Are you preparing to become a mother? Congratulations!But remember that along with a lot of positive emotions, you will have certain problems, worries and concerns. In particular, almost all expectant mothers are interested in the question of how to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. This question is really very relevant - often it worries a pregnant woman even more than morning sickness and other ailments associated with pregnancy. Is it possible to avoid stretch marks or is their appearance inevitable? And if so, what should be done for this? It is in these difficult questions that we will try to understand today. What are stretch marks and why do they occur? As you know, during pregnancy there is a sharp increase in body weight and tummy volume. This means that the skin is subject to sharp stretching. It is because of this that microtraumas occur in its internal layers - mini ruptures of skin fibers. The body immediately reacts and begins to produce collagen. It, in turn, stimulates the development of connective tissue, which fills these very cracks in the skin. Done! The woman sees the result - pink, red or even purple stripes on the skin. The color of stretch marks depends on the color of the skin pigmentation - if the skin is light, then the stretch marks will be pink or red. Well, if a woman has dark skin, then the stretch marks will be bluish and purple. Moreover, stretch marks can appear not only on the stomach, as is commonly believed. The stomach, buttocks, thighs, chest - all these places are highly likely to be chosen by stretch marks. Therefore, it is very important not to forget about them when caring for your skin. It is unlikely that you will feel better from a stomach without a single stretch mark if they thickly cover the surface of the thighs or chest.
Risk groups
So, we have found out what stretch marks are.Let's now find out why some women don't get a single stretch mark during their entire pregnancy, while others, despite all their tricks, have skin simply covered in them. Strictly speaking, the appearance of stretch marks is influenced by a huge number of different factors:
- Genetic predisposition
Do you want to know with a high degree of probability,Will you get stretch marks during pregnancy? Talk to your mother or sister who has already given birth. Genetics is a powerful thing. And if they have stretch marks, you need to be especially careful. But even if your relatives do not have stretch marks, you should not relax too much - you still need to take care of your skin.
- Skin condition
The condition of the skin also plays an important role.The drier the skin of the expectant mother, the greater the risk that she will develop stretch marks during pregnancy. Those women whose skin is naturally moisturized are luckier. Conclusion? If you have dry skin, you need to correct nature's mistake - try to moisturize it in every way possible.
- Color of the skin
Numerous studies have reliably shown thatthat skin color plays a very important role. Of course, we are talking about natural natural color, and not the result of visiting a solarium. The lighter the skin of the expectant mother, the higher the risk of stretch marks during pregnancy.
- Large child
It is very difficult to avoid stretch marks in the event thatif a woman is carrying a large baby. This is not surprising, because the volume of the tummy increases much more than during a normal pregnancy. This means that the load on the skin increases several times. The same thing happens if a woman is carrying two or more babies. Such future mothers have a particularly hard time.
- Repeated pregnancy
Do you already have an older child?Congratulations, you will be twice as happy. But the chances of you getting stretch marks during pregnancy are also significantly increased. It is difficult to say why this happens, but the fact remains that stretch marks appear much more often during the second and subsequent pregnancies.
How to avoid the appearance of stretch marks?
And now about the most important thing - how to preventstretch marks? As we have already found out, it is quite possible to do this. Well, in any case, if not to completely avoid this misfortune, then at least to reduce the number of stretch marks to the possible minimum. Remember that the most important condition for all these measures to be truly effective is consistency. Even the most expensive creams, which the expectant mother uses only occasionally, from time to time, will not bring any benefit at all.
- Cosmetic preparations
Very often you can observe the following picture -the expectant mother at about the 6th – 7th month of pregnancy comes to her senses and buys the first cream she comes across at the pharmacy, which she spreads on her tummy a couple of times a week. As you understand, this is absolutely useless. You need to start using special preparations from the very day you found out about your “interesting” situation. It is very important to buy the right preparation, and not the first moisturizing cream you come across. After all, it will only be effective if it penetrates into the deep layers of the skin, where regular creams cannot reach. It is desirable that the cream you choose contains a large amount of vitamin E and A, elastin and collagen, aloe vera and liposomes. These are the substances that best penetrate the second layer of the skin – the dermis, where, in fact, stretch marks appear during pregnancy. In addition, you will need a good body scrub. It is best to give preference to scrubs based on natural products – for example, grape seed or blue clay. Look for your scrub, experiment - neither during nor after its use should the expectant mother experience any discomfort, and especially not a feeling of dryness and tightness of the skin. The skin care itself should be as follows. In the evening, during the shower, apply a small amount of scrub to the skin of the chest, tummy, thighs. Massage the skin thoroughly and rinse with plenty of water. After that, very carefully blot the skin with a terry towel - wiping it is not recommended, as this also increases the risk of developing stretch marks on the skin. Apply a generous amount of anti-stretch mark cream to the still damp skin and let it soak in. That's it, the skin care program for the evening is complete. But there is also the morning! In the morning, too, in no case should you forget about the need for skin care. True, in the morning it is enough to simply apply the most ordinary baby moisturizing cream after a shower. It also helps maintain the correct water balance of the skin.
