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| Pregnancy Health
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Bloom In Pregnancy
We give you 20 ways to a glowing you
By Siobhan Stirling and Chin Wee Ping
“Any exercise that makes you breathless will help you bloom”
Drink six to eight glasses of water a day to make your skin look and feel smoother and fresher.
Treat yourself to some feel-good therapy to feel rested and refreshed. |
1 TAKE THE PLUNGE
Researchers in the US have found that aqua aerobics not only reduces your pain and bodily discomfort but also improves your body image. And the first trick to looking great is feeling like you look great.
2 CLOCK WATCH
“Regular sleeping habits help you feel alert and sleepy at the right times,” says Dr Chris Idzikowski of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre. So to feel, and look, bright eyed and bushy tailed during the day, try going to bed and getting up at regular times.
3 FEELING SWELL
If water retention is making your wrists and ankles swell, try these remedies, suggests M&B expert Dr Christopher Chong, a consultant obstetrician, gynaecologist and urogynaecologist at Gleneagles Hospital. Get some exercise to move the fluid around, so that it doesn’t stay in one place. You can also elevate your lower limbs to encourage fluid to move back to the heart, or wear tight surgical stockings to improve circulation. Try taking less salt, as sodium causes your kidneys to hold on to the water, instead of excreting it. If you notice sudden or excessive fluid retention, contact your gynaecologist, as this can be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
4 GO NATURAL
Man-made fibres will make your bump even itchier as they prevent your skin from breathing. So stick to cotton and silk clothes to keep cool.
5 WATER WORKS!
Water flushes out toxins and rehydrates your skin. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day to make your skin look and feel smoother and fresher.
6 BUST GREASE
Are lank locks giving you an Ozzy Osbourne look? Avoid hair products that have oils. “If your hair is greasier than normal, you’ll want to wash it more often, so opt for a mild shampoo,” says Elaine White of Habia, the standards-setting body for the hair and beauty industry in the UK. “Don’t massage it into your scalp as that produces even more sebum, your hair’s natural oil. And only put hair conditioner on the ends.”
7 GET VITAMIN VITALITY
Vitamins A, B3 (niacin) and C are all essential for good skin, so eat foods rich in them to help you glow. “Vitamin A is found in eggs and whole-milk products, but beta carotene (found in orange fruits and vegetables as well as dark green, leafy veg) is converted to vitamin A in the body,” says Lisa Miles of the British Nutrition Foundation. “You’ll find vitamin B3 in lean meat, pulses, nuts and fortified breakfast cereals, and vitamin C in citrus fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, spinach, cabbage and broccoli.”
8 LOVE YOUR BUMP
Massage a moisturising cream on to your tummy to de-stress, combat stretch marks and relieve itching.
9 CAT NAP
It’s hard to glow if you’re kept awake at night by heartburn, hourly trips to the loo and an active baby. “You’re most likely to suffer disturbed sleep during the third trimester,” Dr Idzikowski says. “Listen to your body and rest when you need to — even if that means taking 40 winks every afternoon.”
10 SETTLE OLD SCORES
“If pregnancy hormones are making your skin greasier, use a gentle exfoliant to remove the old cells and even out your skin,” says makeup artist Firyal Arneil.
11 INDULGE YOURSELF
Treat yourself to some feel-good therapy to feel rested and refreshed. Reflexology and massage are great, but do make sure your therapist is qualified to treat mums-to-be.
12 COLOUR ME BEAUTIFUL
Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables are rich in anti-ageing antioxidants. Snacking on watermelon, berries, apricots and carrots can help your skin look good from within.
13 DEEP IMPACT
If your hair has become drier, a penetrating conditioning treatment can help restore it to its former glory. “Massage into your hair and scalp (to promote sebum production), put a plastic bag over your hair, then wrap a warm towel around it and leave on for 15 minutes,” White advises. “Your body heat will help the conditioner penetrate the hair cuticles to moisturise it from within.” Try Phyto’s Phytodensium Mask, $58.
14 A FISHY TALE
Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and trout contain essential fatty acids, vitamin A and zinc, all of which are important for good skin structure. Eat two portions a week to give your skin a lift.
15 SUCK IT UP
It’s hard to bloom if morning sickness is making you feel rough. Ease queasiness with ginger-flavoured sweets or a cup of ginger tea. Simply grate some fresh ginger into a cup of hot water. Add honey, if needed. Let it stand for about five minutes before drinking.
16 GET HORIZONTAL ...
If dark rings under your eyes are making you look fagged than fab, put your feet up. “By lying down, you are allowing the collected blood that causes dark lines — called Venus blood pooling — to drain away,” says Dr Idzikowski.
17 ... AND BREATHLESS
“Any exercise that gets you slightly breathless will help you bloom,” enthuses Alison Merry of bloomingfit.com. “It makes your heart pump faster, taking essential nutrients to your skin to make it glow.” Walking, swimming and cycling are all great for mums-to-be, but talk to your GP before starting any new exercise.
18 FEED DRY SKIN
“‘If your skin gets dry, use a suitable moisturiser,” advises Arneil. “Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream ($56) is great, and suitable for sensitive skin.” Kate Moss and Helena Christensen are said to be fans.
19 WALK TALL
The correct posture will make you look and feel better. Don’t arch your back as your bump grows — it will give you backache. Instead, aim to keep it in a straight line, with your shoulders pulled back.
20 TURN FLIRTY
Invest in some flirty frills to make you feel feminine, and combine them with bright hues, like pink, orange or red, to lift your mood.
If you have any comments or practical suggestions, write to us at editor@family.sg
- Mother & Baby
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