Should I sell my maternity clothes?

[filiadeluna]

I just had my first baby less than 6 weeks ago. I am significantly overweight (though I already weigh less than I did *before* I was pregnant as I've lost 30lbs already), and I do not plan on being this big when I get pregnant again. I want to lose a LOT of weight (I won't say how much as I'm embarrassed).

We don't plan on TTC #2 for at *least* two years, perhaps longer. Is it unreasonable of me to assume that I *will* be much thinner when I get pregnant again, or should I err on the side of caution & keep everything? I did spend a lot of $ on maternity clothes (probably $400-$500), though much of it I got on sale. I am torn.

[famille_huggins]

Plus-size maternity clothes do seem to hold their value for resale. If you're already thinner and planning to be thinner and even thinking about reselling, I'd think now's the time while they're still in style and in season. Perhaps eBay or Craig's List?

[confustication]

I was larger going into my last pregnancy than I am over 20 weeks into this one. I didn't have the opportunit to save my maternity clothes, but I suspect most of them would have been fairly baggy.

Fair warning though, I tend to lose during a pregnancy- then gain weight while nursing. Grr.

[fawnanddoe]

I would say go for it! Right now is a great time because they are recent, and if you are waiting at least 2 years to have another baby you'll probably want some clothes that are more in style then! Plus if you are planning on losing weight then you will, and they will all be too big for you next time!

[Talula Fairie]

Ok, this is highly personal to the individual so take it with a grain of salt but...everytime I sell or give away clothes in a specific size range I end up needing it again years later. I still do it because I just can't bear to store so much stuff (I tend to fluctuate by up to 40 + lbs). Just saying, you just NEVER know for sure what size you're going to be. I've gotten rid of thin clothes sure I'd never be thin again and ended up being that size again, and I've gotten rid of my bigger clothes and ended up needing those too.

[Charlize]

Just as PP said. I've fluctuated due to BFing, dieting, then trying to get pregnant and not worrying about trying to lose any more weight due to trying to get pregnant. (What would be the point?)

I gave away all of my maternity clothes last summer, ranging in size small all the way to XL because we weren't gonna have any more. A month later, we decided to go back on Clomid. So, when I finally got my BFP, I had to go out and buy everything again. It was a pain, but nice. I started out in XL this pregnancy, but I'm losing weight instead of gaining. So, now, I'm having to go down in sizes when I know it's only temporary. Had I saved my maternity clothes, I wouldn't be in this perdicament.

I would suggest saving since you know you're definitely gonna be having another LO in the coming years, or at least plan on it.

[Pavlovs]

What about saving the staple items that won't go out of style (jeans, for example) and selling more trendy stuff that you think you wouldn't be interested in a couple years down the road?

[OneLove]

I would keep the things you really love. I also like the style right now, bc the shirts are long - so I would keep some of the long shirts.

You could sell most of the stuff and keep your favorites.

I am in my third pregnancy and I am thinner than I was for most of my first 2 pregnancies. So, I do have a huge box of clothes that I am not wearing, not only bc of the size, but the style back w/my first was short and wide.

I do have some favorite pants that I wear (especially around the house) and a few shirts. I also kept some skirts that I might still wear, if I ever went anywhere (I was a teacher w/my first so I dressed up more).

I plan for this to be my last baby, but I am still going to keep a few of my favorite pants and tops for a couple of years, just in case (the clothes will stay in style for another 5 years, bc the style is just now changing so much).

Andee :

[Krystal323]

well--i have found that one surefire way to end up unexpectedly pregnant is to sell/get rid of your maternity clothes! so i'd say keep 'em until you wanna get pregnant again!

[minimunklemama]

Originally Posted by Krystal323

well--i have found that one surefire way to end up unexpectedly pregnant is to sell/get rid of your maternity clothes! so i'd say keep 'em until you wanna get pregnant again!

:
I got rid of most f mine when Ollie was one as I was 'done' (I wanted to have four but couldn't fathom it at the time,i didn't ever see myself being pregnant again)
well here I am almost 27 weeks.Thankfully I have a lot of generous friends and I have only spent $80 of clothes but I still 'miss' my favorites that I got rid of

[mags]

Well, if you're like me, you lose the pregnancy wt quickly and then gain wt again from being so hungry while BFing. I wouldn't count on being thinner for your next pregnancy just b/c you have lost some wt since having this baby. Most women tend to gain wt with each subsequent baby and end up heavier at the beginning of each pregnancy. I'm on baby #3 and before I got pg, I was 12 lbs heavier than before I ever had any of my babies. My pre-pg clothes from baby #1 never fit me again, even though I lost the wt 1 wk postpartum, it's like my body fat shifted...

[filiadeluna]

Thanks for all your replies! Hmm... well I guess the smartest thing to do is get rid of the clothes I didn't like as much anyway, and keep the stuff I really liked, but store it in those air-tight bags beneath my bed so it doesn't take up closet space. I still wear a couple of the maternity shirts even though they are huge on me just b/c they make good nursing tops when at home. Other than that I'll pack it away.

The bad thing is I had only 4 pair of maternity jeans that I lived in, but 3 of those pair started to unravel at the top of the tummy panel (those miracle stretch pants from Motherhood Maternity). I guess I should just keep the pair that isn't unraveling? I dunno. They could always make good pants for doing chores in, too.

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Mindful Home Management.

[bender]

I wouldn't hold onto the ragged jeans just because you can do household chores in them. Being pregnant right now, I can't think of anything more depressing than wearing maternity pants for chores while carrying around a 3 month old baby.

If you are serious about losing weight, you need to break the elastic waistband habit. A structured waist will give you much more accountability.