Living and Loving – September 2019

DRINK
Yourbumpisgetting
biggerandnowitfeelsasif
you’rewearingabristlywoollyjersey
nexttoyourskin.Nosoonerhaveyou
hadagoodscratchthantheirritationcreeps
back.Infuriating?Yes,butconsideringyourskin
isstretchingbeyonditscomfortzone,it’sanormal
feeling.Itchingtypicallystartsataround 28 weeks,
whenyourbumpisreallystartingtoshowandyour
oestrogenlevelsarehigh,increasingdrynessand
sensitivity.Helpyourskinbykeepinghydrated
anddrinkingaminimumof1.6Loffluidaday.If
you’refindingwaterhardtoswallow,trynon-
caffeinatedfruitteas,ormunchonchunks
offruitandvegwithahighwater
content,suchaswatermelon
andcucumber.

pregnancy & birth

16 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | L&L

Natural solutionsforthis common

regn ncy complant.

REACHFOR

COCONUT

It’snature’sown

moisturiser.Keepajar

handytosmoothover

yourbump,andsoothe

thestressofyour

stretchingskin.LL

ITCHY BUMP,

sorted!

OPT FOR OATS

Oatmeal is an age-old remedy for

itchy, irritated skin, and making

your own bath soak is easy. Simply

place a handful of whole oats in

the centre of a muslin square and

tie closed with string. Pop this in the

bath, along with a spoonful of olive

oil. Beware of the extra-slippery bath

surface as you climb in and out.

GONATURAL

Anitchybumpwillbenefit

fromcool,looseclothing–at

nightaswellasduringtheday.Close-

fittingtopsinsyntheticfabricssuchas

polyesterandacrylicarelikelytoleaveyou

hotandclammy,worseninganysymptoms.

Instead,choosefabricsmadeofnaturalfibres,

suchasorganiccottonorsilk,whichare

lightweightandbreathable.Athome,relaxin

anaturallyhypo-allergenicBambooRuche

Top,R400fromyummymaternity.com,

whichislongenoughtocoveryour

bumorrucheupandwear

withjeans.

KEEP COOL

A cool shower can bring instant

relief. Or make a cooling spritz

from two parts rose water

and one part plain, filtered

water − keep it in the

fridge to spray lightly

over your bump as

needed. Refrigerate

your body lotion,

too. Avoid strong

detergents and

perfumes, and choose

soap with a mild

pH. Apply plenty of

moisturiser within three

minutes of bathing or

showering to lock in moisture.

WORDS

ANDREA OAKES/BAUER SYNDICATION

PHOTOGRAPHY

GALLO IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK