Healthy fingernails and toenails are smooth, with an even colour. During pregnancy, most women’s nails actually grow faster due to hormones. Here are a few tips on how to care for your nails.
- Keep your nails clean, dry, and trimmed to prevent ingrown nails.
- Your nails are made from a protein, called keratin, which is derived from high-protein foods such as fish, chicken, meat, eggs and dairy. If your nails start to feel weak and brittle, try including more protein, calcium and zinc-rich foods in your diet. Ensure that you also have lots of fruits and vegetables as well as enough water.
- If you wear artificial (fake) nails, check around the base and sides of the nails for redness, pain, and infection. Bacteria and fungus can grow between the artificial nail and your natural nail.
- Nail care products can enhance the appearance of your hands and feet, however, they can also be harsh and may damage the nails. For this reason, it is advisable not to touch the skin until the polish has adequately dried.
- Since nail polish removers may be irritating to the skin, avoid contact with other parts of the body particularly the face. Wash your hands thoroughly after using the remover.
- If you can afford a professional manicure or pedicure then you can give yourself a treat. However, for these:
o Please wait until you are past the first trimester (13 weeks) before getting a manicure/pedicure.
o Ensure the salon is in a well-ventilated area.
o Ask your manicurist to skip the massage part as some of the strokes that they apply may induce premature labour.
o To prevent infection, it is also recommended to avoid cutting of cuticles.
- You can also give yourself a manicure at home as follows:
o Use a soft emery board to file your nails, in one direction only, in a shape that suits your fingers. The strongest nails are of medium length, filed flat across the top with rounded corners that do not catch on clothes.
o Dip your fingertips in a cup of warm olive or coconut oil to soften and keep the nails supple.
o Rinse and dry your hands; use an orange stick to remove any dirt from underneath your nails.
o Massage in hand cream; wipe any excess from your nails and apply a base coat of nail polish.
