skin care during pregnancy | Baby Dribble the Podcast episode 14

Hello and welcome to Baby Dribble, brought to you from Sweet Dreamers HQ by the SweetDreamers team. Baby Dribble is a fun, friendly, and FREE parenting advice “channel” for new and expectant parents and caregivers. We aim to offer knowledge, support, and insight into the wonderful world of parenthood with industry expert guests and medical professionals.

 

Lynda here again, and welcome to this week’s podcast. As you may notice, we’re not in our usual studio today—we’ve taken our podcast on the road and are at the Sandown Park Baby and Toddler Show. Also, we have a very special guest with us. We are joined by Jan from Motherlylove. Jan is here to tell us all about skincare during pregnancy, and we couldn’t be in more expert hands! Jan is a midwife with over 40 years of experience, and she’s here to share her expertise as a midwife, clinician, and aromatherapist. You can find out more at www.motherlylove.co.uk

Jan from Motherlylove is a dual-qualified nurse and midwife, so we are in expert hands here on the Baby Dribble podcast. We’ll be covering everything from perineal massage and stretch marks to our Instagram questions.

Welcome back to the Baby Dribble podcast! As you may notice, we are not in our usual studio today—we have taken our podcast on the road. We are at the Sandown Baby Show, and we have a special guest with us today. We are joined by Jan from Motherly Love. Jan is here to tell us all about skincare during pregnancy, and we couldn’t be in more expert hands. Jan, would you tell us a bit about your background and the Motherly Love brand?

‘My background… Initially, I was a nurse and then I became a midwife. I spent nearly 20 years working in Africa, and when I came back, I discovered I really enjoyed midwifery in the UK. I ended up taking a Bachelor of Science degree in Complementary Therapy at Greenwich University, which helped me understand massage. I also pursued aromatherapy, which was very interesting for me. I realized the potential benefits I could offer pregnant women. We set up a clinic in the hospital I worked at, offering complementary therapy for inducing labor. After I retired, I realized I wanted to focus more on aromatherapy and oils, and that’s how Motherly Love was born. Using natural oils and blending them specifically for pregnancy is great. While anyone can use the oils, the fact that they are safe during pregnancy is the key factor. Motherly Love has now been established for 6 years, and we are expanding into Thailand and Poland, so we are growing!’

Great, thank you, Jan! I know you have a variety of oils, but we wanted to ask you about a few specific oils developed for common pregnancy concerns.

Stretch Marks: How Can We Minimize Them?

‘Stretch marks happen when the skin stretches too quickly, causing the collagen and elastin fibers to break. While you may not be able to prevent them completely, you can help minimize them. I used to tell new moms to use olive oil from the pantry, which wasn’t bad advice, but I learned through my Bachelor of Science degree that high-quality oils absorb better into the skin, improving elasticity. Our skin cells are like bricks, and using moisturizing oils helps them stay flexible. However, mineral-based oils like petroleum or paraffin don’t absorb well—they just sit on top of the skin. So using the right oils makes a big difference!’

Why Do Pregnant Women Get Leg Cramps? How Can We Reduce Them?

‘Leg cramps, restless legs, and swollen feet are common during pregnancy, especially as your baby grows. The extra weight can put stress on your muscles, causing them to spasm—usually at night when they are relaxed. A great way to prevent this is with a gentle foot and leg massage before bed. If you get a leg cramp, try flexing your foot upward to stretch the muscle, then relaxing it before flexing again. This helps ease the pain quickly.’

What Are the Benefits of Perineal Massage?

‘Perineal massage is something that many people don’t like to talk about, but it’s incredibly beneficial. As the baby’s head descends, the perineal area is at risk of tearing. Some women may need an episiotomy (a small surgical cut to the perineum) if the area doesn’t stretch enough. However, massaging this area with a high-quality oil helps improve elasticity, reducing the risk of tearing. It’s best to start perineal massage at 34 weeks, doing it 2-3 times per week.’

What Is Labor Massage? Which Oils Are Best for It?

‘Labor massage is typically a back massage that helps reduce stress and prevent hyperventilation. It helps the body relax, which can actually shorten labor. You can also apply pressure to acupressure points on the lower back, which your midwife can show you. For oils, I recommend mandarin and chamomile, as they are calming and relieve muscle pain. However, clary sage oil should not be used unless you are under the supervision of a trained midwife or aromatherapist, as it can stimulate the uterus.’

Instagram Myth-Busting with Jan

We asked our Instagram followers a series of pregnancy-related questions. Let’s see how they did!

You can avoid stretch marks by moisturizing throughout pregnancy?

95% True / 5% False

‘Yes! While stretch marks are genetic, moisturizing from around 13-14 weeks can help improve skin elasticity and reduce their severity.’

Pregnant women always glow?

68% True / 32% False

‘Not necessarily! While some women experience a “pregnancy glow” due to increased blood flow and hormones, others suffer from dry skin and other hormone-related issues. So, unfortunately, this one is false for some women.’

Sunscreen is bad for pregnant women?

20% True / 80% False

‘This is false. Sunscreen is important during pregnancy to prevent skin damage. Just make sure to choose a high-quality, pregnancy-safe sunscreen and avoid prolonged sun exposure.’

Final Thoughts

Thank you to everyone who participated in our poll! We hope these answers help clarify common pregnancy myths. And of course, a huge thank you to Jan from Motherly Love for joining us today!

Thanks again, and bye for now!