Preventing Stretch Marks?

Question

How do you prevent the marks? is there a lotion anyone thinks is best? Anything?

Answer 1

Nobody wants to develop stretch marks, but when you’re pregnant you know that, along with nausea, fatigue, backaches and frequent urination, stretch marks are another distinct, unpleasant possibility. In truth, between 75 and 90 percent of all pregnant women (90 percent of white women) develop stretch marks during pregnancy. Look for the angry red lines to appear on your bulging abdomen, usually during the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. But don’t stop there - there are a few other places you might want to check, too. Unfortunately, stretch marks also can show up on other areas that tend to get larger during pregnancy. These include the upper thighs, buttocks, breasts and even arms, depending on the amount of weight gain, your genetic history, and whether or not you make a concerted effort to prevent stretch marks.

So what can you do to beat the odds and prevent stretch marks? Scientists argue about just what you can do for prevention, but one thing is fairly certain: genetics do appear to play a role in whether or not you are predisposed to getting stretch marks. This means that if your mother got stretch marks during pregnancy, you may be more likely to get them yourself. However, there are some things you can do to limit the possibility of getting stretch marks. Following these guidelines, all of which are good for your overall health and the condition of your skin, will go a long way toward putting the odds in your favor.

Eat a healthy, diverse and balanced diet that keeps your weight gain within the recommended range of 25 to 35 pounds. Excellent nutritional status is vital for your developing baby, but it also contributes to the strength and health of the body’s largest organ: the skin. What’s more, a controlled and steady weight gain, without any wild upward swings, will let your skin stretch at a steady rate without any unexpected jolts.

Use a body brush or wash cloth to massage the areas where you have stretch marks, or want to prevent stretch marks from appearing - this will increase circulation to the area, which may be helpful.

Drink plenty of water. Hydration is important for your overall health and well-being as well as that of your growing baby, and it is critical to healthy skin.

Take your vitamins. This is one more way to ensure proper nutritional status, which is critical for your overall health and well-being, as well as beautiful skin and a healthy baby!

Keep skin liberally and effectively moisturized beginning in the first or second trimester and through your recovery to your pre-pregnancy weight, perhaps with one of the many oils and creams marketed especially for stretch mark prevention. These moisturizers will help keep your skin supple and elastic plus serve as “food” (and vitamin supplements) for your skin. The various vitamins and oils used to create these formulas are designed to help enhance collagen production and support the dermis, to keep skin intact despite the rigorous stretching.

Remember that it is important to take care of yourself during the postpartum period as well. The dramatic weight loss makes your skin susceptible to stretch marks once again. In addition, you certainly need to keep your whole body strong to cope with the stresses of recovery from childbirth and the demanding duties of motherhood.

If you do follow all of these guidelines yet still develop stretch marks, don’t despair. They will fade in time to small silvery lines, and become much less noticeable. Yet for the relatively small price of a few minor imperfections in your skin (and perhaps a few lingering bulges around your midsection), you will have the overwhelming privilege of serving as mother to the tiny, helpless little bundle of joy you hold so gently in your arms. Congratulations on your pregnancy, and best wishes for a healthy baby!

Answer 2

There is no sure-fire way to prevent stretch marks. About 1/2 of women get them, regardless of what they do (moisturizing, diet, etc.) With my first pregnancy I gained about 40 lbs. & I had terrible stretch marks all over my body. Now I am pregnant for the second time & I have no stretch marks. However, with this pregnancy I only allowed myself to gain 25 lbs. I don't know for sure whether or not the weight gain had anything to do with the stretch marks, but I used cocoa butter & other lotions throughout both pregnancies. Once the pregnancy is over, if you did get stretch marks, your dr. can prescribe you Retin A Micro to rub on them (as long as they are still reddish/purple). Cocoa butter & scar treatment creams can also help reduce their appearance. Good luck!

Answer 3

Definitely start using cocoa butter now. They have a lot out there made for pregnant women. I'm 9 months, don't have a stretch mark, and even though I did buy into the $30 bottles at first, Palmer's lotions at $5-$10 work just fine!
The bad thing is, it's partly genetic. If your mom got them, chances are you might, too.
The other essential thing is not gaining too much weight. You could lather up 40 times a day, but if you gain 50+ pounds, your chances of stretch marks increase dramatically.
So, eat healthy, drink lots of water (good for skin elasticity and your baby's skin) and lotion up two times/day!

Answer 4

Stretch marks is inherited I am working on my 4th child now and have none at all I never used lotion or anything my mother and my sister are the same way. So ask your mother if she had gotten them if so good chances you will. It is the elasticity in the skin.

Answer 5

So sorry to say this but there is non.... In my pregnancy I tried them all Palmer's, Medela, Avon, Beauty Control among others and non of them work. Even so, some of them gave me a horrible rash. The only thing I will recommend that did work and moisture my skin is natural aloe. Buy a plant of aloe and cut one leaf. From that leaf cut a small piece (the rest you can save it for later at the refrigerator covering with a paper towel) and take the pulp out and spread that sticky stuff in the place you need the most. Try it, for me, it did wonders.

Answer 6

I read somewhere that stretch marks will happen regardless of how much cream you smear everywhere. They occur in the middle layer of skin, which creams don't reach. It's something to do with hormones they think, which causes the body to not produce enough of the elasticy stretchy stuff inbetween your layers of skin.

They think that eating right, vitamins and minerals, and drinking a lot of water might help, but its all in genetics. If your mom got stretch marks, you are most likely going to get them yourself.

Which absolutely sucks for me, because my mom got them BAD.

Answer 7

Palmer's cocoa butter is quite good, though I used all through my pregnancy, I did not have any stretch marks, it began to show after I had my baby but with constant use of the cocoa butter, it is hardly visible now.

Answer 8

Look at your mother.. does she have stretchmarks? Chances are you're going to have them too... Its genetic...

Keep drinking plenty of water and keep your skin moist with lotion, any type of lotion.. I used body cream.. its thicker....

Good luck! Hope the stretch mark fairy doesn't pay you a visit!

Answer 9

Cocoa butter they say is best but I learned that as long as you keep the belly well moisturized all the time you shouldnt get stretch marks.

Answer 10

Palmer's body lotion for stretch marks. You can get it at most places. I got my at K mart and I know they have it at walmart.