Tip 1:  Extend the life of your non-maternity wardrobe

Don’t give up your pants just yet!  Take a hair elastic and loop it through the button hole of your pants .  Use the open end to attach to the button.  Wear a long shirt, tunic, or jacket to camouflage your “make-shift pants-extender.”

Search your closet for all wrap dresses, extra large clothing, and anything with a little stretch!  You probably have more than enough clothing already to make it through your first and second trimesters; you just don’t know it yet.

Take a little time and search your closet thoroughly.  When I was pregnant I discovered a drawer full of cute t-shirts never worn because I thought they weren’t fitted enough.

Tip 2: Don’t buy any maternity clothes until you need them

Many women rush out as soon as they find out they are pregnant and buy a ton of maternity gear. You shouldn’t do this because there is no way to predict what size you will ultimately be during your pregnancy.  As you begin to no longer fit your non-maternity wardrobe that’s when you should shop for maternity wear.  So save your money until you need to spend it!

Tip 3: Shop maternity sales

If you haven’t noticed already,  maternity clothes can cost a pretty penny.   Of course,  being the bargain hunter I am I made a great discovery. Maternity stores stock their clothes just like regular clothiers, seasonally.  Search the sales racks!

If you follow Tip 2 then you will be searching for clothing you can wear immediately, meaning if it’s on the sales rack it is still in season.  I went to The Gap while I was pregnant and ended up leaving with about 10 items (all $5.00 dollars or less), and ended up passing all of it on to pregnant family and friends!

Tip 4: Buy stylish practical items that can be worn after baby gets here

Long tanks, tunic shirts, bubble/tulip & maxi dresses are all in style right now, and they are perfect for baby bumps.  So go ahead and shop in the non-maternity section.  You will probably surprise yourself with what you find and you will be very happy with how fabulous you look.  And the best part of all, you will have some cute comfy clothes to wear after your baby gets here!

Follow these tips and you will be a very Fly Mommy-to-be!

Happy Shopping!

You have been feeling the pregnancy symptoms for a few days and you are 2-weeks late for your period. All types of emotions are running through your mind, whether you had been planning a pregnancy or not. Your next step is to take the actual pregnacy test. So you rush to your local pharmacy to pickup a test. You may even get a few tests just to be certain.

Once you get home you rush to the bathroom to take your pregnancy test. Some women do this alone; some may tell the expecting father to be there with them and some may even tell their best friend to be there with them for support. The test is positive! Now what? You may go from being numb to excited,  happy to sad or just may not be able to explain how you feel. Understand that all these emotions are normal when it comes to pregnancy. Now, you just have to break the news to the baby’s father (if he doesn’t know), your family and friends.

For some people it may be easy to break the news to others. It all depends on where you are in your life as far as age, career, family religion, or relationship status. Whatever category you’re in just understand that your life will change forever! Most women decide to break the news to the baby’s father first, while others may choose a different route. There are several ways you can go about breaking the news.

Breaking the news that you’re pregnant:

If you have been planning to have a baby send a gift to the baby’s father, i.e., baby shoes, a baby’s outfit, hair brush and comb, etc.

Another way to break the news, if you have been planning to get pregnant, is to leave the positive test on the counter. Tell him you have a surprise for him in the bathroom. Have the camera ready to capture his reaction.

Many women live a great distance from family and friends. If you will not be around your friends or family anytime soon just pickup the phone and tell them over the phone. Years ago this would be a no no, but it is more acceptable today.

Have a party.  Invite your family and friends. Halfway through the party you and your baby’s father can make an announcement.

You can send out announcement cards to let your family and friends know that you are expecting a new addition to the family.

You can also send out announcements over the internet.

Plan a visit to break the news in person.

If you are sad, upset or scared about your pregnancy tell your close friend first. Very often just having someone else being there with you for that extra support will make you feel better.

It is a great idea to wait to break the news to your boss and coworkers after the 1^st trimester. When you do decide to break the news tell your boss first. You don’t want your boss to hear it from someone else in the office. Waiting until after the first trimester will give you a chance to get comfortable with the idea that you are expecting. It will also give you a chance to visit the doctor to make sure everything is going smoothly.

Whether you are excited or not about this pregnancy just take it one day at a time. Talk to a friend or family member about your emotions. Go to the library or bookstore and pickup books on pregnancy. This will help you to understand the changes that your body is going through, in turn helping you feel better about your pregnancy.