If you've just found out that you're expecting your first child, congratulations and get ready for an exciting 9 months of your life!

Its fair to say that you'll probably have your share of the up's and down's and the effect of the baby hormones is something else! But there is an added bonus to becoming a new mum - you get to choose a new wardrobe for yourself and for your new baby too! Whoever said that retail therapy doesn't work can think again - its amazing how a spot of shopping can take the edge off morning sickness!

This is the point where you need to remind those dear husband and partners not to freak out ...you don't have to spend a fortune, in fact we have suggested a few basic, key maternity pieces to get you through the 9 months in maternity style.

Maternity clothes really do give you comfort and who wants to look back on their pregnancy photos with embarrassement at those huge tents or oversized, ill fitting sweatpants and tees?

Maternity clothing also doesn't have to be about contantly wearing dark colours to try and minimise your new shape. There are some wonderful maternity styles currently available that celebrate your shape, accentuating those womanly curves and minimising those flabby parts that we like to hide - all available in some wonderful exciting colours that reflect what's currently hot on the fashion runways across the globe.

Maternity wear in Australia has become an integral part of the fashion savvy mum-to-be wardrobe. Here is our list of essential maternity items:

Maternity jeans - invest in a couple of really good maternity jeans for best fit and cutting edge style

Maternity Pants - a couple of pairs of basic work maternity pants will ensure comfort whilst at work

Maternity Dresses - a good wrap dress can be worn over pants or jeans and be dressed up or down and will 'grow' with your body

Maternity Lingerie - great fitting maternity bras that ooze sex appeal are fantastic to remind you that you are beautiful and sexy!

Maternity Nursing Tops - offer excellent value as many offer built in bras that can be worn during pregnancy and then afterwards for breastfeeding

Maternity Blouses - cute + colourful maternity blouses will brighten up a pair of basic pants or jeans and enhance your new 'glowing' skin

Now that you have a better idea for what maternity clothing you will need - the real fun begins! There are some wonderful maternity wear, maternity clothing and maternity designs + labels on the market right now and overseas maternity labels are all accessible at Sweet Lilly Maternity.

Congratulations and good luck with your pregnancy.

From all at Sweet Lilly xx

Sweet Lilly Maternity is Australia's premier home shopping website for funky, colourful and extremely edgy maternity wear for the fashion conscious mummy to be. We pride ourselves on keeping ahead of the rest by continually sourcing the worlds's best maternity styles that resemble runway fashion. All of our clothes are roadtested by mummies to be for practical wearing, glamour appeal, stretch-a-bilty and the feel good factor. We import most of our labels and have a fabulous collection of maternity jeans, maternity tops, maternity evening wear, sexy maternity lingerie and much much more. Our products are constantly featured in Australian Maternity Press and we have a delightful collection of newborn baby wear and gifts.