7 genius maternity buys that will see you through pregnancy and beyond

Yay, you're pregnant!

You'll soon find yourself inundated with advice on what to buy and what not to buy – and you'll soon come to realise that this advice, like much other advice, is very subjective. One person's must-have could easily be another ones "didn't need it in the slightest." However, having been in the trenches of pregnancy and breastfeeding twice, there are some things I have learned from experience are definitively worth the investment. Staples, in fact, that can take you from your barely-there bump months straight through to post-partum. Credit cards at the ready, mums: 1. Some great basics for your wardrobe Trust me on this: You do not want to spend major money on lots of different maternity clothes that you are not going to want to look at ever again once the baby comes out. Instead, opt for some great basics that you can mix and match, and layer – meaning they will not only work for when you are pregnant, but also for when the baby is here and you are breastfeeding. A couple of great t-shirts (find one that fits well and get it in black and white), some vest-tops and a wrap cardigan are all great buys that will see you through pregnancy and breastfeeding too, the same goes for a great pair of maternity jeans (see below) and a wrap dress might be a great option for when you need to dress up – again; this will fit both now and also later. 2 A rich tummy lotion To be fair, whether not you end up getting stretch marks is largely down to genetics. But you are growing a human, and your skin will have to stretch to accommodate this, especially in the tummy area. A rich cream will keep the skin on your tummy hydrated and will soothe itchy patches too. We love Mama Mio's tummy butter, as it is packed with Omega 3, 6 and 9, and will help build your skin's strength and elasticity. 3. A pair of maternity jeans that make you feel super-sexy Yes – sexy. Because a good pair of jeans is going to be your life-saver for the next few months. And because on days when everything else looks wrong or too tights or when you just cry because you have nothing to wear – these jeans will be the answer to your prayers. We love H&M's Mama Skinny Ankle Jeans (€39.99), a gorgeous buy at a gorgeous price. 4. Download a yoga app for your phone Yoga is great in pregnancy, it will help you build strength and flexibility and also help calm you down and feel more mentally prepared for what's ahead. Once baby arrives, you'll find it trickier to just nip out to a class or the gym whenever you have a moment, so having an app on your phone might just make your life that bit easier – and trust us, you'll be all about stuff that makes life easier once baby gets here. We love the Yoga Studio app, which is great for both beginners and people who have been practising yoga before. 5. Comfy (yet cool) runners Comfort is key – and will continue to be so for a while, so you might as well get a pair of shoes that gives you just that   6. A nursing pillow or (even better) full body pillow Trust us, by months seven, eight, and nine, sleep becomes a thing. And you'll be willing to invest in anything that will make you get enough of it. Your belly is heavy and you’ll want more back support. A full body pillow is perfect for all the side-sleeping you’ll do and you can even using is post-pregnancy, for support when breastfeeding or, you know, to just snuggle up to. We love the Dreamgenii Pregnancy Pillow – an investment you definitively won't regret. 7. Nespresso Prodigio & Milk Titan Because you are going to need ALL the coffee, mums. And you really just want to easy breeziness that is Nespresso, where you can just press a button and job done – heck, you can even make coffees half asleep and with a baby in your arms with this genius device, and we are all about multi-tasking (you'll be too, trust us). The Nespresso Prodigio & Milk will be the answer to all your coffee-induced prayers – and you're worth it. What were YOUR best buys for pregnancy and beyond? Let us know in the comments or tweet us at @Herfamilydotie