of pregnancY treats

pregnancy
Posh nosh:
The Berkeley’s
baby-themed
biscuits were
a hit with
Madonna
little bl ack book
of pregnancy treats
desperate for some TLC, or fancy a one-off
beauty spurge? Kerry Foster tracks down
glam treats and gentle fixes for mums-to-be
A-LIST BABY SHOWERS
Adding a touch of retro chic in their Fifties-inspired
uniforms, The PowderPuff Girls are a team of mobile
beauticians who’ve visited stars such as Kirsty
Gallacher at home. A cheaper option is to visit
them at The Powder Rooms. Just summon a
bunch of girlfriends for an afternoon of
pre-baby pampering from £65 per head.
thepowderpuffgirls.com
Expert planner, Before Baby, has seven
packages for mums-to-be, which include
food, drink and entertainment.
MichelleHeaton enjoyed the ‘pretty
in pink’ option before the birth of
her daughter, Faith. Prices from
£14.99. beforebaby.co.uk
A soirée at THE BERKELEY, is
top of every celeb mum-to-be’s
wish list. With a private suite
for up to 15 for afternoon tea,
complete with baby-themed
biscuits, they’ll be in fine
company – its visitor list
includes Madonna. Price, ahem,
on request. the-berkeley.co.uk
PREGNANCY
GURUS
Birth Bright was
born. Sarah’s website is
a mine of support and
information through
to labour and beyond.
birthbright.com.
Based in
Merseyside, Magical Birth’s
Selina Wallis is an experienced doula who offers
birth planning to suit parents’ individual needs.
Check her out at magicalbirth.co.uk
Internationally renowned maternity nurse
– or ‘the Mary Poppins of our era’, as one
famous parent called her, Margarita
Atieh counts Strictly Come Dancing’s
Claudia Winkleman among her A-list
clientele. margaritaatieh.com
Ding dong! The
Powderpuff
Girls will come
to your door.
Top toe job
(below): Essie
nail polish,
£9.95, asos.com
Happy Babies may be the answer
to saving your sanity. Run by Catrina
Broadway – her troubleshooting team
guides new parents in all aspects of
baby care. Available in the South East.
happybabiesmaternity.co.uk
Michelle
Heaton enjoyed
a pink-themed
baby shower
After advising friends on a range of issues
from quelling morning sickness to soothing
a colicky baby (one even nicknamed her their
‘mummy mentor’), actress Sarah Pearman
retrained for a career as a doula, and London’s
Pregnancy can take its toll on the
body, with headaches, sciatica,
and pelvic floor problems being
common complaints postchildbirth. Mum Olivia Hamilton
is a specialist physiotherapist at
London’s Beyond Health clinic,
and uses techniques such as
massage, joint mobilisation and
acupuncture to help new mums
get back to their best.
beyond-health.co.uk
gurgle.com 000
pregnancy
CELEB FASHION HAUNTS
ALEX CURRAn’s
little black book
Mum-of-three, Emily Evans, knows good style – and
Gwen Stefani and Kate Moss clearly agree. Her maternity
boutique, 9 London, is a treasure trove of lust-worthy
labels, including her own glam collection. 9london.com
Seraphine
shopper:
Kate Hudson
with fiancé
Matt Bellamy
Maternity top,
£35, ASOS
As worn by A-listers including Jennifer Garner and
Angelina Jolie, Isabella OliveR includes ruched
dresses to accommodate a growing bump with ease.
Looking for a special outfit? Check isabellaoliver.com
Proving maternity and nursing bras can still be pretty,
online lingerie store Figleaves boasts covetable brands
such as HOTmilk and Bravado – both hot favourites with
girls about town. figleaves.com
With stores in London’s Kensington and Hampstead, it’s
no surprise Seraphine has proved an A-list mummy-tobe magnet; Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Claudia Schiffer…
the list is endless. But if you’re not based in the city, the
online shop means you can still snap up a pair of the bestselling jeans – and just about anything else that’s bound
to take your fancy. seraphine.com
Of course, like the rest of us, celebs hit the high street
to stock up on little things too as Lily Allen proved on a
recent trip: ‘They’re playing my song in mothercare,’
she tweeted. You’ve gotta smile at that. mothercare.com
Looking hot:
Kate Moss was a
regular at 9 London
CHERRY-PICKED BEAUTY BUYS
A favourite with Dannii Minogue, Bloom & Blossom’s
philosophy is minimum ingredients for maximum results,
which means a big fat no to chemical nasties. Choose
from nine gorgeous products including the Anti
Stretch Mark Oil (£24) – a deluxe oil for mums-tobe who deserve a splurge. Go on treat her.
