Taking Care of Your Body

Do you wonder why the shampoo that you have been using for the past five years suddenly makes your hair limp; and your face appears darker than usual? These are changes that you cannot avoid in pregnancy.

Pregnancy hormones bring about changes to almost every part of the body, including your breasts, skin, hair, teeth and gums. To keep your body in the best condition, you may have to change your daily routine. Moreover, your growing abdomen may affect your posture, so pay more attention to the way you stand or move.

Skin

Your skin will probably ‘bloom’ as the pregnancy hormones encourage it to retain water, making it look plump. The increased rate of blood circulation will also help it “glow,” make it less oily and less prone to spots. However, some women look quite the opposite. Their skin becomes dry and scaly and develops red patches and acne.

Skin Care

But no amounts of medication or creams are likely to help you. Nevertheless, here are a few general tips you could try out.

• Soap removes the natural oils from the skin, so use it sparingly. Try using baby lotion or a glycerine-based soap and body wash.

• Always use oils in the bath to minimise the dehydrating effects of hard water, and do not lie in a bath for long as prolonged contact with water dehydrates the skin.

• Make up is good for your morale and can act as a good moisturiser for the skin as it prevents loss of moisture. Aromatherapy oils can be relaxing and invigorating. They will leave a protective film of oil on your skin that will prevent damage due to water loss.

Deeper Pigmentation

Pigmentation affects nearly every woman, especially on the areas of the body that are pigmented to begin with, such as freckles, moles and the areolae of the breasts. The skin on the inner thigh, underneath your eyes and your armpits may become darker too. A dark line called the linea nigra, often appears on your stomach. The linea nigra does not fade completely even childbirth. Keep your skin covered or use a sun block to protect yourself from the ultraviolet rays of the sun to avoid any further pigmentation.