There are many unpleasant side effects of pregnancy, which range from nausea, morning sickness, fatigue, frequent urination, heartburn and yes, stretch marks.
While not all women develop stretch marks, most do to at least some extent. As your abdomen stretches to accommodate your growing baby, your skin stretches and loses its elasticity.
Whether you get stretch marks or not depends upon how much weight you gain. Genetics also plays a role in the process. While some women have almost no stretch marks, others end up looking battle scarred. The red lines are most likely to make their presence known by the sixth or seventh month. Unsightly stretch marks can show up not only on your belly, but your thighs, buttocks and even on your breasts.
Although genetics play a role, there are still some things you can do to help minimize them.
The number one thing you can do is maintain a healthy diet. You certainly don't want to starve yourself, but the recommended weight gain is between 25 and 35 pounds. Of course healthy eating habits are something you will want to for your baby anyway, so this tip is a great one to keep in mind.
You may also want to use a soft body brush to massage the most likely areas for stretch marks.
Drink water. Pay close attention to your body's hydration to help prevent stretch marks. A well hydrated body is much less likely to show the effects of stretch marks.
Your prenatal vitamins are full of all of the essential vitamins to ensure a healthier you and a healthier infant. They also have a full day's supply of vitamin E, which helps to moisturize your skin from the inside.
Lastly, there are an abundance of products on the market that are made specifically to help prevent stretch marks. Look for a topical cream that contains collagen or vitamin E to apply directly to your possible trouble spots.
Tips to help prevent stretch marks by: Anonymous
Your skin is the largest organ of your body and there are some ways to take extra good care of it to help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. Drink water every day so your skin stays hydrated. Eat a healthy balanced diet. Gently massage the skin that is being stretched. Use a high quality skin care creme to help keep the skin collagen healthy and supple. The one I heard about from this website is this special night time cream with natural ingredients like New Zealand Manuka Honey, Avocado extract and Shea Butter:
