It's very exciting news... all of that practice has finally paid off and you are going to have a baby! There are going to be changes, not only to your lifestyle, but to you, your body and your skin as well. Some will be good (like the bosom fairy coming to visit one night!), but others will be decidedly bad. Hormonal spots, rapid changes in your overall skin condition and, urgh, stretch marks. So, shall we see how we can keep the damage to a minimum and try to get you through the next year with your skin and sanity intact?
Facing facts
You know that old wives' tale about all pregnant women glowing with good health? It's a lie. Yes, some women positively blossom, but others can experience a complete change in the condition of their skin.
I have known women with fabulous skin who, during pregnancy, have become as spotty as teenagers, some who have become extremely blotchy, some with oily skins who have become dry, and vice versa. And then there is the dreaded pregnancy mask - hyper-pigmentation. But all is not doom and gloom - the reverse is that you could end up with wonderful, glowing skin without a hint of breakout for the next year. Because the hormonal levels change dramatically, some women who have bad monthly breakouts find that their skins is more balanced and though the hormonal changes of pregnancy are radical, they are different from their monthly cycles.
You may start experiencing changes in your skin even before you find out you are pregnant. Once you know for certain, though, pay particular attention to any changes that you see and feel. The best time to address a problem is before it gets out of hand. If you are starting to dry out, increase the level of hydration your moisturiser gives; if you are becoming shinier, get yourself a moisturiser that will control excess shine rather than trying to step up your cleansing routine. Being aware is being prepared.
With all the hormonal changes going on, many women experience a breakout problem, maybe before or even after the birth. One of the best ways to deal with this is to use one of the oxygen moisturising products that will help to neutralise bacteria underneath the surface of the skin, preventing blemishes. For this I would recommend products from the Karin Herzog range or O2 Cream and Concentrate from Natura Bisse. The gist of both of these products is that the oxygen serves as an antibacterial and gives you a preventative measure, as well as giving vital oxygen to the skin. The main difference between the two is that the Natura Bisse product is slightly easier to use, plus it helps to prevent hyper-pigmentation. Be careful not to use anything too astringent to tackle this problem because even though you may be getting more breakouts than is usual, your complexion could be slightly drier as well, and the astringent products will make that even worse.
[quote]Pregnancy mask
This is not a problem that affects all pregnant women, but it affects enough of them for me to mention it here. Pregnancy mask is a condition in which the pigment gets stacked up and darkens, particularly around the forehead, upper lip, upper cheekbone and cheek/jaw line. It looks like the remnants of a suntan, where the rest of the tan has disappeared. Many women find the pigment goes away once the baby has been born, but for others, it is there to stay. If ever had this sort of darker pigmentation when you were using contraceptive pills, or you are prone to sun damage, it is quite likely you will get it when you are pregnant.
As soon as you notice any pigment damage, buy yourself a higher protection SPF for daily wear than the one you are already using. If you are not using one then get one. Once you have the pigment, if is very difficult to get rid of, so an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Once you have the pigment, the only things that will lighten it (and notice I say 'lighten', not 'get rid of') will be either bleaching products or surface re-texturing products ie, acid-based chemicals such as AHA, BHA, retinol and glycolic acid. You can now buy most of these in some form over the counter, as many cosmetic houses use them, but you can also get slightly stronger versions by visiting a dermatologist or even your GP.
Some of the better over-the-counter products are the Natura Bisse Brilliance, Estée Lauder Diminish, Beta Alistine Age Delete AHA Serum, LaPrairie Stimulus and the Helena Rubinstein Future White range. But please remember that this is going to be a commitment and it will be time-consuming. You will also have to wear a sunscreen for the rest of your life, because you have a predisposition toward excess pigment production.
The bosom fairy
This is one of the perks of having a baby! One morning you're going to wake up to find that your bust has magically filled out to the dimensions that you have always dreamed of. But because your breasts will be undergoing size changes, it is vital that even if you have never done much about caring for your bust before you need to now. If you ignore it, you will end up with both stretch marks and saggy bosoms for the rest of your life.
The moment you find out you are pregnant, start using a firming body product over the entire bust area, which includes not only the breasts themselves but also the muscle structure that supports the breasts from behind the neck, where your bra straps would be, and the pectoral muscles under the arms. The weight of the breasts will be pulling down and stretching the skin of your upper chest, so please take care of it. Also, when you start producing milk, whether you breastfeed or not, all of that weight will pull down and create a slackening of the tissue which will be all but impossible to re-firm, regardless of what you try to use. If you are concerned with the health of the skin of your bust, invest in some sort of specific bust treatment for the duration of your pregnancy and for the year afterwards as well. Keep in mind, however, that if you are breastfeeding, you will not be able to use it during that time as the smell will confuse the nursing baby, so now, rather than later, is going to be important.
Stretch marks
Sadly nothing, and I do mean nothing, will take stretch marks away. A stretch mark is a sub-surface scar and once in place, it is there to stay. You can sometimes lessen the visibility, but if you think you can ignore them and then take care of it when you have more time, you couldn't be more wrong. A stretch mark develops when the body is growing faster then the skin can stretch. That is why you will often see them on growing children, men who body-build, and on all areas of the body from breasts to bottoms to arms. As the growth occurs, regardless of its cause, the underlying support system of collagen and elastin fibres is stretched. If it cannot keep up with the growth, the support layer tears. This is what will turn into the marks that start out red and eventually turn a silvery white.
So can they be stopped? Yes, but only if you are diligent in taking care of your body. The best method of preventing stretch marks is to use a body lotion or oil that will specifically deal with skin elasticity, making it more stretchy to begin with. Some companies offer special oils that can be used after bathing or showering, such as Decléor Tonelastil and Clarins Toning Body Oil.
Natura Bisse has a product called Reduce, which has been formulated specifically to prevent the possibility of getting stretch marks. Others will be slightly less specific but nonetheless effective. I really like Nivea Q10 Body Lotion for instance, which is relatively inexpensive and can therefore be used liberally. What you want to avoid is using a product that is so precious you will scrimp on it and therefore not really benefit.
Right now there can be no such thing as using too much. Pay particular attention to bums, thighs, bust and, of course, your ever-expanding tummy. You will need to follow this regime right through the birth of the baby and up to the point where you are back down to your pre-pregnancy shape. After the baby has arrived you will definitely want a product to help put your skin back where it used to be!
A few warnings
Expectant women are likely to be more health-conscious than ever before. You want to be seen to be doing the right thing by yourself and your new baby. In most people's minds that means staying chemical-free in every way - from food to other products. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. However, some of the essential oils that we can usually use safely are not a good thing when you are pregnant and, unfortunately, they can change from person to person. Because essential oils can enter the bloodstream, they have been known to cause premature labour and various other problems. This is not meant to be a scare tactic, but it is something to be aware of. The levels of these oils are usually in such low dosages that there is no problem, but if you start mixing oils for the purposes of bathing for instance, it is something you should know about. Ask a naturopath or your GP before setting out on blending oils for yourself, but also prior to using more potent 'natural' brands. The two body oils I mentioned from Decléor and Clarins are perfectly safe and they even do special body treatments for pregnant women to help give you some time to pamper yourself while you still have the chance.
Enjoy this time and the big event, when it arrives, but take as much care now as you can to avoid needing major reconstruction after the baby arrives. Oh, and by the way, get some rest and 'me' time while you still have the chance - it may be another 18 years until you get the opportunity again!
