While you are pregnant, you may spend a lot of time preparing for your newborn - new clothes, a new pram, a new stroller, we know that you are very excited!
But you are probably hoping to get some self-care during this time, as pregnancy does change our bodies a bit. Enjoy time to do things for yourself before your new bundle of joy arrives, because you are likely to get so busy after giving birth. Plus, it is essential to prioritize your health and wellness, especially as a new mom. If you haven't made time to take care of yourself yet, here are five amazing pregnancy body care tips that you need to try.
What Are the Early Pregnancy Body Changes?
Before we start to point out the pregnancy body care tips, let's look at the symptoms we may go through during pregnancy.
Pregnancy symptoms vary from woman to woman, but one thing is sure: you'll have more than your fair share of unpleasant surprises. Pregnancy changes are perfectly normal and do not threaten you or your baby. You will be the best judge of which of these changes affects you and your baby. Read on to learn about some of these common symptoms and what you can do about them.
Headaches
Although you may think of pregnancy headaches as expected, they can actually be serious. Pregnancy headaches can be caused by many things, including lack of sleep, caffeine withdrawal, stress, and tense muscles. If you experience headaches occasionally, you can alleviate headache pain naturally by adding exercises and relaxation techniques in your pregnancy body care routines.
Dizziness
It may be triggered by a few different factors, and in some cases, it can be caused by the pregnancy itself. The dizziness may even turn into nausea or vomiting. Although many terpenoid-based essential oils such as menthol and eucalyptus can help dizziness, you should avoid using them during pregnancy. If you experience this occasionally, your best pregnancy body routine is to get enough sleep and eat a balanced diet.
Fatigue
Women suffering from early pregnancy fatigue are often confused about the causes of this change. Many women feel tired due to the increase in hormone levels, which affect their mood and physical appearance. Other changes include the body's increased blood supply and the placenta-building process, which saps the energy of the expectant mother. Pregnancy hormones also lead to emotional changes, such as increased mood swings, which can affect one's ability to concentrate. One way to improve this is to use a massage oil in the morning of your pregnancy body care routine to add energy to your daily activities. Just remember to pick those with safe ingredients!
Stretch marks
Most women will develop stretch marks during their pregnancy. These marks are indented streaks of the skin of any colour. They usually appear on the belly, but they can also appear on the upper thighs, breasts, etc. Unfortunately, there is no cure for stretch marks, but there are ways to minimize their appearance.
Clarins has chosen only the most effective, plant-based ingredients for its Clarins Body Partner Stretch Mark Expert Cream. This soothing lotion can help you look your best while pregnant. It contains the trademarked PhytoStretch Complex, which successfully reverses the appearance of stretch marks caused by pregnancy and weight fluctuations by enhancing skin suppleness.
The other product from the same brand, Clarins, Tonic Treatment Oil, includes the ingredients Rosemary, Geranium, and Mint are 100% pure plant extracts that help firm, tone, and promote elasticity while softening the appearance of stretch marks. Hazelnut Oil also attracts moisture to the skin, making it velvety and silky smooth. Natural herbs with a pleasant aroma provide a sensation of well-being. It is highly recommended for pregnancy body care usage and weight loss. In addition, it nourishes and protects the skin from dryness, preventing the production of stretch marks.
If you are looking for a more affordable pregnancy body care product for stretch marks, then you may also consider the Primera Relief Cream for Stretch Marks. Red stretch marks caused by fast physical changes can be reduced with this alcohol-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free hypoallergenic moisturiser infused with Passiflora Incarnata Flower Seed Oil. After application, it smoothes rough skin and restores resiliency.
5 Pregnancy Body Care Tips
Tip 1: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Drinking at least two litres of water every day is important during pregnancy. Water flushes toxins from the body and keeps skin hydrated and healthy. Furthermore, it aids in the absorption of important nutrients as well as the transfer of vitamins, minerals, and hormones to blood cells. Those nutrient-rich blood cells are the ones that make it to your baby. Water also aids foetal kidney function and helps to maintain an optimal amount of amniotic fluid.
Especially during winter or dry seasons, you may find yourself having cracked skin no matter how much water you drink. While pregnancy requires extra water from you than usual, your skin may suffer even more. You may add a hydration quickie to your pregnancy body care routines - try out the Jm Solution Mama Pureness Aqua Mask. You may know from its name that this is a sheet mask with the safest recipe designed for mamas! The sheet mask contains moist essence that adheres to your skin and forms a moisturizing barrier. Also, it includes the best moisturizing energy brimming with vigor and features the ninefold layered hyaluronic acid and trehalose, which give moisture-rich hydration to the skin.
Tip 2: Avoid these ingredients in your pregnancy body care products!
