Being a pregnant woman has its ups and downs. There is the excitement for the new baby; feeling the baby move, discovering the gender and realizing that this person is soon going to be a major part of your life. There is the preparation; buying diapers, clothing and all kinds of equipment. And, there is the stress; wondering if the baby is healthy, wondering how you’ll pay the extra bills.

Then, there are worries that you know probably shouldn’t be bothering you, but they are concerns, nonetheless. Concerns like, "My best friend is getting married, and I look chubby, not pregnant. What am I going to wear?" Or, "I can still put my jeans on, but I can’t button them." And, "I don’t have the money for an entirely new wardrobe."

The most difficult time for fashion in a woman’s life is when she isn’t hugely pregnant, but no longer is her normal size; or, when she’s had the baby and still looks pregnant. Being pregnant is in; movie stars flaunt their baby bumps in close-fitting shirts, maternity stores carry truly fashionable clothing (unlike our mothers generation who were cursed with stirrup pants and their husbands T-shirts) and many chain-retailers have incorporated a line of maternity wear.

The key to making early maternity work for you is to take a fresh look at your closet. Do you have shirts that are baby-style? Baby-style shirts have been in for several years, which is fabulous for the expectant mother. They’re much smaller than maternity shirts, so you don’t look prematurely extremely-pregnant. But, they have room to hide the extra bulk that you’re not used to having when pregnant.

If you truly don’t have any baby-style shirts, head to an inexpensive retailer and pick up a few. Any Forever 21 or Target should have a wide selection available for under $20. These shirts are fabulous as well because they will help you get through the post-partum months when maternity shirts are much too big, but your bust and stomach are still too large for your normal shirts.

Make sure to pair your baby-style shirts with tight-fitting pants, shorts or skirt. Regardless of your body type, wide-bottomed shirts should always be worn with tighter-fitting bottoms to create a more flattering look.

Other styles to look for when you’re just starting to gain maternity weight are non-maternity empire-waisted dresses and shirts that are long in the body.

Empire waists make a little extra weight in the mid-section less noticeable because the gather is just below the bust-line as opposed to hitting right at the waist. This creates a slimming line as it falls loosely over the stomach.

Shirts that are long in the body are popular right now and thus easy to find. These are great to reach to the bottom of a growing belly.