All that effort was made when buying maternity wear, and now, since the arrival of your newborn baby, the question is: What will happen to all that lovely clothing? Should I throw it away? Hide it at the bottom of the closet? Certainly not.
The women in the UAE are quite smart about this, and they find so many ways to make the best use of these garments. And here’s how you can also make use of your maternity wear too.
Keep Wearing Them for Comfort
Just now, your body performed a miraculous feat. It will take some time before you become yourself once more, and that is totally fine. The stretchable and breathable maternity clothing that you got used to wearing? You'll be thankful to have them on hand after giving birth.
Breastfeeding mothers can never go wrong with flowy maternity tops. Elastic waistbands will not hinder a body that is still recovering from childbirth. You do not have to return to your skinny jeans just yet.
Many women in the UAE who find themselves busy with childcare duties, including caring for school-going children, continue to wear their maternity clothes even weeks or months after childbirth.
Convert into Regular Clothes
There are maternity wear items that simply resemble regular clothing. The wrap dress, the large shirt, and the loose blazer do not look like maternity clothes.
If there happens to be any feature that screams "maternity," then a simple alteration through a tailor shop will solve the problem. Having the waistband stitched or having the silhouette changed is cheap and easy, particularly in areas such as Karama or Deira, where tailor shops line every street corner.
You get yourself a regular item of clothing for less than half the price of purchasing one.
Use Them as Loungewear or Sleepwear
The most comfortable clothing that you will have will most likely be your maternity clothes. Your stretchable leggings, the loose cotton night gowns, and your extra-large T-shirts should definitely make their way into your lounge wear collection.
You'll need comfort after all when you've had an exhausting day and will be up all night feeding your baby. The UAE can get very hot during summer, and it would be nice to lounge around in cotton maternity wear at home.
Turn into Workout Clothes
After you’ve been medically approved to get moving again, either walking at Jumeirah Corniche or doing yoga after giving birth, then your maternity gear will be perfect to bring out once more.
These items of clothing are created to accommodate a body that’s always moving and changing. They have wonderful flexibility and support that may surpass other gym clothing.
In fact, many mothers have found that they perform as well during exercise after delivery as they did during pregnancy.
Make Baby Items
This is where a little imagination is required, but the results are worth it. Maternity wear fabrics, jerseys, muslin, and cotton can be cut and recycled for items that your child will actually use.
For example, burp rags, swaddle blankets, tiny bibs, or even a patchwork play mat. You don’t have to be a master sewer either; a tailor could easily do the cutting and stitching for you at a minimal fee.
An item that once surrounded you now surrounds your child. This is really something special.
DIY Home Items
In addition to products for babies, there are other applications of soft cloth in the home as well. Used clothing from when one was pregnant may be repurposed into cleaning cloths, washable wipes, stuffing for pillows, or even used as the outer layer for a patchwork cushion cover.
Those with access to a sewing machine could use bigger sections of cloth from a dress or kaftan as material for making tote bags or pouches. It might seem insignificant, but it’s actually quite useful because it stops things from being thrown away without any use.
Save for Future Pregnancy
Should there be even the slightest possibility of conception in the future, make sure that you store the clothing items properly.
All the clothes should be washed, folded, and put inside vacuum bags for protection against moisture, especially in the harsh climatic conditions of the UAE.
The purchase of maternity clothing is not economical, and it is difficult to buy a well-fitted piece of clothing at an affordable price. It would be better to retain the maternity clothing so that you can save yourself from buying them all over again.
Sell Online
The UAE secondhand market is very vibrant, and mothers already use it. Online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Dubizzle, and Instagram reseller accounts sell maternity wear quite fast, particularly branded maternity wear such as that from Mamas & Papas, H&M Mama, and Seraphine.
These clothes are used only for a short time and remain almost brand new. This makes them readily sellable. All you need to do is price them reasonably and take well-lit pictures. The money earned can be used for your baby's immediate needs.
Donate to Help Others
If selling feels like too much effort? Then giving away is the other option. There are many people in the UAE who actually require quality clothing but don’t have the money to buy it.
The Emirates Red Crescent organization accepts clothes as donations. Even some WhatsApp and Facebook communities frequently have mothers searching for clothes during their pregnancy period.
Donation boxes are even available at mosques and community centers. By donating your clothes, you will help someone else carry her pregnancy smoothly.
Conclusion
There's no reason why your maternity wear should become useless after your pregnancy ends. You can either continue to wear the clothing, change the style, transform it into something else, sell it, or simply give it away. There are practical things you can do in the UAE.
There's no need to plan everything at once. Begin by deciding which items you will still wear, put the ones that are still in good condition aside for selling or donating, and reuse the rest little by little. Each time you find a way to reuse an item, it's a step forward financially and environmentally.
Also Read: Laundry Tips for Delicate Maternity Fabrics in Gulf Weather