While most over-the-counter body and skincare products are safe for pregnancy, some ingredients may be unsafe for the developing baby.
Paraben is the top ingredient to avoid in your pregnancy body care routine. While it is a common ingredient in most skincare products as the chemical prevents bacteria and mould growth, research has suggested that parabens can adversely affect pregnant women and their unborn babies. They are also known to increase the risk of breast cancer and have been linked to reproductive problems in humans. You should avoid products that contain parabens if you are pregnant. Even after giving birth, you can still stick to the paraben-free pregnancy body care products to enhance your health.
Phthalates are another terrible chemical that is believed to cause problems in the reproductive system, including the liver and kidney. The consequences of prolonged exposure can cause preterm birth, infant hypospadias, infant cryptorchidism, maternal glucose disorders, preeclampsia, and newborns with a shorter anogenital distance. Because they're found in many cosmetics, most women are exposed to phthalates in their daily routine. This definitely sounds scary, and I would not risk any chance of putting it on my body and face during my pregnancy, be sure to check out phthalate-free pregnancy body care products for the sake of you and your baby.
The third ingredient that you must avoid in your pregnancy body care routine is Hydroquinone, which is associated with the cause of cancer, despite its ability to reduce dark spots. You should be aware of it, especially if you are choosing pregnancy body care products that are not made in or sold in Europe, Japan or Australia, as only these countries have banned the usage of Hydroquinone.
While many cosmetic products contain harmful ingredients, the list of cosmetics for pregnant women is not exhaustive. Your dermatologist or OB/GYN is best to provide you with a list of ingredients to avoid. Before deciding what to buy, talk to your doctor and read product labels carefully to maximize the positive effects of your pregnancy body care routine.
Tip 3: Keep exercising!
Exercising regularly can still keep your body strong and healthy, just like it usually does! Aim for moderate to low-intensity exercise every day. This is another type of pregnancy body care that you shouldn't miss out on.
Swimming, walking, or pilates classes are all great options. If you've been active before pregnancy, you can continue doing the same, but you should start slowly and listen to your body. Drink plenty of water, and avoid exercises that can cause you to fall. However, keep in mind to try not to do contact sports or other strenuous activities in your pregnancy body care routine during the second trimester. If you have experienced a miscarriage, you may consult your doctor about whether you should exercise.
If you are wondering what kind of exercises you can do during your second semester, check out the video by Pregnancy and Postpartum TV below.
Tip 4: Eat wisely!
Diets high in fruits, vegetables and grains are undoubtedly the top choices for pregnant women. But did you know that you should avoid some particular foods to lower the risk of being ill during pregnancy?
Pregnant women have a weakened immune system, making it challenging to fight harmful germs and viruses. Also, the unborn baby may not be ready to fight off these germs and viruses yet. Consequently, food-borne illnesses can lead to serious health problems, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and death. To avoid these risks, avoid eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, eggs and unpasteurized dairy products. Instead, you may replace these foods with fully cooked, organic foods.
Appalachian Organics is a great online marketplace where you can find natural foods, spices and supplements. You can always start with grains and rice, as they are the easiest to replace without significant flavour changes. Perhaps you are a busy mom-to-be with a full-time job, or this may not be your first pregnancy, and you already have other kids at home - then you may love their organic meat and fish! These products save you tons of time in food preparation. You will thank me for this!
Tip 5: Sleep more, rest more!
In Cantonese, there is a funny saying that you would rather put your babies back in the womb once they are out. As a mom myself, this is particularly true. I wish someone would have told me to sleep the hack out of it when I was pregnant. From day one, since your baby is born, your number one desire may be to be able to sleep like a teenager - party all night and sleep all day. The truth is, you perhaps will not be able to do that at least for the next ten years or so.
However, how is sleep related to your pregnancy body care? Poor sleep during pregnancy may result in post-partum depression and affect the mother-infant relationship. Being depressed during or after pregnancy is definitely not a good sign; you won't be motivated to start any pregnancy body care routines. Trust me, your moods will be affected even more when you see the changes in your body. Therefore, my most extensive advice is to find out how to treat sleep disorders (if any) and ensure a healthy pregnancy. Then, you and your baby will thank you for getting a good night's sleep, as you'll have an increased chance of delivering a healthy baby.
If you have the habit of sleeping with scented candles, you need to be extra careful during pregnancy. Although scented candles from some famous brands like Diptyque and Jo Malone are selling really great at Carsha, we recommend you avoid these candles during pregnancy. Most of these candles are made with paraffin wax, which is unsafe for pregnant women. Instead, try out the candles by Mrs. Meyer's, they have various flavours like the Lavender, Lemon Verbena, and Basil. Best of all, they are made with thoughtful ingredients including soy wax and vegetable wax, which are safe to be used during pregnancy.
