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As we all know, the blessing of having a baby is often accompanied by physiological side effects, and the appearance of stretch marks is one of them.  Since I’m usually all for prevention, I have decided to do everything I can to at least minimize, if not completely prevent, any stretch marks during my pregnancy.  Here are a few things that I’ve learned:

What causes stretch marks:  Stretch marks are caused by the rapid expansion of skin due to weight gain (especially on our breasts, thighs, and tummy) during pregnancy, as well as the hormonal factors that can reduce the skin’s elasticity.  The propensity for stretch marks is also somewhat hereditary, so if your mother and grandmother had them, then you are likely to develop them as well. 

How to prevent stretch marks:  While there is little you can do to influence the above factors, the good news is that there are still a few solutions that can help minimize their appearance.

1. Hydration.  Keeping your skin hydrated is probably the best prevention strategy.  Lotions and creams containing Vitamin E are a great way to keep your skin hydrated and soothe itchiness during pregnancy, and you can find a wide selection of them at any drugstore.  There are also some targeted treatments specifically designed for stretch mark prevention; however, these tend to be more expensive.  It is one of the things that I have decided to splurge on, so I have been using Clarins Stretch Mark Contol cream and have been very happy with it so far: it is rich, but also fast-absorbing, so it keeps my belly skin soothed and hydrated throughout the day.
2. Massage.  You can help your skin’s elasticity by using gentle massage every day as you apply the hydrating cream or lotion recommended above.  Apply the cream or lotion with light, circular movements to your things, hips, abdomen and breasts.  This will help improve circulation and strengthen the skin by lightly stretching it so that it can become more resilient and expand more comfortably.
3. Diet.  Diet can have a great effect on your skin’s elasticity, so making sure that your eating habits are nutritionally sound and that your weight gain is gradual can also go a long way.

Hopefully, by following the suggestions above, we can all prevent or at least reduce the appearance of stretch marks.  And while most stretch marks will naturally fade somewhat after pregnancy, there are also other ways, including prescription creams such as Retin-A or laser treatments, that can help reduce their visibility.

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