If you’ve walked into a store lately hoping to try on maternity clothes — only to find an empty rack or no section at all — you’re not imagining things.
During my first pregnancy, I remember going from store to store expecting to find at least something maternity-related, only to leave frustrated and empty-handed. More than once, I stood in a dressing room wondering how something as common as pregnancy had become so hard to shop for. Talking with other moms, I quickly realized this wasn’t just my experience — it’s become the norm.
Today, many women are just told to shop online instead, guess their size, and hope for the best during a season when comfort and confidence matter more than ever. Add in outdated styles and high prices, and maternity shopping can feel discouraging fast.
The good news? You don’t need a massive maternity wardrobe — or a big budget — to dress your bump well. With a few smart strategies and the right places to look, it is possible to find clothes you love, can afford, and actually want to wear again.
Why maternity shopping feels so hard
Over the past several years, many major retailers have quietly phased out in-store maternity clothing. While online-only collections may save stores money, they leave pregnant women without the ability to try things on before purchasing, feel fabrics, or see how something fits a changing body.
At one point during pregnancy, I found myself ordering multiple sizes of the same or similar items online, hoping one would work — only to return most of it. It felt inefficient and exhausting, especially during a season when even small tasks can feel heavier than usual.
At the same time:
As fast fashion has taken over, pregnancy-specific clothing has become less of a priority.
Quality fabrics and thoughtful tailoring are harder to find
Prices have climbed, even for basic pieces
If maternity shopping feels harder than it should, it’s not a personal failure — it’s a market gap – and a very sad one, considering that this is a common, natural, and beautiful stage of life for so many women.
But thankfully, there are still ways to find fashionable and functional clothes to get you through this stage of motherhood even if you have to seek it out a little more.
1. Some stores still carry maternity fits
While in-store maternity sections are shrinking, a few familiar retailers are still worth checking online (and occasionally have limited in-store inventory), especially if you’re looking for affordable basics like tops, leggings, knit dresses, or bras.
Stores like Target, Old Navy, Kohl’s, or Macy’s still provide a sizable collection of maternity clothes in reliable fits and styles. Purchasers are just encouraged to “size up” from their pre-pregnancy size.
While these maternity sections are still limited, you have the benefits of brand familiarity, easy returns, flexible exchange policies, and frequent sales. These stores may not offer everything, but they’re often a good starting point, especially earlier in pregnancy when you just need something when your favorite jeans no longer button.
2. Ethical & boutique brands worth knowing
For women looking for more elevated maternity options than the standard high waisted pants or tunic tops – or brands that prioritize quality, modest silhouettes, and thoughtful design – there are a number of boutique-style retailers doing maternity well.
These brands may not all be exclusively maternity-focused, but many of their pieces are designed to grow with you and transition beautifully into postpartum life.
Ivy City Co. – Known for feminine, flowy dresses and timeless silhouettes that flatter a growing bump.
Baltic Born – A favorite for stretchy, bump-friendly dresses, especially for special occasions.
Love Olive Co. – Offers relaxed, modern styles with forgiving fits and soft fabrics.
Worth Collective – A mission-driven boutique emphasizing ethical production and versatile design.
Pink Blush – One of the few boutiques specializing in maternity and postpartum, with a wide range of styles and price points.
While boutique brands can be more of an investment, many women appreciate that these pieces are beautiful enough for baby showers, weddings, or other social events and often wearable long after pregnancy. The high price point is not for everyone, but the added benefit of feeling good about where you shop with ethically sourced or values-based brands is an extra win.
3. Consider secondhand
Maternity clothing is one of the best categories to shop secondhand. Most pieces are worn for only a short time and are often still in excellent condition.
Secondhand options can include:
Local consignment shops
Online resale platforms like poshmark
Community swaps or neighborhood groups
For many mamas, this is a practical way to access a variety of styles or higher-quality brands while staying within budget. You could even try asking a friend or relative if they have any maternity clothes from a previous pregnancy that they no longer need or would let you borrow.
4. The best tip: Skip maternity-wear (when you can)
It seems counterintuitive, but this is the ultimate maternity-wear tip. One of the biggest lessons I learned during my second and third pregnancy was that the easiest, most affordable, and stylish way to find clothing while pregnant was to shop regular clothing sections with intention and adjustments in mind.
Once I stopped limiting myself to maternity sections, shopping became less stressful and expensive and my closet became far more useful long-term. Regular clothing that’s thoughtfully designed is often more flattering, more affordable, and far more versatile than traditional maternity wear.
What makes clothing “maternity-adaptable”?
When shopping regular sections (or even your own current closet in the earlier months) look for these features:
Waist Details: Elastic waistbands, drawstrings or ties, smocked waists.
Fabric: Stretchy knits, ribbed cotton, jersey blends, satin-stretch, other soft forgiving materials.
Silhouettes that work for your bump: Empire waist, slip, or wrap dresses, tiered or flowy skirts, relaxed-fit blouses and sweaters, oversized but structured tops, wide leg rompers or pants, form-fitting tops to be worn with a looser skirt or pants for balance.
Hem Length: Midi and maxi dresses and skirts, long cardigans or button-downs that you can wear open or closed, longer tunics that won’t ride up. Some regular hemlines may rise too high when worn in pregnancy, while others effortlessly skim over the bump.
Sizing: You will often need to go up a size or two to make regular clothes work for your pregnant body, but that doesn’t necessarily mean wearing oversized or boxy clothing (unless that’s your vibe). You may just find that the stretchy-knit bottoms, tailored pants, or wrap dress you’re trying in a larger size flatters you perfectly.
Bonus: Look for postpartum or nursing-friendly features like button fronts, wrap styles, or stretchy necklines.
This mindset allows you to still have the benefits of a traditional shopping experience with fitting room try-ons and more access to styles you love. What’s more, many of these pieces can grow with you and often stay in rotation well beyond pregnancy.
Personally, I’ve had a lot of success shopping with brands that carry reliable knit and cotton-stretch basics like Old Navy, or classic and timeless feminine silhouettes like LOFT and J.Crew. I’ve found that these kinds of styles tend to be very forgiving with changing bodies and still align with my personal style. Watching for sales and snagging end-of-season clearance rack deals can also help you make the most of your purchase.
5. The hybrid wardrobe approach
While every pregnant mama’s shopping needs are different, I’ve found that having a hybrid maternity wardrobe struck the best balance for budget and personal style. It may not always be practical to invest in an entire maternity wardrobe that is only used once or spends most of the time in storage.
Instead, a hybrid approach allows the best of both worlds where you can choose to thoughtfully invest in a few maternity-specific basics (especially for the third trimester) or a statement piece (like for your baby shower) and then fill in the rest with pregnancy-adaptable regular clothing.
This approach saves money, reduces closet clutter, and often makes the postpartum transition far easier.
Final thoughts
Pregnancy is a season of immense change — physically, emotionally, and practically. Wanting clothes that feel comfortable, dignified, and make you feel good isn’t shallow or excessive. It’s part of feeling like yourself during a time when your body is doing miraculous work sustaining the little life within you.
Maternity shopping can feel discouraging, especially when options seem limited, but there are good options out there. With a flexible mindset and a few smart strategies, it’s possible to build a wardrobe that supports you, honors your changing body, and carries you confidently through pregnancy and into the next season.