FASHIONABLE mums were spoilt for choice with the launch of a maternity clothes library at Nottingham City Hospital.
Bumps Boutique is aimed at style-conscious pregnant and breast feeding mothers who can borrow maternity clothes and equipment for a small fee.
Smart tops, denim skirts, leopard skin nursing bras – even a Jaeger dress – hung on coat hangers donated by John Lewis at the launch event.
Bumps Boutique will open once a month and is the first project run by the Baby Steps organisation, set up by Liz Shier, 38, and Lin Ryan, 34, who met while training as midwives.
It is a not-for-profit organisation and the duo have put £500 of their own money in.
Lin said: "We want to offer small practical steps of support to new mothers and families."
John Lewis bra fitters Bev Baulch and Ellen Skinner donated their time too.
Bev said: "It's good to promote our service. We do maternity and nursing fits, but lots of other ladies are in the wrong bra too."
Gillian Standing, 37, there with her six-month-old baby, Phoebe, said: "For me it means I can put the money towards other things."
Baby Steps aims to make pregnancy easier for mums and will also be looking to help with other issues, like breast feeding in public.
Co-founder Liz said: "I'm not a midwife anymore but I still work in the birth network circles. It's the personal touch. You reduce postnatal mental health issues just by networking and feeling good about yourself. Looking good boosts self-esteem."
Maria Ward, development officer at the Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service, has been mentoring the duo and helping to get the organisation started.
She said: "I was so excited to be involved in this project. It has the potential to work in every unit in every city.
"This is not just about vulnerable people, this is about women, every woman."
Volunteer Becky Gee said: "We're all mothers. Probably between us we can come up with the answer to any problems we're having."
The Boutique is next open on Friday, January 18.
Annual membership is £2 and clothes are £3 per item for 12 months. Mums can return them whenever they want in that time.
They are also encouraged to contribute any maternity garments they no longer need.
To find out more, or to donate clothing, email info@babysteps.org.uk or go to http://www.facebook.com/ babysteps.org.uk.
