When you’re pregnant, it’s not uncommon to want to make up for swollen ankles and other less desirable symptoms with a fresh face of make up and a new hair ‘do. But keep in mind that the ingredients in your beauty products, if absorbed into the skin, may reach the placenta and could pose a risk for your new baby. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on looking glam until post-birth. Just be sure to steer clear of the below, and, if in doubt of a product’s safety, ask your doctor.

Skip it: Hair dye Expecting new moms should try to avoid dying or chemically straightening their hair when pregnant, as the ammonia fumes could harm a new baby during the first three months of pregnancy. If you must change your color or touch up your roots, do so after the first trimester in a well ventilated space, and ask the stylist to avoid touching your scalp with the chemicals.

Skip it: Nail polish

The phthalates in nail polish have been linked to birth defects, so it’s best to wait until after the first trimester to get a manicure or pedicure, when the risk to your new baby is much lower. Acrylic nails should also be avoided when expecting. Need some color before then? Reach for a phthalate-free nail polish instead.

Skip it: Hairspray

Hairspray also contains phthalates, and considering you spray it by your face, it’s very easy to breathe it in. Instead, keep your hair in place with a mousse or gel during your pregnancy.

Skip it: Acne creams

Expecting new moms should avoid prescription acne medications, as they can increase the risk of birth defects. If pimples pop up during your pregnancy, try to use a gentle face wash and switch to oil-free makeup. If that doesn’t work, ask your doctor about what acne face washes may be safe for your new baby.

Skip it: Teeth whitening products

The jury is still our on whether the peroxide, the active ingredient in teeth whiteners, is safe during pregnancy, so it’s best to skip this one. If your pearly whites aren’t looking so, well, white, use a brightening toothpaste instead. And don’t forget to floss and brush regularly during pregnancy. Good dental hygiene is good for your smile and for your new baby’s health.

It’s not always easy for new moms-to-be to give up go-to beauty routines, but keep in mind that sporting your natural hair color or not-so-perfectly-white teeth is best for your new baby. For now, skip the scary stuff and wear your pregnancy glow instead.

It’s normal to worry about the sun’s harsh rays, but you could go stir-crazy if you don’t get outside every day. Fortunately, it’s not hard to protect your baby’s skin.

Dress for success. This means breathable, loose-fitting, long-sleeve cotton pants and shirts. Don’t forget to cover her head with a wide-brimmed hat, too. It's important to keep the sun's ultraviolet radiation from harming her delicate baby skin.

Load up on lotion. Sunscreen used to be reserved for babies over 6 months of age, but this thinking has changed. Apply baby sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 to 30 liberally over all exposed body parts; reapply after swimming, sweating, or every two hours. It's better to err on the side of caution and overdo it a bit when it comes to preventing sunburn.

Go off peak. The best tip for baby skin care is to stay in during peak hours, which are between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in most parts of the U.S. That might seem like forever, but in reality, most babies are up and ready to go early (Hello, 6 a.m.!). Take a walk first thing, then let her play at home, have lunch and take a nap during peak sun hours. When she wakes up, the sun will be less severe and you can take her out for some fun without worrying about burning her sweet baby skin.

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It’s normal for infants 3 months and younger to go through fussy periods, especially between 6 p.m. and midnight. But if the go-to techniques like feeding, changing, swaddling, and rocking don’t stop your baby’s cry, your little one could be part of the 20 percent of babies who have colic.

Causes of baby colic
If your baby develops colic, or excessive crying, you’ll start to notice it between his second and fourth weeks. His crying will intensify -- rather than trail off -- as the day goes on, and he’ll probably be gassy and alternate between extending and curling up his legs.  

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes baby colic, but these are some possible factors: 

• An immature nervous system

• Trouble with self-soothing

• A medical problem, like a hernia

• Something in your diet irritating his tummy, if you’re breastfeeding

Soothing your crying baby
Perhaps the most upsetting thing about a colicky baby is that often nothing seems to console him. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try. Here are a few tactics that can calm baby colic.  

•Rock him. Rocking or putting your baby in his baby swing with some white noise -- like a vacuum or the dryer -- in the background can sometimes help, since the steady motion can be soothing.  

•Walk with him in his carrier. Like rocking, this motion is comforting, and being close to you might also help him feel better.

•Swaddle him. Wrap your baby in a large, thin blanket. It’ll help him feel warm, cozy, and secure.

•Give him a pacifier. It doesn’t always help, but for some babies, the sucking motion is soothing.

•Rub his back. Lay your baby tummy-side down across your knees and gently rub his back with your fingers, which could release some of the pressure in his stomach.

•Check your diet. If you’re breastfeeding, certain foods in your diet could be causing discomfort for your baby. Milk products, caffeine, cabbage, and onions are all potential culprits, so try omitting them one at a time, over a period of days, to find out if one of them is the real culprit.

Remember, there’s hope!
You might not believe it now, but baby colic doesn’t last forever. By the time your baby reaches the 4-month mark, his colic will likely pass -- and you’ll all be happier!

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Infants can get hemorrhoids, but fortunately, they’re quite uncommon. Hemorrhoids may occur when blood vessels around the anus become engorged from poor circulation. Eventually, they bulge under the strain of a bowel movement and may even bleed.

If you notice bluish coloration around your baby’s anus when she’s having a bowel movement, it might mean she’s pushing too hard. The strain may cause little tears in your baby’s anus, which can cause bleeding.

Grunting or straining while pushing out a stool is normal in young infants. They may become red in the face while passing a bowel movement (BM) as a side effect of pushing too hard. Brief straining or pushing for less than 10 minutes can occur occasionally at any age.

Her discomfort may be caused by constipation. Ask your doctor for the best ways to help relieve your baby’s symptoms.

Photo by Ryan Franco on Unsplash