Double beauty
Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman’s life. But often expectant mothers, as well as young mothers breastfeeding, are upset by the presence of many restrictions in all areas of life - from nutrition to sports and recreation. In particular, there are many prohibitions in the matter of self-care. But you really want to be beautiful during this magical period of your life, and modern women are usually not ready to just give up going to a cosmetologist and using a variety of cosmetics for several years.
Fortunately, it is not at all necessary to wrap yourself in a burqa for this entire period and use exclusively baby cream and a cucumber mask. Let's, together with the cosmetologist of the EuroMed Clinic, Svetlana Mikhailovna Lexandrova, figure out what is actually prohibited during this period and what is not.
Pregnant woman at 37 weeks
As the due date approaches, pregnant women begin to notice the appearance of their precursors, that is, certain signs and changes that occur under the influence of hormones. A woman’s body is preparing to give birth to a child, progesterone gives way to the dominant role of the birth hormone estrogen, and the pregnant woman’s well-being changes.
From the 37th week, expectant mothers may observe the following changes:
- slight loss of body weight;
- reduction in abdominal volume;
- the appearance of training or “false” contractions and an increase in their intensity;
- discharge of mucus from the cervix.
The nature of the stool changes, it becomes weaker, aching pain in the lower back of varying intensity may appear, and the fundus of the uterus descends. The woman notes some signs on her own, others are observed by the gynecologist during a routine examination.
Precursors do not appear in all women. Some expectant mothers notice only some of the symptoms listed above, while others observe signs of impending labor not two or three weeks before the due date, but just a few hours. Both the appearance of precursors at the 37th week and their absence are normal and depend on the individual characteristics of the woman’s body.
This week, the female body is intensively preparing for the birth of a child. If the fetus is positioned correctly, head down, it gradually lowers, goes to the lower part of the uterus, presses it to the body and bends its limbs, intuitively taking the most comfortable position for passing the birth canal. The consequence of fetal movement is prolapse of the uterine fundus. The abdomen lowers, the pressure on the diaphragm decreases significantly, the pregnant woman can breathe easily, and the shortness of breath that plagued her in the previous weeks disappears. The pressure on the stomach also decreases, heartburn, a feeling of heaviness after eating and other unpleasant sensations disappear. Moving your baby can put pressure on your bowels and bladder. A pregnant woman at this stage often experiences the urge to urinate and may suffer from frequent loose stools. The reason for frequent bowel movements is not only the mechanical effect of the uterus on it, but also an increase in the content of estrogen in the body, hormones that promote the excretion of fluid. At the 37th week, the expectant mother can have bowel movements up to 3-4 times a day and at the same time observe significant dilution of the stool.
Hair care
There is an unusually persistent myth that pregnant women should not cut or dye their hair.
Where it came from is now difficult to understand, but nevertheless, in the antenatal clinic you will definitely meet several expectant mothers with noticeably grown hair roots and a haircut that has lost all shape. There is no scientific evidence that cutting or dyeing hair with modern gentle hair dyes can harm a pregnant woman or unborn child. Therefore, forget about grandma’s fears and feel free to go to the beauty salon! The only caveat is that don’t forget that after the birth of your baby, you most likely won’t have time for a hairdresser in the first months, so closer to the birth, get a haircut that will be easy to care for when you’re short on time.
Antibacterial therapy
If the disease is advanced and cannot be treated sparingly with the use of bactericidal ointments and solutions, then the doctor decides to use antibacterial drugs. The treatment regimen is determined individually, taking into account the duration of pregnancy, the stage of progression of bartholinitis, the presence of associated complications, and the type of pathogen that provoked the inflammation.
To destroy a bacterial infection, the following drugs are often prescribed:
- "Amoxiclav";
- "Augumentin".
The course of therapy and dosage are individual. Also safe for the fetus are drugs belonging to the group of cephalosporins:
- "Ceftriaxone" in the form of injections;
- "Cefexin" for oral administration.
If inflammation of the Bartholin glands occurs with complications, the pregnant woman is prescribed the antibiotic Sumamed. The course of therapy is carried out under the strict supervision of a specialist. The doctor monitors the condition of the unborn child, as well as the effectiveness of the drug used, and adjusts the regimen if necessary.
