And now that Gwen Stefani is sporting a bump, the bar has just been raised even higher for all those glowing mothers-tobe out there. Ever the style queen, Stefani reportedly dropped almost 300,000 in chic maternity boutique '9 London' in Chelsea last week. Not content with simply buying the shop out of own-label dresses, Stefani also commissioned in-house designers Adela King and Emily Evans to design for the rest of her pregnancy.

A treasure-island of a boutique here on our home turf is Bella Mama, in the yummy mummy centre of Ranelagh, Dublin 6, which owner Suzanne King has stocked with a great mix of designer fashion labels and must-have basics, from Gharani Strock, Hommemummy, Earl Jeans, 'Maternelle' lingerie by Elle MacPherson to Irish designer brand, Leighlee, which is designed exclusively for the store.

"I think it really is the upsurge in celebrity pregnancies in the last few years that we have to thank for the demand for designer maternity wear, " King says. "It is also the fact that my customers are increasingly sociable throughout their pregnancies; they look for great statement pieces for the constant flow of parties, balls, charity lunches and weddings that they are attending."

However, while a few select waistbandexpanding basic items such as jeans, black trousers and a wearanywhere dress will become your key to comfort during pregnancy, there is no need to go full throttle into consumer mode when it comes to shopping for the bump.

If designer labels are completely out of your price league, there are lots of less expensive alternatives on the high street. Check out Top Shop, H&M, Mothercare and Benetton, and don't rule out the idea of buying fashion items such as smock tops and empireline dresses in larger sizes either.