“Pregnant women should avoid sweets.”
“Pregnant women should avoid exercise.”
“Pregnant women should avoid cats.”
The list of don’ts seems to greatly outweigh the list of do’s when it comes to pregnancy. There is such a vast checklist of things to avoid that it becomes a wonder the mother can even enjoy pregnancy outside the confines of her own home. This will harm the baby, and that will harm the baby… the list is almost just as endless as it is annoying. The truth is many of these “pregnancy rules” have been ruled out as myths, even the ones mentioned above.
While there are certain things a mother can do during pregnancy that can be labeled as harmful (lifting heavy objects, not getting enough sleep, etc.) there is one particular “don’t” we would like to put to rest. Waxing has been labeled as a big faux pas when it comes to pregnant women and we want to set the record straight.
The Chemicals in Wax are Unsafe – False.
Wax is not absorbed into the skin and therefore cannot harm the unborn baby or mom. Additionally, at Becoming Mom Spa +Ultrasound we use safer, more natural ingredients to ensure the mother is comfortable with what is going on her body. If you have any worry at all about this, talk to your esthetician about your concerns. That’s why we do what we do.
It Will Hurt More – Sort of True
If you ask any pregnant women about their recent waxing experience, they will most likely all have the same response: “Ouch!” You see, a woman’s skin is different when she becomes pregnant, in that it becomes more sensitive and itchy due to the hormonal changes her body (Babycenter.org). This is 100% normal and expected. Now, take that itchy, over-sensitive skin and pour hot wax on it and what is the outcome? Yes, it might be a little more painful than expected, but it is not harmful.
Talk to your esthetician about ways to make this more enjoyable, and before you commit, test it on a small patch of skin to see which one feels better. For example, you can use harder wax for more sensitive areas like the bikini zone or a Brazilian wax. Once you find one that works, stick with it and try not to change it.
Waxing is only Safe in the Second and Third Trimester – False
Pregnant women are encouraged to give up a lot during their first trimester, but waxing is not one of them. Like previously stated, wax is not ingested into the body, so there is no harm for the baby or mom. Even the aroma scare pregnant women are taught to fear (think of nail salons and the acetone in the air) is irrelevant when it comes to waxing. The truth is, many women are unaware of their pregnancy until well beyond the 6th week and have been carrying on with life as they normally would.
Any esthetician will tell you that it actually gets more challenging to do the waxing when the mom is further along due to the obvious protruding belly. As an esthetician I can assure you, many of us are well-trained to handle women in this state from waxing to massage to everything in between. In other words, please don’t try this at home. Estheticians that are trained to handle pregnant women can help with positioning, pain relief, and just make the entire experience more enjoyable (as it should be.)
The truth in all this is simple: waxing while pregnant offers no risk. Aside from the skin being a little more sensitive, the rest is 100% safe. If there are any doubts in your mind regarding waxing while pregnant, I encourage you to speak to an experienced esthetician who has training in prenatal care. He or she will be able to put your worries to rest and even get you on a waxing schedule you are comfortable with. Additionally, some believe that waxing right before labor helps with a post care and recovery. Maybe another myth, but you never know.
