The minute you find out you are pregnant you know things are going to be changing, from your waist size to those little stretch marks that pop up. Stretch marks are exactly that, red or purple marks left in your skin because it has stretched. The most common areas for it to appear is the buttocks, thighs, stomach, breasts and even arms. 90 percent of all pregnant women will get them, whether they get a lot or a few depends on the body and how they are preventing them.
There are a ton of lotions out there that claim to help prevent stretch marks, such as scar serum, cocoa butter or Maderma. Make sure your skin is always moist, this helps in stretching the skin and not tearing it. There are new discoveries every day, ask your doctor what he/she recommends. Try them out yourself first and see if they work for you. This isn't something you just put on one time during your pregnancy, you'll have to make this a daily effort in order for it to work. That's where most women fail, they just stop doing it.
During your pregnancy try to eat healthy and stay in shape. This can help to keep off any access weight. The recommended weight gain for the average, 25-35 healthy pregnancy is 25-35 pounds. Make sure you drink plenty of water, staying hydrated helps keep the skin healthy. The moment your skin dries out you can begin getting stretch marks.
If you've had one or more children your chances of getting more stretch marks will increase. Your skin has already been stretched out and you are about to do it again. Large babies and multiple babies can increase your chances of getting stretch marks too. Begin using preventing creams and lotions with vitamins A and E in them, as soon as you find out your are pregnant and try to lessen your chances of getting them.
After the pregnancy if you have any stretch marks you may still have a few stretch marks, even after all the care you took. These do fade over time, so don't worry about the way you look. If they are unbearable to you and you've waited a while, you can choose to have a tummy tuck or laser removal. Make an appointment with a dermatologist to see what he/she has to tell you. You may discover that you can live with them after all.
Besides caring for your skin daily and eating right, there isn't much you can do to prevent these beautiful pregnancy marks, however this doesn't mean you don't have to try. Take comfort in knowing that half the woman you know that have been pregnant probably have a mark or two, they may even have a little road map. Think about it as you've just been initiated into the gang of motherhood. No woman should ever feel ashamed of her stretch marks, they may not be the prettiest thing in the world but they do represent one thing...your child. Remember that the next time you are getting disgusted by them.
Millions of mothers worldwide have stretch marks. These typically occur during pregnancy, when the skin is stretched for a long period of time. Stretch marks can be a very emotional experience for some women, especially new mothers who are experiencing high levels of stress and emotions. Fortunately, these marks fade over time for most women.
There are several theories that abound regarding why and who get stretch marks. If a woman has been small and skinny all of her life, she may be prone to getting stretch marks. Women like this have skin that cannot easily stretch and the sudden weight gain of pregnancy causes the skin to mark. Some medical doctors agree that stretch marks are mostly a genetic issue and we cannot do much to prevent this problem.
Some women claim that cocoa butter or another specific lotion used on the stomach during pregnancy can prevent stretch marks. However, there are very few studies that have backed up these claims.
Women who have stretch marks have many treatment options available to them. But it would be prudent to speak to a medical doctor prior to treatment. This is especially important if the woman is breastfeeding. Some of the creams and ointments have strong chemicals that can soak into the skin and into the breast milk, thereby causing the infant to digest the chemicals. This would also apply for pregnant mothers. These same chemicals can affect the infant in the womb.
A very important and smart way to try to prevent stretch marks would be to watch your diet while pregnant. During this time in your life, eating healthy food is very important, but you don't want to gain too much weight. This can be bad for your baby and for you. Your medical doctor can help you to determine a nutritious meal plan and give you guidance as to how much weight you should gain. It is most important to get adequate nutrition for your unborn child. But if you gain too much weight, your system can be stressed. Your stretch marks will be darker and more severe if you gain weight too quickly.
If you decide to try a cream developed to fade stretch marks, it is important to pick a cream made by a company that you trust. It is best to initially try gently, non-prescription creams and ointments. And remember to always discuss this with your medical doctor prior to using any new product if you are breastfeeding or pregnant.
A few of the common ingredients found in most stretch mark prevention creams and ointments are Vitamin E and Cocoa Butter. Vitamin E has been proven to encourage cell growth and healthy skin. It is easily found as an oil, which has been claimed to be excellent stretch mark prevention. Cocoa Butter has been used for centuries. One of its chief uses is to help prevent scarring and to help the scars heal. Cocoa Butter is considered very safe and quite inexpensive, compared to many other treatments that you will find on the market.
Some women resort to laser therapy and surgery if creams do not eliminate their stretch marks. However, these methods are quite expensive and you will need several sessions of laser therapy to be effective. Surgery carries risks like any other operation. These options simply aren't feasible or practical for most women.
For many women, stretch marks can be worn like a proud warrior wears his scars. These have been attained by going into battle, which no doubt many women would agree childbirth is similar to. But the end result is a wonderful and cherished life. You can choose to try to prevent them or to fade them but rest assured, these marks will lighten over time.
Both Julia Sullivan & Michael Russell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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