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When I first got pregnant, I really didn’t have a clue about what types of skincare products were safe to use. Who knew that having a baby would make me so much more passionate and aware of what I’m putting into my body and on my skin? Not trying to be preachy, just hear me out…
I’ve been a natural skincare junkie for a few years now, but the whole pregnancy thing was new to me and the topic of skincare products doesn’t typically come up at your prenatal appointments. Even if you know to ask about skincare products, there’s a good chance your doctor may not know all of the ingredients to avoid. The best doctors to ask about skincare are dermatologists, but as always, don’t be afraid to do your own research!
Even though I choose mostly natural and organic products, that doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily safe during pregnancy. So, I took to the internet to do my own research and make decisions that felt safe for both me and babe. Since I was basically clueless about pregnancy and skincare, I thought I’d share my findings in hopes that it may help you make informed decisions. Here we go!
P.S. Get my FULL list of products in my Beauty Shop Page
Your skin is one giant organ; everything it comes to contact with gets passed through your bloodstream and therefore down to your baby through the placenta. Babies are very sensitive and studies show that using some anti-aging skin products such as retinol and vitamin A during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, so it’s best to avoid these ingredients. But, the list doesn’t just stop there.
Since I’m not a doctor, I thought I’d share some articles that helped me make informed decisions regarding my skincare routine while pregnant. Remember to do your own research and talk to your doctor, too!
Below is a general list of skincare products you should try and avoid during pregnancy. That being said, we can’t all be perfect, but it’s good to pay attention to labels when purchasing soaps, shampoos, conditioners, laundry detergent, hairspray, dish soap, lotions, perfumes, and basically anything that comes into contact with your skin! These are ingredients that are so called no-nos during pregnancy:
Most laundry detergents out there contain unnecessary chemicals and synthetic fragrances that are not only harmful to your skin but also to the environment and the air we breathe. Branch Basics has an amazing article to reference that explains why it’s best to switch to a non-toxic laundry soap.
Years ago, I made the transition to non-toxic cleaning products in our home using the Branch Basics starter kit. I now exclusively use Branch Basics products, which are biodegradable, plant-based, non-toxic and yes — actually work! Basically you just mix water with their concentrate based on the bottles they send you in the starter kit. Everything in the kit is plant based, and all ingredients are rated an A or B by the EWG. I also use their laundry detergent and oxygen boost in laundry and LOVE it. It gets all my stains out including wine. Highly recommend. Use the code ‘AMBITIOUSKITCHEN’ for 15% off your first order!
As mentioned above, I now use all Branch Basics products for cleaning my home, and they’re pregnancy safe. Previously I was using products like Seventh Generation, but found that it didn’t have EWG high rated ingredients. Bummer, but I feel SO much better about using Branch Basics! I’m a super fan, really. I have the starter kit and love it. Use the code ‘AMBITIOUSKITCHEN’ for 15% off your first order!
“Branch Basics is a unique, proprietary blend of plant-derived ingredients that are all natural, fragrance free, non-combustible, non-hazardous, non-fuming, non-toxic, and biodegradable. The ingredients are purified water, coconut oil, fatty acids, minerals and enzymes from edible and seed-bearing plants, sodium bicarbonate.” – the Branch Basics website.
In general, I just tried to avoid using perfume and synthetic fragrances during my pregnancy as much as possible. This is just a personal choice, but I felt like it wasn’t necessary for me to wear.
During the first trimester, it’s best to avoid. You also want to make sure you aren’t bleaching your hair at any point during your pregnancy. I went back to doing biolage and made sure that none of the dyes ever touched my roots (which is why my hair is a lot more dark!). Check out this article for more helpful info on dyeing your hair during pregnancy.
Unless you are sure about the ingredients in your spray tan formula, then it’s best to avoid. Even the self-tanners at home have a lot of unknown chemicals.
I get a lot of questions about this one on Instagram. I made the switch to more natural deodorants and LOVE them. They’re safe and actually work. Since some conventional deodorants contain aluminum, parabens, and phthalates, you may want to consider the switch, too!
Surprisingly and lucky me, I haven’t had an issue with stretch marks during pregnancy — that I can see, anyway! Obviously keeping your skin hydrated is essential; not only does that mean drinking plenty of water, but also eating nourishing and hydrating fruits and veggies, and of course, a cream or oil won’t hurt. I highly recommend these products:
Less is more! You don’t need to spend a ton of money on products to make your skincare routine effective. I’m a skincare junkie so I love buying and testing new products (so I can share them with you!) but frankly keeping it simple is perfectly fine and probably best for a nice, clear complexion that glows.
For your face, I recommend using the following: good facial cleanser, vitamin C serum, a moisturizing cream and a facial oil.
Again, while I use all of the products mentioned in this post, it doesn’t mean you need or should go out and buy ALL of them.
