We know how tedious it can be shopping for those maternity wardrobe essentials, so we spoke to Fashion Editor for Baby & Mother magazine, Anna Woodham, also know as The Mothershop. We needed a mumma with serious style for some advice, so she's put together "the pieces you need to see you through the 9 months and beyond..." Get ready to look fabulous no matter what trimester you're in! 

The majority of first time pregnant women will no doubt all say the same thing, ‘I don’t want to spend much on clothes I’m only going to wear for 9 months’. But the fact is, it’s more than likely you’ll wear your maternity wardrobe for up to a year, double this if you plan on having more than one child. 

My advice is to invest in some decent basics. They don’t need to be ridiculously expensive but you’ll end up wearing them to the max, and with the majority of your current wardrobe redundant, it’s worth taking some time to get find some proper clobber. Once you have this in place, you can still buy all the accessories you’d normally buy which make the look your own, make you feel like you, and can obviously be worn post pregnancy too.

Nine months can seem like a long time in the world of maternity dressing. I remember thinking I’d nailed it, then another season came along and threw me! If you're expecting in the summer, you definitely have an easier ride as you won’t need to invest in thick maternity coats which can be expensive, nor will you have the issue of layering which can be tricky by the third trimester when you’re already feeling particularly big. A few summer dresses with an existing jacket thrown over should be enough to see you through the warmer months. 

Many expectant Mum’s tell me they find dressing for work difficult. For some reason, the vast majority of maternity wear are casual wear; striped tops, knitwear, denim etc but for a lot of women, once your bump is common office knowledge, you’ll need to dress smartly for the duration of your pregnancy.

The Shirt Dress – This’ll be your versatile new best friend. Get the most from it by a simple change in shoes which will completely transform a shirt dress. Dress up with a longline blazer and loafers for work then wear with trainers and a denim jacket for the weekend. A drawstring style, or one that ties at the back can be worn post pregnancy too.
• Denim Shirt Dress from Seraphine £55

Maternity Jeans – I once did a poll of 50 Mum’s asking them their favourite maternity jeans. H&M Mama skinnies came out top by a mile. The price, the comfort and the style were key in making them stand out from the rest. It’s likely you’ll be wearing jeans more than most of the other pieces in your wardrobe so get a pair you like and feel comfortable in.

Dungarees / Jumpsuit – It’s the all-in-one that requires minimal effort for maximum style. Throw it on and you’re good to go. Not only do they instantly make you look fashionable, they’re also great for post-birth if you’re planning to breastfeed.

A Tailored Shirt – Go for a neutral colour that’ll go with most things, for example white, pale blue or grey. Wear with trousers for work, with jeans for the weekend and under your dungarees. The key is to buy pieces that’ll work with at least two other items in your maternity wardrobe to ensure you get maximum cost per wear.

Smart trousers – A tailored trouser will be really useful. Try and find a style that’ll work for the office, out for dinner with a nice top, and dressed down with a t-shirt and trainers for a casual look. The styles with an over the bump band can be particularly comfortable and a cropped to the ankle length will be ideal for summer.
• Maternity Over The Bump Trousers from New Look £14.99

A longer-length blazer – As your bump gets bigger, your coat choices minimize, with the warmer months approaching you can probably get by with more of an oversized  non-maternity style that you will wear after too. This will also be your key work coat if your office is of a more formal environment.

The Comfy Jumper – They’ll be times when you just want to throw on some leggings and a cosy sweatshirt or knit and make your way through a bar of Dairy Milk on the sofa. It’s important to feel nice the whole time during your pregnancy with your body changing so much so invest in rest and pamper time too!

Maternity Bra – It’s impossible for your boobs not to change when you’re growing a baby inside so get measured regularly to make sure you’re wearing the correct size. There are so many nice maternity styles now such as Six, Heidi Klum Intimates and Mimi Holliday – keep an eye out on their sale time.

Multi-pack of t-shirts – A triple pack of stretchy v-neck t-shirts are essential. Ideally a white, a black and a striped, Asos do some great choices for these. I lived in them for feeding purposes mainly but throw on a checked shirt or a statement jacket over the top and you’ve got a feeding-friendly look.

The Party dress – I know, you’re more likely to be hardcore snoring than hardcore raving but you may get invited to a wedding or a glam do that you need a frock for. Black is obviously the safest and most versatile bet but use it as a chance to get some print and colour into your wardrobe.
• Smart Dress in Tropical Print from ASOS £48

So, there they are, your top 10 maternity essentials for the ultimate pre and post pregnancy wardobe. Grab a cup of tea and your laptop because all you need to do now is shop!

What three items were a must for your pregnancy wardrobe? Let us know in the comments below! You can check out Anna's blog for more fashion tips.