Stretch marks while Pregnancy

A number of women develop stretch marks at various stages of their lives, especially during pregnancy. The best way to combat stretch marks is to prevent their formation.


A number of women develop stretch marks at various stages of their lives. Stretch marks are often related to weight gain. If you put on weight fairly suddenly on any area of your body, you are likely to develop stretch marks.

Stretch marks can thus occur at any time, but they are most common during pregnancy. A woman's stomach stretches greatly to accommodate her growing baby. Her breasts grow as well, thus leading women to develop stretch marks on these areas.


The best way to combat stretch marks is to prevent their formation.

Body Lotion

Apply body lotion all over, not just on your arms. Don't forget your tummy and breasts - they need lotion the most. Don't wait until you are pregnant or until you start planning a baby before applying lotion. Start today. Do this every morning, after a shower. Your pores are still open, they are clean, and will be able to absorb the moisturizer well.


Malai

You could also try something more natural, and apply 'malai' (milk fat) to your body every day. You could do this after applying soap. Smita has been applying malai and haldi instead of soap for years now. And when she delivered, she didn't have a single stretch mark! She is now 48-years-old, and her skin glows to this day. For those of us who cannot conceive of taking a shower without soap, using a moisturizing soap is a good idea. (If you have very oily skin and pimples on your back, skip applying moisturizer on your back, and when taking a shower, make sure you scrub your back well with a loofah.)


Vitamin E

Vitamin E is also believed to help prevent stretch marks. Invest in a cream which has Vitamin E, or apply pure Vitamin E oil to your stomach and breasts everyday. You could do this from the time you find out you are pregnant.


Massage

Regular oil body massages help keep your skin nourished and supple. Coconut oil is a good bet as it gets absorbed fairly easily. Start with body oil massages before pregnancy, and speak to your doctor about continuing them during pregnancy. You could gently massage your tummy with oil yourself.


Water

Water hydrates the skin from within, and if you have been drinking enough water everyday, chances are that you have well nourished, supple skin, which will be able to bear the impact of your pregnancy without developing marks.


Weight Gain

You should gain around 12-14 kgs during your pregnancy. If you are under weight for your height, you could gain a couple of extra kgs, while if you are over weight, you should aim for gaining a few kgs less, depending on how overweight you are, and on what your doctor says.

It is easy to gain weight during pregnancy since pregnant women feel hungry all the time and are often tempted and encouraged to indulge. In addition, indulgence during pregnancy tends to be guilt-free, so women tend to give in to their cravings. Whatever the reason, if you do gain more weight than you should, you are certain to develop stretch marks. The best thing for you to do is to weigh yourself regularly, and aim to gain weight in a systematic manner, as suggested by your gynaecologist.