One of the most dreaded aspects of pregnancy is stretch marks. Stretch marks are lines that appear over the belly and sometimes on the breasts, hips, or buttocks during pregnancy. They mean the skin has been stressed by stretching. Between 75 and 90% of pregnant women develop stretch marks. Stretch marks can appear red, pink, purple, reddish-brown or brown, depending on your skin color. If you are pregnant with multiples, your chances are higher for developing marks due to the extreme stretching your skin goes through.
The chances that you’ll develop stretch marks during pregnancy depend on many things. If your mother or sister developed them, chances are that you will too. Genetics are thought to play a part in whether a woman gets stretch marks or not. It also depends on how much weight you gain and how quickly you gain it.
There are a few things you can try to prevent them, though if you are genetically predisposed, they may show up anyway. Luckily, all the things you can do to prevent stretch marks are also good for you and the baby, so they will be beneficial no matter what.
Eat sensibly. A nutritious, varied diet will provide everything you and your baby needs without adding excess weight. The recommended amount of weight gain for the average pregnancy is between 25 to 35 pounds. A good diet not only makes a healthy baby, it keeps your skin strong and healthy. If your baby grows steadily, your skin may be able to keep pace without damage.
Massage your belly. This increases the circulation in your skin, which may be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It feels good, too.
Be sure you drink enough water. Soda, coffee and other beverage choices are not as wholesome as plain water. You need to keep your body hydrated to make sure your blood volume can expand enough for a healthy pregnancy, and a fully hydrated body is critical to skin health.
Take your prenatal vitamins. They will make sure you get the nutrients that may be missing from your diet. This will keep you, your baby and your skin as healthy as possible.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Begin in early pregnancy and continue through postpartum. Shea butter is a natural moisturizer that has been proven to have healing qualities. Some herbal oils are also very beneficial to the skin. Find one you like and use it liberally. This will support the skin and possibly reduce your chances of developing stretch marks.
Take care of yourself after the baby is born, too. You lose a lot of weight very quickly when the baby is born. The baby, the placenta, the amniotic fluid and other bodily fluids that are lost during birth add up to a substantial amount. Make sure you get enough rest and nutritious foods to support your body through this dramatic change.
Even if you still get stretch marks, they will fade with time. You might want to consider them a badge of motherhood. Wear them proudly.
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