Feel sexy during pregnancy

So you've put away your stilettos and your bump has rendered your LBDs useless. Unless you're one of those lucky mums-to-be who feel "amaaaazing" during pregnancy, chances are you're finding it hard to summon your inner sex-goddess. But, you can feel foxy in pregnancy and have a great body image. Here are our tips for, ahem, sexcess!

Feel good about your body
‘Being pregnant can make your feel out of balance,’ says Rachel Foux, psychosexual therapist and author of Masterclass Pregnant Sex (£14.95, Erotic Review Books, due to be published 4 April). ‘If you’re already sensitive about your bum, say, you can feel extra sensitive when you’re pregnant.’

The answer is to really get to know your new shape. ‘Buy some lovely pregnancy body products and take the time to massage your body in the bath so it feels part of you,’ Rachel advises. ‘Then you don’t feel like just a head on a belly! The more you touch an area, the more you like it. And when you do it consciously, it’s an affirmation of love and honour.’

Seeing sexy men take an interest makes you feel pretty good, too. ‘I was at a party recently and my husband’s footie team was fussing about me, stroking my bump,’ says Tara Horton, 32, from Maidstone, Kent. ‘It was quite pleasing as they’re all rather gorgeous!

Splash out on sexy lingerie
There’s no reason to surrender yourself to big grey knickers and boring boulder-holders. Pretty undies will help keep you feeling fabulous as you grow (try maternity lingerie at www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk).

‘I’ve always liked nice underwear,’ says Suzie Waring, 39, from Surbiton, Surrey. ‘So now I’m pregnant I’ve avoided buying nursing bras that are too plain and functional. A bit of lace, a nice colour and a matching pair of knickers keeps me feeling like the real me.’

And they can be a boon in bed, according to sexpert Rachel Foux. ‘If you have leaky breasts, wear a breast pad inside a sexy bra during sex and feel better about yourself,’ she says.

Dress to impress
No-one ever felt like a sex kitten in an outsize t-shirt and baggy leggings, so spend time on your togs, says Fiona Huntingford, personal stylist and founder of Stylestruck.com.

‘You can still look fantastic when you’re pregnant,’ Fiona says. ‘Empire line is fashionable this spring, which is flattering and gives you shape by pulling in under the breasts.’

Accessories are key. Wear a chunky necklace and big patent leather handbag for instant style. Fiona advises investing in a good pair of flat leather boots and swollen-feet-friendly ballet pumps.

‘Just taking an extra couple of minutes to think about what you’re wearing, even putting on earrings, will pay off,’ says Fiona. ‘You’ll glimpse yourself in a mirror later and think, I’m looking pretty good!’

Hello gorgeous hair!
‘One of the definite perks of pregnancy is that my hair has thickened,’ says Ella Eardley, 33, of Clapham, south London. ‘In my twenties I had thick, corkscrew curls, which had gone a bit fine and flat. Now I’m seven months pregnant, the glossy spirals are back! Hurray!’

Pregnancy hormones do great things to hair, so make the most of your luscious new locks and perk yourself up by investing in a good haircut. ‘Choose something that’s stylish and easy to maintain when the baby arrives, too, such as a choppy bob,’ says stylist Fiona Huntingford.

Stand sexy
Banish backache and boost your mood with this simple ‘sliding down the wall’ posture exercise, says Lynne Robinson of The Body Control Pilates Centre.
Stand with your back against a wall, knees bent, feet hip width apart and parallel, about 15 centimetres away.

Breathe in, lengthening through the spine. Breathe out, pulling up your pelvic floor, then bend your knees and slide about 30 centimetres down the wall until your thighs are almost parallel with the floor (no lower). Keep feet flat on the floor. Breathe in as you slide back up. Repeat up to eight times.

Pamper power
Looking after your body is crucial to feeling fab for nine months. Eating well and taking gentle exercise will keep you feeling good. But for an indulgent, feel-good body buzz, nothing beats a spa treatment.

So why not indulge in one of the special ‘pregancy spa’ treatments available throughout the country? Find one near you at www.goodspaguide.co.uk

Love your lovelife
You don’t have to be having sex to be having a sexy time, according to Rachel Foux. ‘Research shows that women who have orgasms in pregnancy have an easier birth,’ says Rachel.

‘But sex can be challenging in pregnancy. Physical communication is paramount, but who says it has to be intercourse? There are other ways to bring spiciness into your life.’

She suggests exploring new ways of giving pleasure, such as using hands or enjoying the intimacy of bathing together. If you don’t fit, you can be in the bubble bath while he sits naked on the side. ‘You can get incredible pleasure just from having someone stroke the inside of your arm,’ she says.

Many men feel tender towards their partner’s pregnant body and enjoy any kind of intimacy, says Tom Jacobs, 36, from Birmingham and dad to 11-month-old Molly. ‘When Michelle was pregnant I still found her incredibly sexy, but we had to be a bit more inventive! Even when sex was off the menu, I just loved holding her. It made me feel really protective.’

Position of the Trimester
• First trimester ‘When your breasts are sore, try ‘woman on top’.
• Second trimester  As your belly grows, ‘doggy style’ is good.
• Third trimester  ‘Spoons’ is perfect for feeling close and comfortable.

The Men Who Can’t Get Enough of Bumps…
Some men really, really, like pregnancy curves – to the point of having a fetish. They even like their porn stars preggers and the technical name for these gestation-loving gents is maiesiophiliacs (eek!).

And our ancestors found pregnant women so sexy they often made figures of Venus with baby bellies, while Greek and Norse myths are teeming with gorgeous, pregnant fertility goddesses. Pass the toga, ladies!

And if you’re not feeling sexy…
Don’t worry - not everyone does and that’s fine, says midwife Alison Holt. ‘You shouldn’t feel any pressure,’ she says. ‘However you feel, you should be honest and open with your partner. And if you have any concerns about your sexual health, just talk to your midwife or GP.’