MANILA, Philippines - Women need not stop being fashionable during the pregnancy and post-pregnancy stages. One young mom shows how expecting moms can still be sexy even while breast-feeding.

When model Bianca Araneta-Elizalde was pregnant with her first daughter 5 years ago, she initially refused to wear maternity clothes because they were not fashionable. So she wore non-maternity clothes which felt uncomfortable.

"[Wearing non maternity wear] was a mistake I made especially during my first pregnancy, that I'm not going to wear maternity clothes. Women have to realize the limitations of non-maternity wear when they are pregnant. On my 8th month, I succumbed to maternity clothes. They are comfortable and easy to wear," she shared.

Because of her experience, Elizalde thought of starting her own maternity fashion line. Thus was born Eden, a line of multi-function and convertible maternity pieces.

"We got really nice pregnancy friendly fabrics that stretches with you. They're not hot, they're breathable, they're very comfortable. These are pieces you want to live in," Elizalde said.

Flexible and comfortable

Eden's clothes are imported abroad from factory surpluses and are made of comfortable cotton. They are mostly convertible and can be used in as much as 17 different styles.

The pieces are flexible and designed with nursery openings to accommodate "discreet" breast-feeding in public areas. The designs are mostly based on what Elizalde wore while she was pregnant.

"I chose a lot of pieces I wore before I got pregnant and made them maternity and incorporated lots of nursing details. So most of all the clothes are designed to be worn all throughout pregnancy, from the time you found out you're pregnant until after you breast-feed," Elizalde said.

One of the collections include the Opera multi-way bandeau, which can flatter a pregnant woman's figure. It has a ruched detail around the belly and moms can twist and wrap it in any way they want.

"There is no wrong way to wear this (Opera) piece. It's up to you how to use it. A lot of tying and layering is very flattering on a growing belly. No matter how big you get, this one grows with you. It looks good on your body," she explained.

Another versatile piece is the Infinitude which can become a nursing drape or a shawl. Elizalde added that Eden's clothes are "timeless" and can be even be worn by fashionistas who are not pregnant.

"When you invest in maternity clothes, you don't want to buy a whole new wardrobe. You want a few key pieces, much like a capsule wardrobe that you can wear and incorporate on yourself," she said.

To see more of Eden's collections, visit http://shopeden.multiply.com/.