Can Maternity Clothing Be Altered?
Pregnancy is a major part of a woman’s life, but it can be an overwhelming experience. While maternity clothes are essential for any soon-to-be mother, they can be costly. On average, women spend $500 on maternity clothes during their pregnancy, and this breaks down to around $50 to $60 per month. But what do you do with maternity clothes once you’ve had your baby and don’t plan on having another? Here are some tips on what to do with your maternity clothes post-pregnancy.
Plan ahead to simplify altercations
Planning ahead will simplify the process of altering your clothes if you decide to do it yourself. Try choosing similar patterns and styles (one in a maternity size, one in your regular size). Keep in mind that you may need extra room in the bust area post-pregnancy if you’re planning to breastfeed. You might also want to size up in case you don’t lose all the baby weight right away.
Once you’ve picked out your patterns and styles, cut out fabric from the maternity sized piece, then lay the regular sized piece on top. Trace around the regular sized piece with a wash-out marker or chalk (this line will serve as a cutting line later).
After the baby arrives, all you have to do is cut the line and resew. When creating a stitching line, make sure it doesn’t show on the outside of the fabric — try turning the fabric inside out for optimal results. You can do this for nearly any piece of clothing, such as maternity dresses, pants, shirts, etc. If you’re unsure about your sewing abilities, consider going to a professional.
Find a tailor
To get the most mileage out of your maternity clothes post-pregnancy, go to a tailor. After spending $500 or more on new clothes, what’s a few more dollars to get them resized? Tailors specialize in fitting clothes to your current shape and size, and are relatively inexpensive at around $15 per piece.
Some tailors also offer to add maternity panels to regular clothes, and can reverse maternity clothing alterations after pregnancy. This means you can wear your favorite pre-pregnancy clothes through the end of your pregnancy, then get them tailored back to your normal size. Keep in mind that you’ll likely have to buy maternity panels for each item of clothing in addition to paying for the resizing. If this sounds appealing, contact nearby tailors and ask if any of them offer maternity resizing specials.
Donate, recycle, or gift
For many pregnant women, maternity clothing is a luxury. Help out those in need by giving your old maternity clothes away to a local charity or shelter. By donating your maternity clothes, you’ll free up closet space for new clothes as well as help the environment. When people buy used instead of new clothes, fewer new clothes need to be made, ultimately saving resources. Recycling clothing helps the environment and will leave you feeling good.
Additionally, if you have any friends or family who are pregnant or might be in the near future, consider offering your maternity clothes as a gift. It might seem like a small favor, but you can save them hundreds of dollars.
Whether you’ve just had a baby or you’re pregnant and planning ahead, you have a ton of options to choose from regarding your maternity clothes. If you’re confident about your sewing abilities, try altering your clothes yourself. If you’re not, look for a tailor to get the clothes resized instead. If all else fails, donating to a charity or passing your clothes on to a future mother is a win-win.
