But when her best friend organised a baby shower - a special pre-birth party involving gifts for mum and baby - it sowed the seeds of a business idea.
Natalie, 28, of Gatley, whose partner is Sheffield United footballer Daniel Webber, 27, said: "Loads of my girlfriends and female relatives came over for the afternoon.
"We had food and drinks, everyone brought gifts for me and the baby and we all sat around opening them and having a really good time."
It was the first baby shower Natalie had attended and, when she visited America and saw the extent of the multi-million dollar market there, she began to appreciate its business potential.
One thing caught her eye - babycakes. They are a layered cake shape made from disposable nappies and contain all sorts of useful items for babies.
"I decided to have a go at one myself, this time for my friend who was pregnant," said Natalie. "It involves rolling up the nappies and putting baby items in each tier. My friend loved it so much she burst into tears."
Now Natalie has set up an online business, www.babycakesltd.com, and is working from home where she looks after toddler daughter India.
She supplies gifts and organises baby showers across the north west and Yorkshire, and has received inquiries from all over the country. The babycakes include items such as dummies, booties, creams and nappies and can be made to order. There are also empty `cakes' which customers can fill for themselves.
Baby showers are becoming increasingly popular in Britain and pals of celebrities such as actress Gwyneth Paltrow and some of the Spice Girls have reportedly organised them for their friends.
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