Glow As You Grow

Pregnancy brings many changes to your body, good and not so good! Here are some tips to feel gorgeous, despite those pesky niggles, writes Tina Otte

- Tina Otte

TAKE A LOAD OFF YOUR LEGS

Your legs are going to be supporting a lot more weight as your pregnancy progresses, and you may find small spider veins or even varicose veins appearing. Cramps can also be a worry – occurring mostly in the calf area.

Rest your legs frequently to reduce pressure on your veins and don’t cross your legs while sitting. Gentle exercise will increase circulation. Walk around the block. Poor circulation, dehydration and a magnesium and calcium deficiency cause cramps. Consume milk products, green leafy vegetables, whole-grains, wheat germ, nuts, seeds, soya, and dried apricots. Avoid refined forms of salt (buy natural sea or rock salt from health shops) and drink plenty of water. Stretch before going to bed by flexing your foot.

GET THE SUPPORT YOU NEED

Your breasts are likely to be at their most sensitive in the first three months of pregnancy. After that they will continue to enlarge as they prepare for the work of producing milk once the baby is born. Blood supply to the breasts increases and you will notice that your breasts become very vascular.

Avoid rubbing or scrubbing the breasts with nail brushes or any other kind of brush. Alcohol, witch hazel, Dubbin or Friar’s Balsam should not be applied to nipples in order to toughen them. These agents will dry the nipples out and predispose them to cracking and pain.