How to Dress During Pregnancy with Non-Maternity Clothes

This post provides a guide for how to dress during pregnancy with non-maternity clothes in a budget friendly way.

Hi fellow pregnant mama! I’m a little over halfway through my second pregnancy with our second baby girl! We are thrilled to meet her and welcome her to our little family. This pregnancy has been harder than my first, but I’m so grateful for the honor it is to carry another baby into this world.

Blogging has definitely been on the back burner in this season, but I have some exciting ideas for blog posts as I get ready for another babe. Stay tuned!

How to Dress During Pregnancy with Non-Maternity Clothes

I’ve definitely needed to change my wardrobe a bit sooner this pregnancy than with my first pregnancy, which I was totally dreading – maternity clothes are expensive and often not made in the style I would usually gravitate towards.

However, to my surprise, it’s been much easier so far to dress “normally” this pregnancy than with my first – I’ve been challenging myself to be creative with non-maternity clothes that I already have or that I can find thrifting.

Most pregnant women (me included!) enjoy wearing leggings and sweats during pregnancy, which is significantly more comfortable than a lot of maternity wear. But, hopefully, this post will show you that you can still be comfortable even in regular clothes throughout your pregnancy.

My hope for this post is that it provides some inspiration for how you can dress during pregnancy without going out to buy a whole new wardrobe, which can be both overwhelming and expensive.

Outfit 1: Long top + maternity jeans + boots

All the outfits I put together in this post are thrifted, except for these maternity jeans from Target, and a few pairs of shoes.

I’ve found that a good pair of maternity jeans/pants can go a long way in making pregnancy more comfortable. They are worth the investment to buy new if you can’t find a thrifted pair.

I also really liked that these maternity jeans are a boyfriend, wide leg style, which I find more comfortable these days.

The white blouse is originally H&M, but thrifted a few years ago. The key to wearing normal tops in pregnancy is making sure they are long enough to cover the maternity panel on maternity jeans. An oversized t-shirt would be a comfortable option as well. This particular top probably won’t fit me all the way through my pregnancy, but it works great for now!

Outfit 2: Stretchy knit dress + boots

When I am not pregnant, I rarely wear a fitted dress, but I do like to wear them more when I have a baby bump!

This knit sweater dress I thrifted this summer, knowing I would have a bump to wear it with this fall & winter season. It’s not a maternity dress, but it is a larger size than my pre-pregnancy size, so it’s very comfortable, with still more room for my growing belly.

I’ve found that I can mostly get by with normal dresses without buying new maternity dresses. Sweater dresses or stretchy knit dresses are great non-maternity pieces to wear during pregnancy. Another kind of dress that is great for pregnancy is a wrap dress. I personally don’t have one, but my friends really like them! And they are nursing friendly as well. Also, flowy dresses will most likely accommodate your baby bump.

Outfit 3: Oversized button down + tank top + jeans + boots

An oversized button down will go a long way in pregnancy. Especially in the fall/winter months, they are easy to throw on over a tank top or any shirt. Even in the summer, a lightweight linen or cotton button down would also work well.

I thrifted this olive green corduroy button down, and the black tank top I’ve had forever. It might even be from my early high school days shopping at Forever 21, haha. The maternity jeans are the same ones from Target. What I like about a button down is it’s probably something you have in your closet already. And you can wear it open or closed if it’s oversized.

Outfit 4: Long skirt + cropped top + sweater + boots

This outfit is an outfit I would wear pregnant or not. The skirt is normally a bit big on me, but the tie really helps adjust the size, so it works pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy. A stretchy maxi-skirt would also work.

At this point in pregnancy, the best way I’ve found to wear any crop top is with a skirt. And the wonderful thing about cardigans and sweaters is you can wear them all the way through pregnancy! This whole outfit is thrifted, with exception of the boots, which are from Amazon.

Outfit 5: Oversized sweatshirt + non-maternity jeans + clogs

A theme of this post is everything oversized! Anything oversized will be your best friend in pregnancy. This oversized striped sweatshirt is perfect for pregnancy and postpartum, plus extremely comfortable.

I’ve heard that horizontal stripes can make you look “bigger,” but I think wearing stripes during pregnancy is really fun. And you will most likely feel “bigger” no matter what you are wearing, so go ahead and wear them!

If you don’t want to purchase maternity jeans, a great option is to thrift a pair of jeans a few sizes up from your normal size.

These J. Crew jeans I thrifted when I was a few weeks postpartum with my first baby. I’m not anticipating fitting into these in the third trimester, but they are great for the first trimester, second trimester and postpartum seasons.

Thrift Maternity Clothes

Most thrift stores have a small maternity section, and I would encourage you to check that out if you are looking for specific maternity wear. I’ve thrifted quite a few basic maternity tops for layering and even a pair of maternity jeans.

Like any thrifting, it does take some extra time, but if you are on a budget, it is a great way to save money.

If you are new to thrifting, check out this blog post, or download your Thrifting 101 FREE Ebook here for all my thrifting tips and tricks.

I hope this post gave you some ideas for how to dress budget friendly during pregnancy with non-maternity clothes!

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