The pregnant woman’s guide to being sexy
Pregnancy is a miracle. Most moms, or even moms-to-be, will readily agree. Seeing your little one on your ultrasound, feeling their little hands and feet kicking and exploring, and knowing that you are the life security provider you have created are all wonderful feelings we feel during pregnancy.
At the start of my own pregnancy, I was super excited. I had the pregnancy glow and I couldn’t wait to see my tummy start to bulge. And she ever did! By my sixth month, the glow of pregnancy had turned to fever and hot flashes. The extra weight I had put on to support my son was causing back and joint pain, especially when he was sleeping. I felt bloated and my feet swelled up to half a size!
Before I got pregnant, I loved grooming and maintaining 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 very difficult to keep up. When I woke up, the last thing I wanted to do was dress cute. Putting on sweatpants, a T-shirt, and my hair up in a messy bun was so 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 would go out I would get these horrible “Oh, she’s a depressed pregnant woman, poor thing” looks. She hated the feeling and the judgments, so I decided to put my sadness aside and stop being a bum!
Pregnancy is beautiful and it’s time for us to 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? Yeah! Have you ever noticed how when you relax into keeping your eyebrows groomed and let them start growing, 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 neat curve, they instantly clean up and balance your facial features. Gross brows that have grown hairs attract people’s attention and divert that attention away from your other fabulous features.
If your brows are out of shape or have grown to the point of no return, spend $6-8 at a salon to get them plucked. 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-tweezer to pull out any hairs that have started to grow every few days (but DO NOT get happy with the tweezer, barley brows are not pretty). Try this and you will immediately notice the new open space your face has.
2. Lotion up– I know it can be frustrating to bend over to cover yourself with lotion, but it’s worth it. I would suggest using a thick cocoa butter as it is known to diminish or even eliminate stretch marks. Lathering up at least twice a day, in the morning and before putting on your pajamas are good options.
Keeping your skin hydrated with lotion will prevent the itchy irritation that can cause when 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 fast way to feel sexier. Whether you’re around the house wearing boxers or walking in the park, smooth, sexy legs are the best way to declare to your partner or the world that “I’m sexy and I’m not afraid to show it!”
4. Keep your nails groomed– This is a phenomenal way to feel prettier. Having bitten ugly short nails look sloppy. If you have a nail biting problem, try rubbing garlic on your fingers. Trust me, you will lose that momentum pretty quickly!
You don’t even need to spend a lot of money in a nail salon to get your nails done. Just let them grow out a bit (at least to your fingertips) and maintain with a coat of beige or light pink polish. You can even get a French manicure. I also suggest getting a cuticle clipper 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 will usually only run 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 cute, get ready and go out to show 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 cut 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, not hide it under baggy clothes and a shadowy presence. Don’t be afraid to be pregnant and beautiful!