How to Declutter Your Wardrobe While Pregnant

Pregnancy brings on the urge to 'nest' and get your space in order for the arrival of a new family member. When decluttering you should do one category or section of your home and do it completely. When I declutter my wardrobe during pregnancy I was able to know exactly what I could wear while my belly was big and then after I had my baby had all an easily viable and assessable wardrobe curated to my life as a breastfeeding mum. You will be able to do this all in one day. Depending on how much clothes you have and how quick you are at decision making it will take between 1 and 6 hours.

Step 1: Before you start, get clear and have a plan

What is your reason for wanting to do this? It is surely more than because this blog post is telling you to. Really reflect on (or even write it down) your 'why'. It might be because you want to simplify choosing outfits & doing laundry and become intentional with what you own so you can enjoy the new chapter in your life with a wardrobe full of pieces that bring you joy. Define your personal style and consider what types of clothes you will be comfortable in during the crazy adventure of being a mum.

You don't want to declutter and then reclutter by not having a plan of what to do with the pile of things you are getting rid of. Have some bags or boxes ready for donations, selling, landfill, textile recycling, post-pregnancy, and post breastfeeding clothes. Vacuum the floor and make the bed so there is room for sorting. I recommend also filling a water bottle and having snacks on hand so you don't get off track by having to take a food break.

Step 2: Get everything out

Yep you heard me. Get everything out. It is the best way to see all that you have and make your decisions from there. Pile it all on the bed and try and pile it into sections of tops, bottoms, dresses etc. That just makes the nest step easier. Don't do decision making during this step, just get it all out. You can use the floor for organising the 'keep' items. Once it's all out, wipe down your wardrobe and drawers. Some people like to take a 15-minute walk at this stage to come back with a fresh mind ready to get to action.

Step 3. Decide what to keep.

Focus on what brings you joy. If you are not a clothes lover that might be hard at first so start with something easy like and pick up something you know you love. See how that feels. And then do the same with something you already know you don't want to keep and see how that feels. Don't keep things based on "I am keeping in in case I one day do that thing that I never do". With your keep items use your freshly vacuumed floor to lay them in piles of shirts, pants, dresses, PJs, etc.

Step 4: Reorganise wardrobe

I highly recommend looking up some Konmari folding videos and getting healthily addicted to folding your stuff in a way that helps you appreciate the items, be able to see and access them easily and keep them tidy. We fold our clothes anyway so we might as well learn a technique that works better. Keep like items together and store folded items upright. And in your drawers, shelves, and hanging space, have your pregnant-you clothes together at the front. The clothes you are keeping but won't be able to wear while breastfeeding or until you lose weight, store in a bag or box away until the time comes.

Step 5: Get rid of the things you are saying goodbye to

Put any rubbish in the appropriate bins, take your donation bags to the car, and make a note to remember to drop off the next time you are driving near your favourite op shop. Clothes that are not good enough for the op shop can be recycled through textile recycling programs such as the one ran by 'Manrags'. If you are selling anything set a time limit for your self for it to sell by  and if it doesn't give it away to avoid an endless sell pile hanging around.

Step 6: Consciously acquire additional items

It is unlikely that all of your clothes will fit you your entire pregnancy and will probably need some maternity or pregnancy-friendly clothes. The fast fashion industry negatively affects workers, soils, oceans, landfills, and wallets. Now a capsule wardrobe isn't for everyone long term. But for those few months that you don't fit most of your regular clothes, I recommend having a few quality, comfortable staples to work with. Here are some tips of sourcing ethical and sustainable maternity clothes: 

• Start with what you have: Now you should have in view all the clothes you already own that you can wear so it will be easy to see what pieces of clothing you still need or want.

• Borrow: Do you have friends or family that might have maternity clothes they aren't using that you could borrow?

• Go Second Hand: Second-hand stores, Facebook Market place and swap and sell groups are also amazing, especially when you can buy a bundle.

• Shop eco-fashion: There are many brands and small businesses that sell ethical and sustainable fashion. Use the app 'Good on You' to check ratings on brands.

• Buy quality: If you are buying new, avoid poorly made pieces and look for that could last several pregnancies either with you or to be sold or give to someone else. You can also buy things that double to suit non-pregnant you too! 

For a more detailed guide to sourcing ethical maternity wear check out page 4 of my 'Ultimate Guide to a Sustainable Pregnancy'. It is loaded with everything you need to know to have a more eco pregnancy with 10 action steps and 10 temptations to avoid.