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Module: 6

Getting my beauty back!

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It is a perfectly normal desire and concern of new mothers to want to get their impressions of their

physical selves back after having a baby. Most new moms’ concerns fall on regaining control of their

figures through diet and exercise. However, the obstacles do not stop there. With the change in

hormones, it’s not just your metabolism and body that have been compromised. A lot of post-labor

women suffer from breakouts, brittle nails, scar tissue, and of course, pesky stretch marks. Maintaining

and regaining a healthy vision of yourself is one of the phases you will have to face head on as a new

mom. Simply waiting for the “old” you to come back isn’t going to produce results. Depending on your

lifestyle, what you eat, your fluid intake, and how you take care of your body as well as your mind will

affect your physical results. More than anything, new moms need to understand that they are not in this

alone. As a society we put a lot of power in our beauty, yet we must realize that some physical features

will change over time. The birth of your baby is something to be proud of, and you should wear your

marks and scars from childbirth with pride. However, this doesn’t mean that worrying about your

physical self isn’t a natural and worthwhile concern. Looking after your beauty is another side of taking

care of yourself that will make you feel more confident, live a happier life and be a great role model for

your child.

What you’ll learn in this module:

6.1 Stretch marks

6.2 Scar tissue

6.3 Regain clear, glowing skin

6.4 Restore lustrous hair and strong nails

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6.1 Stretch marks

The onset of stretch marks is one of the unavoidable pitfalls of pregnancy, however, women don’t

need to be pregnant or have given birth to fall victim to stretch marks. In other words, this issue is

not just a new mom issue, yet it does affect the bodies of new mothers most notably. This is

because of sudden weight gain and loss and extreme stretching of the skin over a relatively short

period of time.

The anatomy behind why stretch marks appear is when our bodies begin to grow at a much faster

rate than what our skin can keep up with. What happens then, is that the elastic fibers just below the

skin will snap or break, resulting in a light pink or purple mark that appears to be stretched skin. This

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is why, regardless of pregnancy both women and men can acquire stretch marks on their body.

Marks can appear on the stomach, legs, outer and inner thighs, upper arms, and chest.

For pregnant women and women post-labor, the most common places to get stretch marks are the

stomach and breasts, since these areas tend to be get the most stretched out from the baby and

milk accumulation. Roughly 90% of pregnant woman will start noticing their stretch marks around

their 7th month, and women whose mother had stretch marks are more likely to have them, since

there is a genetic deposition to whom gets them and whom does not. While it’s good to keep your

body hydrated with lotion throughout the pregnancy, there is absolutely no way whatsoever to

prevent them if you have a genetic disposition for them. The best that can be done is to, over the

course of time, take care of your body so that the stretch marks fade and are less recognizable.

While you will always know they are there, it’s important to have a healthy outlook on why you have

them and what they mean. A great way that many women combat the anxiety or depression of

seeing this effect on their body is to look to their child. Yes, your body has experienced a great deal,

but the end result of your newborn baby was worth any and every mark you acquired along the way.

Whether you like it or not, stretch marks aren’t avoidable, but with a healthy outlook and sound mind

you can learn to accept them and with some techniques you can work to lighten the scars either at

home or by visiting a dermatologist.

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Lessen the appearance of stretch marks

While there’s no immediate solution for ridding them altogether, that doesn’t mean that

you need to be satisfied with the dark pink or purple marks as they are. There are many,

many things you can do to lessen the appearance of stretch marks, and it’s best to work

quickly for best results. The faster you move to get rid of them, the lighter they can become.

There will certainly be some natural lightening over time, but if the marks are fresh and

darker in color, tackling them right away will give you the best possibility for the most

appealing results long-term.

use topical solutions produced to tackle stretch marks – there are an incredible amount of over-the-

counter ointments, lotions, and gels that will help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Be

careful to trust any company who claims they will eliminate stretch marks altogether or somehow

help you to become immune to them during your pregnancy; this just isn’t possible (unfortunately).

Trust the brands that claim lighter, less noticeable results.

keep your skin hydrated with moisturizer – applying a moisturizer day and night to areas affected

or that you are worried about getting affected is a great way to try to combat your permanent

marks and hold future marks at bay. Use your favorite lotion, or, if you’re afraid of the chemicals in

over-the-counter brands, you can make your own natural, wholesome lotion in your very own

kitchen. Simply combine equal parts wheat germ, olive oil, and Aloe Vera and you will have your

very own homemade version of what you can buy in the store to help improve your stretch marks.

useRetin-A – Retin-A is an ointment that must be prescribed by your dermatologist or primary care

doctor. The chemicals in the product promote a boost in collagen and help elasticity of the skin.