bloomandblossom.com
Boo Boo uses 100 per cent natural ingredients
such as chamomile and arnica – no wonder
The Saturdays’ Una Healy is a fan. Try Bosom
Buddy (£18.99), designed to help tone breasts
and prevent stretch marks. boobooshop.com
With the advice to avoid some essential oils
when you’re expecting, a pregnancy-safe
aromatherapy range is a must. Blended
Therapies uses only approved ingredients
to create each of the handmade products in
000 gurgle.com
its maternity range. To help alleviate aches and
aid relaxation, the Mum to Be body lotion (£12.50)
is a winner. blendedtherapies.com
Cowshed mixes organic ingredients
with high-end packaging featuring cheeky
names (Grumpy Cow, Lazy Cow… you
get the idea). For the perfect
made-for-mummy soak, we
like the Udderly Gorgeous bath
salts (£24). And don’t miss the
Baby Cow Organics range for your little one.
cowshedonline.com
The only cosmetic company to use fair trade
olive oil in all its products, Kadria Skincare
is a mother and baby range with a conscience.
The Balancing Face Oil (£24) is ideal for
problem pregnancy skin. kadriaskincare.com
rex, i stock. Unless otherwise stated, individuals pictured in this magazine are in no way connected with Media 10 Ltd or its
associated partners, and the use of photographs of them is not intended
to suggest endorsement of any products or services.
Pregnant fashionistas on the prowl, should take a peek
at the ASOS maternity range which takes favourites
from its main collection and adapts them to suit
expectant ladies, making it a one-stop shop for
on-trend pieces at an affordable price. asos.com
Take time out
for mum and
baby-to-be
WELLBEING WONDERS
Currently running in Hertfordshire and available
nationwide from September, the MAMABABYBLISS
six-week pregnancy yoga course is designed to
prepare parents-to-be for childbirth. Pamper
parties, courses for expectant mums and dads,
and even baby massage and yoga classes are
available, too. Gift vouchers available from
£40. mamababybliss.com
Natural and organic mother care products
by nEAL’S YARD help both mums-to-be
and new mums feel their
best. For a daily dose of
essential vitamins and
minerals, try the Pre
& Post Pregnancy
Complex, £13.95.
nealsyardremedies.com
RETURN TO
GLORY’s team
of London-based
massage therapists
can perform a number of bespoke pre and
post-pregnancy treatments all within the
comfort of your own home. Prices from £65.
returntoglory.co.uk
Glasgow reflexologist and hypnotherapist,
RUTH MAGUIRE, offers a maternity package,
which helps prevent many common niggles
– from morning sickness to swollen feet and
ankles – enabling expectant mothers to feel
confident and relaxed going into labour.
ruthmaguire-reflexology.co.uk
For south London parents, consider calm
birth calm baby’s hypnobirthing course
designed to guide and support mum and
partner through pregnancy and labour.
Using relaxation techniques, it encourages
couples to have the most positive experience
possible. Midwife-run breastfeeding
workshops are also available. Prices from
£50. calmbirthcalmbaby.com
Super glamorous Alex Curran, 29, wife of England and
Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard is mum to three
girls, Lilly-Ella, 8, Lexie, 5 and baby Lourdes, born last
November and reckons it’s her busy lifestyle that helped
her keep in shape, during and after her pregnancy.
But she also admits having help from a personal
trainer and treatments at her favourite spa. She
shares her best places to pamper and shop
and let’s us in on some top beauty tips, too.
