Stretch marks during pregnancy

On your pregnancy test finallytwo cherished stripes appeared? Congratulations! You can now safely wear the proud title of a pregnant woman! But be prepared for the fact that in addition to all the joys associated with pregnancy, you will not have a minute of anxiety. In particular, stretch marks during pregnancy. Sometimes expectant mothers are sincerely perplexed - where do these hated stretch marks come from? In fact, everything is very simple. Don't believe it? Look in the mirror: what does it say about your condition? That's right, a significantly increased tummy. It is the tummy that undergoes the greatest deformations throughout pregnancy. Although the chest and legs also often suffer - stretch marks on them are also not uncommon. And in order for all these parts of the body to remain, if not in perfect, then at least in decent condition, a woman should take care of them from the very first day after she finds out about her "interesting" situation.

Reasons for the appearance of stretch marks

Let's first talk about whatis the cause of stretch marks, which in medical language are called striae. Unfortunately, this problem affects about 96% of all pregnant women. So do not despair - you are far from alone in your worries. Almost all 9 months, the skin on the abdomen is in a tense state. Moreover, it is constantly stretched, as the uterus is constantly increasing in size. And not only the uterus - most pregnant women gain much more excess weight than the required 10 - 12 kilograms. All this greatly contributes to the appearance of stretch marks. And first of all, on the abdomen. In addition, one cannot lose sight of such a factor as hormonal levels. Due to the fact that the hormonal background in the body of a pregnant woman changes significantly, the level of collagen decreases. And this also leads to the fact that microtraumas appear on the skin. And the tummy of the expectant mother is "decorated" with very unsightly crimson stripes - those same stretch marks. Of course, there is a certain group of women who are very lucky and manage to avoid stretch marks - usually either as a result of a rare genetic feature and super-elastic skin, or professional sports. However, such lucky women are very, very few. Well, if a woman was struggling with excess weight before pregnancy, or she had stretch marks on her stomach, the situation will significantly worsen during pregnancy. But do not despair and be afraid - these terrible crimson stripes will definitely lighten over time. Moreover, a woman is quite capable of, if not completely preventing the appearance of stretch marks, then at least significantly reducing their number and severity. And this does not always require expensive cosmetic products - simple folk recipes are enough. However, pay special attention to the fact that the body of a pregnant woman is especially vulnerable and sensitive. Therefore, there is a certain risk that the expectant mother may develop an allergic reaction to one or another component of the recipe. Therefore, be sure to consult with your doctor first and get his approval. But that's not all - try applying the product to a small area of skin. And only if you do not show signs of an allergy within three hours, you can use the product. If an allergy has begun, call your doctor and tell him what happened to you.

Preventative measures and treatment

So, it's time to talk about something so importantaspect, such as stretch mark prevention during pregnancy. Following certain rules will help you to a large extent preserve the beauty of your skin. Although, in fairness, future mothers should pay attention - no product can guarantee you complete protection from stretch marks. But it is quite possible to reduce their number. So:

The use of vitamin E

One of the main vitamins responsible forskin elasticity and its ability to stretch is vitamin E. It is no coincidence that vitamin E is the basis of a huge number of the most diverse creams and lotions. Therefore, when choosing skin care products, be sure to make sure that they contain vitamin E. However, natural vitamin E has an even greater effect, rather than artificially synthesized. Most of this vitamin is found in vegetables, fruits and directly pressed oils.

Natural Oils

Another great way that can behelp maintain skin elasticity and reduce the number of stretch marks that appear - these are various natural oils that need to be periodically rubbed into the skin of the chest, abdomen and thighs. For example, tea tree oil. It can not only prevent the development of new stretch marks, but also reduce the visibility of old ones. To do this, it must be rubbed into the skin of the abdomen every evening, after taking a shower, throughout the pregnancy. In the same case, if the stretch marks that have appeared have an intense crimson color, you can try aloe vera or peanut oil. One is used not only as a means of increasing skin elasticity, but also as a powerful wound healer. Do you remember what stretch marks are? That's right - real scars on the skin, only microscopic. This means that the effectiveness of these oils is beyond doubt.

