Feeling lumpy in pregnancy ladies? Don't despair. The new range of Mama Spanx – control underwear for pregnant women – has the answer, with its "non-binding waistband and added under-belly support". Choose from Spanx Pantie Power Mama long-leg knickers, available at Mothercare for £27: "Soft sheer tummy panel grows with your baby." Or stay on-trend with Mama Spanx Maternity Footless Pantyhose: "Yarns stretch with your belly. Comfortable lower back support." As their website says, "Birth isn't the only miracle going on around here!"
No indeed. The so-called maternity shapewear industry is a growing phenomenon. (Unlike the pregnant lady's body itself, of course, which must remain within acceptable size limits.) Mama Spanx come hot on the heels of Nearly Nude's £64 Maternity Shaping and Slimming Slips: "Accentuates your waistline whilst minimising your tummy!" and La Leche League Intimates Shaping Maternity Waist-Binder, available from SurpriseHim Lingerie. (Yes. Just imagine the look on his face.) There is even postnatal controlwear with Yummie Tummie's Tummy Tuck Nursing Camisoles and Carriwell's Post-Birth Control Panties. Should you fail to get yourself back into shape within the six-week time-frame so many celebrities seem to conform to these days, that is.
The veteran of three super-sized pregnancies, I do sympathise with those lured into the Pantie Power trap. It is very hard to find flattering maternity underwear that fits properly. But think about it. Aren't these products just another attempt to magic away the reality of the female form? Your body gets bigger in pregnancy. So what?
The medical argument seems weak too. If your back is knackered from carrying around an extra couple of stone thanks to pregnancy, is a pair of special pants really going to help? Ben Posen, director of Hampstead Osteopathy in north London, says it's possible but unlikely. "What's good for generalised lower back ache is a special maternity support belt – a wide belt that fits across the lower back, designed to give the body a hug. Maybe the underwear and tights could offer some benefit in that area. But if you have a severe joint problem, what you really need is a sacroiliac pelvic support belt. I would be extremely surprised if a pair of tights could offer that support. And to know which of the two problems you've got, you want to see a specialist."
There is just one other small matter to consider too. As I explained the concept of maternity control pants to my husband, his brow furrowed. He thought about it for a while and then said, seriously: "But where does the baby go?" Who cares? As long as you look slim, right?
