How to Prevent Pregnancy Stretch Marks

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 and 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 very healthy diet to nourish your skin (and your baby) from the inside out. Take your prenatal vitamins and eat the right amount of calories from healthy foods which provide plenty of calcium, protein, whole grains, and vitamin rich fruits and vegetables.
• Drink eight or more glasses of water and/or other fluids daily to hydrate your skin and maintain elasticity.
• Follow guidelines for gradual weight gain, in the recommended amount. This should be about 25-35 pounds if you're a healthy weight, slightly more if you're underweight or expecting twins and slightly less if you're overweight. The faster you gain weight during pregnancy, the more likely it is you will get stretch marks.
• Moisturize your breasts, belly, sides, lower back, thighs, legs and anywhere else you think you might get stretch marks at least morning and night if you wish. Creams and lotions have not been medically proven to prevent stretch marks as they cannot penetrate to the deep skin layer where stretch marks occur, but they can help your skin to feel less dry and itchy. Proper exfoliation of the skin also helps promote new and healthy skin growth. Cocoa butter, almond oil and Shea butter are marvelous choices. Also wheatgerm oil. If you can find pure Lanolin, it works very well. If you notice itching where your skin is being stretched, that is a sign to add more moisturizer in that area. A good over the counter treatment for stretch marks is Zenger's Stretchmarks. It contains high grade glycogen acid and medicinal botanical extracts that help to erase the marks quickly without causing any irritation or itching.
• Continue regimen after you deliver until you're back to your target weight -- rapid weight loss can also result in stretch marks!