I am always amazed at the body’s ability to adapt to change – especially when you discover you’re pregnant and find out that your body is a remarkable instrument for growing a new life and sustaining it. It is also the time when you realise how much pregnancy takes from your body to build a baby! If the pregnancy isn’t taking calcium from you bones and teeth, then the pressure on your skin to accommodate your changing form brings its own issues; such as stretch marks; tired legs and feet; and hair loss. And with it being my third baby bump, these changes are more exacerbated. Fun.
So, taking good care of yourself and your skin is super important for not only your self esteem, but also for your post-baby body. Yes, I would even go so far to say that if you want to continue to look young and fabulous after 10 months of growing a baby, then defying the ageing process is near on impossible unless you take care of yourself throughout your pregnancy and beyond.
Beauty is not just skin deep – we have all heard countless times that it ‘comes from within’, which we all know, means readdressing your diet. We aren’t going to list smoothie recipes here, but you catch our drift. Once you take that step towards helping your body from the inside out, then we can tackle the skin. Some lucky ladies are born with perfect flawless skin that looks good no matter what. Jess is a prime example of this. As much as I envy her, I also have to realise I will never have her skin however much I try. So, I have learnt to make the most of what I have got.
I have found that with every pregnancy I have gone through, there have been some fantastic new products coming onto the market – whether from the high street or more specialised – there is help for all!
STRETCH MARKS
Stretch Marks can just sneak up on you without any warning. Preventative measures can help reduce them, but stretch marks are also, annoyingly, genetic. I have used a number of products throughout all my pregnancies, and here are my favourites:
Votary London, a plant based skincare brand, known for its luxury organic ingredients, has a brilliant product called Hydrating Body Oil, that not only combats dry and dull skin, but has also helped me not have any stretch marks third time around.
BioOil is a tried and tested classic stretch mark preventer – slather it on, tip it in the bath, this stuff works.
Mio is a skincare range originally aimed at mums to be, and their products are brilliant. I love the Activist Firming Oil – it helps keeps skin supple and well nourished throughout the day and night. Mio has an incredible range of products that cater for both pregnancy and also post – pregnancy – I also love their Boob Tube cream. If your looking for a great selection pregnancy skincare products, then the Saviours Kit will do the job.
Kit and Kin’s PH balanced Stretch Mark Oil has a blend of 15 naturally nourishing oils including sunflower, jojoba, strawberry and mandarin. I have been using this oil and love the how it feels – it doesn’t leave a greasy film and is absorbed quickly into the skin.
A fab product, one that is ideal for literally everyone and one that both Jess and I love is Christophe Robin’s Regenerating Balm with rare prickly pear oil. The feeling that my skin’s thirst is quenched and re-hydrated makes me happy. And it does a pretty amazing job on dry hands, kids bottoms, faces, everything.
Another favourite which I use throughout my last pregnancy, and one that I loved for it’s nourishing oils is from The Organic Pharmacy and is called, imaginatively, Stretch Mark Oil .
Last, but definitely not least, is the Phytolastil Solution Stretch Mark Treatment from Lierac. This love in a bottle very effectively removes and diminishes the appearance of stretch marks on breasts, abdomen, hips and thighs.
TIRED LEGS AND FEET
In the latter stages of pregnancy, that extra weight you are carrying around can leave your legs feeling swollen from fluid and tired from weight. Great products for this are Dr Hauschka’s Revitalising Leg and Arm Tonic. Elemis also offers a Soothing Refreshing Gel with arnica, witch hazel and cooling camphor. For those tired feet, my favourite foot cream is L’occitane Foot Cream
HAIR LOSS
My favourite post pregnancy present has to be hair loss. That head of fabulous hair you have been enjoying for the past 9 months will soon be a thing of the past. The first time your hair begins to fall out can be quite shocking. So, to help keep your hair healthy and strong throughout and post pregnancy, make sure you take your vitamins. I use Perfectil Hair and Nails is a great one to use, and please make sure you keep taking them for at least a few months after you pop.
Another product that is brilliant to use to encourage wait regrowth once you have stopped breastfeeding is is Women’s Rogaine Hair Regrowth Treatment. Pure D’Or Hair Loss Prevention Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner are also excellent.