- Drinking Skin Regimen
Of course, proper skin care plays a rolevery important role. But this is far from the only condition that allows you to reduce the risk of stretch marks to a minimum. The drinking regime of the expectant mother deserves no less attention. Very often you can see a picture when a pregnant woman sharply limits the amount of liquid consumed, fearing the occurrence of edema. On the one hand, this is, of course, true. But on the other hand, with a lack of water, the threat of stretch marks is right there. After all, with a lack of water in the body, there can be no talk of any skin health, no matter how carefully you moisturize it from the outside. This is why it is so important to maintain a proper drinking regime. Your gynecologist will tell you what exactly it should be. By the way, do not forget about the need to include in your diet as many foods with a high water content as possible - vegetables, fruits.
- Diet
In addition to drinking regimen, it is very importantbalanced nutrition. Try to eat as many foods as possible that contain a large amount of vitamins A, E, C, K and D, which have a beneficial effect on the skin. Most of these vitamins are found in foods such as nuts, citrus fruits, vegetables, fruits, fish, and seafood. But a number of foods should be completely excluded from the diet during pregnancy. Give up sweet, spicy, salty and smoked foods, dishes should be steamed or baked in the oven. Also pay attention to what you drink - completely give up carbonated, caffeinated and overly sweet drinks. Of course, there is no need to talk about alcohol - they are strictly contraindicated during pregnancy for a number of reasons.
- Exercise stress
It is a well-known, age-old truth that saysthat movement is life. There is no need to talk about the benefits of systematic physical activity for general health. Expectant mothers are no exception to the rule - they also need physical activity. It is necessary not only to maintain general physical tone and easy labor, but also to prevent stretch marks. A variety of physical activities are suitable for this - swimming pool classes, daily walks, gymnastics for expectant mothers. The main thing is systematic exercise. Moreover, in no case should you abuse physical activity - the expectant mother should never get too tired. Exercises should bring only positive emotions. It is best to develop an individual exercise plan together with a doctor. He will help you choose the most optimal exercise regimen that will only benefit the expectant mother.
- Massage
Another great tool that can helpYou can reduce the risk of stretch marks to zero - this is a massage. To do this, you will need a cotton mitten and olive oil. By the way, if you wish, you can replace olive oil with any other vegetable oil. But it contains the largest amount of vitamin E, which is necessary to maintain the skin's moisture level and, if necessary, for faster regeneration. Before using, it is best to boil the oil. To do this, place it in any enamel container, bring to a boil and immediately turn off. After the oil has cooled, pour it into a clean and dry glass container with a tightly closing lid. Do not dip anything into the container with oil, to avoid contamination. Take a shower, using a body scrub. Then blot the skin with a towel and let it dry completely. After that, generously lubricate the problem areas of the skin with vegetable oil. Put on a mitten and begin gentle circular movements clockwise. The duration of a massage session is about 15 minutes. At least two such sessions per week are necessary. In just a month, you will notice how your skin has changed – it has become more elastic and toned. Once again, I would like to emphasize the main features of such a massage. Be sure to use vegetable oil for the massage – no creams are suitable for these purposes. Do not massage the skin with your hands – this way you risk stretching it. A cotton glove is needed for this purpose. And do not massage every day.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is nothing particularly complicated about it.there are no recommendations described above. Absolutely any expectant mother can cope with their implementation. The only thing that is needed for this is desire and a little free time. But remember that even strict adherence to all the advice does not give a 100% guarantee that you will not have a single stretch mark. Of course, unfortunately, stretch marks can appear, despite all your efforts. But this is not a reason to give up and refuse to take preventive measures. After all, even if you fail to prevent the appearance of stretch marks, you will encounter much fewer of them. And the stretch marks themselves will be much less pronounced and noticeable. And subsequently, it will be much easier to get rid of them. And remember the most important thing - your stretch marks are evidence of a real miracle - the appearance of a new life! And even if you could not prevent their appearance - do not be upset. We advise you to read:
