by Julia England

Created on: January 15, 2007   Last Updated: August 07, 2009

When I found out I was pregnant with my first child I was excited about the cute little outfits I would be buying for my new baby. However, I was less thrilled about the clothing that I would ultimately sport around. I wore nonmaternity clothes until the safety pins I used to keep my pants and skirts up no longer worked, hoping to hold off on maternity clothes as long as possible.

I faced the inevitable and set on a quest to find fashionable maternity boutiques. I was pleasantly surprised when I found really adorable and flattering maternity clothes I would even consider wearing if I wasn't pregnant! So excited about my find, I purchased a few starter pieces. Much to my surprise, I quickly found my budget to be depleted. I found out very quickly that while maternity clothing has changed for the better and more fashionable in the recent years, it's very expensive. So I set out on a new quest, a search for affordable maternity clothes.

While peeking at newborn outfits at my local Baby Gap, I noticed that there was a room at the back of the store for expecting mothers. Yes, a maternity section! Who would have known? There wasn't a sign anywhere near the entrance of the store. What I found was a goldmine. Great clothes at great prices. Some pieces were still a bit expensive, but sale racks were ample and offered great deals. I wore Baby Gap clothing for the rest of the pregnancy and have been very happy with the durability, fit and prices of the goods. I also started to shop their online deals for once I was comfortable with their sizing.

I also found Motherhood Maternity to be great for a few pieces, although I wasn't as impressed with their jeans or the fit and quality of some of my other purchases.

Ultimately what I found out in my quest for maternity clothes is that women today can find fantastic maternity clothes that will make them feel comfortable and fashionable, without breaking the bank. There are many options and fashions for today's expectant mothers.

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