Since before I even dreamed of starting a family, I heard about the pregnancy glow that would descend on the mother to be and garner compliments from her nearest and dearest. I thought I would also be blessed with this glow…
It’s amazing what a makeup artist, good photographer, and a little photoshop can do! This is called the faux glow.
Before I went off the birth control pill, I asked my doctor at the time how my skin would be affected, as I originally went on it to help with my acne. She said that my skin would most likely go back to how it was before I ever went on the pill, but that once I got pregnant, it would clear up again.
One of the reasons I waited almost 10 months after we got married to go off the pill was that I was terrified of what would happen to my skin once I did. Before I went on the pill at 21 years old, my skin was a mess. On the pill, I’d get a pimple here or there, but I usually had pretty clear skin. I didn’t want to go back to the land of breakouts.
Luckily, when I first went off the pill, my skin didn’t erupt into a million zits. It stayed basically the same with maybe a few more pimples here or there, but nothing like I was expecting. Then, my periods became more and more infrequent, I went on Provera, and BAM! Zit central.
Clomid didn’t help, either. Once I got pregnant, I thought the pimples would disappear and I’d get the glow, but no such luck.
That’s a photo of me straight out of the shower with no makeup. You’re welcome, internet.
After my first trimester, the pimples became more infrequent, but still no glow. My skin has remained red and blotchy and I can’t get rid of the dark circles, no matter what I try.
And now that I’m just a month away from my due date, I’m scared of what will happen to my skin after baby TTT arrives and the pregnancy hormones depart.
Did you have a pregnancy glow? How was your skin after baby?
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
No glow, my face looks almost exactly like yours–red and blothchy. I’ve got some purple spots, too.
Still pregnant though. I hope it improves after baby.
I get comments about my “glow” at work–because I now wear makeup. I never used to unless it was super fancy date night.
pomelo / 5720 posts
Ugh. I have never had more pimples in my life as I do now, 17.5 weeks pregnant. I’ve tried benzyl peroxide, changing face wash and lotion… nothing seems to help. I’m going to ask my OB today if there is anything else he thinks I should try.
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
I had a glow near the end of my first pregnancy… now, not so much. I wonder if having a girl or a boy affects the “glow”
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
you look really fab in your maternity pic!
when i was pregnant with charlie, i broke up pretty badly. with olive it was pretty mild. i have to say that since having her, my skin has been great! the best it’s been in years. i don’t know if i had a glow, but i haven’t had a break out at all since the first trimester i was pregnant with olive.
and they say girls are supposed to steal your beauty. in my case charlie stole it!
guest
If you have break outs after breast milk can help. You can use it for mommy and baby if baby has acne. My daughter had baby acne pretty bad I just squirted some on her face a few times and it cleared up. Some companies are even trying to mimic breast milk as an acne medication. It’s because it contains lauric acid. It’s a compound also found in coconut milk
The red blotchiness should also go away. It happens a lot during pregnancy because your blood vessels dialate so that should not be a problem.
I never had a glow during both pregnancies I just looked run down and tired. Especially this last one. Running around after three toddlers while pregnant made me feel rundown and tired so I’m sure I looked the part!
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
You’re beautiful!
I totally had the pregnancy glow. Skin was radiant, soft, and lovely.. SKin post baby is still pretty good.
pomegranate / 3388 posts
My skin has been the worst in my life since getting pregnant, so I’m surprised your doctor said that pregnancy would be good for your skin. The only pregnancy “glow” that I have is from the oil slick that is now my face…
cherry / 146 posts
my skin has never looked better since getting preggers. during my first trimester, my dermatologist gave me a glycolic acid face wash, so i don’t know if it’s just the pregnancy hormones or the face wash (or combo of both) that’s made the difference. i’ve struggled with acne my whole life – had to go on the pill and use retin-A to control my zits. now i’ve only had one zit in the last 30 weeks – amazing! i’m seriously hoping my skin stays this way after baby!!
guest
I love the sans make-up picture! You look great and I haven’t noticed one single pimple on you at all during your pregnancy, serial.
I don’t think I have a pregnancy glow, but I do feel a lot more confident in my body when I’m pregnant and more attractive overall. I don’t know if it’s because I feel stronger and more secure in what my body is doing, or if it’s because it’s the only time where it’s socially acceptable for me to have a big belly whereas normally I wear clothes to hide my belly, I can show it off and that feels gooood. Haha.
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
@Mrs. Bee: haha, thanks… I think…
@Nicole: thanks for the tip!
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
Just want you to know that I definitely never had a glow!
guest
Great picture! I didn’t get a lot of pimples when I was pregnant but had a lot of discoloration – melasma – which I hear is quite common for women of color
and red blotches.
Sadly, the spots did not fade away and seem to be permanent. They’re not too bad but look like large freckles. One of my black girlfriends had it even worse but hers faded away quickly after childbirth. She also had bad acne even though pre and post pregnancy perfectly clear skin. Only a few of my white friends got melasma and it was pretty mild in comparison.
I think it’s just luck of the draw really…
grapefruit / 4291 posts
Loved going off the Pill, hated the fact that my skin has now been a complete mess for twelve months and pregnancy has NOT cleared it up! Here’s hoping that the second trimester improves it…
guest
I glowed! Well at least I had nice skin, I don’t know if anyone who pukes all the time can be called glowy. As soon as I had the baby my skin went back to it’s usual horrid self.
honeydew / 7968 posts
i am almost 35 weeks and i’m still waiting for my glow. you look beautiful, even without makeup!
persimmon / 1465 posts
I had the glow. My skin is usually pretty good anyway but my hair was great too. I have awful hair so it was really nice!
cherry / 116 posts
I think my glow came from all the sweat that was happening to me!
You definitely have a glow and its not the makeup…its in your eyes! You look ravishing!