Pregnancy should be a time to celebrate your upcoming journey into parenthood. With everything changing it’s easy to get swept up in the moment, which could cause you to spend too much money during this period of time. Given, you’re going to need some supplies to get you through the pregnancy you may already be hurting for money because you need to also buy items for the baby. There’s a few ways you can get rid of the high prices of maternity items, so you can actually worry about the things you’ll need when baby finally arrives. With these ten tips you should be able to keep yourself looking fashionable while feeling great during this beautiful time in your life. So, forget spending hundreds of dollars just to clothe yourself for 9 months, because these tips will give you a few hacks that take care of your basic pregnancy needs.
1. Jeans
When it comes to buying maternity clothes, jeans can be one of the priciest items to purchase. Although you could avoid them altogether and just wear dresses, this isn’t always the best option (especially in winter!). So, how can you get the clothes you needed without spending a whole lot of money? Easy, alter the stuff you already have. Typically, we pay a whole lot of money for our clothes anyway, so why give up that cute pair of fashion jeans just because your belly bump is in the way? During the first few months of pregnancy you can easily extend your jeans with a bungee cord. Wrap this around your button and slip it through the hole to add more length to the jeans. When the baby bump is a little too big for this then grab an old stretchy tank top. Fold the button portion of the jeans inward which will open up the area in which your belly will rest. Then place the tanktop in this region and sew it in. This will allow you more space so you can look great and feel comfy. If you’re having trouble getting it to work then look online for a few tutorials.
2. Sew Dresses/Skirts
During your next 9 months you may become a huge fan of dresses and skirts. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to go out and buy an all new selection of these items. If you have skirts with an elastic waist band then you may be able to get away with wearing these in the early months of your pregnancy. As the baby bump begins to grow it might be time to break out the sewing machine and get to work. Don’t stress out over this though! Pregnancy dresses and skirts are extremely simple to make and won’t take you long at all. You should look online for ideas or patterns before you decide what you’re going to make though. Once you’ve downloaded a free pattern or found a cheap one locally then you should be all set. Try to choose fabrics that aren’t expensive, but you may also want to think about the weather when making your choice. Then, get to work. It will honestly only take you an hour or so to have something that’s going to suit you throughout the 9 months. I’d recommend getting a good start on these items before the baby bump gets too big though, as bending down to do some of the work might be tough in the later stages!
3. DIY shirt
If you like to shop ahead or have had friends that were pregnant then you probably know there’s some adorable maternity shirts out there. Of course, they all cost quite a bit, which isn’t reasonable for clothing you’re only going to wear a very short while. Instead of buying into the craze you may want to just settle with making your own crazy designs. This is pretty easy to do too! You’ll want to get some printable iron on transfers or fabric paint to make this possible though. You will also need to buy some cheap and basic maternity t-shirts. Once you have your materials go wild. You can do anything your heart desires. One of the more common designs is a cute countdown, which is great if you plan on taking pictures to show your pregnancy’s progress. If t-shirts aren’t your thing or you like to mix it up then try to create an empire waist shirt with one of your partner’s old shirts (or one you buy from a store). This is simple to do and only requires you to sew a hem beneath the bust line.
4. Pillows
You’ve probably heard a lot of buzz about pillows from pregnant friends, or may have even realized your need for a special pillow if you’ve been pregnant before. Unfortunately, these pillows can cost you a small fortune which isn’t great when you have a budget to uphold. However, living without one after the first few months of pregnancy may also make you want to scream. The solution is to simply make you own. You can sew two pillows together to create a contouring pillow that will rock your world. You may also be able to find a pattern for a pillow that will suit your pregnant body. Of course, if you’re experienced with sewing then you may be able to work this issue out without actually having to find a pattern. If you’re not up for the crafting aspect then simply find a basic body pillow. You can always work with it to contour to your body so you can sleep even sounder.
