Women who had an angular, well-defined jawline may find that their lower face looks more square-shaped or rounded after pregnancy. As if that was not enough, other women find themselves with hollowed cheeks and gaunt faces once the excess fluids dissipate.
Some pregnant women develop dark irregular patches on their face most commonly on the upper cheek, nose, lips, and forehead. This is called 'chloasma'. It is also sometimes known as 'melasma' or the 'mask of pregnancy'.
Skin Elasticity
During pregnancy, an increase in hormones such as estrogen, relaxin and adrenocortical hormones can cause the fibers in skin to soften, weakening the skin's elasticity and making it more prone to stretch marks.
Motherhood changes you inside and out. After having a baby, your clothing size, breast shape, hip width and even your shoe size might be different. These changes are evidence of the work your body has done.
Fortunately, blemishes and other skin changes that arise during the nine-month prelude to the big event will mostly resolve during the postpartum period. But if you're still having breakouts, dry skin or other skin problems after pregnancy, here's what may be going on and what you can do to pamper your postpartum skin.
When you are pregnant your body produces 50% more blood, resulting in more blood circulation through your body. This increase in blood circulation causes your face to be brighter. Your body is also producing a fair amount of hormones that cause your oil glands to work in overdrive, leaving your face shiny.
Get some new makeup.
It can feel a little overwhelming to buy yet another size of wardrobe. One way to vamp your look up, without breaking the bank on more clothes, is a few new pieces of makeup. A bold new lip, for example, will freshen up your look. Lipstick or tint can wear beautifully on any size, after all!
Getting back into shape after having a baby is hard, even for women who were fit and strong before becoming pregnant, a new study shows. Pregnancy is known to put stress on many parts of the body, including the heart, lungs, muscles and joints.
Your Hips Get Wider
For most women, these enlarged bones go back to their original place by about 18 weeks postpartum, but some women keep the extra girth permanently.
Pregnancy nose is not very common
Not all pregnant women will have bigger noses. Only some women maybe affected. Dr Choudhary says that some women may also notice that the colour of their nose changes to red. This happens due to the changing hormone levels that impact the pigmentation in the skin.
(And realistically…you won't lose weight during pregnancy, but you will probably gain weight around your thighs, face, and arms as your body needs more fat reserves.
As she explains, increasing estrogen levels during pregnancy cause the blood vessels in your nose to relax and dilate in order to increase blood flow, which leads to swollen nose tissue… aka the bigger noses that pregnant moms have been noticing on social media. These changes can also cause: Nosebleeds.
Rest assured, your nose will go back to normal after your pregnancy — but not right away. Dr. Ghadir explains that it typically takes around six weeks after birth for the swelling to subside, which is as the postpartum period is ending and your hormones return to regular levels.
Many women worry about not being able to lose all the weight they gain. However, some people quickly lose more weight than is desirable after giving birth. Rapid or excessive postpartum weight loss may occur due to lifestyle factors or from a medical issue.
You gain weight over 9+ months of pregnancy, so it's normal to take 9+ months to get back your pre-pregnancy body after your baby is born. However, a belly bulge that doesn't go away for months after delivery can be a sign of diastasis recti—a separation of your abdominal muscles.
Your postpartum belly won't instantly go back to how it was before you were pregnant – it's a process that can take months or even years, while some bellies may take on a different shape permanently. Some moms may experience a bulge caused by diastasis recti, a separation of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy.
'Research bears out the fact that most men still find their partners attractive after they've had a baby — sexual chemistry is bound up in so much more than looks — but they will also be aware that their partners are exhausted and they'll tend not to be pushy about wanting sex. '
Some 60 per cent of first-time mums described themselves or their bodies as “ugly” after childbirth. But 89 per cent accepted that the 'baby beauty blues' was only temporary. On average, it was found to last for 12 months, by which point most can regain control over their bodies and their lives.
All those extra hormones swirling around during pregnancy – namely estrogen, progesterone, and hCG – can give your skin a flushed-face look, which contributes to the glow. Increased blood flow. During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by up to 50 percent to support your organs and your developing baby.
Some women experience swelling in the face, lips and gums during pregnancy. These types of swelling are completely normal when you are pregnant. It can start around the time you find out you're pregnant but is more likely to happen in the third trimester.
You may develop a double chin through weight gain, or you may get one as weight is redistributed. Towards the end of pregnancy, double chins generally develop due to the fluid retention – this can stick around even after giving birth. As we age, our skin also loses collagen, which can make it more lax.
Keeping your head covered during the first forty days after birth is a popular confinement practice in many communities. The reasoning behind it is that body heat is lost mainly through one's head and that a new mother needs to preserve her body heat to recover.
Five reasons it's hard to lose weight after baby
Once the initial weight is lost, you'll need more time to lose the other pounds gained: "You will lose water weight and baby, amniotic fluid and placenta weight quickly, but losing fat pounds takes time and commitment."