When the fog clears from the joy and excitement of finding out you’re pregnant, women usually start to fret over the many changes that are soon coming their way. Not only will your entire life change, but your body will too. Yes, being pregnant is a blessing but can we also be honest and say that your body will never be the same again? Yes, you have the honor of carrying your child for 9 months, but you are also rewarded with wider hips, saggy stomach and boobs and even the dreaded stretch mark. It is a widely accepted notion that stretch marks are genetic and there is nothing you can do to prevent them, and it’s estimated that almost 90% of pregnant women will get stretch marks somewhere on their body, even if not on their stomachs. While you are definitely stuck with the skin you’re in, any woman who has an opportunity to prevent stretch marks is going to give it a try, right? To all you women who want to avoid stretch marks, this article is for you. We’ve rounded up 8 strategies you can implement to help keep those stretch marks away!
(Be sure to scroll down for the last one, because it’s a proven method that has worked for me three times!)
1. Stay Hydrated
Since becoming pregnant, your body diverts a lot of what you consume to your baby first, especially water. In order for your skin to retain its elasticity and be able to stretch without scarring, staying hydrated is key. Make sure you drink at least 1/2 as many ounces of water as your weight (for example, 60 ounces if you weigh 120 pounds) and try and avoid caffeinated beverages that will dehydrate you. If water sounds disgusting, sweeten it with fruit! I know of someone who gained tons of stretch marks her first pregnancy and didn’t pay attention to water consumption. Now she is 8 months pregnant with her 2nd and has ZERO new stretch marks. You can bet she is drinking water like it’s going out of style. It’s worth it!
2. Gain Weight Slowly
Your skin is meant to stretch, but gaining weight too quickly does not allow your skin to prepare enough collagen and elastin to support growth. Without these fibers in your skin, you are prone to scarring as the connective tissue underlying the top layer of your skin snaps. Then your skin starts to heal and create scars, known as stretch marks. Give your body enough time to prepare to accommodate your growing baby, by following doctors orders to gain weight slowly. That way, your skin can create the stretching fibers it needs to let your skin to safely stretch over the next 9 months. (Yes, we know it’s hard. That six month always got me!)
3. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is quickly emerging as a wonderful skin product and for good reason, as it can be used everywhere! This stretch mark prevention will help keep the top layer of your skin moisturized and prevent free radical damage. It’s best to apply right after the bath or shower, when your skin is still damp and don’t forget to apply to other areas prone to stretch marks, like your inner thighs and breasts. If you still get stretch marks, coconut oil has been long regarded as a great way to lessen redness and improve the appearance of existing stretch marks. It’s even better if you actually consume coconut oil, because the “good fats” in it help improve the collagen production in your skin!
4. Vitamin C
Whether you eat more fruit or take a supplement, Vitamin C is a must have for pregnancy. It helps your body to produce new skin cells and helps protect your existing ones. With all those new skin cells, your skin’s elasticity will be improved and will be better able to cope with all the upcoming stretching.
5. Zinc
As we’ve discussed, your skin needs ample amounts of collagen to stretch healthily and avoid stretch marks. Zinc is a vital mineral that helps produce collagen in the skin, has antioxidant abilities and thus, important to make sure you consume more of during pregnancy. You can find zinc in lentils, beans, raisin and lean meats.
Source: Amazon
6. Gelatin
Another way to increase collagen in the skin is to consume gelatin, something many Americans don’t consume on a daily basis. You can use a powder gelatin product that doesn’t solid into a gel and add to water or other foods. It’s flavorless so you’ll get all the bonuses of this collagen building product without even noticing!
7. Increase Circulation
Making sure your body’s circulation is working properly is another key strategy to make sure your avoid stretch marks. Exercise is the easiest way to increase circulation, and it also helps keep your weight under control. You can also perform dry skin brushing, or my personal favorite, pregnancy massage to keep your circulation on the move.
I literally swore by this product when I was pregnant with all three of my kids, and I don’t have a single stretch mark. For me, smells are a huge key factor concerning anything I put on my body (strong sniffer!) and I loved this product because not only was it lightweight and non-greasy, but it smelled terrific–which is saying a lot for a woman that spent half of her two pregnancies with her head hanging in a toilet! It runs for $28.99 on Amazon, but this lasted me through an entire pregnancy.
My stomach has yo-yo’d in and out three times and this was the charm that kept me stretch mark free! I promise, if you use it regularly, it will do the same for you! Don’t let people tell you that stretch marks are “genetic” or “unavoidable” — because I am proof that isn’t true. I gained plenty of weight during my pregnancies, and I didn’t work out much either. I did, however, swear by this stuff!