Style: Like regular underwear, maternity undies come in briefs, bikinis, boyshorts, and thongs, amongst other styles. Kindred Bravely make great maternity bras, too, so it stands to reason that they know a lot about women’s bodies. Made from super-soft fabric, these postpartum pants come up high to your belly button, so your C-section wound isn’t irritated or rubbed by a waistband and your belly feels a bit supported and enclosed. A bra in pregnancy is designed to cater to your growing breasts, whilst keeping you feeling supported and comfortable. Comfort: Fabric should be soft to avoid chafing, and if you prefer, breathable. Some find cotton or bamboo more breathable than man-made fibers like nylon, rayon, or polyester. Nothing on the underwear should cut into you or feel tight or itchy. Motherhood Maternity fold over undies are my go to now and will probably stay that way postpartum."

Let's make it short and sweet! Comfort, support, protection, style, colour. But as I always say, everyone is different, get what works for you!Maternity underwear has moved on from what it used to be, thankfully, so you can still feel attractive. However, some women - particularly if they've a smaller bump - may not need many or any maternity clothes at all, while others might prefer to dress in baggier or larger regular clothes. Yes, it may seem frivolous to invest in speciality clothing you're only going to wear for six months or so - particularly in the current climate - but bear in mind in most cases you'll need to size up anyway, and there are plenty of budget maternity wear options available. Plus, with many maternity brands designed with breastfeeding in mind (not to mention they're just so darn comfortable) you may find that six months stretching into years. What are the best maternity clothes to wear after pregnancy? Most pregnant women start to wear maternity clothes around the 20 week point of pregnancy - but everyone is different. Some will want to embrace the comfort and stretchiness of maternity wear as early as the first trimester (and why not? You might as well get the most out of them) while others may not need to size up until well into their third. Some women don't show at all! You need full briefs from M&S, at least two sizes up. I am still in mine a year post partum. They're too darn comfy." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user MySoCalledStrife) Our verdict The brand is also on a mission to combat fast fashion and have made a commitment to creating quality sustainable and ethical clothing, meaning the majority of their maternity range will last you throughout your pregnancy and beyond. So, whilst you may pay a little more for pieces in this range, it might be worth it if you want clothes that are guaranteed to last.

Christine and other moms also appreciated the crossover waistband: no elastic to cut into you. "The style was a lot more comfortable for me than high-waisted underwear," says Christine, who also liked that the underwear provided full rear coverage. And it doesn't hurt that these underwear are nice looking, with trendy colors and patterns as well as designs with lace at the waist, a pretty, feminine detail. It wouldn’t be a best-of maternity list without the appearance of Seraphine. Whilst this isn’t the cheapest maternity range out there, it’s certainly one of the most popular with Mumsnet users due to their well-fitting, high-quality clothing. Mum-of-three Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy care and child play content. 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. Remember that you’ll need pants that you can use maternity pads with because of the bleeding (lochia) you’ll get after birth. This bleeding can last for several weeks. Underwear for after caesareansIsabella Oliver for dresses that I’ve worn out to brunches, lunches etc.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user PrimeraVez)