Pregnancy
Second Trimester
July 28, 2022
My name is Kara (@Karadelanna) and I am a mom of two vigorous baby boys under two! They have taught me so much in such a short period of time, especially when it comes to their very opposite personalities and caring for their sensitive skin. When I started working with SKNMUSE back in 2019, I knew how important quality ingredients were to me. But it wasn’t until I had my first child that I truly recognized the value in it. SKNMUSE is a premium beauty brand for the body that uses clean ingredients and encompasses everything I value in a brand. I felt completely safe using their body butter on my newborn. It completely cleared my first child's eczema among many other amazing things during my pregnancy that I will discuss shortly.
By the time I entered those highly anticipated last few weeks, my mind was going in so many different directions to make sure everything was perfect for my baby’s arrival. I was so nervous about how my first pregnancy was going to affect my body, so I made sure I didn’t forget to take care of myself in this unfamiliar pregnancy process. I highly recommend you do not either! Here are some easy self care tips that will help nourish the skin you’re in
This may seem like a given, but you would be surprised how many times I would skip or rush this step. Especially as a mom of more than one child! After your shower, using a good body butter such as SKNMUSES all natural shea and cocoa based body butter can truly make an amazing difference in your skin! It reduces and prevents stretch marks and creates soft supple skin for 24 hours. I had NONE at the end of both back to back pregnancies. It’s the best alternative to scratching when that itch becomes unbearable! Apply this and it will be a sigh of relief. Even if I don't have time for a shower (because sometimes it just isn’t gonna happen!) applying this to my bump before bed is an easy way to care for and protect the tight skin in this fragile state.
This is something I looked forward to every day when I would come home from work- especially after having my first child. Once he was in bed, I would make sure that I spent at least 30 minutes to myself in the bath. Adding a few pumps of oil in the water such as this Devine body oil keeps your whole body feeling silky and smelling amazing! Being in water helps take pressure off of your belly, and it will make a huge difference in your night. Relaxation is such an important part of the birthing process, and pairs well with hypnobirthing prep if you are going that route!
This one is something I realized made a difference even though I didn’t think it would. By the third trimester I was well past the point of trying to make my regular clothes fit. I was in leggings constantly feeling bigger than ever and was not motivated to go shopping for maternity clothes. I didn’t want to spend money on it because I was not going to need it in a month or two- or three. But I realized that my self esteem was taking a huge hit. I expected to be “pregnant and glowing” and felt nothing but uncomfortable, a mess, and just not myself. It wasn’t until I got “dressed up” for my first son's birthday party that I realized how much better I felt by wearing something that made me feel beautiful. I then decided to bite the bullet and get a few more maternity pieces. I even found some inexpensive items at a thrift store! Listen, I get it- there are going to be a lot of days where you are lounging around the house in your pajamas. But trust me, you won’t regret this decision to dress up from time to time!
I wish I had done this more, specifically the second time around. I had a lot less time to just bask in being pregnant, or run around and do whatever I wanted to do. It was harder having another child to take care of and I couldn’t just focus on myself like the first pregnancy. I'm a very self-sufficient person, and if you’re like me we tend to have a hard time delegating our tasks or asking for help.I felt like my husband was already taking on more while I was pregnant. He was getting the groceries, doing dishes, carrying the loads of laundry. So when it came to everything else, I wanted to do it all myself and sometimes things became overwhelming. Commuting to work, caring for my other child, cooking dinner, putting laundry away, the list never ends. I should have reached out more to my family and friends to help me have a day to myself from time to time. Get my hair or nails done, get a prenatal massage, or even just have time to myself at home doing absolutely nothing. My husband was very encouraging in trying to get me to pause and do things for me. Having a supportive partner makes a huge difference! However I’m too stubborn for my own good and I passed up on his suggestions to get tasks done. In hindsight, I see the value in prioritizing my self care. Please don’t make this mistake, your people who love you want to be there for you. Don't feel guilty for not being able to do it all!
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My husband enjoys being involved in my pregnancy in any way that he can. Especially when it comes to touch! A great way for us to stay connected throughout the pregnancy was him applying SKNMUSE Body butter on my bump (and wherever else we saw fit). When the baby was big enough to feel, it was also a beautiful bonding moment for him and our little active nugget to connect. It was also nice to have his hands take some pressure off of the bump when lifting it up a little. This form of intimacy is also great for high risk pregnancies where physical intimacy may be limited.
As moms/ moms to be, we tend to prioritize everyone and everything over ourselves. It’s important to remember that our self care needs are valuable also, even if it is just a small gesture. Taking care of yourself can only help the good that you feel inward radiate out towards others. This life long job comes with a lot of sacrifice, so make sure to remember these tips in your day to day to ensure that you are taking at least a few moments just for you.
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