There's nothing quite like the excitement of shopping for those first few maternity clothes. It's so fun to put on the pretend pillow belly at the maternity store, try on that large blouse and imagine what you'll look like in just a few months.

But all fun aside, once you get down to the day-to-day business of wearing those new clothes, there are a few practical things you should know that will hopefully save you a few bucks and help you make the most of your maternity clothes budget. Here are 9 things I discovered about the world of maternity clothes during my first pregnancy that I think every new mom should know.

In those early days when maternity clothes look silly but your regular clothes (mostly pants and shorts) no longer fit, instead of buying a bunch of "in between" clothes in larger sizes, grab a rubber band. Simply loop it through the buttonhole of your pants, making a slipknot, and hook it over the button. Ta da! Instantly larger pants. (Just remember to wear a long shirt so you don't reveal your clever trick to everyone else!)

There's also a product you can buy -- the Belly Belt -- that is a piece of fabric (available in several colors) that hooks onto your pant button and increases the girth of your pants. Not a bad investment compared to buying all new clothes -- but remember that a rubber band works almost as well and costs practically nothing.

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