Here at gurgle we know that when you’re pregnant you don’t always feel your most glamorous. While some mums-to-be have thick, glossy hair, strong nails and look and feel positively blooming, other expectant mums have to contend with greasy skin, lank hair, swollen ankles and stretch marks!
While there is no way of guaranteeing that you won’t fall into the latter rather than the former category, there are ways in which you can make yourself feel better about yourself during pregnancy.
Here are gurgle’s tricks of the trade:
1) Pamper yourself! Treat yourself to a pregnancy massage; this will help to relax you and increase your chances of having a good night’s sleep. It will also make you feel like a million dollars!
2) As previously mentioned, some mums-to-be find that their skin becomes a bit greasy in pregnancy. Combat this by giving yourself a facial (or face mask at least!) once a week or – if the finances will stretch – have one done professionally.
3) Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg. Of course you should be doing this anyway, but it’s more important than ever when you’re pregnant. As well as nourishing your unborn baby, this will help to condition your skin, hair and nails.
4) Get lots of sleep! The more sleep you get the better you will feel; fatigue is a common side-effect of early pregnancy and you really need to listen to your body. Obviously you can’t nod off when you’re at work, but try to get as many early nights as you can. Read our Top ten tips for a good night’s sleep to learn more.
5) Do you suffer from pesky stretch marks? Although there’s no miracle cure, there are certain things you can do to help. Invest in a great moisturizer to keep your skin super-hydrated at all times. Many people swear by cocoa butter to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It’s also important to drink lots of water. Top tip: Wear a good support bra – this will make you less likely to develop stretch marks on your breasts.
6) Take some gentle exercise, such as walking, swimming or yoga. This will help you to feel better in both body and mind and will also help to prepare your body for birth and ensure that you don’t gain an excessive amount of weight. You shouldn’t do anything too strenuous during pregnancy; consult our feature on Recommended exercises and Exercises to avoid and watch our video on Safe exercising for mums-to-be for more tips.
7) You may also find that you experience skin pigmentation changes in pregnancy. You might notice patches of colour appearing on your skin; this is known as chloasma. You can help to counteract this by eating lots of green leafy vegetables, fruit and cereal. These are all great sources of folic acid so will not only benefit your skin but will promote your baby’s healthy development and reduce the likelihood of him having spina bifida. If you are feeling self-conscious about chloasma, ask a pharmacist or beauty therapist if they can recommend a foundation that might help to cover it up.
8) Take a mini-break with your other half! This may not sound like a beauty trick, but it will help to de-stress you. You can spend a long weekend reading, lounging by the pool and taking advantage of any beauty treatments on offer (make sure you inform the beautician that you are pregnant).
9) Have your hair done! Using hair dyes is not usually recommended in pregnancy, but you can still treat yourself to a nice cut and blow dry and – if you’re feeling daring – a new style!
10) Indulge in a bit of retail therapy. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg, but you can treat yourself to a special maternity outfit or two to make yourself feel special. Then you and hubby can go out for a ‘date’ and you can wear your new clothes. Maybe treat yourself to a makeover too!
While there is no way of guaranteeing that you won’t fall into the latter rather than the former category, there are ways in which you can make yourself feel better about yourself during pregnancy.
Here are gurgle’s tricks of the trade:
1) Pamper yourself! Treat yourself to a pregnancy massage; this will help to relax you and increase your chances of having a good night’s sleep. It will also make you feel like a million dollars!
2) As previously mentioned, some mums-to-be find that their skin becomes a bit greasy in pregnancy. Combat this by giving yourself a facial (or face mask at least!) once a week or – if the finances will stretch – have one done professionally.
3) Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg. Of course you should be doing this anyway, but it’s more important than ever when you’re pregnant. As well as nourishing your unborn baby, this will help to condition your skin, hair and nails.
4) Get lots of sleep! The more sleep you get the better you will feel; fatigue is a common side-effect of early pregnancy and you really need to listen to your body. Obviously you can’t nod off when you’re at work, but try to get as many early nights as you can. Read our Top ten tips for a good night’s sleep to learn more.
5) Do you suffer from pesky stretch marks? Although there’s no miracle cure, there are certain things you can do to help. Invest in a great moisturizer to keep your skin super-hydrated at all times. Many people swear by cocoa butter to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It’s also important to drink lots of water. Top tip: Wear a good support bra – this will make you less likely to develop stretch marks on your breasts.
6) Take some gentle exercise, such as walking, swimming or yoga. This will help you to feel better in both body and mind and will also help to prepare your body for birth and ensure that you don’t gain an excessive amount of weight. You shouldn’t do anything too strenuous during pregnancy; consult our feature on Recommended exercises and Exercises to avoid and watch our video on Safe exercising for mums-to-be for more tips.
7) You may also find that you experience skin pigmentation changes in pregnancy. You might notice patches of colour appearing on your skin; this is known as chloasma. You can help to counteract this by eating lots of green leafy vegetables, fruit and cereal. These are all great sources of folic acid so will not only benefit your skin but will promote your baby’s healthy development and reduce the likelihood of him having spina bifida. If you are feeling self-conscious about chloasma, ask a pharmacist or beauty therapist if they can recommend a foundation that might help to cover it up.
8) Take a mini-break with your other half! This may not sound like a beauty trick, but it will help to de-stress you. You can spend a long weekend reading, lounging by the pool and taking advantage of any beauty treatments on offer (make sure you inform the beautician that you are pregnant).
9) Have your hair done! Using hair dyes is not usually recommended in pregnancy, but you can still treat yourself to a nice cut and blow dry and – if you’re feeling daring – a new style!
10) Indulge in a bit of retail therapy. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg, but you can treat yourself to a special maternity outfit or two to make yourself feel special. Then you and hubby can go out for a ‘date’ and you can wear your new clothes. Maybe treat yourself to a makeover too!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment