from your smallest bump right to the end of pregnancy, as there's plenty of growing room with the elasticated band, and still look good. And that's no mean feat for maternity wear. Of course, everyone is different and puts on weight differently. Our

, the kinds of be-ribboned smock horrors that our mothers wore and that women were still having to put up with as late as a decade ago, are now more or less consigned to the maternity dustbin and there is now plenty of choice and some very natty maternity

if you read up on how your baby develops week by week so you can wonder at what amazing work your body is doing and put any extra weight into perspective.Wear the right clothes - In the earlier days, popping out of uncomfortable regular clothes is almost

or at home. But with maternity unit closures and midwife shortages also in the headlines, a question mark hangs over whether the plan is financially feasible. All this talk about birthing options though, will leave many more women wondering what they may

With eight weeks to go the notion of giving birth is probably beginning to seem a little more real to you, and you may be looking forward to the time when your maternity leave starts - if it hasn't already. If you were planning to work right up to

Figleaves.co.ukMothercare nursing brasRoyce maternity lingerieFrom Here to MaternityWashing machine friendliness - With leaky breasts and feeding mess you'll go through your bras' washing cycles faster than usual - maybe even using two bras a day - so this isn't the right time

pregnancy and be wondering what you should invest in and where to buy it from. You may well already feel the need for new bras. While going all out for maternity wear can be expensive, don't worry, you can get by for most occasions on relatively few

and skeletal structure (and keeping osteoporosis at bay) by maintaining the level of calcium in your blood at the right level. And the link between your mood and the sun is also connected to vitamin D, in fact a lack of vitamin D has been linked to Seasonal

on maternity leave for a few weeks then the chances are that the nursery is ready, the moses basket is set up in the corner by your bed, the newborn clothes are washed and folded - and then unfolded, cooed over and refolded - the pram is in the hall, the infant

Whether you're pregnant with your second baby, third or more, at some point you'll need to explain your pregnancy to your other child or children. There's no one right time or way to do this, as much will depend on how the age and maturity