Momster Diaries# 3 Skincare Routine [during Pregnancy]

When I was pregnant last year, my first trimester thankfully was pretty ok. I didnot face any morning sickness or  discomfort. My skin was also acting fine... rather well.

However by the time I entered 2^nd trimester, my skin started acting up. It got dry and very dull. I did not have acne or pimples but got a few rashes on my cheeks.

The main issue I faced was my swollen hands and feet. Firstly I had to remove all the rings on my fingers. My fingers were swollen, dry and itchy! So were my feet. My feet were so swollen that it was scary. No shoe fit me anymore and I was praying that they’d come back to normal self...soon!

I tried to maintain a routine throughout my pregnancy that did help me quite a bit.

I made sure to massage Olive oil all over my body before bath. Especially my hands, feet  and  my face. During my showers I used only Dove soap since it did not dry my skin even further. Also I was avoiding parabens and sulphates as much as possible. For my shampoo and conditioner, I used The Body Shop Ginger Anti-dandruff shampoo and Banana conditioner / Sunsilk Ginseng Shampoo+Conditioner.  After my bath, I’d apply the Bio-Oil on my stomach, bust and my butt. 

Then used TheBody Shop Cocoa Body Butter on my hands and legs. This was the only lotion/butter that actually stayed and moisturized my body for a decent amount of time.

For my face, I made sure to religiously follow the CTM routine. I cleansed my face using The Body Shop Tea Tree cleanser (during summers) and Neutrogena deep cleanser (during cooler weather). Toned my face and neck with the The Body Shop Aloe Toner. Then used the Neutrogena Oil free moisturiser for combination skin/ Neutrogena Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 50 while going out. This was my routine for the day.

For the night, I'd repeat my Cleansing and Toning routine. Then use The Body Shop Drops of Youth Night  mask.

I used Boroline on my lips as a lip mask. Nothing can cure my chapped lips as well as boroline.

I tried to maintain applying Bio-Oil “atleast” twice a day.  And remember to rub your belly softly and rotate your hands in one direction, while massaging it, so you don't disturb the baby's position. Stretch marks usually appear on the lower tummy area and the breasts (due to pregnancy). So make sure, the areas are well moisturized. Remember, you can’t treat stretch marks, maybe lighten them a bit. But ideally you can prevent it as much as possible by keeping your body moisturized beforehand.

However, you are bound to have a few stretch marks after delivery, and they're nothing to be ashamed of. Don't treat them as scars but as marks/reminders of your pregnancy months. 

So ladies, if you are expecting,the key is to keep it simple and as moisturized as possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you facing any issues? Or do you have a tip/trick to share? 

Momster Diary #2 Preggo rants [Talkathon]

Preggo rants|  Not so hunky dory after all.

Being pregnant is a boon; a miracle. It’s the happiest and the most cherished moments in a woman's life... Or not. 

Well, to be honest, it’s not all hunky dory for most women. It's supposed to be  "the blessed" 9 months. However, no one warns us about the stress, the pain, the "morning" sickness which lasts all day. No one understands the mood swings. The tension a pregnant woman goes through.

I remember one lazy evening, chatting with my husband, having a good time. Discussing about our future and how our life was to change once our babe was out and about. When, all of a sudden I felt my chest constricting and an extreme emotion welling up, and I burst out crying! I was sooo upset in a span of 20 seconds flat! I was dead sure that I’d be the worst mom ever ‘coz I couldn’t cook! Obviously! Have you ever heard of a mom who can’t cook? A woman who can't  cook? Yea sure. Its her choice to want to or not. But never a mom. A mom ALWAYS knows how to cook! A mom cooks the best meals ever! What was I going to do?? That thought hadn’t even subsided when I remembered I couldn’t drive even! #wailing like a baby #pun intended.

Well to cut it short my poor husband didn’t know what hit him that day.

So all this stress and being physically weak do take a toll on us.

Thankfully I didnot suffer in my first trimester. Only a subtle case of heartburn (acid reflux).

My skin, however, had a mind of its own while I was pregnant. Initially it was perfect!! Although no pregnancy glow (honestly I think the “pregnancy glow” shizz is all a myth) but I definitely had super clear skin.

My happiness was short lived ofcourse. By 4^th month my skin went all cray cray. I had rashes and allergies on my face one after the other. My skin was super oily one day, then super dry another day.

By 6-7 months , my hands and feet were swelling  up. And they weren’t a pretty sight trust me. By 8^th month, even my footwear refused to fit me.

My palms and feet were super dry and itchy! Talking about itchy, boy, did I have itchy breasts!! #awkward in public

Back aches and cramps. Don’t even get me started! Especially lying down. There was a time when I couldn’t switch sides 'coz it hurt like a beaachh. My husband had to help me up to a sitting position.  But thankfully that lasted for only a week in my 2^nd trimester and during the end of the 3^rd trimester.

My delivery happened in the 37 th week, so thankfully I didnot have to face the full brunt of the last few weeks.

Pregnancy, sure isn't easy. You'll have thousand things to crib about and then that one ultrasono will make everything worth it. All you ladies who are expecting, just hang on. Try to enjoy every moment even. 

Feel every kick. Give in to every craving. Laugh at your own wobble. Flaunt the bump. Bask in how strong and powerful you are. 'Coz woman, it's no less miracle that you have 2 hearts beating inside of you. 
Brace yourself to understand what love truly means, when you have that piece of you in your arms, sleeping peacefully. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you in that stage of life? What' going on with you? And if you are a mom already, tell us your story!