Pregnancy is entirely personal. Women do it differently. Women experience it differently. And there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way – let no one cajole you into thinking otherwise.

Although it’s important to allow yourself embrace the feelings (both positive and negative) brought on by pregnancy, there’s no harm in hearing advice and listening to the experiences of mums who have ‘been there, done that’ or are pregnant as well.

In the name of a little female bonding and familiarity, here are some Mums’ pregnancy tips that other pregnant mums have learnt (are learning) on their journey:

Liz Azilagyi aka The Health Convert (27 weeks preggers) says:

1. Making bread is good for you – “I love the smell, and opening the breadmaker to see a fresh loaf makes me happy.”

2. Walk yourself happy – “I always go for a 30-minute walk in my lunch hour. It stops me feeling sluggish and gives me an energy boost.”

3. Treat your body – “I slather myself with Mama Mio Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Butter all the time, and I haven’t got any stretchmarks yet.”

Rachel Whitaker aka The Fashionista (33 weeks preggers) says:

1. Bumps should be flaunted – “I tie a slim gold belt above my bump on a black dress, rather than on the waist where I used to where it. It highlights my shape nicely.

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Big news, ladies! BIG news. Mums-to-be will be given the right to have their babies by caesarean section – even if there is no medical need.

Wow! Talk about controversial.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) says that caesareans have become so safe that every woman should be able to choose to have C-section birth.

But can the NHS afford this?

The Daily Mail reports that C-sections cost around £800 more than natural birth. Caesareans, increasing in popularity, account for just under a quarter of all deliveries.

Economists have calculated that reducing uptake by one percentage point could save the NHS £5.6million a year.

It’s likely that many women will be championing the fact that mums-to-be will be given the option to make an informed choice in terms of which birth procedure best suits them. But should the NHS fork out the extra cost per demand?

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Baby brain: it happens when you’re pregnant and continues for the next 18 years (possibly ever – children are permanent after all) in the form of ‘mummy mush brain’.

It’s a disease of the mind that is rooted in preoccupation, and unless you are really good at compartmentalising thoughts ‘baby brain’ will take over at one point or another.

The good news is: there IS a solution! It’s called the ‘Pregnancy Planner’ and is the creation of Organised Mum. Combat the chaos in your mind by using the planner to keep track of all those important milestones during your pregnancy.

The Pregnancy Planner is perennial, so it can be started as soon you find out you are pregnant and it carries on throughout your pregnancy, including weeks 41 and 42 (when you’re just waiting, wishing and hoping…).

The Pregnancy Planner includes 120 colourful stickers that you can use to highlight important dates such as first movement, midwife visits and blood tests. There is also space to track appointments, scans and hospital visits as well as space to note ideas, plans and photos.

Add in photos of your growing belly and record milestones and special events in the pregnancy planner. There are also pages to plan the nursery, create shopping lists and write down what you need in your hospital bag.

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I’m going to keep it real here mums: pregnancy stretches things that aren’t really all that keen on being stretched.

For those who have braved the battle of natural birth, you will remember your midwife emphasising the importance of ‘pelvic floor exercises’ after birth. Distracted by my beautiful baby girl, I vaguely listened as the health visitor blabbed away about ‘pelvic something or other’… I have a feeling I may come to regret that my disinterest – thank goodness for Google!

So, for the mums (and prospective mums) who don’t know or have forgotten…

Your pelvic floor is a broad sling of muscles, ligaments and sheet-like tissues that stretches from your pubic bone at the front of your body to the base of your spine at the back. It supports your bladder, bowel and uterus (womb) and gives you control over when you empty your bladder and your bowels.

The pelvic floor can stretch in response to weight, like a trampoline, but its elasticity can be overstretched and thus weakened. So, you know when you cough and out leaks a little wee? That’s a result of a weakened pelvic floor.

Birth affects the pelvic floor.

Babycentre.co.uk explains that during labour and birth, your pelvic floor stretches to allow your baby’s head to pass out of your uterus and through your vagina.

And your pelvic floor may have been over-stretched during labour if you:  had to push your baby out for a long time, had a big baby, had a severe tear or had a forceps birth. It is therefore important for women who have had babies to do pelvic floor exercises.

The NHS says that pelvic floor exercises should be done as follows

* close up your anus as if you’re trying to prevent a bowel movement.

* at the same time, draw in your vagina as if you’re gripping a tampon, and your urethra as if to stop the flow of urine.

* at first, do this exercise quickly, tightening and releasing the muscles immediately.

* then do it slowly, holding the contractions for as long as you can before you relax: try to count to 10.

* try to do three sets of eight squeezes every day: to help you remember, you could do them once at each meal.

You can also exercise your pelvic floor with the help of the Pelvic Toner – a registered medical device that is clinically proven to help tone and strengthen the pelvic floor by making pelvic floor muscles exercises much more effective.

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We have come across an innovative new product designed to help back pain. PosturePlast is a very simple concept (it’s normally the simple ones that work best) and is drug free, making it perfect to help back pain when pregnant.

Resembling a massive plaster, PosturePlast helps you to regain good posture meaning that this isn’t just a quick fix. The re education of your back’s posture will help promote long term back health.

To help back pain when pregnant, PosturePlast is a good option for two reasons.

1) Free from medication, this carries no risk to babies health, unlike other back pain treatments like heat packs, lumbar belts or pain relief drugs.

2) It is discreet enough to wear all day, perfect for soon to be yummy mummies.

Trialled by 90 patients suffering acute or chronic lower back pain, and split between NHS and private patient groups, PosturePlast was worn on a daily basis and the results recorded -

* 78% reported a reduction in their back pain

* 90% of wearers reported that PosturePlast prevented poor posture

* 80% reported that they thought PosturePlast would prevent them straining their back whilst doing activities

* 88% would recommend PosturePlast to somebody who had back pain

If you need to help back pain when pregnant, you should consider a PosturePlast. Prices start from just £4.00, you can buy one here.