Pregnancy Must Buys

Aside from quite literally the thousands of biscuits, sweet treats, chocolate bars, comfort snacks and carb heavy meals these are the things I couldn't live without during pregnancy:

1) Make-Up Essentials. (My own personal de-zombiefication-kit.)) At the beginning when you could sleep for England and towards the end when you are bloated, blotchy and wheezing with breathlessness you need long lasting cosmetic products that take second to apply and make a big difference.

My two must haves are Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Eclat highlighter (I use a number 2 shade) to ride me of bags and touch up any blotches. It just makes you look that much more bright eyed and bushy tailed and I'm a great believer in if you look like it you will feel it...

Second is an all important splash of colour. A bright colour. It'll pick up your whole face and outfit, even if your outfit is your scruffiest, oldest, stained "fat joggers" and a funky 80's-esc pineapple hair do... I do think the assumption is if you've managed a full lip stick then it must all be intentional. I use a bright red and I just feel better for it. Max Factor Lipfinity is my favourite, it lasts all day and doesn't rub off for toddler kisses and this "Hot" shade works with my slightly paler skin tone...

2) Leggings. What better time to rock a bump than at such a time when leggings are in fashion?! Stretchy, comfortable, black, essential leggings. There isn't a more flexible wardrobe essential than a black pair of leggings, for in or out, dressed up or down, prenatal yoga classes to date night. You need leggings. I got by the last 9 months in these The Essential One Maternity Leggings.

(Clearly they Photoshopped in a picture of me as this lady's body double... Villans. :P)

3) H&M stretchy vests, tees and dresses. Non maternity ones. Like these and these. From £3.99 to £12.99, they've saved me a fortune, they're super stretchy and long so cover bump a treat and as they're not maternity they will do me after the birth as well. I have only had to buy 1 dress size up from my usual size too.

4) "Hypnobirthing: The Breakthrough Approach to Safer, Easier, Comfortable Birthing" by Marie Mongan. Seriously, this book has changed my whole perspective on pregnancy and birth. Not to mention it has rid me of 99.9999% of my pregnancy and birth related anxiety. For reading it's theories on "fear-tension-pain-syndrome" I have a whole new perspective on my birth with Euna, the social context of childbirth and what an impact expectation affects women's experience of birth globally. Since reading it I have learnt to love my pregnant body, be excited for birth and learnt solid relaxation techniques that I believe I will carry forward long after childbirth. I can't recommend it enough...

5) Theraline Maternity & Nursing Pillow. In my last pregnancy I made do with a £5.99 v-shaped pillow from a cheapie bed sheet and bath towel shop in town. I swore by it and couldn't for the life of me understand why people spent £40-90 on a specialised maternity pillows. Then about 3 months in to this pregnancy I was really struggling with sleep and Steve insisted I at least gave it a try. It cost £44.95 from John Lewis and worth it's weight in gold for getting me comfortable in bed for the last 6 months. Better than any normal foam pillow because it doesn't flatten over time as you lay on it. It's full of tiny beads that mould in to position and stay there. Great support resulting in great less rubbish sleep.

6) Bath smellies. Baths were made for pregnancy, I am sure of it. Aches and pains, stresses and worries, tiredness and even early labour pain can all be relieved in the bath. It's good bonding time with your bump and I find essential to get to know and accept your body as it changes. Needless to say I rank a bath up there with things you should have a little splash out on and pimp with some luxury smellies. These Neal's Yard products have been two of my favourites...

7) Bravado Maternity & Nursing Bras. I actually bought when Euna was newborn and they have been repurchased and repurchased over the last 18 months. They are my favourite. They give a great shape, great support all around and they're sized to expand and retract with ever changing pregnancy and breastfeeding breasts. More than anything they're particularly a great purchase to have ready for after the birth and the logistics of making it to a bra fitting are a little complicated.