You might find attending one of our NCT New Baby groups helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area. Sure, they're not going to be winning many style awards but they are fully able to accommodate a maternity pad and have enough give to be suitable for wear while your bump is growing as well as afterwards. Not only are they not as soft on the skin, it's thought that underwire bras can actually apply pressure to your milk glands. Ok, so there's no evidence as such, but as long as you have a well fitted underwire bra you're good to go (I definitely think the seamless life is the way forward)! I did splurge and buy some Grow with Me maternity underwear by Kindred Bravely. They were not cheap but OMG they are so comfy and sooooo stretchy! I got three thongs and three regular. They are all I wear now and I’m considering purchasing more."

I know, getting enough sleep can sometimes be an issue when pregnant. Wanting a good night's sleep whilst feeling supported - is that really too much to ask? A maternity sleep bra can solve the problems on those sleepless nights and is also a perfect choice for everyday loungewear! If you’re conscious of how much you’re spending on maternity wear, their range of smart casual pieces, such as their midi dresses and trousers, will take you from day to night and they can also be layered up so you can wear them through the changing seasons. Whilst you can relax the power dressing when you’re pregnant, if wearing smart clobber for work days is something you want to maintain, Isabella Oliver has the perfect range of sophisticated pieces and is a favourite with Mumsnet users.

What are maternity knickers? Do I need maternity knickers?

Given that you won’t be wearing many of your maternity pieces forever, it may be that you don’t want to spend a lot of money on an entirely new wardrobe. Many may scoff at the idea of maternity underwear, thinking their regular underwear is stretchy enough to do the job. But what seems stretchy at your pre-pregnancy size can strain uncomfortably as your belly gets bigger. If you try to wear non-maternity underwear beneath your bump, you may find they sag or bunch up as you walk and sit.

As with all maternity clothing, you could try to continue wearing your regular underwear during pregnancy. However, at some point, your normal underwear will start to feel uncomfortable and won’t fit as well as it did pre pregnancy.The Kindred Bravely under the bump underwear is SUPER comfy. A little more than I would usually spend on underwear, but it was totally worth it in this case."