Maternity knickers are an absolute MUST for mamas-to-be, and these styles are as comfortable as they look

Aside from all the maternity clothes (read: maternity jeans, maternity leggings, maternity nightwear/pyjamas) and a baby changing bag, you’ll be needing some maternity knickers if you’re expecting. During your first trimester they might not seem like such an important purchase… but you’d be surprised at how quickly you’ll change your mind.

Some good maternity underwear is often the difference between feeling as though you’re being cut in half from too-tight waistbands and, well, supreme comfort. I know which one I’d opt for. Far from an indulgent or frivolous buy, maternity knickers are very much a necessity while you’re growing another human inside you. Breaking news: your bump is only going to get bigger, so you might as well adapt to it.

Put it this way: when you’ve got someone’s wedding to attend, where you’ll be wearing one of your best maternity wedding guest dresses, the last thing you want is your pre-pregnancy thong digging in and giving you a VPL. Maternity pants are a sure-fire way to guarantee comfort for you and support for bump.

Maternity briefs are something you’ll depend upon come bedtime, too – alongside your body pillow and nursing bra or sleep bra, of course. A full night’s kip is imperative when you’re creating a little human being, so some comfy maternity undies will only help you drift off. And no, they don’t have to be Bridget Jones-style pants, either (though, let’s be honest, they look like the most comfortable pair ever).

What are maternity knickers? Do I need maternity knickers?

Maternity knickers come in all different shapes, sizes and fabrics. You can opt for disposable briefs – like this seven pack from JoJo Maman Bébé which are great for after you’ve given birth – or something more permanent like these seamless over-bump briefs from Seraphine. Whether or not you need maternity knickers all depends on personal preference and the size of your bump (some are bigger or smaller than others, not every body is the same). Maternity underwear is designed to fit your growing belly throughout pregnancy and so will stay in place a lot better than your regular briefs – it’s recommended you buy maternity styles to save your non-preggo pairs from stretching out, even if they do still fit.