While Retin-A is not known to do much for older marks, new moms can benefit from it because it’s

been seen to do wonders on new stretch marks if they are treated not long after appearing. It’s

incredibly important to note, though, that Retin-A’s main ingredient is retinoic acid, which can be

incredibly dangerous to the baby if a mom uses it during pregnancy. Never use this product while

pregnant, as it has proven to cause birth defects.

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try vitamin-E oil – considered by many to be the “miracle cure” for stretch marks, this is a natural, safe,

and success-driven option.

take vitamin-C supplements – 500mg of vitamin-C daily can decrease appearance of stretch marks.

laser treatment – the most expensive of the options, running you roughly $450 for a vascular treatment

and $1000 for a fractional laser that attacks older stretch marks. Done in a dermatologist’s office,

patients must undergo between 3 to 5 sessions to see results.

surgical options – an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, will eliminate tummy stretch marks altogether,

since that portion of fat and skin is surgically removed. The downside is cost and permanent scarring

along the abdomen, not to mention long-term time off work to recover. For stretch marks, which are a

normal part of a woman’s physical transformation throughout pregnancy, surgery will not be for

everyone.

exercise – keeping the blood flowing through cardiovascular exercise can help to eliminate some of the

appearance of stretch marks on the skin’s surface. Tightening and toning muscles combined with fading

can make some women’s stretch marks go unrecognized.

With so many options available for treatment, be it at home or in the dermatologists’ office, new moms

should feel safe discussing their options with a doctor and try whatever they believe will work best for

their own lifestyle and approach to beauty.

6.2 Scar tissue

Stretch marks aren’t the only scarring that can wreak havoc on a woman’s body after pregnancy.

Women who undergo caesarian births are left with a large scar across the lower abdomen. Most

women’s scars heal normally; however, beneath the service, within the pelvis, it’s very possible to

acquire scar tissue from C-section surgery.

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Believe it or not, vaginal births can produce their own forms of scars that accumulate scar tissue

when not healing perfectly. For instance, if an episiotomy was performed or significant vaginal

tearing occurs during birth, it’s quite possible that scar tissue can cause pain and irritation.

Just like stretch marks, a little scar tissue isn’t the end of the world; however, unlike stretch marks,

the tissue can be very sensitive and lead to pain or discomfort, so seeing your doctor and coming up

with a plan of action to shrink or remove the tissue might be necessary.

Looking at the various types of scar tissue that can occur as a result of pregnancy and labor,

consider the options for treatment that works best for you depending on your symptoms.

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C-section scar tissue

Attempting to avoid scar tissue after your C-section surgery is quite easy and straight forward. By

simply massaging your scarred tummy once you’ve been given clearance by your physician (usually

around your 6 to 8 week checkup) you can eliminate the possibility of serious and painful internal

scar tissue accumulation. Looking at the scar on your tummy, you only see the tip of the iceberg.

There are still several layers of the scar below the surface of the skin, and where regular tissue

should grow, there are instances where scar tissue, an inferior tissue, forms instead. If scar tissue

forms in your abdominals, the fibers intertwine in an interspersed and haphazard motion, more often

than not it will tangle tissues from organs into its web, which will lead to continued discomfort and

extreme pain. The binding together of scar fibers to muscles and organs will result in abdominal

adhesions. What this means is that the fibers will link pieces of your internal anatomy together that

are normally not connected, and shouldn’t be. This means your colon, bladder, uterus, and ovaries

are all in danger of being caught and stuck to this excess, intertwined tissue. By simply massaging

your external scar, you can keep the fibers from sticking onto unwanted locations and keep the

blood flowing. Increasing and promoting blood flow will keep the area healthy and can make the

appearance of the scar itself less severe by smoothing it drastically. It’s important to note that

massaging won’t guarantee healing, nor prevent all instances of scar tissue.

There are two phases of scarring that may occur following a caesarian section surgery.

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Phase 1 – called the “immature” phase, the scar has formed and healed together. The area may be itchy,

painful, and sensitive to the touch. Redness is apparent, but will fade significantly over time. Relief can

come from heating pads, exercise, and of course, massaging.

Phase 2 – called the “mature” phase, when no new scar tissue is being produced, but significant tissue

amounts have accumulated. Scar tissue may continue to grow within two years of your surgery.

