Mel C only takes advice from mum

Pregnant Mel C won't take parenting tips from the other Spice Girls – because she only trusts her mother.

The singer – who announced last month she was expecting her first child with her partner of six years, property developer Thomas Starr – admits the girls have all been phoning her and offering their best baby advice but she isn't interested.

She said: "The girls are made up for me and have all offered to guide and advise me. But I'm sticking with my mum. She's my best friend and you don't get any better than that."

Although she was surrounded by children on the Spice Girls reunion world tour, 34-year-old Mel insists she never got broody and was as shocked as anyone when she found out she was expecting.

She added to Britain's New! magazine: "I used to love the fact that I was the only Spice Girl who didn't need to lug around loads of baby stuff. Mad, innit? Me a mum!" Mel's baby will be the eighth child born to the Spice Girls.

Geri Halliwell has a two-year-old daughter, Bluebell, while Victoria Beckham has three sons, Brooklyn, nine, Romeo, five, and Cruz, three. Mel B has two girls, Phoenix Chi, nine, and Angel Iris, 16 months, while Emma Bunton has a baby son, Beau Lee.

Mel recently revealed she will be taking a break from her solo music career to prepare for motherhood.

She said: "I will be taking it easy but am also excited to start writing for the fifth album. I will need to take some time off to be a parent but, before you know it, I'll be back."