Being pregnant is a nine-month stretch (literally!) - and then comes the big shrink! It's a real test for your skin and elasticity is the name of the game.
Mama Mio products have been developed especially to help you in the fight against stretch marks and saggy skin. Conceived in London by Kathy Miller, Sian Sutherland and Tanya Mackay, who have worked in skincare for ten years and had seven babies between them in that time, Mama Mio was born out of demand for the girls' Tummy Rub, a blend of oils that they claim will definitely prevent stretch marks.
Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Cream

The girls themselves were the guinea pigs, as were their friends and friends' friends. From here things mushroomed: “As the demand throughout London grew for our wonderful Tummy Rub, we knew it was time to think big,” they say. The result is the Mama Mio range.

The first thing you'll notice about any of the products is the wonderful Gravida fragrance - a heavenly blend of 10 pregnancy-specific oils that still smells good even when you're suffering morning sickness. The citrus/herbal balance is achieved with mandarin, lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, plus neroli, ylang ylang, petitgrain, lavender and bergamot. And the science? All Mama Mio products are rich in Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs): these are clinically proven to nourish the lipid layer of your skin, helping maintain the suppleness and elasticity. Products are not tested on animals, and are paraben and petroleum free. And the girls are still celebrating receiving a Special Recognition Award at the 2006 British Female Inventors and Innovators Awards.

Congratulations! Kit
The signature product is Mama Mio Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil (£22 for 120ml). Laden with EFAs (omegas 3, 6 and 9), it's a blend of cold-pressed sweet almond oil, Omega-6-rich borage oil, vitamin E-rich wheatgerm oil, and rosehip oil, also rich in EFAs. It super-hydrates your taut tummy to add elasticity, sparing you from itchy-belly syndrome and helping you win the battle against stretch marks.
If you prefer a cream, the new Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Cream, £22 for 125g, has the same ingredients as the oil, plus shea butter to help form a protective barrier to lock in moisture.
If you've left it too late for prevention the new ER (Emergency Repair) range could be your salvation. There's a Stretch Mark Minimiser to improve the look of wherever has suffered a big stretch, and a Tummy Toner to firm things up. They cost £40 each for 100ml or buy the two together in the Emergency Repair Kit, £70.

It's Time Hospital Kit
Also in the range:
Massage Oil £15 for 100ml; Boob Tube £25 for 100ml (aim north, not south, they say); Super-rich Body Cream £18 for 200ml; Wonder-full Balm £18 for 30ml, perfect for dehydrated bits; Moisturising Shower Cream £15 for 300ml. If you prefer a cream, the new Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Cream, £22 for 125g, has the same ingredients as the oil, plus shea butter to help form a protective barrier to lock in moisture.
And if you can't make your mind up or are looking for a gift, try one of the kits, the perfect way to sample the range. BBB £50; Congratulations! £40; It's Time £50; Mini Mama Mio £30.

For stockists or to order online visit www.mamamio.com.