It's a wrap

Like most multi-tasking mamas, finding a fashionable product with multiple uses gives us an almighty buzz. So we were positively electrified to come across the M Coat, a Canadian Spirit designed coat that converts from maternity coat to new mummy cover-up and finally to a stylish jacket for when you're back to regular size.


Insulated with 100 percent Canadian down and featuring a detachable faux fur trim hood, what makes this coat so clever is the removable front panel that can be zipped into multiple positions for pregnancy or for toting your bubba in a front-carrier. The panel has an adjustable drawstring waist to allow your blooming belly to expand or to help pull your baby closer when used for babywearing. And when you're done with the infant stage, you can whip the panel off to reveal the sleeker version of yourself stylishly wrapped in what looks like a brand new winter coat! Find out more at the M Coat web site.

Go Skip Hop

It's not always the first item on your mind when you're busy scouting for pushchairs or prams, nursery items and baby clothes, but a sturdy diaper bag is one of the most essential purchases for any new parent. Being a mama essentially means becoming a bag lady as you have to tote an unimaginable amount of baby gear around whenever you step out.

US-based Skip Hop is one of the most popular brands for the new breed of baby changing bags that couple style with functionality. The Skip Hop Dash is a messenger-style bag that you can easily sling over the handle bars of your stroller or attach with its unique strap and fastening system. The bag contains eleven deep pockets to provide space for everything from nappies and wipes to bottles and snacks. It comes in a range of colours like our fave stripe design that has unisex appeal or even camouflage print for the more macho papa. Check out the Skip Hop web site for a list of stockists worldwide.

In the frame

One of the most exciting moments of your pregnancy is when you get to see your little one on the small screen for the first time. Whether or not you've had previous scans in early pregnancy, it's usually the 12-week ultrasound scan when you get a close-up of your womb tenant waving, kicking and even sucking her thumb that hits you with that 'I'm going to be a mummy' feeling in full force. Most ultrasound units will offer parents-to-be a grainy photo of their little bean but as the months progress, the flimsy print-out is likely to get tattered unless you find somewhere safe to store it.



Get yourself a Baby Scan Photo Frame from The Gift Experience. This hinged frame features one side to slot your scan photo and another side where you can write details like the parents' names, date and the number of weeks of gestation. The Baby Scan Photo Frame comes in a creamy resin finish and is dotted with cute little stars and makes an ideal gift for newly announced mamas and papas. Available at The Gift Experience and good photo stores.

Top Summer Read

We were lucky enough to receive a copy of Brain, Child – the “magazine for thinking mothers” – and we can’t wait to recommend it to all our mama friends. The summer edition of this quarterly features insightful and incisive articles ranging from a cutting report on the inaptly named Camp Baby event for mom bloggers (no actual babies allowed) to an expose on the deception and debt that often lies behind those tempting ‘work from home’ business offers.

Our favourite elements of the magazine are the personal essays by mothers who write with intimacy, honesty and even humour about topics as difficult as miscarriage, disability and helping a child to handle the death of someone close. Brain, Child is the perfect antidote for new mums who are worried their grey matter has turned to mush and this edition definitely makes the Top 10 of our summer reading list. Visit the Brain, Child web site for sample articles and subscription info.

The 6Way LBD

It's a strange phenomenon how your wardrobe seems to shrink as your body expands. If you're struggling to find comfy, stylish clothes to fit your pregnant form, Glow Maternity (by way of the Fertile Mind range of maternity and nursing wear) are offering an inventive solution: the 6 Way maternity dress. That's right, one dress, six different outfits.

This wash and wear garment easily transforms from a simple skirt to a baby doll dress that's ideal for hanging out at the beach, an ultra-hip one-shoulder number perfect for date night (hopefully with your baby daddy!), a halterneck evening gown, a sexy crossover style and a dress with cap sleeves for a little more coverage. Available in sizes S to XL the dress is designed to elegantly skim your form rather than clinging to lumps and bumps. And in the grip of credit crunch panic, it's a snip at only 80 quid. Could this be the ultimate LBD? You do the maths. Find the 6 Way maternity dress at Glow Maternity.

Out, dark spots!

One of the many strange wonders of pregnancy is just what happens to your skin. The cocktail of hormones can leave you blooming or turn your epidermis into an acne-ridden, fuzzy, streaky hide that unfortunately takes longer than nine months to shed.

Chloasma, ranging from dark patches to the so-called ‘mask of pregnancy’ caused by increasingly sun-sensitive skin can be especially distressing. Luckily Belli cosmetics have a dermatologically-approved Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen SPF 25 sun cream and moisturiser that contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to help block those pesky UVA/UVB rays without causing any harm to your unborn. So before you stride out into the summer heat, grab yourself a wide-brimmed hat, some oversized shades and a tube of Belli Anti-Chloasma available at good beauty stores or from the Belli web site.

Track your Cycle

If you’re trying for a baby or simply looking for a little help with natural family planning, the Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University have an innovative and might we add, stylish solution. CycleBeads are a string of 32 colour-coded beads, each representing a day of your menstrual cycle. You simply move the black ring over each bead to count through from the first day of your period to help you track your most fertile days.

In studies, CycleBeads have been shown to be more than 95% effective when used correctly. Brand New Mamas like that CycleBeads give women another option in the often dicey area of birth control, they come with no side effects and they look pretty cute with this summer’s tribal-global fashion. Find out more at the CycleBeads web site.