Pregnancy is a miracle. Most mothers, or even mothers-to-be, will be quick to agree. Seeing your little one on your ultrasound, feeling their little hands and feet kicking and exploring, and knowing that you are the life-safety provider you have created are all wonderful feelings we feel during pregnancy.
At the beginning of my own pregnancy, I was super excited. I had the glow of pregnancy and couldn’t wait to see my belly start to stick out. And she did once! By my sixth month, the pregnancy glow had turned into fever and hot flashes. The extra weight I had put on to support my son was causing my back and joint pain, especially when he slept. I felt bloated and my feet swelled up to half a size!
Before I got pregnant, I loved getting ready and keeping up with my fitness. I was a girl who loved being a woman and feeling sexy. But when you’re 30 pounds or more bloated, it can be really hard to keep up. When I woke up, the last thing I wanted to do was dress up pretty. Putting on sweatpants, a t-shirt, and my hair in a messy bun went much faster.
But I soon realized that dressing like a 40-year-old man was not the way to go. I felt unattractive, and when I went out I had these horrible, “Oh, she’s a depressed pregnant woman, poor thing” looks. She hated sentiment and judgement, so I decided to put my sadness aside and stop being a bum!
Pregnancy is beautiful and it’s time we celebrate our bellies, dress them up and make them sexy!
Here are some quick changes you can make to instantly shake off the blues and feel like the goddess you are again:
1. Keep your eyebrows groomed– I know, I know, what? Eyebrows? Yes! Have you ever noticed how when you stop keeping your eyebrows groomed and let them start to grow, you can do your makeup and hair like you always do, and still look different? The truth is that when your brows are done with a clean curve, it instantly cleanses and balances your facial features. Nasty eyebrows that have grown out hair attract people’s attention and draw that attention away from your other fabulous features.
If your brows are shapeless or have grown to the point of no return, spend $6-8 at a salon to get waxed. You can also have them threaded, which costs a bit more but looks wonderful. Once you’ve made them, keep them in shape. Use a slant-nose tweezer to pull out any hairs that have started to grow every few days (but DON’T be happy with the tweezers, barley brows aren’t pretty). Try this and you will immediately notice the new open space on your face.
2. Lotion up– I know it can be frustrating to bend over to cover yourself in lotion, but it’s worth it. I would suggest using a thick cocoa butter as it is known to lessen or even get rid of stretch marks. Lathering up at least twice a day, in the morning and before putting on your pajamas are good options.
Keeping your skin moisturized with lotion will prevent the itchy irritation it can cause when your skin is stretched, and dry, flaky skin is embarrassing and uncomfortable. Use a delicious scented body butter to feel and smell sexier.
3. Shave!– Keeping your legs silky smooth is a super quick way to feel sexier. Whether you’re at home wearing boxers or strolling through the park, smooth, sexy legs are the best way to declare to your partner or the whole world that “I’m sexy and I’m not afraid to show it!”
4. Keep your nails trimmed– This is a great way to feel more beautiful. After biting, ugly and short nails look sloppy. If you have a nail biting problem, try rubbing garlic on your fingers. Trust me, you’ll lose that boost pretty quickly!
You don’t even need to spend a lot of money in a beauty salon to get your nails done. Just let them grow a bit (at least to the tips of your fingers) and keep them with a coat of beige or light pink nail polish. You can even get a French manicure. I also suggest getting a cuticle nipper and nail file to keep your nails in shape. Both are only about $1.00 at any general store.
If you have a shaky hand, manicures are not too expensive at the salon. As long as it’s just a manicure and not some kind of acrylic nails (these do a lot of damage to your real nails anyway), it’ll usually only cost you $10-$20. Some places even offer great packages where you can get a manicure and pedicure for around $25.
5. Change your hair– Getting a haircut is a great way to feel sexy. With your new hairstyle, you want to dress nice, get ready and go out to show off your new look. Look online or in magazines for different styles you want to try. You can go for a big change like trying a bob if you have long hair, or if you’re like me and not willing to give up your long locks, just add some layers or a new style of bangs.
Many women want to know if they can dye their hair during pregnancy, as this would be accompanied by a nice hair change. I would ask your doctor before dyeing your hair as everyone has different recommendations on if and when it is safe to do so.
Give these tips a try and I assure you, you’ll be glad you did. Pregnancy is a time to celebrate your femininity and the little miracle within you, not hide it under baggy clothes and a shadowy presence. Do not be afraid to be pregnant and beautiful!
