Have to say I was also apalled by the selection available on the high street. I live in an average-sized city, which has a flagship shopping mall featuring New Look, DP, Next, H&M etc. Went into every one and only the H&M had any maternity clothes, all of which were casual only and a very poor selection.
Went to the other New Look in the city and found a small mat section, which enabled me to get some work trousers that fit perfectly (I swear angels started singing). It seems that barely 9 months ago I was making a point of not wandering into mat sections in case someone saw me and started gossiping (a tad immature, perhaps, but was in a new job and wouldn't have been good).
Now I'm looking and there's nothing. Went into Mamas and Papas and was shocked by the prices. They're simply unaffordable - why pay £45 for a jersey dress you will only get a couple of months wear out of?
Online shopping is all well and good if you're at home for delivery and return, but if you work, you have a 3 and a half hour window to get to a post office on a Saturday morning! If it wasn't for a similar-sized friend lending me some of her mat gear I'd be stuffed.