Postpartum skincare tips: from preventing melasma to improving sleep hygiene

Whether you are a new mother or not, having a baby is a new chapter in your life, and there can be a lot of doubt and uncertainty. In the end, what you're looking for is some basic postnatal advice. As Quisqueya Province, a doctor specialising in breastfeeding, explains, "Postpartum is a rupture of identity, a rediscovery of ourselves, it brings with it fears, doubts and, as if that weren't enough, there's that 'hormonal rush' that makes us hypersensitive to both the good and the not-so-good".

According to midwife Carla Quintana, better known on Instagram as @matronaparami, "misinformation or, on the contrary, over-information" can work against you at this time. Both experts respond to the most common concerns with the sole aim of helping and guiding you through this time in your life.

What is pregnancy melasma? Causes and symptoms

During pregnancy, it is common among women for blemishes to appear on the face, especially around the eyes and on the cheeks. This is known as gestational melasma. 

And what are their causes? 

High levels of oestrogen and progesterone stimulate melanin production, leading to skin hyperpigmentation. However, not all pregnant women are affected. 

What really matters: how to prevent it

"The basic advice for melasma is prevention. Use sunscreen every day, regardless of the season or temperature. If it's a habit that everyone should do, even more so if you're pregnant, as you're more prone to spots," says Carla Quintana, midwife and founder of @maternify_matronaparami. Once they appear, "it's important to be patient and wait for them to disappear little by little. However, you can use special creams" to speed up their disappearance if you want.

Breastfeeding: misinformation and social pressure

There is a public debate about breastfeeding and widespread pressure to bottle feed. "We live in a society that does not understand that a mother chooses to breastfeed and wants to fight for it. We are often infantilised by being constantly reminded that we can bottle feed. And of course, we know that it is an option, but if we have made a conscious and informed choice to breastfeed, I think it is a choice that should be respected," says Dr Quisqueya Province.

Support groups and empathy for other mothers

"The first advice I would give a pregnant woman is the importance of information. Go to an antenatal group where the basic mechanisms of breastfeeding and possible problems are explained or ask the midwives at your health centre about breastfeeding workshops", she adds. In her case, her own experience as a mother led her to become a breastfeeding counsellor. "I realised that after so many years of training as a doctor, my knowledge of breastfeeding was minimal, as was that of other colleagues in the profession," she says. 

The breastfeeding groups are organised by midwives or breastfeeding counsellors, whose main aim is to answer possible breastfeeding problems. Such as latching or lack of weight gain in babies, "but these groups go much further," says a doctor specialising in breastfeeding. "They are meetings for women to share fears, concerns and doubts. She concludes that a safe environment where they can let off steam is so necessary in our society where parenting is such a solitary experience".

Exhaustion or lack of sleep as part of the process

For midwife Carla Quintana, being prepared can help deal with this situation. "There are no good or bad babies; they can sleep more or less, and most of the time, they wake up a lot because they have tiny stomachs. They digest very quickly, and to survive, they need to eat and be alert," she says. "It is exhausting at the beginning, but you have to think positively, rely on your partner (if you have one) and seek the support of family or friends," she points out from her experience as a professional but also as a mother. 

Trying to rest when the baby does or adopting their schedule is a common refrain, but in real life, "it's not that easy, although we can try to take advantage of some of their rest periods. It also helps to be well nourished and hydrated and to take a walk to clear your head and get out of the mental loop we can get into when we are alone," she says.

Why is sleep hygiene important?

For Quintana, paying attention to sleep hygiene will always be positive, but "within the realities of the situation". Sleeping twelve hours straight when your baby is a week old is not feasible. But trying to maintain a routine when we do is always helpful. 

Tips to help improve sleep:

• Always go to bed in the dark and silence.
• Avoid watching television or mobile phone screens hours before going to bed.
• Do not consume stimulating foods and drinks.

Hair loss after pregnancy - a common occurrence after childbirth

During pregnancy, your body goes through a hormonal revolution affecting your body and hair. If your hair is stronger and shinier during pregnancy due to placental hormones, your hair often weakens and falls out after giving birth. 

Despite being (more or less) unavoidable, there are tips to help minimise hair loss:

• A good diet rich in fruit and vegetables.
• Combing and treating your hair gently and delicately.
• Avoid using hairdryers, flat irons and other heat appliances that can be very aggressive.
• Do not wear your hair in ponytails or buns, which can damage it.

The most important thing to remember in this new phase of your life is that you are not alone. Cliché as it may sound. Even if you think you are or that it's inevitable, you're not. Lean on your loved ones or other mothers who are going through what you are going through. And, of course, never forget to take care of (and love) yourself.