Manicure and pedicure
Can! You can do a manicure, you can do a pedicure, you can paint your nails and remove polish - all this will not affect your baby’s health in any way. The only thing is to be doubly attentive to the sterility of the instruments that the master uses - because now you are responsible not only for yourself, but also for the health of the unborn child. Although, to be honest, it’s unlikely that you, even if you weren’t pregnant, would agree to catch any unpleasant infection because of unsterile instruments.
By the way, keep in mind that almost all maternity hospitals require that the woman in labor not have nail polish. This often surprises women, but in fact such a wish makes sense. During childbirth, a variety of unforeseen situations are possible, and one of the symptoms signaling a problem is the condition of the nails. If your nails begin to turn blue, this indicates problems with the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Perhaps you shouldn’t risk your health for bright marigolds in such a situation.
Is lip augmentation right for you?
To answer this question, you must first ask yourself why you want to change your lips. You should not undergo this procedure unless you really want to change your appearance.
If you're considering lip augmentation to make someone happy or to try to create the perfect look, think twice.
It is also important to have realistic expectations about the outcome. Extended lips can make your lips look plump and full, but you'll still be yourself when you step out of the doctor's office.
Before undergoing lip augmentation surgery, you must be healthy and not smoke. You may not be a candidate for lip augmentation if you have:
- active infection, such as oral herpes;
- diabetes;
- lupus;
- problems with blood clotting.
Cosmetics
It is forbidden
Products with retinoids are strictly prohibited during pregnancy, breastfeeding and three months before a planned pregnancy - they can have a teratogenic and embryotoxic effect, that is, negatively affect the fetus and increase the risk of congenital malformations. Therefore, products with retinoids are prescribed only if there is a negative pregnancy test and reliable contraception.
It is undesirable to use drugs containing acids during pregnancy. These are quite aggressive agents, and during pregnancy they can cause an unpredictable reaction: irritation, pigmentation disorders (lightening of some areas or, conversely, the appearance of dark spots), etc.
You should not use creams containing hormones (usually these are cosmetics that fight the signs of aging), because the body already undergoes powerful hormonal changes during pregnancy and lactation; you should not additionally load it.
Need to!
Be sure to use sunscreen during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that hormonal changes in the body often provoke the development of hyperpigmentation. And the sun's rays make this problem worse.
Remedies against stretch marks. Striae or stretch marks are such an unpleasant phenomenon that it is much easier to prevent than to get rid of it later. Be sure to use good anti-stretch mark creams from the very beginning of pregnancy, applying them with massaging movements to problem areas: chest, shoulders, abdomen, hips, buttocks. By the way, stretch marks often appear after childbirth, during lactation - after all, a nursing woman’s breasts can increase by several sizes compared to their normal state. Therefore, do not forget about the prevention of stretch marks throughout the entire period of breastfeeding.
Side effects and risks
The side effects of hyaluronic acid fillers are temporary and should only last a few days. These may include:
- bleeding from injection sites;
- swelling and bruising;
- redness and soreness at the injection site;
- reactivation of cold sores or blisters (herpes simplex) on or around the lips.
More serious side effects or risks may include:
- severe and prolonged swelling or bruising lasting one week to 10 days;
- lip asymmetry (parts of the lips of different sizes);
- lumps and unevenness on the lips;
- infection;
- injection into a blood vessel causing tissue loss
- ulceration, scarring, or hardening of the lip;
- an allergic reaction that causes redness, swelling, or itching around the lips.
If you develop a fever or severe swelling, you should call your doctor immediately.
Salon treatments
Many people forget the way to a cosmetologist as soon as they see two lines on the test. This is a completely unnecessary sacrifice! Yes, there are certain procedures that are not recommended during pregnancy, but most skincare programs are quite affordable and will help maintain your beauty during this wonderful period. Just remember to notify the cosmetologist about your interesting situation, and the doctor will offer you suitable care.
It would also be a good idea to consult with the obstetrician-gynecologist who is caring for your pregnancy.
It is forbidden
- Procedures associated with a sharp change in temperature: cryosauna, hot wrap, etc.
- Hardware stimulating procedures can provoke contraction of the uterine muscles.
- Laser procedures and photorejuvenation.
- Injection techniques.
