I promise the rest of Eco Chic will not be maternity related – but as well as wanting to look as reasonably elegant as someone who will shortly be rather rotund, I also don’t want to have stretch marks.

And I do want to make sure I’m using organic or at least, natural, products since some evidence suggest that 60-70% of what you put on your skin works its way through the outer layer.

What stops pregnant women getting stretch marks are their genes – how elastic their skin is naturally – plus how quickly the weight piles on.

But you can help by using moisturiser. I’ve been using organic, fair trade shea butter, which is mixed with a little olive oil. It’s solid stuff though and needs softening in hot water. I asked Emma Newman for advice.

She trained as a biochemist and now works at Nude Skincare (www.nudeskincare.com), an ethical company set up by Bono’s wife, Ali Hewson. They have developed a range of skin care products made from natural ingredients. Emma says that shea and cocoa butter are good but that oils are also essential as they contain a high proportion of omega-3.

I’m going to use Neal’s Yard (www.nealsyardremedies.com) massage oil, which contains neroli essential oil in a blend of soya, almond and wheat germ oil. At some point I’ll switch to their mother’s balm, which can also be used to massage the perineum to prevent tearing. It contains coconut, almond and apricot kernel oil plus bees wax – and nothing else.

Lots of essential oils are contra-indicated in pregnancy so I have made my own exfoliant with almond oil, honey, brown sugar and neroli. But my most exciting find is a new company that’s just been launched.

It’s called Buds Cherished Organics (available at www.nakednutrition.com). It’s been developed by a team of parents who wanted an alternative to the synthetic-chemical laden baby-care products commonly available. I can’t yet vouch for their Precious newborn head to toe cleanser, Precious newborn cream or Frost defence – a balm designed to lock out damaging winter winds – but no doubt I’ll be trying them out on the baby come May.

In the meantime, I’m using their Beautiful blooming stretch mark cream. It contains tamanol oil and vitamin C to enhance collagen production, Chlorella vulgaris extract to promote elastin production, Inca inchi, an extract from a Peruvian plant designed to help the skin maintain a protective lipid barrier and moisturising jojoba and sesame oil and shea butter. It certainly feels a delight to smooth on and I hope it works!