Now Australia's most famous mum-to-be is relishing the final months before her baby arrives in July. But with her history of miscarriages, she's doing everything in her power to ensure the good health of her unborn baby, including making sure she follows expert advice - no matter how trivial their tips might seem to others.

Nicole has actually enlisted the help of a team of dietitians, stylists, personal trainers and maternity health experts, and is making all the right decisions and utilising all the latest tips and tricks for expectant mums.

So it's no surprise that when you ask Nicole how her pregnancy's going, you get a smile and an enthusiastic 'great, really great'.

There's no doubt the 40-year-old looks fabulous. She has a new radiance to her skin, and her figure has a softer curve to it - as well as an ever-expanding baby bump!

She also has a subtle tan. Not only does she have some lingering colour courtesy of a visit to Bondi Beach with husband Keith Urban, 40, a few months ago, but she's also clearly listening to her maternity expert's advice to make sure she keeps her vitamin D levels high to help her baby's bone density.

But of all the seemingly never-ending list of secrets Nicole swears by as she gets ready to welcome her little bundle of joy, the tip she finds easiest to follow is simply 'stay happy'. Having wanted a baby for so long, Nicole never has to try too hard to smile now she's finally pregnant.

In fact, Nicole's loving the experience so much she's finding it hard to believe it has been so easy. She's previously admitted: 'I'm just waiting for the third trimester - everyone says that it's hard work.'

Also ensuring Nicole's happiness is her husband Keith, who's always by her side. He's been fulfilling the vital role of spoiling Nicole - particularly when she suffers from bouts of morning sickness.

Keith has actually learnt a few tricks of his own to help Nicole get over her early morning nausea. Any fellow soon-to-be dads out there can follow suit.

'Nicole had a really hard time with morning sickness early in her pregnancy, but she figured it was just part of the process,' a close friend of the couple says. 'It was actually Keith who asked their maternity care specialist if there was anything he could do to help.

'She gave him three great bits of advice - get Nicole a slice of lemon to suck on when she first wakes up, try drinks with ginger in them and bring her a biscuit or a piece of dry toast before she even gets out of bed.

'Nicole revealed that all three things worked, but getting breakfast in bed was definitely her favourite,' the friend continues.

'Keith now jokes that she put it on for weeks and weeks after that just to get pampered!'

It's difficult to imagine a husband more determined to spoil his wife. Observers say that watching them together is incredible because it's plain to see just how much in love they really are.

'If Keith had his way, Nicole would get to walk on rose petals everywhere she goes,' the happy couple's close friend adds.

But being wrapped in cottonwool isn't really in the acclaimed actress' nature. She has been determined to keep up a vigorous exercise routine throughout her pregnancy. And part of her efforts to stay in shape include regular spin classes.An exerciser who was recently in a class with Nicole at Revolution Fitness Studio in Santa Monica in the US was impressed by the star's athleticism.

She says: 'She never stopped, and she came off her bike sweating just as much as the next girl.'

Plus Nicole, who's always been a fan of long walks, has made her rambles even longer since she became pregnant. She joked with one friend: 'Keith usually pleads for mercy after about eight kilometres!'

But Nicole always wears a heart rate monitor watch to ensure she never goes beyond safe limits for her and her baby. And this new health regimen also extends to her food intake.

Nicole has cut rosemary, sage and nutmeg out of her diet because research has shown they increase the risk of miscarriage. She has also discarded any herbal remedies because her attitude is 'better safe than sorry'.

She has stopped eating soy products too as studies have shown they can lead to defects in the reproduction system of baby boys. So although tofu stir-fry is one of her favourite dinners, she has sworn off it for the next few months.

Nicole has also postponed taking her daily vitamin C supplement because excessive doses of the vitamin during pregnancy have been linked to asthma.

Even her headline-grabbing career is taking a back seat. While most pregnant actresses obsess about staying skinny and worry about how quickly they'll regain their pre-baby figure once their baby has arrived, Nicole's only cosmetic question has been how to avoid stretch marks.

Her dermatologist instructed her to avoid lavender oil due to possible side effects and instead find someone to give her long massages every day using baby oil.

Nicole was laughing as she replied: 'I've got just the man for the job!'

By Henry Meller

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