Massage
There is a widespread belief that pregnant women should not receive massage. In fact, it is possible, but only if the massage therapist has the appropriate qualifications. Regular massage can cause undesirable consequences. But a special massage for pregnant women, on the contrary, will significantly improve your well-being and condition. During this difficult period, when increasing weight, swelling, increased stress on the back and legs can cause many unpleasant moments, an experienced massage therapist will be of great help.
The main thing to remember is to be less nervous, don’t let meaningless restrictions poison your life and enjoy every moment of your magical state!
37th week of pregnancy for baby
At the 37th week of pregnancy, the baby’s height is approximately 48 cm, and his weight is 2,600 g. Externally, the fetus is almost no different from a newborn; all facial features are developed, and cartilaginous tissue is clearly visible. The accumulation of subcutaneous fat at this stage of pregnancy makes the body contours softer and rounder. The baby’s skin gradually smoothes out, it is no longer as pink as in the previous weeks of intrauterine development, and the integument gradually becomes lighter. The baby's body is still abundantly covered with lubricant, but the amount of vellus hair decreases noticeably, vellus hair remains only on the shoulders and back, and in some babies it disappears almost completely.
This week the accumulation of fatty tissue continues. It reaches a maximum of 15% of the child’s total body weight. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of adipose tissue for newborns; it is this tissue that protects the child from overheating or hypothermia, since the baby’s thermoregulation system after birth is not yet sufficiently formed and continues to develop in the first months of the little person’s life.
At this stage, not only the volume of subcutaneous fat increases, but also the muscles and skeleton intensively develop. The child constantly moves his arms and legs. These unique workouts help increase muscle mass. The baby also makes rhythmic breathing movements that strengthen the intercostal muscles and diaphragm, preparing the respiratory organs for childbirth.
Prevention measures
Despite the fact that the exact impact of COVID on pregnancy has not been fully established, one thing is clear - it is worth protecting yourself from the infection in advance. Vaccination is considered the best way. It promotes the formation of specific immunity. Even if the virus enters the body, the immune system will be ready to meet it. The pathogen is immediately attacked by immunoglobulins (antibodies) and most or the entire pool of viruses can be neutralized. Therefore, the consequences of coronavirus during pregnancy in such a situation will be minimal - the infection will not develop or will be mild.
Pregnant woman
The body of a pregnant woman continues to actively prepare for the birth of a baby, the content of estrogen rapidly increases, and the level of progesterone decreases significantly. Changes in hormonal levels help soften the tissues of the birth canal and cervix. Throughout pregnancy, the lumen of the cervical canal is closed by a plug of thick mucus, which protects the baby from infection, and the uterine cavity protects against the penetration of microorganisms hazardous to health. In the last weeks of pregnancy, the consistency of the mucus changes, it becomes more liquid and begins to gradually flow out. In some women, the mucus disappears gradually, while in other women in labor it comes off simultaneously. The discharge resembles colorless egg white in its consistency and appearance. Sometimes the mucus is pinkish, brown or yellow. The removal of the plug is painless; the woman may experience a slight feeling of discomfort in the lower abdomen. The removal of the plug may be signaled by more abundant vaginal discharge than during the entire pregnancy.
A woman should carefully monitor the color and volume of discharge, since too much colorless discharge may indicate not only the passage of the plug, but also be one of the symptoms of leakage of amniotic fluid. Indicator pads and amniotests or test strips will help determine the cause of the discharge. The pads are sold in many pharmacies and can be easily used at home. If leakage of amniotic fluid is confirmed, you should immediately consult a doctor.
After the mucus plug comes off, you should avoid visiting the pool and swimming in open water, as the risk of infection for the child increases significantly. It is also necessary to exclude sexual contact.
Recurrence of herpes during pregnancy
If a woman was already a carrier of herpes at the time of conception, then in most cases intrauterine infection of the fetus will not occur. The embryo is under reliable protection of antibodies produced by the mother's body. However, there remains a risk of infection during childbirth. Therefore, the slightest rash of blisters on the perianal area requires immediate treatment. Doctors also recommend immediate removal of papillomas in intimate places if they appear during pregnancy.
In some cases, severe recurrent herpetic infection is an indication for cesarean section.
