This week i've presenting my findings on the best, and worst maternity jeans I've worn. And, as a new extra to my blog I'm going to be bringing you my 'mummy to be's little helpers' - things I've found that make pregnancy that little bit more bearable.

A comfy, well-fitted pair of jeans, is a clothing essential whether you're a mum-to-be or not. But in the last few months I've gone through several pairs alone. As you may be able to gather I'm still looking for the holy grail of maternity jeans, ones that are trendy, yet comfortable and will take me right through to early Jan when I'm due.

All my jeans apart from the Gap ones have been 'under the bump style in that they have two elasticated panels on either side of the waist rather than one panel running across the front.

New Look - £25 (white bootleg)

These were my first pair of maternity jeans. Out of all my jeans I've worn these the most because they have so much stretch in them - they fitted just right and gave me lots of precious leg room which is important if you're going to be having a fairly active pregnancy. Sadly at just over six months pregnant I can see the end in sight for these with the elasticated sides struggling to keep my bump in check. A great pair to dress up with heels as well as out to lunch with friends. The length was good too.

www.newlook.co.uk

Next

I've just this week got hold of a pair of dark blue skinny jeans £25 from the Winter collection which came out last week. Already I've worn these as smart, with a Seraphine dress over the top for work; with a vest and jacket to see an art exhibition (Francis Bacon in case you're asking) and as casual to go out blackberry picking on Sunday morning. They are almost as comfortable as the New Look jeans but a bit baggy in the bum area (that of course may change!). In the summer also I bought a boyfriend version (£35 mid blue denim). I ordered these a size larger than my usual, 12, but yesterday when driving the waistband cut right into my bump- not comfortable. A shame as these look really stylish and have an unusual 'wrinkled' texture.

www.next.co.uk

Top Shop - skinny 'Baxter' £40

I bought these in late July when I realised I would at some point have to wash my New Look ones. I bought these to feel fashionable but the reality is that they are too big around my waist (bump) and too tight around the top of my legs. They could do with a bit more stretch around the bottom of my legs too and I'm definitely not big down there. Also, as I've worn these more I 've noticed the bum's started to sag. The wash is great and hasn't faded though. I was warned that Top Shop's maternity jeans were not the best. if you've got normal sized legs that is.

www.topshop.com

Gap - (store only - medium denim wash approx £35 - these were leant to me by my friend Marianne!)

My only 'over the bump' pair and now my current favourite. These are a pull-up pull-off no-nonsense pair of jeans which don't look too bad. Sadly my vanity means I only wear them around the house and during my early-morning walk to the gym. This of course may change!

Seraphine - invisible bump jeans.

I ordered these week before last and am still waiting for them, but will update you when I get them. The invisible bump style means you get all the support and none of the pregnancy look, apparently.

Verdict: I can't afford to shell out £100 on designer jeans so I've only gone for the cheap(er) brands here. To be honest I'm already looking forward to being able to wear normal jeans again. When I first found out I was pregnant I had thought nothing of spending £40 on maternity jeans, but now I'm already looking jealously at the new autumn collections. I'll be selling these jeans off as soon as I can!

Mother to be's little helpers - things that made my week a little bit more special

Mothercare's sleep body pillow - £27.99. I am no longer able to sleep on my back as not only is it uncomfortable but - as my midwife told me - it also compresses a major blood vessle called the vena cava (yikes!) In my desperation for a good night's sleep I dared to venture into Mothercare for the first time since I was a nipper myself. After umming and ahhing over whether to buy this or the wedge pillow (which you slide under your bump) I settled for this huge thing of a pillow. It can be used at night to support your whole body and bump and also when breastfeeding. i never ever thought I'd get excited over a pillow, but now I just have - pregnancy eh?

www.mothercare.com

Mama Mio boob tube cream (£29)

This wonderful smelly also promises to help your bits defy gravity. I'm putting it on day and night but mainly because it smells so great, and it can't hurt to try it, can it?

www.seraphine.com

www.seraphine.com

Sam x www.samanthadownes.com

In the last year I've gone from paying off debts, to road-testing hair cuts to... getting pregnant. But rest assured now I'm a mum to be I'm more conscious of making sure every penny of my hard-earned money is well spent.

The last couple of weeks I've been testing stretch-mark lotions and maternity bras. At 24 weeks pregnant (as I am) the skin around the baby bump can get particularly dry and tight, so a good cream or oil should not only moisturise but act as a wonderful soother for those times when your tummy feels like a drum (i.e most of the time at the moment).

