You need to ensure a good, comfortable fit when choosing a maternity bra. It must fit you as the size you are now, even if you think that your boobs will continue to grow. Getting one to ‘grow into’ is not a good idea as it will not support you correctly. A bra that fits properly will help your breasts to feel less heavy and achy. It will also support their growing weight and prevent your back from aching. You may find that your breasts grow so quickly that you get some stretch marks, so proper support is essential.

Your breasts may start to be uncomfortable at night. This is alleviated by buying special sleep bras. Some of the sleep bras available are rather soft, rather like a crop top but with soft cups, and do not offer much support. If your boobs are large, look for a sleep bra that is a little more substantial. Do not make do with a normal day time bra as it will not be comfortable to sleep in, especially if it has wires under the cups as they will dig in. You may also find that putting a cushion under your breasts at night is helpful to prevent their weight dragging down if you are starting to get uncomfortable in bed.

Your bra should fit nicely when fastened at the tightest hook. This means that you will have a little leeway when your bump gets bigger. You can then let out the hooks and you will also get more space as the elastic relaxes with wear.

Many pregnant women suffer from sensitive skin. If that is a problem for you, it may be a good idea to avoid lace next to the skin or synthetic fabrics like nylon when choosing maternity lingerie. You will also have to do what our larger-breasted sisters do and buy bras with wide, comfortable straps to prevent them from digging into your shoulders and leaving sore red lines as your boobs get heavier.

You may consider economising by buying nursing bras early on in pregnancy instead of maternity bras. This doesn’t work for a lot of people. This is because you may find that you will need separate ones later anyway, as your boobs may be a completely different size after the baby is born. The nursing bras that fitted you before the birth may well be two or three cup sizes too small.

Article copyright Maternity Lingerie

The First Trimester
Nothing much happens at first then your pregnancy hormones go into overdrive soon after the egg burrows into the lining of the uterus to make itself a little nest for the next few months. Some women know within days that they have conceived – especially if it is not their first pregnancy. Caroline says, “Oh yes, with the first baby, the first outward sign was my boobs. They were significantly tender. I have had mastitis in the past and it felt a bit like that but without the lumpiness”.

After a month, her sense of taste changed. “I had a strange metallic taste in my mouth all through the next eight months and I could not face drinking tea. Eating fruit and frozen sweetcorn kernels helped me to forget about the metallic taste. The cup of tea I was given after giving birth tasted fantastic – it was the first one I had enjoyed for ages”.

Some women find that their bladders are more irritable early on, making them need to urinate more often. Others don’t get this problem until the uterus grows big enough to exert pressure downwards onto the bladder.

Most women suffer from varying degrees of nausea, the so-called ‘morning sickness’. Eating little and often can be helpful, especially for those people who get it during every waking hour, as it can be worse when the stomach is empty. Fatigue may also start to become a problem, partly because the mother’s body is pre-occupied with growing a new human being, and partly due to hormones.

The waistline will be starting to thicken by the end of the first three months and tight clothing may be a no-no due to discomfort. If the woman normally wears hi-leg briefs, she may need to think about changing to bikini-height pants or look at maternity briefs or maternity panties. Maternity bras may not be necessary yet but she may well need to move up a cup size already.

Article copyright Maternity Lingerie

Um, not always.

My first clue that I was pregnant – apart from the obvious missed period – was breast tenderness. Mine started growing almost from day one and kept growing…and growing for nine months. I started off as a cute 34B, and by the time the baby was a week old, I looked like Jordan.

BEFORE her implant reduction.

I needed new maternity bras before I needed any maternity dresses, and I had to keep purchasing new ones as I out-grew each cup size. As my waist started to thicken, to be honest, I felt a little bit of relief, as I no longer had to worry about maintaining an hourglass figure – I began to turn into more the shape of a rugby ball by the end. I spent the first four months feeling nauseous and I had these huge bangers which kept getting in the way when I crossed my arms. My legs ached. At least I didn’t suffer from what my friend Jennifer did (men look away now) as she had pregnancy haemorrhoids…I was grateful for small mercies. Although all the magazine articles and old wives’ tales said that I would be feeling ultra-feminine, I started to have my doubts and didn’t feel as attractive as I used to.

Just because you are growing a new life doesn’t mean that yours cannot continue to go on. You have to make a few modifications, obviously. Medical advice tells us that a pregnant woman should not drink alcohol or smoke as both can affect the baby. Avoiding smoky atmospheres is so much easier since the smoking ban in public places came in. I didn’t even take any paracetamol tablets during pregnancy, I just went for walks in fresh air if I got a headache; I was determined to give my baby a healthy start.

I like to wear low-cut bikini-style panties and they are still great as they just fit underneath the bump. Some of the maternity underwear I saw looked like a Victorian granny’s bloomers. Yuk. Maternity lingerie can be sexy too!

Thankfully, these days, pregnancy is not a time when women keep themselves tucked away, being served endless cups of tea. Just because you are growing a baby, you can still have fun, have a laugh with mates and wear smart, sassy and sexy clothes.

Article copyright Maternity Lingerie