Personal Care and Grooming During Pregnancy

 

When we're pregnant or have problems with our back or hips, we simply can't bend in the ways that we used to. For instance, I just got my left hip replaced, and I am having to learn to do a lot of things differently because there are certain ways I can't bend right now without risking damage to my implant. The same can go for pregnant women who are on bed rest or are having a hard time navigating their way around certain, um, body parts; things like personal care and bathing can be more difficult. There are, however, several items out there that can make them easier. Many of these things are found in the beauty-aids section of your grocery or drug store. If you can't find them there, you may also be able to find them in the home-health-aid section of the pharmacy.

• EasyFeet. EasyFeet is a home-pedicure system that works like a car wash for your feet. Shaped like a sandal with suction cups on the bottom, has brushes that cleanse your feet and pumice stones that smooth out the dry spots. Things such as this are very helpful for pregnant women and others who have problems bending because it affixes itself on the floor of the shower or tub and allows you to clean your feet well without having to twist into a pretzel. You can get it online and at most 'big-box' and beauty supply stores.
• A long-handled brush or 'pouf'. If you can find one with a brush on one end and a sponge/pouf on the other, that's even better.
• A long-handled razor or razor extender. Few things annoy me more than not being able to shave my legs. Even if it's winter and I'm only going to be wearing pants, the very fact that I can't shave if I want to bothers me. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Luckily, companies such as Kinsman or Etac have created handles that can hold whatever razor you like-electric or manual-to help you reach those calves and ankles that you might otherwise not be able to.
• They might not be sexy, but compression/support stockings are your friend. They have helped me tremendously in terms of swelling in my ankles.
• A long-handled 'claw' tool is very helpful for reaching things that have been dropped onto the floor or are above your head. It's also good for putting on socks, underwear and other 'below the waist' clothing.
• If you are particularly far along in your pregnancy and/or have problems with swelling that make it painful to stand up for very long, you might want to invest in a shower seat. My sister used one when she was pregnant with her twins and it helped her a lot in terms of easing her pain and saving her energy. They are usually inexpensive and found in the health care aids section of the drugstore.

And finally, for the best thing of all-

• The number of a good pedicurist! Being able to groom your own feet and toenails might sometimes prove to be more effort than you're willing or able to put out. Even if it doesn't, it's important to treat yourself every now and then!

As you can see, there are plenty of things that can help you keep yourself scrubbed and beautiful during your pregnancy. To be honest, some of them are better at doing their jobs than anything I used before my surgery! If nothing else, it gives us an excuse to buy new stuff!

How To Bathe A Newborn

Living with a newborn baby has endless learning curves. They rely on you for simply everything. Learning how to bathe a newborn may seem like a trivial task, but for many new mothers and fathers it is something that may take some practice.

How often you decide to bathe your child when they are this young will be up to you. Some parents feels they should bathe them daily, while doctors say this can dry their skin to use caution when doing so. Newborns do not exactly get dirty on a regular basis like older children will as they don't lay on floors, play outside and they don't eat solid foods to get very messy. Their neck, face and diaper areas are the places that will need careful attention paid to.

Deciding what time of day to bathe them is another decision. Most parents go with the evening, as this sets the tone for years to come. Baths at night have a habit of calming kids down and getting them ready to sleep. Use a time that is not very busy in your day and one that you can spend time doing it and enjoy them. Some parents do not even use a tub until the child is much older. They simply sponge bathe the newborn for many weeks. This again, will be up to you. Their umbilical cord will need careful cleaning, and many organizations say it is best to give the baby a sponge bath until that has completely healed up.

After those things have been taken care of, you can down to the cleaning portion! Use very mild soap on your baby as they are prone to rashes at this age. they do not need lathered up in soap or shampoo. Instead, use baby safe products in case they get any in their eyes, nose or mouth to clear it out quickly. Clean their necks well, and their hands, face and diaper areas. Use baby powder if they need it to smell more fresh and to stay dry as well.

You do not need a lot of water to bathe a newborn either. Usually about three inches of water will be suffice, this is plenty to keep their little bodies warm and it can also prevent drowning as well. If you opt to use a baby tub for those beginning stages, make sure you are using it as the package states to. This can keep your baby from getting injured and some even have excellent safety features on them such as stickers on the basin that show when the water is too hot to place the baby in and so on. They are relatively inexpensive and you can use one for months until the baby grows out of it.