Disclaimer – This is a sponsored post and giveaway brought to you by thredUP.  All opinions are 100% my own.

One of the most awkward things about pregnancy (you know, besides the constant bathroom breaks, the weird cravings and the sudden emotional outbursts over commercials) is that phase at the beginning where you look a little pregnant and a little like you ate too much at Golden Corral’s Special Saturday buffet.  I should know.  I’ve been there.  Five times.

I am that girl that shows really soon.  In fact, I show even when I’m not pregnant.  I just carry weight in my midsection.  Keep that in mind dude from aisle 6 at the grocery store when I was only 10 weeks pregnant….you had a very good guess about the state of my uterus!  Assuming strangers aside…a little extra in the middle means I always look about 10% pregnant even when I’m not.  So when I AM pregnant, I either have to flaunt the belly or do some simple tricks to mask the bump until it becomes a full blown behemoth.  And that is what today’s post is about….the title is “Dressing the MomBod” because we will touch on that.  But alternatives would be….

• How to Hide a Pregnant Belly until it becomes Obscenely Big
• Saving on Maternity Clothing
• What Clothing to Buy for Pregnancy Now and Later
• How to style a Bump or a Taco Belly To Diminish it’s Appearance

and my personal favorite….

• Check out my Cute Dog on this Delivery Box full of Amazing Clothing Finds

So you know me and thredUP.  We are pals.  Friends.  Kindred spirits.  I like saving money.  I like name brand clothing.  ThredUP is a site that is all about selling pre owned (and sometimes never worn) brand name clothing up to 90% off retail prices.  You shop online, they deliver it to your cute red GoldenDoodle…everyone is a winner.

The crazy thing about shopping with thredUP is that they list thousands of new items every day.  You never know when something will be even more deeply discounted or when a new treasure at a fantastic price will get listed.  But you need to make that purchase if you do find something because you better believe Monica, Phoebe and Rachel are right behind you with their “treasure” whistle ready to tear it away from you….and you know Monica….weirdly strong.

I found my clean out kit that walks you through the process of selling your name brand items….things you don’t wear anymore (like those maternity clothes!) and usually just throw at your babysitter….well, it can mean more money in your shopping budget!  Anyone can request one of these and start selling their clothing.

ThredUP has women’s clothing, bags, shoes, accessories and kids stuff too.  The part that really interested me this time around was the maternity section.

I was able to find seven amazing things and only paid $150 for everything.  The one dress from J. Crew alone retails at $158.  So basically I saved eight dollars and got a scarf, a pair of capris, three shirts and a sweater as bonus.

So the tips I was gonna share with you today were to show you how I style things when I am in that stage of awkward ‘not really but totally pregnant’.  I assume that most of you fellow pregnant mama’s out there will have a pair of maternity jeans and a long white tank.  That is part of the maternity essentials in any wardrobe.  As I add things to these essentials, you can see how they work for now (little 14 week bump/taco baby) or for later (bigger bump).

SCARF/CARDIGAN COMBO

First up is the scarf/cardigan combo.  You can also use any outerwear.  This works so well at masking a bump because it covers it up a little and also because it draws the eye up.  I loved this scarf from J. Crew (retail $65) so I knew that it would work great to demonstrate this method of hiding the bump.  Also the price – $25!  Totally worth saving me the embarrassment.  Later on when your baby has grown, shed those extra layers and wear more fitted tanks to show off the belly.

BUTTON DOWN 1 SIZE BIG

A button down (like this Banana Republic chambray polka dot beauty retail $88/bought $23) is one size too big and it’s perfect for the hiding of the belly.  It fits loose enough around my midsection to never draw the eye down….and later on, I just wear it as an extra loose layer completely unbuttoned to show off my bump.  Anything too tight around the tummy will show off the pregnancy…but this looser fit makes it nearly undetectable!

CHUNKY SWEATER

A big chunky sweater over a tank can hide a multitude of dieting sins as well as a growing pouch.  You can often find ones that have draping fabric at the neckline and it masks the midsection even more.  I LOVE this version from Lands End…it was only $23!  (RETAIL $89).  It has been on rotation over here.  I like to pull the tank down tight so that no real belly is being emphasized.  UNLESS I want to show it off…in which case I add a belt.  The belt cinches the smallest part of me (under my bust) and makes the entire belly more noticeable.

LONG TUNIC/SHORT DRESS

One of my favorite tricks is to snag a long tunic or a super short mini dress and use that as a top to hide the bump.  I could never wear this little J.Crew number as a dress without showing off all my unmentionables.  But as a top, it is the perfect length for my growing midsection.  And at $36 it was too cute to pass up!  I mean…it retails over $150!  When I am trying to hide the bump, I pair it with even more layers to draw the eye up and down along the vertical lines.  When I am ready to show off my belly, I shed those extra layers and make sure I wear maternity pants (to have a super smooth belly that feels comfortable and supported!).  Those Motherhood pink capris were part of my order and you know me….I never pass on colored pants 🙂 But you can’t blame me…they were only $15 down from $48.

So now that I shared some of my favorite ways to wear things now and later, here are a few other tips that might help you.  If you do hold weight in your midsection or are just a newly pregnant mama….shirts with gathers are much more forgiving.  I like to look for tops that are baby doll style or have gathered fabric under the bust.  Sometimes it helps to have more details on the bust area to draw the eye up and away from that tummy.

It’s also a great idea to get things in an extra length…remember that draping fabric, pin tucks, and ruffles all draw the eye away from your midsection.  It’s also a good idea to get things in a size up so that buttons aren’t pulled tight, lunch doesn’t become a revealing process, and it is usually longer to hit you at the most flattering spot.

When you do POP and shared the news with everyone….be sure to go ahead and show off that bump!  Sometimes girls like to wait till 12 weeks to get past that first trimester before sharing the news, no need for your bump to reveal too soon.  Now you can dress for your first trimester and transition gracefully to those last weeks when everyone knows you are pregnant.  Especially the barista at your local coffee place because you constantly remind her of DECAF.

As for dressing the bump….form fitting but not too tight is my favorite look.  I think maternity pants (whether low cut or over the belly style) are super comfortable and make you feel confident.  These pink ones retailed for $48 and I got them for $15!  And maternity tops that tie above the belly (like this Motherhood version below that cost me only $18) are very flattering.   Usually they are cut correctly too to allow for extra length in the front (big bumps unite!) and aren’t baring everything in the back.

The best part about dressing a bump is that having things flowy, loose and long usually mean that they are also more comfortable.    And the opportunity to get a few new items to add to your wardrobe is a unique time to try new styles and experiment with different looks!  If you aren’t expecting, well, trying new styles is also easy for you at a discount through thredUP.  No point in paying retail!

Okay…so I also have a discount code for you!  Bower Power readers get a special discount.  The first 100 people to use my code BP40 will get an extra 40% off their first order!!!  (applies to new US customers only.  Discount up to $50)

And now are you ready for the grand finale?!  There is a giveaway!

• PRIZE: (1) $250 shopping credit to thredUP
• NUMBER OF WINNERS : (1) ONE
• TO ENTER :  Enter by going to thredUP (CLICK HERE) and checking out the goods.  Then come back and comment on this blog post with the name of your favorite item.
• PRIZE SHIPS :  Continental U.S.
• NITTY GRITTY :  This giveaway closes on Friday, March 31st at 11:59pm EDT.  Only one contest entry per email address.  The winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced in an update to this post the following Friday morning. We will email the winner directly, so please make sure you use your regularly checked email address.

Happy Shopping!