Your Body Care Skin*Your skin will probably “bloom” during pregnancy because the hormones encourage it to retain moisture that plumps it out, making it more supple, less oily, and less prone to spots. The extra blood circulating round your body will also cause your skin to glow. However, the opposite can sometimes happen. Red patches may enlarge, acne may worsen, areas may become dry and scaly, and you may notice deeper pigmentation across your face. Deeper Pigmentation*This 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. Your genitalia, the skin of the inner sides of the thighs, underneath your eyes, and in your armpits may become darker too. A dark line, called the linea nigra, often appears down the centre of your stomach. It marks the division of your abdominal muscles, which separate slightly to accommodate your expanding uterus, and you should be very careful when getting up from a lying position. Even after the birth the linea nigra and the areolae usually remain darker for some time, but will gradually fade and disappear. Sunlight intensifies areas of the skin that are already pigmented, and many women find that they tan more easily during pregnancy. Since ultraviolet A (UVA) rays can lead to skin cancer, and the effect they have on the unborn baby is unknown, it is best to avoid sunlamps. Keep your skin covered up in hot sunshine, or use a sun block, especially on pigmented areas such as your nipples. Moles and Freckles*Be aware of any new moles that appear during your pregnancy and also any changes to your existing moles and freckles. Being pregnant accelerates the cell division in your body and this can cause a mole that has been damaged by the sun to change quickly. Chloasma*This is a special form of pigmentation, also called the mask of pregnancy, which appears as brown patches on the bridge of the nose, cheeks, and neck. The only way to handle chloasma is to camouflage it with a blemish stick or the cover-up cosmetics that are used for birthmarks. Never try to bleach out the pigment; the patches will begin to fade within three months of labour. Conversely, some darker skinned women develop patches of paler skin on their faces and necks. These will probably disappear after delivery and can be camouflaged during pregnancy. Spider Veins*All the blood vessels in pregnancy become sensitive – rapidly dilating when you are hot, and constricting quickly when you are cold. Consequently, tiny blood vessels called spider veins may appear on your face, particularly on your cheeks. Do not worry; these will fade soon after delivery, and will probably have disappeared altogether within three months. Stretch Marks*
Teeth*During pregnancy, you will be more susceptible than normal to gum problems owing to the increased blood supply and to the high level of progesterone, which softens all of your body’s tissues. The increased blood volume also puts pressure on the tiny capillaries around the gum margin, which often bleed easily. A balanced diet helps prevent teeth and gum problems. Sufficient calcium and high-quality protein, along with a good supply of vitamins B, C, and D, helps to protect you. You should see your dentist at least once during your pregnancy and have your teeth cleaned professionally to reduce the risk of gum infections, but be sure to tell him or her you are pregnant, as you should avoid X-rays. Your Hair*During pregnancy, it is very common for the hair to change in quality, quantity, and manageability. The high levels of hormones arrest the usual cycle of hair growth and loss. Usually some hair grows and some is lost every day. In pregnancy, the hair is arrested in the growth phase. After delivery, the cycle passes into a resting phase when masses of hair can be lost. Hair loss can go on for up to two years and may be alarming, but rest assured, it will stop – pregnancy never causes baldness. The hair you will lose once your baby is born is simply the hair you would normally have lost throughout the whole of the 9 months of pregnancy. If your hair becomes more difficult to manage this may be a good time to try a simpler hairstyle that is easier to care for. Use the mildest shampoo you can find and under-wash by applying the shampoo only once – massage gently into a lather, leave for 30 seconds and rinse off. Body and facial hair, also, may increase in quantity and may even darken in colour. * Dr Miriam Stoppard MD FRCP, Conception, Pregnancy & Birth, Dorling Kindersley, Australia 2002 |
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About 90% of pregnant women get stretch marks. These usually appear across the abdomen, although they can also affect the thighs, hips, breasts, and the upper arms. Nothing you can apply to the skin (including oil), and nothing you can eat will prevent stretch marks because they are due to the breakdown of protein in the skin by the high levels of pregnancy hormones. Gradual weight gain should allow the skin to stretch without tearing, although some women are blessed with more elastic skin than others. While the reddish streaks may look prominent during pregnancy, during the weeks after delivery they will become paler, and shrink until they are nothing more than faint, silvery streaks that are barely noticeable.
