So at 37 weeks pregnant Baby Pearson is considered full-term (even though I’ve got a few weeks left till my due date – Easter Monday if you’re wondering!)

And I’ve somehow reached this point with hardly any photos at all of me and bump.

When I was first pregnant I planned to take a picture every month and chart how my bump was growing…but I’m a real worrier and I didn’t want to tempt fate in the early days when the chances of a miscarriage are high. And then once we’d got past those worrisome early weeks it seemed strange to start that at four months. Especially as I barely had a bump at all until about six months (yes, I did actually moan about it at the time – I know better now.)

And though there have been one or two photos taken of me over the past nine months, none are really what you’d call “bumpy”.

So when my photographer sister-in-law Sarah Briggs (I know, how lucky am I?) suggested taking some snaps of me and bump before my baby shower (more on that another time), I was delighted.

Maternity photos have become increasingly popular over the past five years or so. I guess it’s all part of the the social media mad world in which we live (if you didn’t Facebook/Tweet/Instagram it, then it didn’t happen!) But it’s a trend which is rather harmlessly lovely. I’ve loved every minute of being pregnant and it would be a shame not to have a pic or two to look back on and remember just how big my bump was – and how I carried the little un (all front – which depending on who you talk to means it’s definitely a boy – or definitely a girl.)

The styles of maternity photography vary hugely – probably the most iconic “bump photo” is that Demi Moore one on the cover of Vanity Fair in 1991. It’s a pose which has been copied endlessly – and with the right photographer and editing can look fabulous. But I was keen for something a bit less staged, a bit more natural and with a, er, few more clothes! So Sarah and I headed to the seaside (it was a windy, chilly day) and got some relaxed lifestyle shots which I’m sure I’ll treasure in the years to come.

Here are some of my favourites!

Pregnant and fancy a few maternity photos of your own? Contact Sarah at s_pearson64@hotmail.co.uk for more information and prices.