I hope you found this pregnancy skincare post helpful. Feel free to share it with mamas to be and leave a comment below with your favorites! xo.
Head over to my Beauty Shop Page to see all my other favorite products.
P.S. Don’t forget to check out our Ambitious Mama category which houses everything pregnancy and baby related including: baby registry, pregnancy books I’m reading and my first trimester, second trimester and third trimester posts (from baby #1) and first trimester and second trimester posts with baby #2. I didn’t do any posts with baby 3 because well… I was tired 🙂
Disclaimer: Please consult your doctor before trying new products.
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By utilizing a weekly meal plan, you can ensure you and your family are maintaining healthy eating habits, exploring new recipes, and ultimately — saving time (and money!) in the grocery store and kitchen each week.
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Weekly Meal Plan
Please note the grocery costs are only an estimate based on the recipe’s serving size and on ingredient prices of a local grocery store. The generated shopping list above includes items like spices and other pantry staples you most likely have on hand, so we have left them out of the grocery estimate. To keep costs down and streamline groceries, refer to any Meal Plan Suggestions listed in blue above.
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When planning pregnancy, the height and the weight of both the mother and father is equally important. Back in those days, only women come to fertility treatments but now even men accompany their wives and come to treatment together which is something I appreciate.
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● Dr. Deepthi Jammi is the Director of “Jammi Scans” (Formerly Chennai Women’s Clinic & Scan Center) located in T. Nagar, Chennai.
● She is a Gynaecologist and an expert at performing pregnancy scans.
● She has a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Fetal Medicine. Over a period of 12 years,
she has performed over 100,000 pregnancy ultrasound scans.
● Her core skill set is to help women conceive, have a safe pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby (in collaboration with OB/GYNs).
● At Jammi Scans, we have the facility to perform various scans like Early pregnancy scan, NT scan to detect Down syndrome, Anomaly scans to detect any abnormalities in fetal development.
● Dr.Deepthi has successfully managed many mothers requiring advanced interventional procedures such as Amniocentesis, Fetal Reduction, NIPT, Intrauterine Blood Transfusion (IUT) and Chorionic Villus Sampling.
To know more details about Jammi Scans
English Website – https://www.jammiscans.com/
Tamil Website – https://www.jammiscans.in/
Address
“Jammi Scans” (Formerly Chennai Women’s Clinic & Scan Center)
16, Vaidhyaraman Street, Parthasarathy Puram, T.Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600017
Opposite BJP Office, First Right Opposite Hindi Prachar Sabha.
Phone: 7338771733 / 7904513421 / 044-43594620
Mail: management@jammiscans.com
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All the information provided by Jammi Scans (Formerly Chennai Women’s Clinic and Scan Center) and/or Dr.Deepthi Jammi (henceforth called the CREATORS) through its video, blog series is strictly for informational purposes only, and all content, including text, graphics, video, images, and information, contained on or available through its digital platforms are only general information about gynecology, obstetric ultrasound scan services, practices, and standards, and the same is intended for information purposes only.
Any video, audio, or text content is not intended or implied to be a substitute for
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Halloween is just around the corner, and while I won’t be handing out any spell books, I will share a little witchcraft for building meals that actually work in real life. 🪄
One of my clients was struggling recently. Between long workdays and late nights caring for her sick pup, she didn’t have the time or brainpower to cook elaborate meals. She wanted something simple:
✅ Quick to put together
✅ Made with ingredients she already had on hand
✅ Actually filling and nutritious
We pulled out the Nerd Fitness Balanced Plate guide, which is a great framework, but when you’re brand new, it can still feel like staring into a bubbling cauldron wondering what do I add next?
So let’s break it down like a proper witch’s brew…err, meal. 🧹
Start with your anchor: chicken, lentils, eggs, Greek yogurt, beans, etc.
We start with protein because:
A) most people we work with are on the low-end of protein requirements,
B) it’s filling and helps with recovery/muscle-building 💪 .
Next, it’s time to add fruits and veggies to the brew.
Generally, I try to pair this with whatever protein I picked in step one, but use whatever you have available.
Hamburger? Add pickles, lettuce, tomato, fruit on the side, etc.
Fajita chicken? Pile on salsa, lettuce, peppers, onions, etc.
Lentils & beans? Roast a tray of veggies to go alongside.
And this doesn’t have to be fresh, either!
Frozen and canned fruits and veggies are great options, especially in a pinch when you are throwing a meal together!
We always have a few cans of green beans, frozen veggie mixes, and frozen fruit (wild blueberries are our favorite) on hand at our home.
The potion really starts to come together when we add in the starchy carbs!
Pasta, rice, potatoes, bread, tortillas, etc.
A portion-size about ¼ to ⅓ of a dinner plate is the sweet spot for most people.
Note: I consider myself a connoisseur of microwave baked potatoes. 😂 My wife can hand me a potato and just by the feel of it, I can tell her how long to microwave it for.
