Glam Slam: The Friday Five – Maternity Must-Haves!

Nicole Richie, who is expecting her second child at the end of the summer, admits to having unusual cravings including goat cheese pizza, watermelon and wasabi. "Now where am I going to find that combo?" she asked on her Twitter page.

I didn't have many pregnancy cravings, but when I did, they were easy to find - vanilla milkshakes and Crumbs cupcakes. Yummy! Today kicks off Pregnancy Awareness month and in that spirit here are the five things I couldn't live without while I was pregnant.

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1. BABY YOUR SKIN

Your skin changes so much in general when you are pregnant, you have to take extra care of it. Jessica Alba and Christina Aguilera are fans of Mama Mio maternity skincare line and now, so am I. The line, which is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women includes gentle body wash, scrub, cream and balm. I love "Boob Tube", the anti-oxidant rich cream which promises to help prevent sagging. So far, so good! Available at www.mamamio.com

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2. STRETCH IS BAD

An estimated 75-90 percent of women are prone to stretch marks and I waged a massive attack to try and prevent them! I slathered on several products every day starting immediately in the first trimester. My favorite? Bio-Oil from Britain, which is a non-greasy and affordable oil, available at drug stores. It also was a godsend to help relieve itching that comes with pregnancy. My friend Melissa gave me Erbaviva Stretch Mark Cream and I would use this even if I wasn't pregnant because it was so rich and smelled so good. Just for good measure I also used good old-fashioned cocoa butter. I don't know if it was the combination of all three, but I did not get a single stretch mark!

3. STRETCH IS GOOD

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I'm gonna get right to the "bottom" of things. Comfort is a priority when you are pregnant, especially when it comes to your underwear. Hanky Panky, a favorite of stars Angelina, Halle and Jennifer Garner, had the most stretch and I was able to wear the company's signature lace thongs until the day I delivered. www.hankypanky.com

4. NATURAL BEAUTY

I tried to cut out harsh chemicals whenever I could. The Kiss My Face line features natural deodorant, soaps, cosmetics, toothpaste and sunscreen. www.kissmyface.com Another benefit? It's affordable.

5. MATERNITY MASSAGE

Pure heaven! Lower back pain sent me to the spa toward the end of my pregnancy and I indulged in as many Maternity Massages as I could. Make sure you check with your doctor.

HONORABLE MENTION

I couldn't have lived without "The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy", which my girlfriend Jen gave me to read. It kept me laughing all through my pregnancy with its humorous look at what to expect. I highly recommend it!

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MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Glam Slam - Pregnancies - Style - Parenthood - Nicole Richie

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