I met up with a very good friend of mine at an evening soirée a mutual acquaintance was hosting a couple of weeks ago, and I noticed that the glass of champagne which seems to be permanently fused into the delicate paw of Felicia had been replaced with something dark red and fizzy. Thinking it must be some sort of new Champagne-based cocktail (she's just returned from a two week shopping trip in New York), I asked her about it. Looking quite shifty and lowering her voice, she informed me that it was a Vimto/Lemonade combination, as she has recently found out she is expecting her first child. I couldn't have been more thrilled for her - Felicia and Mark have been married for nearly ten years, and have been hoping for a baby for a while. It's still early, and they're not telling many people just yet, but she is completely delighted and already planning a colour scheme (gender neutral) for the nursery.
She looked a little surprised when I mentioned the joy of shopping for maternity clothes, but more particularly, for maternity lingerie and nightwear. She acknowledged the need for maternity trousers at some point, and possibly even a new winter coat, but seemed completely taken aback that there could be anything remotely glamorous about a maternity bra. Gone are the days when a woman needs to sneak into her local Mothercare or Marks and Spencer to choose a plain bra, with no shape and straps. Many lingerie boutiques are now stocking HotMilk, Panache and even the Marie Jo maternity and feeding bras.
I told her about the Carriwell bras I had had when I was expecting baby B - plain cotton, maternity or feeding bras, perfect for sleeping in, one handed clasp to make it easy for night feeds and a good, deep band for optimum support. The one I had particularly loved was a pull on design with a racer back - no thick straps to dig into my rather sore shoulders (I had very sensitive skin while I was pregnant). Added to this, a fabulous array of accessories - maternity support band, silk or cotton breast pads and heavenly light support panties to match the bras.
At this, she looked completely horrified and asked me how I could possibly bear to have worn something so plain when usually sumptuous lace lingerie is in order. There is a time in every woman's life - albeit thankfully short lived - where comfort is the order of the day. It's easy to get up in a morning usually, choose something beautiful to wear and the right lingerie to complement it, and to take the time to properly make up your face. When I was expecting B, by 6 months I was the size of a small family car, hadn't slept a full night in months and had such heavy and aching breasts that the mere thought of lace and underwires made me want to cry and put my nightdress back on.
However, our wedding anniversary came around the time I was seven months pregnant, and darling Mr N bought me the most delightful HotMilk nightdress and lingerie set. This was the turning point in my appreciation of maternity lingerie, and I was a little cross with myself for not discovering it sooner! The nightdress that he chose for me was black, knee length and oh so soft. It had secret support cups to ease the aches, and easy one-hand clips which were to prove invaluable for night time feeds. In fact (don't tell - I'd be so embarrassed - I still wear it now), it was perhaps the most well-chosen lingerie gift I have ever received.
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