Comments on: MacGuyver Maternity: Five Steps to Extending Your Non-Maternity Wardrobe Throughout Your Pregnancy

By: MC

MC — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:54:06 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with the Ross thing. It’s been a life-saver! My one question is this… I’m 33 weeks along and pantyhose are NOT an option (even after the cutting and butchering)!! I opted for thigh-highs, but aparently even the biggest “one size fits all” (my a**!)are not big enough for my size 10 thighs. Any suggestions on a good brand of thigh-highs for someone who doesn’t want to pay a fortune since my dogs will more than likely eat them or snag them in a frenzy of “mommy loving” when I walk in from work?

By: charlotte

charlotte — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:24:59 +0000

Three words: Ross Dress For Less (okay, that was four). I bought my maternity jeans there for $14.95 and three other pairs of pants in various degrees of formal for about $9 a piece. They also have several nice maternity shirts in neutral colors–in fact, my entire maternity wardrobe to date, all of which I bought there, has cost me less than $100. Of course, I really really want a pair of shoes now that will fit my expanding feet … and they don’t come cheap.

By: Liz

Liz — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:41:17 +0000

Clearance and sales racks at Gap have been my best friends. The turnover there is so quick, that it’s useless to buy anything new there when it’s just going to be half price the following week. You can get lots of stuff for $7-$30. I couldn’t find a thing there towards the end of winter when I was first looking, but their summer stuff has been cute. It’s a little hit or miss, but Gap Maternity’s sale rack became a staple for me in the 2nd and 3rd trimester.

By: Leah

Leah — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:58:58 +0000

I got some really good stuff on eBay too! Pregnant or not, pants are too difficult to buy without trying them on, but I got a ton of great shirts (mostly Gap and Old Navy) at great prices and with free shipping.

By: silene

silene — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:13:59 +0000

Love it–although I will likely not need the tips ever again (sob!).
I work Target t-shirts throughout my pregnancy–just went up a size (or 2) as need be. And you know…I found that the belly-hugging tees were WAY more flattering than the tent-like maternity shirts. I still remember being in a Motherhood store during the end of my second trimester. I was wearing non-maternity clothes, and didn’t even really look pregnant (I started out overweight, so I just looked a little fatter). I tried on ONE maternity shirt, and bam! Instantly looked 9 months pregnant, and an ugly 9 months, too!
I am sad, however, to pack up the awesome white shorts and cute navy blue top I got at Gap Maternity. I think I only got a month or two of wear out of those, but they were well worth the price, since they were really flattering.

By: jonniker

jonniker — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:34:47 +0000

Several things:
- Thank you for the bra tips. Am in armpit-boob territory, but KNOW these suckers are going to grow and I’m at ELEVEN WEEKS, so really, buying new bras now isn’t something I’m way into.
- I’m loving (nay, ADORING) the maternity-friendly wear available in regular stores. Who the hell wears this stuff without being pregnant is beyond me, but all of the empire-waisted tops and flowy shirts are my BFF right now. Gap Outlet has some great stuff on sale for CHEAP (like $5 a shirt, no kidding) and it’s all belly-friendly.
- Can someone at some point explain, for the love of God, the Panel Mystery? Why so many panel options? What the hell’s the difference, and why is one better than the other? Demi. Full. Secret Belly. Semi-demi (no, I’m not making that up). Roll. Back panel. No panel. Fake panel. Invisible panel. Printed panel with Jesus’s face on it.
What. The. Hell. Buying a pair of jeans just became hilariously complicated.

By: Helen

Helen — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:17:36 +0000

@ LeggyNic: my feet and legs were so swollen that I had to just give up on anything resembling style or pretty and wear tennis shoes and Jobst support stockings every day. Every. Day. For 3 months. At least it was winter.

By: Lisa M

Lisa M — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:44:01 +0000

I love using men’s tanks! I used them with my first pregnancy, but they are so stretchy, that I still used the same ones for months after. They didn’t survive the “4th trimester” of my second pregnancy (damn GERD), but at $7 for a pack of 3, I stocked back up. I love them in summer to layer with other tanks, or under sweaters in the winter. I can’t get enough.

By: LeggyNic

LeggyNic — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:00:14 +0000

I love all of these tips. I hadn’t tried the men’s tank tops yet but I’ve just about grown out of the XL Women’s camis I bought in week 10.
Being over 6′ I have problems with pants to begin with and have had a lot of luck finding tall maternity, work-worthy pants at JCPenney online for cheap (under $35). They’re sale section is great too with t-shirts for $6! Great for everyday, weekend throw it in the wash a zillion times.
Any advice about shoes during the 3rd Tri swelling?

By: Ms. Huis Herself

Ms. Huis Herself — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:10:33 +0000

Don’t forget to shop your local consignment stores and/or rummage/garage sales for good deals, too. Sometimes you can find beautiful stuff on consignment for a fraction of new prices… and the garage sale stuff is usually cheap enough you don’t care if you only wear it a few times before you outgrow it.
(Plus, you know, reusing stuff is good for the environment instead of _always_ purchasing new.)