5. Stretch Mark Products
One thing most women immediately think to buy when they’re pregnant is stretch mark cream. Most brands are pretty pricey though and if you want to keep using it throughout the pregnancy you may be looking at a lot more money than you’d expect. You also don’t know what comes in many of the products. Some could have chemicals that aren’t exactly the best for your skin or your baby, so don’t even take a chance. Instead, learn to make your own! It’s actually quite simple and require ingredients that you may already have around the house. One recipe only calls for coconut oil/butter, almond oil and commonly found baby oil. Of course, there’s a lot of different recipes online so try to do a little research and find one that suits your budget. You may also want to try various different kinds just to see which works with your body best.
6. Nausea Relief
Morning sickness is one of the worst aspect of pregnancy, but having to fork over a lot of money to get relief can make the problem feel even worse. Rather than going to the store to find relief you can easily create a few recipes to help you fix the problem without spending any extra. One simple way to do this is to mix water and your favorite sports drink. Add this to an ice tray and freeze it over night to create a nice treat that will cool you down and replenish your electrolytes in the morning. A combination of teas will also help get rid of this frustrating problem. Try mixing up a batch of tea using a mixture of dried red raspberry tea, nettle and peppermint leaves. This tea also provides nutrients that are good for the baby. Finally, anything with ginger in it will knock out nausea pretty quickly. You can add it to tea, combine it with fruit to make a popsicle, or enjoy it in a homemade ginger ale.
7. Photography
Most mothers want to create maternity photography to remember the first stages of parenthood. This is fantastic and family and friends will love seeing the pictures; however, these photos can be incredibly pricey if you hire someone to do them. If you already have a good camera in the home then there’s no reason to hire someone to do it for you. Instead, set up the photos yourself. You can easily take ideas from online and incorporate them to suit your needs. If you don’t have a timer then have your partner take them for you. You can also ask a friend or family member to help you out. If you do want some help with your photography then hire a student or amateur to take the photos, This will end up costing you a lot less and will help out the budding photography. You may even be able to add more direction to your photos if you hire someone new, which could help with your overall satisfaction of the pictures.
8. Bras
Bras are pricey, so you probably won’t want to go out and buy a few just to help you through the first months of your pregnancy. There’s a few ways to avoid having to spend a ton just to keep comfortable though. Throughout your pregnancy you should be able to get away with not buying a new bra if you have some bra extenders. This will help keep the bra comfortable on your body as you begin to gain a little weight. However, after the baby is born and you will probably need a larger cup size. When this happens you might want to buy a multi-pack of nursing bras which will suit your needs and save you some money. Of course, sports bras are often overlooked when it comes to pregnancy. These bras can keep you feeling pretty comfortable during the long nine months and will give you room to grow without having to get a size upgrade.
9. Hydrate
Okay, so it may seem totally obvious but keeping hydrated will not only keep you looking and feeling great but will save you some major money. Try to keep water up high and at an arms reach if you can. This will encourage you to drink as much water as you can which will prevent you from drinking sugary drinks that are bad for you and the baby. The more water you drink the less you’ll have to deal with cramps and discomfort which is always a bonus when you’re pregnant. You should also eat water based foods to help with your consumption and overall health. Foods like cucumbers, radishes and watermelons are always great for you and can make a salad taste amazing. As you make this lifestyle change you’ll feel more energized which is great especially since pregnancy often causes fatigues.
10. Hand-me-downs
When it comes to maternity clothes, everyone seems to have some from their previous pregnancies. This can be a major bonus when it comes to saving you a lot of money. You shouldn’t turn down hand-me-downs when they come your way. Even if they don’t tend to fit properly you can easily alter them to suit your needs. These clothes are usually in excellent shape too as they’re only worn for a few months at a time. This will keep you looking fashionable while you’re pregnant, so you won’t feel the need to compensate your lack of chic when the baby is born. Make sure to talk to friends and family about hand-me-downs as soon as you’re ready to share the news of your pregnancy. The more people you have in your life to help out the more selection you’ll have with your clothing needs.
Being pregnant doesn’t mean you have to hang around in mu-mus until you deliver. It also doesn’t mean going out and spending hundreds on special creams to make your skin look amazing post baby. There’s ways around the big ticket items which may even make your pregnancy all the more rewarding. As it inches closer and closer to baby time you’ll be able you saved so much on items that would have taken away from your baby needs.
