Me, at 38 weeks pregnant!

Man, oh man, the past three and a half weeks have been so crazy busy adjusting to a new schedule with a newborn in the house, but I am feeling so amazingly blessed to have had such a great pregnancy and birthing experience.

With this having been my 4th baby, I feel like I’ve come a long way with knowing what to expect from pregnancy and labor.  With that wisdom, also comes the discovery of how to maximize my maternity wardrobe while saving money.  When I think back to being a first-time mom I realize that I was sweetly naive in thinking that since I was pregnant that naturally, my entire wardrobe would need to be temporarily replaced by whatever the local maternity store was carrying.  Over the past few years, here’s what I’ve learned:  you can build a great maternity wardrobe doing a little creative thinking and shopping.  The following are my top 5 ways to save money on your maternity wardrobe.

Your Closet

The first place you should begin to look for free maternity clothes is right in your own closet. Think knit or jersey tops since they’ll likely provide the nice stretchy fit and feel that you’ll need soon enough to accomodate your expanding bump.  Don’t discount pieces in your wardrobe simply because they’re not designated “maternity” wear.  Things like regular size yoga pants work great from pregnancy to post-partum and they’ll keep you comfy.  Consider jackets {like a cute denim one} and blazers in your wardrobe as well.  They may not button all the way through your pregnancy but will look just as cute left unbuttoned.

Consignment & Thrift Stores

These places are great places to start when thinking about doing maternity wear shopping.  Some of my favorite maternity pieces have been found at my local women’s consignment shop which also carries gently used maternity wear.  You’ll find some great values, especially if you’re in the market for work-appropriate maternity fashions.  Career wear like suit pants and blouses sold new are very pricey so your best bet is trying to find them used at a thrift or consignment store for huge savings.  One thing though is that you may have to keep checking back with your local thrift or consignment store to find what you want since inventory can change daily.

Friends & Family

It’s likely that you know of friends or family members who have kids and thus may be willing to either give or loan you pieces from their maternity wardrobes for your pregnancy.  It is especially helpful to ask around when you are needing a special occasion maternity dress or formal attire.  Don’t be afraid to tap into your social networks too — send and email or put out a Facebook status update to inquire if anyone is willing to loan you their maternity bins. Chances are, they’ll be happy to be rid of it — even if only for a few months!

Online

Many expectant moms are able to find great deals on Craigslist for maternity clothes, but think beyond that.  Many sites like Bump to Bump, which offers used maternity clothes, are popping up on the internet more and more these days.  Also consider online parenting forums and baby sites that have message boards with moms willing to sell, swap, or pass around maternity clothes.

Sales & Coupons

Check out the sale and clearance racks of some of the stores you already shop at that may offer a maternity selection {think places like Kohls or Target}.  You can often times combine sale items with coupons which can offer significant savings on maternity wear.  Also, consider subscribing to the email lists or rewards programs for stores that offer maternity wear.  Many times they will email or snail mail you coupons that you can use on maternity apparel.  

Have you used any of these ways to save on maternity clothing in the past?  Or if you’re currently a first-time expectant mom, what are some ways you are building your maternity wardrobe while not overspending?