Fashion for mums to be...

However, I am not quite ready yet to think about holidays and what to wear should the sun come out for more than a couple of hours, therefore this month I have decided to tackle the ever growing world of fashion for the mum-to-be.

A great find this month was the store Mummy & Me, situated at the end of Stramongate, where it meets Finkle Street, in Kendal.

The old butcher's shop has been lovingly converted by Clare Coxen and her family, who took over the premises at the end of 2003. With large, well-appointed changing rooms, Clare has made sure that customers have room to manoeuvre as they try on the clothes there's even an easy chair for a friend or partner and room for a buggy too.

"I remember being pregnant with my first child, I couldn't find anything to wear," said Clare. "I didn't want to make do with one pair of stretch trousers and an oversized top. I thought there has to be more to maternity wear than this' - after all, millions of us women living here in the North are having babies.

"It suddenly came to me, here was a gap in Kendal's market place. Most mums-to-be want to look just as nice as they did before they became pregnant. After all, most of us continue working until well into the third trimester."

By the time Clare found her perfect place to set up shop, she had already ordered most of her first season's stock.

With no maternity-wear fairs to be found, Clare set about making herself known on the Internet. Soon, she began to receive catalogues and CDs from wholesalers and designers world-wide. "Some of the collections I saw were fabulous. I ordered lots of pieces to test the waters here in Kendal. I tried to fill a gap in local maternity clothing by finding outfits that a pregnant woman could wear for those special occasions - attending weddings, parties, going on holiday, beach wear and, of course, the really comfortable, supportive clothing you need as you become heavier. All individual looks with a bit of up-to-date style."

I love the looks Clare showed me from a design company called Meet me in Miami' who provided the maternity clothes for Miranda' in Sex and the City, and also for the actress Sarah Jessica Parker while pregnant with her first child. The clothes are wonderful, a mix of funky, stylish and classic pieces. A lot of the clothes are cut to fit closely, around the bump, so avoiding the tent' look.

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I asked Clare which items were her best sellers.

"The Noppies' collection of boot-cut and straight-leg jeans and trousers fly out! They are designed to fit really well and can be worn over or under the bump. The leg lengths are good and they also come in petite'. The waist grows with you which makes them really comfortable, but they just look like normal stylish trousers. Also the stretchy vest top from Arabella B a London based company is a must have'. It's really fine but supportive, and stylishly fitted round the bust. It comes in a range of lovely colours.

"Essere 2 meaning to be two' run by two Italian mums, have really popular clothes too, they're really individual."

Clare also stocks supportive underwear by a company called Emma Jane' - not only do they supply supportive all-in-one bodies and tummy-belts but they have a really good collection of bras. Sizes go right up to a 40 J.

Looking rather tired yet blooming, with the arrival of her second child imminent, Clare told me of her fabulous remedies for the ups and downs of pregnancy. "I didn't just want to stock clothes and underwear for pregnant women, I wanted to be able to supply all the things that I now know can help make pregnancy an easier, more enjoyable time."

She has certainly found some wonderful things. Take Preggi Pops, for example - they are little old-fashioned lollypops with a secret ingredient that helps to prevent the misery of morning sickness. They retail at £3.50 a bag. The herbal remedy also comes in sour drops', same theory but without the sticks for those who want to suck discreetly at work etc, £5.50 a tin.

Another of Clare's best sellers are her baby bags with a difference. Each bag is really individual. "They don't really look like baby bags at all they're really simple and stylish yet they include the essentials such as bottle bag, nappy waste bag and changing mat. Some even have a key fob to stop you having to route around for your car keys every time you go out and about with your baby."

I loved the baby bags I saw from an Australian company called OiOi. Their black and white print bag with red lining comes with lots of accessories and it's priced at £44.99.

To calm down a hormonal mum-to-be there are some wonderful, safe aromatherapy creams and oils around. Try the pre natal instant unwinder in Lavender and Ylang Ylang. There is also a wonderful gift box called the survival kit' full of organic aromatherapy products for mum, dad and baby, price £24.95.

Mummy & Me: 12 Stramongate, Kendal, tel 01539-721221, or check out the web site www.mummyme.co.uk l Check out the free aqua natal classes that are being held at the Leisure Centre, in Kendal (01539-729777). Run by midwives and physiotherapists, the classes encourage you to exercise safety in the water. Great for keeping your pelvic floor in shape and for keeping yourself at a healthy weight. To find out if there are any free aqua classes for pregnant women in your area, call your local leisure centre, or ask the GP or nurse that is looking after you. There are some gorgeous, swimming costumes available for mums-to-be, so no excuses!