What Are Pregnancy Stretch Marks and How to Prevent Them

Stretch mark is a bonus for your pregnancy whether you want it or not. Stretch marks are red marks that are left in your skin because it has stretched. They most commonly appear at the stomach, buttocks, breasts, thighs, and some occasion even arms! Whether you get stretch marks or not, depends on your body and how you prevent them.

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.

Skin Moisturizers

Stretch marks happen when your skin tears instead of stretches. Therefore it's very important to keep your skin moist. You should keep your skin moist all day long during your pregnancy to make it work. There are a few skin moisturizers that you can try,

I used cajuput oil and it worked like charm! I had no stretch mark. I applied it three times a day: twice after taking showers, and before sleeping. Its only downside is it has strong smell and it may induce morning sicknesses. You can find cajuput oil in many oriental grocery stores.

If you can't find cajuput oil, there are some alternative lotions that may help preventing stretch mark. Try cocoa butter or even highly moisturized and creamy body lotion.

Healthy Diet

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.

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.