How to avoid stretch marks

Try rubbing a relevant product on a daily basis into your stomach, hip and thigh area. Clarins Body Tonic Oil, £26 for 100ml (www.shop-com.co.uk), has had good results. However, some women get stretch marks regardless of what they use to try to prevent them.

Mums should remember: you've had a baby and your body has responded, so celebrate what it has been through rather than worry about stretchmarks.

Sensitive skin
When you're pregnant, your skin can become more sensitive to tiny things such as normal household dirt so keep your hands clean and try not to touch your face.

If you wear nail varnish, your skin can react to the formaldehyde that most contain. If you suspect that's the case, switch to a chemical-free polish, such as Sante from Avea, £8.50 (0870 199 9220; www.avea.co.uk).