I got pregnant - I didn't lose my fashion sense!

By Victoria Farncombe on Jan 31, 08 11:20 AM

I'd like to draw your attention to an intriguing paradox.

Apparently there were around 7,000 babies born at Birmingham Women's Hospital last year. A lot of babies, eh? Gotta come from somewhere.

Yet when was the last time you saw a pregnant woman shopping in Birmingham city centre? Where are they all hiding?

Hmm, I think I have the answer to this tricky conundrum.

Having spent last weekend trawling the Bullring for a maternity outfit that doesn't make me look like a) a tent or b) a mourner I can only conclude they're all at home, shopping online.

Top Shop, Zara and Next - all a big letdown. Even H&M - which mum friends assured me offered fashionable clobber in bright colours - was a disappointment.

A mothballed section at the point in the store farthest most to the entrance stocked only last year's fashions, funereal tops and - unbelievably - skinny jeans.

Still, they were all better than Marks and Spencer, High Street, which has no maternity-wear department at all. At all!

I feel a Jeremy Paxman rant coming on...