As I'm still in my second trimester I'm not testing any of the lotions for their ability to prevent stretch marks. I'll be doing that in a later blog, I'll also be continuing to test mum-to-be lotions and potions as my pregnancy progresses so. I've also been trying out various maternity bras too, a really comfy (ideally not underwired) bra is another total must have when you are expecting. Because of supply problems a couple of my maternity underwear orders hadn't arrived, so I'll be updating my findings next month.

Body lotions

Heaven - firming and stretchmark oil and cream (£35 each)
This smelt totally gorgeous, orange and other yummy things. In fact the texture of the cream reminded me of the topping you get on a carrot cake (but then everything looks edible to me at the moment). The oil is a richer version of the cream and really soothed my skin, I could literally feel my skin being hydrated (but this was after a very long day at work in an air-conditioned office) from the outside in.
My only bugbear was the packaging, the cream comes in a glass jar which, as I'm still going to the gym five times a week, is not so portable. This is a wonderful treat, and if it weren't for the price I'd be buying another!
www.heavenskincare.com

Burt's Bees- Mama Bee nourishing body oil with vitamin B (£10.95 from www.hqhair.com)

I loved the smell of this, fresh lemon, so a great pick me up in the morning. It was incredibly rich so best used at night, or after showering/bathing - but before drying.

Palmers Cocoa Butter massage lotion for stretch marks (around £4 from major chemists including Boots and Superdrug)

A favourite with mums-to-be because of its price and smell. I didn't find as moisturising as the s rich as the other lotions, for that reason I used it as all over body lotion. As it promises to reduce stretch marks it may well come into its own as the weeks go by, I'll keep you updated.

Clarins - tonic body treatment oil (£32 from department stores and large branches of Boots)

This was bought for me by my friends as a treat. Everytime I used it at the gym one of the other women in the changing rooms would comment on how lovely it was (a very similar to smell to the Clarins tinted face moisturising, energising and fresh). If I hadn't tried the Heaven cream this would have been my favourite. Again because it's an oil it's too rich to use on dry skin, which again I found a bit of a faff when at the gym and in a rush to get ready for work in the morning.

Wilko baby oil - (99p Wilkinsons - www.wilkinsonplus.co.uk)

Not as fragranced or as fancy as the other lotions but it still managed to soothe my poor itchy bump on a couple of evenings. Not as rich as the Clarins oil but you can used it on dry skin, although best results on damp skin. The smell was inoffensive and of course I can use this on baby in a few months time.

Maternity bras

HOTMilk - sinfully sweet seductress maternity and nursing bra (£31) with briefs (£13.50) and french knickers (£15) - comes in teal and cream.

If only all underwear was like this, not only was this the most comfy underwear I've ever worn, it's also the sexiest. The bra felt really supportive, with a deep band, and I almost forget I was were wearing a bra. Thankfully it comes with six hooks so it will take you from pregnancy to nursing and beyond. Definately one to persuade your other half to buy. The french knickers were really comfy too. I've also got the seductress chemise, which I haven't yet tried out, I can't wait!

www.hotmilklingerie.com or www.figleaves.com

Marks & Spencer - cotton rich non-wired maternity (£20 for pack of two)

Admittedly this was my first experience of maternity underwear. I basically picked the first thing I saw, there was a surprising lack of choice for mums-to-be needing underwear when I visited the Brighton store in July (I've since gone online and seen more at marksandspencer.com. The band wasn't really supportive enough, so unless you are flat chested, or extremely small you'd be better off going for something more supportive. The cup sizing wasn't great, I gaped at the front while the side seams felt too tight.

Sports bras.

(bought at Marks and Spencer and Sweaty Betty before I was pregnant)

During my early pregnancy weeks I found my sports bras made a really comfy and supportive alternative to the underwired, push up staples I normally wear, or should I say used to wear. I've got several of the Shock Absorbers (www.sweatybetty.com) for around £22. Marks and Spencer's underwired version (between £12 and £18) were also great. If you can't see the point of buying specific maternity wear, and know you'll be back in the gym/playing sport after baby, then these are probably just as good (and cheap) an option.

Tips when buying

• I've been told to avoid lavender oil most specific maternity lotions will avoid it, but it's still worth checking. Most of the lotions I tried I had lemon oil in them, which I'm told is something to do with toning up the skin.
• Bras that double up as maternity and nursing are a better bet than just nursing or maternity, it means you'll get a least a year's wear out to them.
• You can wear underwirerd bras, just make sure you get fitted properly. I have to thank my local lingerie shop (Carols) of GMTV fame for making sure I am wearing the right size bra.