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The good news is that pregnancy for many women means thicker hair and better skin. The extra hormones circulating have an effect on hair quality, speed of hair growth and even skin texture.
When I am pregnant, my hair grows a lot faster, it seems to be thicker, and even the texture of the curls improve; and my skin seems smoother and softer. That’s one reason that makes pregnant women want to stay pregnant sometimes.
On the other hand, however, your skin can also get stretch marks (especially around the abdomen and breasts), some women get a dark line running from the belly button down (called the linea nigra), darker and bigger nipples, or sometimes dark skin patches in different places.
In order to enhance your skin structure and support your changing body during and after pregnancy, you have to remember that collagen, which helps skin stay elastic, depends on vitamin C.
If you’re not eating enough fruits and vegetables then vitamin C will be short and you’ll be more prone to stretching and sagging. Make sure you have plenty of vitamin C-rich and/or supplement with extra vitamin C to help. (see Chapters 11 and 12)
Some women also see a lot of benefits in rubbing their stretched areas with vitamin E cream, coco butter, or zinc cream. However, keep in mind that although these things might help, your tendency to develop stretch marks will also largely depend on genetics (so ask if your mother had them).
The two things that worked best for me were unrefined sesame seed oil rubbed on the whole body just before a shower and a good dose of good-old natural sunlight. Vitamin D is very important during pregnancy and breastfeeding but it is often forgotten. So, remember to get your daily sun bath; 15 minutes if you are fair and longer if you are dark-skinned.
You might find that you tan easier when you’re pregnant, so be careful not to burn. Expose yourself to early morning or late afternoon sun.
– Excerpts from the writer’s latest book
Get more great pregnancy tips from my latest book I Want A Healthy Pregnancy, sold in bookstores around Bahrain or online at Amazon, iTunes or Kindle store. The Arabic ebook version is also out now! Get it through the ‘3eeshoLibrary’ App on your iPad. For more info, visit www.IWantAHealthyPregnancy.com
