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Kim Kardashian has a lot on her plate right now, so we bet that she didn’t appreciate having to deal with the backlash surrounding her latest SKIMS maternity collection…

Her latest SKIMS shapewear collection – SKIMS Maternity – has received a lot of criticism, for seemingly suggesting that pregnant women need to look smaller.

However, the reality TV star turned SKIMS creator has responded to the backlash, confirming that the shapewear isn’t actually designed to make baby bumps look smaller.

It is, in fact, designed to support the growing belly, which the mother-of-four says becomes increasingly more difficult and uncomfortable throughout the pregnancy. It is also designed to support the back – as back pain is a common problem during pregnancy – while the specially designed leggings were created to ease the pain caused by swelling…

“To anyone who has an issue with maternity solutionwear, and if you haven’t been pregnant before you may not know the struggle of what it’s like carrying all of this weight the way I did along with millions of strong women, @skims maternity line is not to slim but to support,” Kim wrote on her Instagram Story.

“The belly part doesn’t actually slim your belly, it’s actually sheer and a thinner layered material compared to the rest of the garment.

“It provides support to help with the uncomfortable weight being carried in your stomach which affects your lower back- and the compression on the leggings helps with pain relief caused by swelling.”

She continued to say that the shapewear is not only designed to be worn during pregnancy, as it is also great for supporting women after they gave given birth – whether it is naturally or via Caesarean…

“It is also worn after you have given birth and provides the comfort and support that most women need after delivery, especially if you are recovering from a Caesarean,” she continued.

“We launched this category in response to the tens of thousands of pregnant women who wrote me requesting it and because it was something I personally needed when I was pregnant myself.

“Based on the majority of positive feedback we have received so far from pregnant women around the world, I am incredibly proud to provide a solution that will provide comfort and support during the times that we all need it the most, during pregnancy and after.”

We hope her lengthy and detailed response silences the critics, and also puts pregnant women’s minds at ease if they were in two minds about whether to invest in a piece of SKIMS shapewear.

Although Kim did receive some criticism at first, one expectant mother who was always on her side was her friend Chrissy Teigen, who is currently pregnant with her and John Legend’s third child…

“Hi guys, actual pregnant person here,” Chrissy Teigen said in a video which she shared.

“Just wanting to show you and maybe talk a little bit about what pregnancy shapewear is.

“When you’re pregnant and you’re sitting down a lot, or on bed rest like me, you tend to just sit there, and if you’re wearing regular, basic-ass underwear, all it does is roll inside of folds I didn’t even know I had!”

She continued to say that the purpose of maternity shapewear isn’t to deceive people into thinking that you are not pregnant, or that you have a smaller belly, but to support pregnant women, while also helping them feel more confident…

“‘Most importantly this is not about creating a body we don’t know we have.

“We are not trying to do anything to trick you, we are pregnant, we would just like to feel good about ourselves in a time where mentally it can be really challenging.

“I don’t think I have some magic waistline now, I’m not doing it to get a waistline. Trust me, we are not idiots, we don’t think we are giving you some magical hot body now, ok?”

You can always count on Chrissy Teigen to silence the critics!

Kim Kardashian’s new SKIMS maternity collection will be available to buy from September 16.