|
Pregnancy is the one stage in your life that you can truly
pamper yourself and be waited upon by your family! Make
the most of this time to relax and prepare yourself for
the demanding times ahead, when your dates with the hairdresser
and masseuse will play second fiddle to the pediatrician,
maids schedules, colic panic....!! So read on and make
your pregnancy the most beautiful time of your life!
Hair stylists say that pregnancy is the best thing for
hair. It will turn amazingly full, shiny and soft.
Your new, thick healthy locks are due to an estrogen increase,
which results in more hair follicles remaining in the
resting phase and fewer in the falling out phase. Your
healthy prenatal eating habits and vitamins help, too.
The hormonal activity usually benefits the hair during
pregnancy.
If there is any mental stress, however, this can reflect
on the hair, by way of problems like hair loss. It is
after the baby is born that hair loss can occur. In fact,
post-pregnancy hair loss is almost routine. The hair may
also begin to look dull and lifeless. There is no need
to be alarmed about it. Once the hormones settle, the
condition is usually checked. Regular hair care during
pregnancy goes a long way in minimizing problems.
|
|
Regular hair care helps
in maintaining the health of the hair and scalp.
|
|
|
Wash your hair with
a mild herbal shampoo. |
|
|
Avoid using hair dryers,
unless it is absolutely essential. Allow the hair
to dry naturally as often as you can. |
|
|
Weekly henna
treatments also help to keep the hair in good condition.
and add body and shine. |
|
|
Weekly oil
treatments are also needed. In fact, the oil may
be applied at night and left on, washing the hair
next day. |
|
|
A tonic treatment can
help problems like hair loss and dandruff. Select
a good hair tonic or hair vitalizer, containing
natural ingredients. It should be applied daily
on the scalp, with the help of cotton wool. |
|
|
Have it cut every six
weeks and condition weekly. |
|
|
If you want to color
your hair during pregnancy, switch from a peroxide
formula to a stain. It won't completely cover, but
it's safe. Get highlights, which give your face
a lift. The color is woven in and won't touch the
scalp. |
|
|
Don't get a new hairdo
until six weeks after delivery, since new body chemistry
changes can wreak havoc on hair. It may fall out
or alter the texture. |
|
MASK OF PREGNANCY
Sometimes, the "mask" of pregnancy can appear
around the 4th or 5th month of pregnancy. It is characterized
by irregular pigmentation marks around the face. This
phenomenon is strictly hormonal and progressively disappears
after the baby is born.
Protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays that are responsible
for accenting the "mask" of pregnancy.
Use a day moisturizer with an SPF (Hydration-Plus Moisture
Lotion SPF 15) or apply a protective sun treatment (SPF
15 minimum) over your regular moisturizer.
Sunbathing should be avoided.
|
VARICOSE VEINS
Varicose veins on your legs or perineum are sometimes
caused by pressure on the pelvic veins from your uterus.
Long periods of standing or sitting can make them worse.
When you're sitting or lying down, try to keep your legs
elevated.
Mild or moderate support hose or elastic stockings can
help your circulation.
A brisk walk daily, in addition to moving and bending
your legs throughout the day, is also enormously helpful.
|
DRYNESS AND ITCHING
When the skin on the abdomen becomes stretched, there
may be a problem of dryness and itching. Relieving the
itching by scratching the skin with the nails can make
the problem worse.
Massage with oils helps to prevent dryness of the skin.
|
MASSAGES
Massage helps to minimize the problem of stretch marks
on the abdomen and breasts, which is very common in pregnancy.
Use circular strokes to massage the skin in these areas.
Stretch marks form when weight loss follows weight gain.
By maintaining skin elasticity and resilience, the formation
of stretch marks after pregnancy, is minimal.
Massage can decrease stress and improve relaxation, improve
lymph drainage, have a balancing effect on glands, all
of which are of huge benefit during pregnancy.
Muscle tension and stress decrease the nutrient absorption
and slows down the toxin elimination necessary for normal,
healthy cells.
|
BENEFITS OF MASSAGE
* Reduces stress
* Releases endorphins
* Helps with lymph drainage
* Helps muscle tone
* Promotes muscle elasticity
* Minimizes spider veins
* Reduces fatigue
* Helps alleviate symptoms of morning sickness
Although it has its benefits, it is important to remember
that massage can also be used to stimulate miscarriage.
If prenatal massage is done improperly, the potential
for miscarriage is very high.
|
|
|
