Pregnancy 

Now you may be wondering what you can apply on your face that is safe for baby. With so many lotions and potions on the market, finding the right product may be a challenge. #1 Use moisturizer and have lots of rest Adequate sleep does wonders for your skin especially during pregnancy. Also, keep cool and moisturised. Use gentle soap substitutes and moisturize regularly to maintain a healthy skin barrier. If you suffer from eczema during pregnancy, do check with your dermatolo

Confinement is enshrouded in Asian culture and many practices are deep-rooted. But are these confinement practices medically sound? Confinement is a special time for your body to recuperate from childbirth. Confinement is cultural to many Asians. But remember that these practices were relevant to those ancient days when mother and baby mortality rates were high. It was a time without proper sanitation or even antibiotics. Thus, it was a safe practice to confine both baby and

You’re keen to have LASIK surgery, but you’re now expecting. Is it safe to do the operation during pregnancy? The short answer is that any refractive surgery (including Lasik, SMILE) is not recommended during pregnancy and best to wait at least 3 months after stopping breastfeeding. The surge in pregnancy hormone is linked to changes in corneal stiffness that may result in a less reliable surgical outcome. The risk of regression or myopia returning is also higher. Dry eyes ar

If you have crooked teeth, you may be wondering if it’s safe to have braces while you’re pregnant. Read on. Pregnancy will affect the health of your teeth. Whether you are already on braces whilst pregnant or just starting your orthodontic treatment, it’s important to take good care of your braces and oral hygiene. Otherwise, it is perfectly safe to wear braces! 3 must-do orthodontic steps #1 Maintain good oral hygiene and keep your teeth fresh and clean #2 Regularly brush an

Morning sickness and tiredness can cause dental caries, so make sure that you visit your dentist. I cannot over-emphasize the importance of dental care to have healthy teeth and gums. Taking charge of your dental health for a healthy pregnancy. You should visit your dentist for a check-up, scaling and polishing of your teeth. Gum diseases are associated with miscarriage and preterm labour. #1 Are dental procedures safe in pregnancy? While check-ups and cleaning are safe durin

How to have a healthy weight gain during pregnancy? Read this. Eating healthy throughout pregnancy is the best thing you can do for your baby. Good nutrition optimizes the growth and development of your baby and safeguards your own health. During pregnancy, your energy requirement increases by only 300 kcal a day. On average, every woman needs 1700 kcal a day. So eating for two is a myth! Requirements for micro-nutrients (folate, calcium, vitamin D and B vitamins) are signifi

Should you avoid certain food types to prevent your baby from developing allergies? While breastfeeding, eating well to enhance your nutritional status is important. Your calcium store may be depleted for breast milk. In fact, your requirement for certain nutrients (e.g. calories, protein and calcium), are much higher during breastfeeding. So if you were conscious of the nutritional value of your diet during pregnancy, there is even more reason for you to do so when breastfee

Wondering what it feels like to be constipated while pregnant? You might have that “stopped up” feeling, abdominal discomfort or have feces that are dry or hardened. Going to the bathroom could be difficult or painful. And unfortunately, constipation is super-common in pregnancy. Constipation is a common problem during pregnancy: Up to half of pregnant women get constipated at some point. One reason for constipation during pregnancy is an increase in the hormone progesterone,

Acne is common during pregnancy. In fact, more than one out of every two pregnant women can expect to develop acne. In some cases, the acne can be very severe. It’s thought that pregnancy hormones might increase the skin’s production of oil. The oil builds up and clogs the pores, attracts bacteria and causes that dreaded acne. You might spot smallish, reddish bumps, or you might get the ones that are white and pus-filled. They’re not fun — but at least you're in good company.

The stretching and distension of the bump causes the skin to have micro-tears which are are known as striae gravidarum (SG). SG are purplish wavy lines on the bump, breasts and thighs. These are battle scars of your pregnancy. The good thing is that they lightens after delivery but the bad thing is that striae may be permanent. Striae are preventable There is a strong genetic cause of striae. So, ask your mom. If she had striae when she delivered you, you are more prone to ha

This may be the reason for pregnancy glow. During pregnancy, hormone level and more blood flow to a warmer body cause more profuse sweating. Some women may also experience sweating after delivery as the body releases excessive water retention. Another reason is due to an increase in your thyroid hormone. Most women sweat more as their sweat glands become more active. This is especially in the third trimester as the oil glands become active and you can develop pimples or acne.

