Shopping for maternity clothes is unlikely to be top on the list of things you feel like doing when pregnant. Heavier of girth and lighter of patience, traipsing the stores for clothes that keep you feeling both comfortable and modish rarely suggests itself as a fun day out.

What can also make shopping for maternity wear a burden is the scarcity of stylish maternity clothes in high street stores these days. There was once a time when Marks and Spencer and Topshop had fantastic ranges: frilly swimsuits, sequinned jeans and maternity versions of tops Sarah Jessica Parker had worn in Sex and the City. The pregnant woman life used to be a breeze.

So what happened? In a word; the recession. The concentration in stores has been about keeping staffing tight, and stocking and selling the core ranges. Maternity wear, much like children wear, is often a bit of an afterthought for fashion companies in the present economic climate. And there are not many signs, financial or otherwise, that, for the time being, maternity wear is going to return as a central fashion feature.

How do you approach the task then? First, keep in mind that there are a few lucky women who find they need very little by way of maternity wear, if any at all in the early stages. It is a good idea to wait and see how your bump develops before you splash out on clothes you might end up never wearing, or wearing only once. It is difficult, too, to predict the shape your body will take during pregnancy. When it comes to shopping wisely, borrowing maternity cast-offs from friends is a good place to test out size and style.

So where to shop? Especially if moneys tight, online is increasingly the marketplace for the pregnant, as shop assistants will probably tell you. Check out New Look for a great range of maternity clothes, both inexpensive and of-the-moment items for mothers-to-be. From wardrobe basics - maternity leggings and t-shirts - to dresses that will put the spring back in your weighted step, Newlook.com is a great alternative to retail stores. And shopping online will probably allow for a much more pleasant shopping experience.