8-minutes is the general starting point for a medium-large potato.
If it’s smaller, start with 6 ½ to 7 minutes, and for GIANT ones, you may need to go all the way up to 10 minutes!
I’m available to rent for parties where lots of microwave potatoes are to be had! 😜
And finally, the finishing touches: sauce, cheese, avocado, dressing, oil, nuts or seeds, etc.
This is the dollop that ties it together. That’s usually 1-2 Tablespoons of oil/butter, a small palmful of nuts or seeds, or about ½-1 full avocado, etc.
Note: You can find conversion charts for portion sizes of common ingredients HERE.
— Want to try this? Next time you eat one of your go-to meals, pause and run it through the potion steps:
And because I know real life is messy (kids, work, exhaustion, you name it), here are a few go-to “potions” from my own family when time and energy are at zero:
No magic required. Just a simple formula you can cast again and again.
You’ve got this!
-Matt
P.S. I’ve started collecting photos of meals that fit the “balanced plate” concept. Send me yours and I’ll put them all together in a package for everyone to share. 💪
P.P.S. The video link in last week’s email was broken 😱 . Here’s a fixed one.
Delicate slices of golden potatoes are layered with gooey cheddar cheese, creamy sauce, cubed ham, and sautéed garlic and onion in this Scalloped Potatoes and Ham casserole.
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Cheesy scalloped potatoes and ham are a classic combination!
Scalloped potatoes and ham are two holiday favorites. So why not put them together in ONE fantastic casserole?!
“These are awesome!! My neighbors absolutely LOVE them and so do I.”
— Debbie —
You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.
Soften the Aromatics. Cook onion and garlic in butter. Turn off the heat and stir in the milk, broth, salt and pepper.
Slice the Potatoes. Use a mandoline to make it EASY. Toss the peeled and sliced potatoes in flour.
Assemble. Spread one-third of the potatoes in a casserole dish. Layer milk-broth mixture, followed by ham, and cheddar cheese. Repeat and end with cheddar.
Bake. Bake scalloped potatoes and ham, covered, at 375 degrees F for 35 minutes, then uncover and bake 25 minutes more. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and then broil until golden and bubbly. Let stand. ENJOY!
Turn leftover scalloped potatoes and ham into breakfast! Serve a fried egg on the side or right on top.
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I got a great follow-up question to my recent newsletter about “What does enough fitness look like?” 🧐 And I thought it may help you, too.
“…in the email, you recommended a 5-minute daily flexibility check-in to check-in with how your body is feeling, and you mentioned a few exercises. Could you speak on that more?”
Don’t worry, I got you! 🙌 Let’s lay a couple of quick ground rules:
1) This isn’t an exhaustive list for mobility or flexibility. And depending on your specifics needs, you may need a more personalized program or some additional flexibility work. (For example, recreational golfers I work with often need a LOT more internal hip rotation, whereas nursing moms need help with thoracic spine mobility, etc.)
2) There isn’t a “magic” formula. These exercises DO, however, cover a lot of ground in 5 minutes. This small daily habit can help you catch problems before they turn into bigger ones. If you know your hip feels wonky one day when it didn’t the day before, you can be more aware of that as you go through your workout, etc.
3) If something feels sketchy, it is sketchy. Since I’m not there in your body right now, please know that I give this advice to ALL my clients. If something doesn’t feel right or produces pain, stop. Trust your instincts on what feels good to you. You may need a different set of exercises, or some additional help. ❤️ With that out of the way, let’s dig into the exercises themselves! Oh, and I shot a follow-along video going through these in detail. I’ve found watching an exercise to be way easier than reading about how to do one. 😅 (Though I’ve left notes on each one for easy reference as well!)
Perform 5 to 10 repetitions.
Points of performance:
Perform 10 to 20 repetitions.
Points of performance:
Perform 10 to 20 repetitions each side
Points of performance:
Perform 20 to 40 repetitions
Points of performance:
Perform 5 to 10 repetitions each side
Points of performance:
—
And there you have it! In these quick 5 movements, we cover:
That’s pretty darn good if I say so myself! 🔥
But, we can do even better.
So I filmed two bonus movements to help my desk warriors out there combat sitting in a chair all day as well. 😃
One final thought: don’t discount the impact of 5 minutes of daily movement. All too often, I see people saying something to the effect of: “But I was ONLY able to do XYZ.” Not only. You did the thing. Every action adds up.
Hope this helps give you some ideas and get you moving! 🙌
– Coach Matt
P.S. Looking for a more personalized mobility and flexibility program written by one of our world-class Nerd Fitness Coaches? Book a call this week and mention “Rebellion” for $50 off your first month of coaching. We have no contracts, no hidden fees, and you can cancel at any time. We only want you to stay if it’s ACTUALLY working for you!