If you are pregnant for the first time, you may not know of the progress which has been made over recent years regarding the development of pregnancy and breastfeeding lingerie. Why would you? You haven’t needed it before! Believe me, the ranges of gorgeous maternity lingerie on the market these days is stunning.

Only six years ago, when I was pregnant with the first of my three daughters, I was horrified at the pregnancy and breastfeeding lingerie available. Beige and black, thick, uncompromising fabrics, no matching underwear and no nightwear to help make night-time nursing simple. I had not imagined being unable to buy the gorgeous, feminine lingerie I was used to and had visions of entering what used to be known as a "confinement" – being kept in dim rooms, fed tonics, my life being consumed by being a mother. Such was my frustration and horror, I was driven to setting up my own maternity lingerie company, specialising in sexy pregnancy and breastfeeding lingerie.

With the use of advanced technology and research which includes the testing and wearing of newly designed maternity lingerie on pregnant women, the inroads into ensuring women have the choice of looking and feeling feminine, romantic, sexy and stylish has been established. In the past pregnancy and breastfeeding has been seen as a period in your life to be endured. It is in fact something to be celebrated, relished and worn with pride.

Extremes have been taken with regard to pregnant and breastfeeding women, making the point that it IS acceptable to see pregnant bodies and breastfeed babies in public. Breastfeeding rallies, celebrities being photographed pregnant and naked, the wearing of maternity clothing which hugs and therefore emphasises a baby belly – all in the aid of liberating and normalising pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is a natural phenomenon, not a contagious disease! Historically this pattern is quite common – extremes are pushed in order to settle on a norm of behaviour for every day people. We do unfortunately still experience some negative feedback, often regarding women breastfeeding in public. With the use of the internet and media in general, those brave – or perhaps silly – enough to make their opinion public, that women should not breastfeed in cafes, restaurants, buses and so forth, are themselves generally vilified.

Feeling sexy and gorgeous in your maternity lingerie is something which should make you, the pregnant or breastfeeding woman, feel wonderful. The lingerie options are many and varied – made for discreet feeding, or worn to be seen. Make that your choice, choose according to how you feel and celebrate what is certainly one of the most feminine times in your life.