You notice that your hair is falling out in clumps and it is frightening. Fret not, hair loss is normal after delivery. During pregnancy you may have been blessed with thick and lustrous hair. Yes! Pregnancy has given my hair a new lease of life! But suddenly, you are shocked! Things changed after delivery. Hormonal changes cause hair loss The high estrogen level in pregnancy stimulates hair growth. It prolongs the growing stage of hair. Less strands fall out each day and you

Has your skin darkened since pregnancy? What is the little pregnancy stripe? It's common to have blotchy dark spots when you're pregnant, known as melasma AKA "mask of pregnancy" because the patches are around upper lip, nose, cheekbones, and forehead similar to a mask. Dark patches also appear on your cheeks, along your jawline, or your forearms. Pigmented areas – such as nipples, areolas, freckles and scars – may darken. This may also happen in friction areas such as undera

Aloe vera works wonders for your skin but its safety is debatable in pregnancy. Aloe vera have health benefits in many ways, but consumption during pregnancy is not recommended. The main worry is that it can induce womb contractions. Aloe vera contains anthraquinones, which is a laxative. Thus, pregnant women should avoid drinking aloe vera products. Topical applied aloe vera gel, on the other hand, is safe as the systemic absorption is low. Most herbalists would recommend t

Can't stop drooling? Pregnancy may come with some annoying experiences and excessive salivation is one of them. It's perfectly normal to have more drooling when you're pregnant. Excessive salivation is also known as ptyalism or sialorrhea. Salivating may be associated with nausea and vomiting. This condition is harmless, though it can be distressing. You may be woken up at night because you’re dribbling so much, or you may find swallowing difficult because it makes you feel s

Most women experience some discomforts in pregnancy. One pain that may be unexpected? Bellybutton pain. Pain in the belly button is a common in pregnancy. Fortunately, for most, this pain is mild. 3 causes of bellybutton pain #1 Ligament stretch Your ligaments are stretched to the max by third trimester. Your bellybutton is attached to the umbilical ligament and gets irritated in the process. #2 Pressure from growing womb As the bump pops out, the pressure pushes on the belly

During pregnancy, the body produces more blood to cope with the needs of the developing baby. Swelling is normal in pregnancy due to additional blood and fluid. Leg swelling is common as your body now retains more fluids and your growing womb adds pressure to your legs — causing them to swell. It is usually worse at night and in the third trimester. After the delivery, the swelling disappears within weeks as your body excretes the excessive fluid. To minimize the swelling, tr

Exercise during pregnancy is recommended after first trimester and is safe. Exercise is beneficial for both you and baby. Too much exercise can be tricky in pregnancy. Similarly, strenuous exercise is risky. It is important to put safety as first priority. There are exercise warnings signs that you should be wary to change your exercise routine. Do not push yourself to exercise if you feel too tired. Expect poorer fitness as your pregnancy progresses. This is normal as the

Exercise during pregnancy is safe and beneficial for both mother and baby. But there can be inherent risks. While exercise is a safe for most pregnant women, there are some risks to take note. The adrenaline hormone stimulated during exercise can induce womb contractions, although the actual risk has not been fully studied. Exercise also causes blood to gush to skeletal muscles and reduces oxygen and nutrients to baby. The growing baby receives oxygen and nutrients through th

Almost all pregnant women have trouble sleeping at some point. And it's not surprising, considering that when you're pregnant, nausea, heartburn, and a constant need to pee often set in. It's normal to feel tired as your body works to nurture the developing baby. It's usually later in pregnancy that most women have trouble getting enough deep, uninterrupted sleep. Many women report daytime sleepiness during pregnancy. Try to fit in a quick nap at lunchtime. Most over-the-coun