PREGNANCY’S DO’S AND DONT’S
Esterday, a friend came by the pharmacy. Pregnant a few weeks as she was, anxious , nervous and cautiously excited! We started talking about her situation and that resulted in me giving a full seminar on “How to be happily pregnant”. Unbelievable! I thought afterwards…I became an experienced mother! Two children and much reading yet, have made me feel really confident about the advice I give to most my friends concerning this issue . Oh my god, and all of them got pregnant, so that’s a really good reason to write all this wisdom down for them!
DO’S
— The most important of all . Find a good doctor . And by good, I mean a doctor with human feelings that will not terrify you with minor issues, or that will not put you on caesarean so that he can enjoy his holiday, and that he or she will stand by your side from start to finish, regardless of monetary rewards. Needless to say , that I changed my doctor during my first pregnancy, and it was the best I could do .
— Calm down . You are not in labour right now! Pregnancy is a whole 9-month process, physical and psychological. If you do not feel ready to give birth, it is absolutely normal. The maternal instincts can awaken even after the birth of your child, so accept your own unique nature, and do not listen to others. I suggest you read a book , which will offer you a few moments of tranquility and inspiration on a daily basis. Me, I read and changed to the following :
George Pashalidis – The Birth of the New Man
Dr. Wayne Dyer- The 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace
Deepak Chopra – The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success .
— Use oil or a special cream to prevent stretch marks every day consistently. I highly recommend Weleda’s stretch mark oil, which is bio, and allows a gentle massage to the chest and tummy. If you are not a fan of oils, the Vergetures Double Action of Mustela is one of the most pleasant and efficient among those that I have tried at times. Important to add, that these two products have a very pleasant fragrance (unlike others of the category) which is very important for pregnant women who suffer from nausea .
— Exersice. If you did pre-pregnancy continue (except extreme sports). If you didn’t, is not a good idea to start yoga or pilates right now, because it is well established in the movies! A daily walk is sufficient. Personally, I did pilates before, during and after pregnancy, and I could write a whole post about how it helped me , even in childbirth. (Elena, thank you for that!). Also google for Kegel exercises which is miraculous for a normal birth , but even for your sex life!
— Wishes! make wishes for the child you carry inside you. Think about how you would like it to be internally and externally. Transmit your positive thoughts and emotions. It is the best gift you can make him/her.
— Food supplements. The doctor will surely prescribe folic acid, iron, calcium and magnesium. All this, plus DHA, a precious for the child’s growth fatty acid, can be taken daily with Minami’s Nutrition Omiage, a brand specialized in the production of fatty acids of the highest quality. Your doctor most likely won’t be aware of it, but you can show it to him for approval!
—-Put almond in your life (and you will see that it will never get out). With it you can remove your makeup, even mascara, you can treat your skin overnight as a hydrating serum, you can rub your tummy, you can nourish your lashes, you can massage your baby, you can even relieve your nipples from the dryness of breastfeeding! Almond oil, is in my opinion the best multi-use and 100% natural cosmetic ever!
—In general replace all your cosmetics to natural formulas. You can even choose a mild baby shampoo or showergel for your bath, so that you get less chemicals on your skin.
DONT’S
— Do not read online. Specific medical portals freak out women. In this case, ignorance is a blessing. So leave that responsibility to your doctor.
— No dyes, keratin treatments or straightening treatments on your beautiful hair. Return to your natural beauty image and feel like a goddess.
— No nail polish. The unwanted chemicals find also passage through nails! If necessary , use Korres Nail Colour which is free of the usual chemicals, delivers professional result and offers infinite color options. Even in the hospital, my pedicure was my favorite Tangerine No46…no words!
— Not harsh deodorants. This is tricky, since due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, they become even more necessary. After many failed tests, I found result in Korres’s antiprespirant. I know it is not a natural deo, but is free from parabens and alcohol, while extremely effective.
Kakia Kaffa (kakia@arnica.gr)