How To Avoid Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

A lady's body goes through various transformations in the course of pregnancy. Expectant mothers take great joy in hearing their child's heart rate, or even sensing their very small movements inside the womb. Being pregnant after all, tends to make a woman rediscover herself as her body transforms, to accommodate the growing child. You marvel at how quick your baby is growing and as you look in the mirror, you suddenly see these, pink or reddish streaks on the sides of your abdominal wall. You all of a sudden realize that it's not fair, you have endured too much.

These pinkish or red streaks are called stretch marks or striae gravidarum, and it affects around 90% of all women. They form close to the 24th week of pregnancy or onwards, because the skin stretches to accommodate the expanding uterus. That stretching plus possibly hormonal changes, can lead to rupture and atrophy, on parts of the connective layer of the skin. The end result is, stretch marks. These typically appear on the side of the of the abdomen, or thighs but it can also be seen on buttocks, breasts or even arms.

Although the fundamental cause of stretch marks is unknown, genetics do play a role in whether or not your are predisposed to having them. It means that if your mom got stretch marks at the time of her pregnancy, you are much more susceptible to getting them yourself. An individual can only go great lengths to treat it, but the first initial step should be prevention.

The most effective way to stop your skin from stretching too rapidly, is by consuming a well balanced diet, which retains your weight gain within normal limits. The normal range for weight gain amongst expecting women is 25 to 35 pounds. And it is ideal to retain your weight gain at a steady pace, in order to stay away from too much stretching. Foods that promote skin wellness are also recommended, such as foods rich in zinc, such as nuts or fish. Foods high in vitamins A and C are as essential, and examples of these are, citrus foods, carrots, milk and eggs.

Moisturize as early as you can because research has shown, that stretch marks most readily respond to treatment, during the beginning stages. There are numerous commercially available lotions you can choose from to decrease the chance of stretch marks. Choose the types which consist of cocoa butter or shea butter, and apply liberally three to four times a day. These creams should help the pores and skin to stay intact even with too much stretching. Hydration is additionally really important in keeping the skin healthy. Make sure that you drink sufficient water because, a well hydrated skin is able to withstand better the changes.

The appearance of stretch marks is dependent primarily on the shade of your skin. It can vary from brown, darkish brown, pink or reddish brown which should fade and turn into silver or white as time passes. And as much as you would prefer it to go away right after giving birth, the changes have become permanent. If it bothers you too much, seek the advice of your doctor so that you will understand what options are available for you. Specially formulated lotions can be prescribed by your dermatologist to assist in reducing the appearance. If not, ask your doctor for other therapy methods like laser therapy, chemical peels and dermabrasion. They have been found effective in minimizing the appearance of stretch marks.

Taking proper care of yourself immediately after giving birth, is equally important because your body is once more susceptible to stretch marks due to excess weight loss. The changes brought about by pregnancy may cause havoc to a female's self esteem. However, as you nurture the life that you brought into this world, you begin to know which these small discomforts are nothing ,in contrast to the joy of becoming a mother.