Maternity clothes are so expensive, especially bras and underwear. What advice do you have so maternity doesn't cost me my kidneys?

Question from Alina F., 31, Colón, Panama. Mom to a 3-month-old baby boy, Ramiro.

Alina is juggling two part-time jobs — one remote, one in-person — while also navigating sleep deprivation, cluster feeds, and postpartum recovery. Most days, she barely has time to eat a full meal, let alone shop for clothes that fit her changing body. She’s worn the same stretched-out maternity bra for weeks, but every time she goes online to find a better one, the prices make her stomach drop. She wants comfort. She wants support. But she also wants to keep the lights on. And right now, it feels like maternity costs are just one more mountain she’s too tired to climb.

Mama, 

When I had my twins, I was in a fog of feedings, bills, and back pain — and the last thing I wanted to do was spend $70 on a bra that might not even fit two weeks from now. But guess what? That $12 one I panic-bought on sale? It itched. It dug in. It made me dread nursing. And that’s when I realized: it’s not just about affordability — it’s about not resenting your own body every time you get dressed.

But here's the truth nobody tells us: maternity doesn’t have to break the bank. You can prioritize comfort and your budget — it just takes a little savvy, a lot of honesty, and permission to let go of what the influencers are selling.

Here’s what helped me when I was trying not to cry over a cart full of overpriced stretchy things:

1. Buy fewer, better basics.

You don’t need a “maternity version” of every single thing. What you do need are the few things that touch your most tired parts:

• A soft, wire-free nursing bra that won’t make you flinch when you latch.
• High-waisted undies that hold you, especially if you’re healing from a C-section.
• A few loose tanks or button-ups that make breastfeeding less of a wrestling match.

That’s it. That’s your power uniform.

2. Look for honest brands, not hype.

I once bought a “celebrity-endorsed” nursing bra and ended up with a $60 regret. What worked for me? The small, mom-founded brands that actually talk about stretch, leaks, and sizing fluctuations like they’ve lived it. (Bloom & Heal’s bra was made for this exact moment — it’s soft, affordable, and built for bodies that are still shifting.)

3. Shop secondhand + mom swaps.

Facebook mom groups. Local swap events. Even Poshmark. So many of us buy things and outgrow them before the tags come off. There’s no shame in reusing — it’s smart, sustainable, and honestly kinda sisterhood-y.

4. Speak up when something doesn’t work.

Before Bloom & Heal, at some point, I returned more nursing bras than I kept. That doesn’t make you picky. That makes you a mom who deserves to feel good in her skin — even when she’s sleep-deprived and leaking through a shirt.

And hey — working two jobs and raising a baby? That’s superhuman. The fact that you’re doing all that and still looking for ways to show up for your body? That’s love.

You’re not asking for luxury. You’re asking for dignity — in a stage where it’s easy to feel like your needs come last. I’m proud of you for asking this. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to settle for discomfort just because motherhood is expensive.

We deserve softness. Without the markup.

Love,
Lina P.