BEST SPECIALIST
‘My personal
trainer! We
do a mix of
cardio and
weights three
times a week. I also do five
minutes a day with my Shake
Weight, it looks a bit like a
dumbbell, but is specially
weighted which is good for
getting you lean!’ £29.95,
highstreettv.com
PLACE TO CHILL ‘I love
The Vincent Hotel in
Southport. It has a
great atmosphere
and their V-Spa uses
ESPA products which
smell divine and really helped me relax during
pregnancy.’
thevincenthotel.com
GO-TO HAIR ‘Jane Fullerton Hair & Beauty cuts
and colours my locks.’ janefullerton.com
MUST-HAVE BABY SHOP ‘Mothercare
and John Lewis seem to stock everything
I need for my children and they’re
Looking good: great quality, too.’
mum-of-three,
Alex Curran
NO-FAIL MAKE-UP TIP ‘I love the glow I
get from Liz Earle’s Sheer Skin Tint, (£21).
I like MAC’s Powder Blusher, (£17.50)
and Strobe Cream, [£12), that works like a
highlighter.’
SKIN CARE SAVVY
‘I’m a real fan of Clarins
Tonic Body Treatment Oil
(£36). I used it through my
pregnancies and it kept
my skin nice and supple.’
Interview by Abby Knight
gurgle.com 000
pregnancy
FIVE-STAR SPAS
Malmaison’s Le Petit Spas are
an oasis of calm within a bustling city
location. The ‘yummy mummy’ package
(£120) includes exfoliation, a back
massage and an oriental scalp treatment,
plus your choice of a manicure or pedicure.
After all that, you’re bound to be peckish,
so it’s a good job lunch is included, too.
Available at Aberdeen, Birmingham,
Manchester and Newcastle. malmaison.com
The Merchant Hotel in Belfast fuses
Victorian grandeur and art deco style
with sleek modern touches – trust us, it’s impressive.
After kicking back in the spa with the ‘pregnancy new
life massage’, browse the labels in the hotel’s exclusive
fashion boutique or head straight to the gorgeous bar for
a mouth-watering (virgin) cocktail. £60 for 55 minutes.
themerchanthotel.com
Liv Tyler and Sienna Miller have both been spotted
at London’s Bliss Spa. Cool surroundings and
top-notch therapists make it a pampering
institution for the Chelsea set. For a welldeserved treat once baby’s arrived, we
like the ‘rookie mom rubdown’ – a full
body massage followed by a tummytoning treatment. £135 for 75 minutes.
blissworld.co.uk
Sequoia, at Hertfordshire’s The
grove hotel, is the last word in
luxury. Nestled in a stunning
country estate, you’ll find ESPA
products, an indoor pool, and
a virtuous juice bar. The
‘new beginnings massage’
is spot on for soothing an
expectant mum’s aches
and pains. But be
warned – you may
never want to leave.
£125 for 80 minutes.
thegrove.co.uk
Chelsea chick:
Pregnant Sienna
Miller favours the
cool Bliss Spa (right)
000 gurgle.com
FEEL-GOOD
FITNESS
Serious strolling
with Buggy Fit
Experts in pre and postnatal
fitness, Beez Kneez offers
both group and personal
sessions in London. Classes
include modified Pilates
and body sculpting, aimed
to keep you in shape and
strengthen the core.
beez-kneez.co.uk
Buggy Fit has been hailed as ‘the ultimate fitness class for mums’.
Along with their little ones in pushchairs, groups of mothers meet at
outdoor locations across the UK for a workout. buggyfit.co.uk
For expectant mums in Nottingham, Bump to Babe has fitness
classes expertly adapted for pregnancy. Using an easy-to-follow,
but highly effective aerobic routine, Claire Mockridge, helps maintain
fitness levels, tone muscles and relieve tension. bumptobabe.co.uk
Personal trainer and mother of two, Alison Merry, founded
Blooming Fit. Harnessing the knowledge she gained in her previous
career as a midwife, she offers a range of comprehensive classes
across the country, and her website is full of tips. bloomingfit.com
A few private classes with top London pre and postnatal Pilates
instructor, Gillian Greenwood, is the stuff of dreams. With
an impressive client list, she promises to noticeably improve your
posture, plus teach mums a routine they can practise at home
within just a few sessions. gilliangreenwood.com
Nice: the pool
at The Grove’s
Sequoia Spa