1)    Beg, Borrow and Steal!  Ok, maybe don’t steal but come as close as is legally possible.  Ask friends, family and even friends of family if they have any maternity clothes they would like to donate to your cause.  You’d be surprised how many people have stellar finds stashed away in their closets!

2)    Thrift stores and consignment stores carry maternity clothes, too!  Since most women only wear maternity clothes for a short period of time, they’ll not only be cheap, but they’ll likely be in great condition!

3)    Look online.  Sites like craigslist, ebay, and freecycle are a great place to start.

4)    Never underestimate the value of an elastic band.  A tiny elastic band can extend the longevity of your favorite pants.  Simply loop it through the button hole, attach to the button, cover with a long shirt and voila!  You’re ready to take on the day!

5)    Invest in one or two good pairs of yoga pants.  Trust me, you’ll want to wear these every. single. day. of your pregnancy.  They’ll be worth the expense in the long run.  Some yoga pants are even dressy looking enough to take you through a semi-formal workday.

6)    Take advantage of current fashion trends.  Luckily, a lot of the current trends are leaning towards long shirts and a layered look.  Purchase a couple neutral colored tank tops or shirts and wear them underneath any other shirts you already own.  Buy bigger than you think you’ll need because you’ll likely outgrow it sooner than expected.

7)    Avoid maternity stores as long as possible.  As soon as you step foot into a maternity clothing store, you’ll be inundated with cute clothes.  Resist the urge to buy things until you are absolutely desperate for them.  You have no way of predicting how big your belly will get so buying ahead of time will likely leave you with a bunch of clothes you’ll never wear.  Also, remember that anything from a maternity store will cost more than clothes from a regular store, simply because they are “maternity clothes”.  Better to buy regular clothes just in a few sizes bigger than usual.

8)    Sweatshirts rock!!  Big, baggy ones in particular!  Since they’re already oversized, they can cover your growing belly for an extended period of time.  Cardigans can also do the trick, just don’t zip them up.

9)    Don’t buy a maternity / nursing bra until after you give birth.  Your breasts will continue to grow throughout your pregnancy.  Maternity bras are typically expensive so buying one in the wrong size would be wasteful.  Stick to cheaper regular bras in a bigger size until you’re sure your breasts have adjusted to the milk production.

10) If you’re going to splurge, splurge on an outfit that makes you feel particularly pretty (and hit the sales).  You’ll need a pick-me-up at some point during your pregnancy and nothing boosts your confidence more than a cute little outfit that makes you feel good about yourself.

- Lauren

Photo: Lavish by Heidi Klum for A Pea in the Pod (sale item).