Massaging is the best bet here but by speaking to your doctor you can discuss other methods to alleviate

any symptoms you may be experiencing (like surgery to remove the scar tissue or working with a

physical therapist).

Here are some common symptoms that you may have an issue with internal pelvic or abdominal

scar tissue following your caesarian section.

severe lower back and pelvic pain

limited pelvic mobility

issues with posture that didn’t previously exist

extreme pain when bending forward

frequent feeling of needing to urinate

pain during intercourse

irritable bowel syndrome or constipation

It’s important to note that some symptoms, like the need to urinate frequently or the painful

intercourse, could go years before showing itself. In some instances, 10 to 15 years have passed

before women have shown these symptoms that stemmed from their C-section scars not healing

properly over time. If you can begin taking precautions quickly, you can lower your risk of pain down

the road.

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6.3 Vaginal scar tissue

While it’s less frequently discussed, women who give vaginal births have scars as well. The only

difference is, they aren’t located in a spot that is exposed. The scar tissue will accumulate within the

vaginal cavity or in the perineum, the space between the rectum and the vagina, which could have torn

during labor or when an episiotomy may have taken place. 1 in 7 women need episiotomies during

labor, and even more experience tearing of some kind. After the baby is delivered, the doctor will stitch

the wound, which will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks to heal. During that time women should not be

having intercourse, as it will be very painful, and the new mom will have to experience a longer recovery

time than average.

A very small percentage of women who have tearing or an episiotomy will accumulate scar tissue in the

location. A non-invasive surgery can be performed where the doctor cuts or burns off the excess tissue.

This can be performed around the 6-month mark after childbirth.

6.4 Regain clear, glowing skin

We’ve all heard of the often mentioned “pregnant glow” that a woman will have during this happiest

time of her life, pregnancy and childbirth. Somehow, as a new mom, you at times can’t help but feel

that society has been playing a mean trick on you all along, because for you, that “glow” faded and

now you’re left with features that were previously unrecognizable on your face and body. An

unexpected change that occurs for many pregnant women is in their skin. Having already bypassed

her teenage years and survived, it can be daunting when a woman’s skin starts to break out like

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she’s reliving her adolescence. From oily skin, to breakouts, varicose and spider veins, new mothers’

bodies are harnessing many unfamiliar skin issues in serious need of a remedy.

Take a look at the major skin culprits out there and how to put them at bay with very simple

solutions.

Oily skin

It’s funny how even the pregnant and new mom “glow” isn’t the positive, angelic vision you thought it

was. This “glow” simply refers to the increase in oil production due to the increased blood circulation

in your body in addition to the extra hormones that cause your oil glands to overcompensate. Fix this

issue by using oil-free facial stringent like witch hazel and topical solutions and face washes with

very few chemicals and water bases.

Acne and breakouts

Your oil glands that are in over drive will secrete oil, resulting in excessive breakouts and acne. This

is more likely to occur if you suffer already from acne prone skin, but women with no history of acne

have also experienced these types of breakouts both during and after pregnancy. The key here is to

adopt a strict skincare regimen and stick to it consistently. In both the morning and evening, wash

your face with a good oil-free wash, using facial scrubs a few times a week. Follow up with over-the-

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counter acne treatments or acne medication prescribed by a dermatologist, and then finish with an

oil-free moisturizer (preferably one with an SPF for daytime use). The number one thing no woman

should ever make the mistake of doing is going to bed at night with her makeup on. Doing this will

allow the make-up particles to imbed deeper into the skin, resulting in more breakouts. Also keep in

mind that excess stress can also lead to acne and breakouts, and it’s no lie that having a newborn

baby can be stressful. Try to get some time to yourself every now and then, exercise and stay active,

and eat healthy to continue to promote elasticity and rid your skin of any excuse to sprout those

pesky little pimples all over your face.

Varicose and spider veins

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Those bulky, blue colored veins that appear on your legs during pregnancy, medically referred to as

varicose veins, might not always go away immediately. The same is said for spider veins, the little

red blood vessels caused by increased levels of circulation in your blood. Both types of veins are

considered unattractive and unwelcome, regardless of your age or the reason they are there.

Vitamin C intake is the best and easiest answer for combating both of these vein issues, allowing

your legs to appear smooth and young once again.

Itchy and dry skin patches

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Small patches of skin, sometimes of the face, arms, legs, or abdomen can occur after having a baby.

