

I have been able to wear many of my regular shirts throughout my entire pregnancy – yes, even at 32 weeks right now!

Don’t feel like you MUST buy maternity only clothes; that’s a a limiting mindset that will empty your wallet faster than it could.

Don’t buy what you don’t need

Yeah Momma, I know that dress looks amazing on you and that top you are eyeing is so cute, but be rational when it comes to building a maternity wardrobe on a budget.

Before you buy anything, you should ask yourself these questions:

Will I wear it often?
Does it fit me well?
Will I be able to get my money’s worth?
Do I feel confident in this?

If you love it but can’t see yourself wearing it enough for it to be worth it, then pass on over it.

Choosing more versatile items will ensure that you make the most out of what you buy!

Think about your individual needs and then go from there.

For me, I work from home with my kids. My daily go-to style is something comfortablE, but put-together.

I wear a lot of sweaters, t-shirts, and versatile tops that can can be dressed up or down. Pairing my favorite sweater with some leggings is a perfect option for home, then I can dress it up with a pair of jeans and boots for going out.

1 versatile dress is perfect

Talking about versatility, this is also a good topic to point out.

If you need something dressy for a special occasion or your Sunday best, investing in 1 solid dress will be all that you need when working with a budget!

To get the most out of a dress, choose a style that’s not only flattering to your growing belly, but will grow with you over the months.

If you will be pregnant in various seasons, consider the sleeve and skirt length of the dress too.

You can always put a sweater over a dress in the winter, but it’s hard to shorten the sleeves on a warm day.

For my winter dress, I chose a long-sleeve solid color dress that will accommodate a growing belly, all the way up until I pop.

With a solid color, it’s easy to build various styles on that.

Vests, jackets, scarves, open sweaters, and jewelry can all enhance the look of your dress and make for a variety of options!

This dress from PinkBlush is PERFECT because it can be layered, the v-neckline will be PERFECT for nursing and wearing postpartum, and the hi-low hemline length is suitable for any season.

My only problem with this dress is that I didn’t have it sooner!

Swap for nursing tanks and bras

Lots of things change during the course of your pregnancy, and you might find that sooner or later, you’ll be busting out of your regular undergarments.

Most likely after you give birth, your body will go back to a more normal state within time, so re-stocking your entire underwear drawer isn’t necessarily a necessity.

Instead, choose more practical options that you’ll be able to use now and grow with after baby arrives.

Even if you don’t plan on breastfeeding, nursing bras and tanks are designed for pregnant bellies (and comfort) in mind!

When you’re big and round and nothing is comfortable, having a few tank tops with built-in support or a bra that is wireless will be a lifesaver – I can promise you that!

And if you do end up nursing your baby, these will be amazing to have for the first few months.

Talk about a double-win!

Generally nursing bras are a lot cheaper than normal bras (and allow for more growth with their stretchy design), so definitely consider sticking to these options while your body continues to grow and change!

Shoes and accessories for the win!

You know the one thing that you don’t ever grow out of, right?

Accessories!

When you’re feeling like your wardrobe is limited and you’re wearing the same thing, day after day, then using accessories can make all the difference in spicing up your attire!

Plus, let’s not fail to mention that buying new accessories should never make you feel guilty.

First of all, you can always wear them, even when you are nearing the end of your pregnancy. Secondly, you are growing a baby – you deserve to treat yourself to something that makes you feel pretty!

So when you don’t know if you can stand your bare-minimum wardrobe any longer, hit the shops (or your closet) for some fun accessories to jazz up your outfit.

The next thing you know, you’ll have your baby in your arms and you’ll be in your way to a shrinking body.