What you can do to restore the moisture in your skin is to moisturize morning and night with good

quality, oil-free skincare products. Anti-itch creams and oatmeal baths can help alleviate the

itchiness, but in terms of your vanity, all you can do is constantly apply lotion to the area until it lets

up. Please note, that there are some instances (not exclusive to post-natal women) where dry skin

patches can be a potentially serious and life threatening skin disorder. Anything irregular on your

skin or body should be examined by a doctor for best results.

Skin tags

Loose growths of skin can show up on your underarms, breasts, neck, and even face. Many women

get skin tags during pregnancy, and most will fall off after childbirth; however, if they still remain, you

can have them easily removed by a dermatologist or even in your primary care physician’s office.

The procedure will take minutes, be painless, and leave you more confident about your appearance.

There are endless amounts of obstacles that can come up involving a woman’s skin, whether it’s

during pregnancy, post-natal, or down the line, we all struggle with breakouts, oily or dry skin, sun

sensitivity, and wrinkles and fine lines. Here are the best things that any woman can do in order to

restore a youthful, beautiful, flawless face for many, many years.

Use a sunscreen of a minimum SPF 15, but preferably higher

Limit sun exposure, even when you are using an SPF

Use only oil-free products on your skin

Never go to bed in your makeup

Moisturize morning and night

Decrease your intake of sugar in your diet

Increase your intake of natural foods, particularly vegetables and fruits

Exercise frequently to relieve stress and toxins from the body

Drink water!!! This is perhaps the most important thing a woman can do for her body and her skin.

Staying hydrated is the key source of elasticity, anti-aging, glowing, and healthy skin.

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6.5 Restore lustrous hair and strong nails

As we have already discussed quite a bit, regaining your pre-pregnancy body isn’t all about losing

weight; it is about getting yourself to the point where you feel like the old you. Everything in your life

is changing, and it would be nice if your body was something that was consistent. Regaining your

pre-pregnancy body is not all about getting rid of your tummy; it is also about getting your beautiful

hair and nails back.

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Hair

Everyone loses some hair every day. It is part of your hair’s natural cycle. If we did not lose some of

our hair each day, then our hair would be dead and brittle. Issues with your hair after giving birth are

multiplied because it seemed like your hair looked great during your pregnancy. That is because the

increased level of estrogen in your body stops your hair from falling out as much and keeps it fresh

and alive. Now, it seems like a lot of it is falling out and it is dry and thin. Don’t worry, this does not

mean you are going bald. This is a natural effect of giving birth; all those extra hormones and

nutrients that were going into your hair suddenly stop, and so your hair has a sort of relapse. Do not

fret, though, here are some steps you can take to regain those amazing, lustrous locks:

Get yourself a new haircut: You deserve a new updated look. Get rid of some of that bad hair, and make

way for the bright, new hair. You may even want to consult with a stylist who can help you figure out

how to proceed. Do not be afraid to do something different, like go shorter than normal or get new

bangs. Sometimes, that is the kind of change you need to feel better about yourself and move forward.

Moisturize it with new products: Look for mousse, conditioner, or any other product that will help

keep your hair moisturized. Since one of the big problems is that your hair is feeling dried out and thin,

moisturizing products could bring new life to your hair.

Color it: Going with a new color cannot only hide dry hair, it can also give it volume. Don’t go crazy with

the color, though, a different shade will do.

Add texture: Consider curling your hair or making it wavy to give the appearance of volume. Straight,

sleek hair is not very forgiving, so look to build volume.

Nails

You may have noticed that your nails have been looking much more brittle lately and that they have

been chipping easily. Another consequence of childbirth is that it weakens your fingernails and toenails,

which can be very embarrassing. If you are noticing changes like these, here are some things you can do

to make your nails stronger:

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Treat your dry cuticles with moisturizer.

Soak your nails in olive oil for 10-15 minutes a day to soften them.

Add biotin to your diet; it is great for nails. You can take a supplement, or eat foods like whole grains,

eggs, avocado, and cauliflower.

Try not to use your nails for anything as you are trying to re-grow and revitalize them.

Take your vitamins. Taking a multivitamin everyday could really help the strength of your nails.

Treat your nails right. Try to avoid using solutions that are meant to break things down, like nail polish

remover.

Stay hydrated. The more water you drink, the better your skin and nails will look and feel.

Give your nails a good massage. One of the reasons that they have dried out is because there is not much

blood flow to your fingers. Massaging your nails will increase this blood flow and get them the moisture

they need.

Do not worry about the way your hair and nails look right now. They just need a little extra love and

attention. With a little bit of work and effort, you can have your hair and nails back to their former,

lustrous beauty.