Diet of a pregnant woman

It is equally important to pay attention to your diet.nutrition of a pregnant woman. It also plays a significant role in the fight against stretch marks. Try to eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. But do not forget that it is highly undesirable to eat sweet fruits in large quantities during pregnancy. Otherwise, there is a high risk of developing severe heartburn, and sometimes even gastritis. In addition, include in your menu foods that contain a large amount of proteins. And, of course, vitamin C. This is also necessary to avoid stretch marks. By the way, if your pregnancy falls on the cold season, when there are not so many fresh vegetables, take vitamin C - it can be easily purchased at any pharmacy. Your gynecologist will help you choose the dosage.

Excess weight

The female body is naturally endowed withIt is common to gain weight during pregnancy. However, this weight gain should also be under special control - in no case should you gain extra pounds. Of course, the expectant mother should never go on any diets, even the most gentle ones, no matter what - this can jeopardize the health of both the mother and the baby. The only exception is special therapeutic diets, which can only be prescribed by a nutritionist or gynecologist. Of course, you can eat a chocolate bar or gingerbread. However, you should not abuse sweets, flour, and fatty foods. Firstly, these products put a significant strain on the entire digestive system as a whole. The result can be heartburn, toxicosis, gastritis. And secondly, this is how such harmful extra pounds most often "stick". Therefore, you should not follow the outdated and extremely erroneous opinion that the expectant mother should "eat for two." It is not the quantity of food you eat that is important, but its quality, useful properties and nutritional value. Try to eat only healthy food that contains substances that are beneficial to both mother and baby. And, of course, it is proper nutrition that largely affects the elasticity of the skin. This means that a properly composed diet can effectively prevent the development of stretch marks. Pay special attention to fermented milk products - they will come in handy.

Massage the abdomen

Many doctors and cosmetologists unanimouslyThey say that one of the most effective ways to prevent stretch marks or get rid of them is the most common abdominal massage. By the way, many women who have tried abdominal massage on themselves claim that in addition to preventing stretch marks, massage has a very positive psychological effect. A woman gets the impression that she is not inactive, but takes the most direct part in the formation of her body. Although this impression is entirely true. And you can do something, and not just sigh about what was once. The massage is done quite simply. Carefully lubricate the skin of the abdomen with either a special cream or natural oil. With two fingers - thumb and index - very carefully massage the skin of the abdomen in a circular motion, periodically pinching a little. Do not overdo it - after the massage the skin should be a little red, but in no case should there be any painful sensations! The duration of the massage is about 15 minutes, daily, before bedtime. But remember that in no case should you massage the skin in the lower abdomen, above the pubis. This can very likely trigger contractions - this is extremely dangerous in early pregnancy. Do not risk your health and the life of your baby to get rid of stretch marks!

Cosmetic means from stretch marks

It was already mentioned above in passing thatYou can try to prevent the appearance of stretch marks with the help of special cosmetic products. As a rule, the manufacturers of all these miracle products unanimously claim that they will completely protect the expectant mother from the possible appearance of stretch marks. And they will also help get rid of existing ones. However, this is not true at all, unfortunately, otherwise the problem would not exist at all. After all, as we have already found out, first of all, the appearance of stretch marks directly depends on the individual characteristics of the body of each specific pregnant woman. However, doctors still recommend using such products. They will help maintain the necessary moisture in the skin. And, in addition, such products have an amazing effect - they almost completely relieve itching of the abdominal skin, which appears due to constant stretching of the skin. Such itching is typical for most expectant mothers. When choosing such a product, give preference to creams and lotions that contain vitamin E and substances that promote increased collagen production. Probably, this requirement does not need clarification - the role of collagen in the human body has already been described in detail above. To enhance the effect of all these products, be sure to follow certain rules:

Systematicity

The use of these funds is "occasional"will not bring any benefit. Therefore, apply them every day, without fail. This requirement is especially relevant in the last trimester of pregnancy - the skin is subject to the greatest deformation during this period.

Wet skin

The effect of such drugs will be significanthigher if applied to slightly damp, warm skin. The best option is to take a shower - after it, pat the skin of the abdomen with a terry towel and apply cream or lotion to it. Let it soak in well.

Honey and aloe juice

If stretch marks have already appeared, you cantry to get rid of them using an old folk method: you will need 100 grams of honey and 100 grams of aloe. The aloe must first be kept in the freezer for a day. After that, melt the honey in a water bath until it becomes liquid. Grind the aloe using a meat grinder, squeeze out 100 grams of juice using gauze. Cool the honey a little and mix it thoroughly with honey. The resulting mixture must be stored in a glass container and only in the refrigerator. This product must be rubbed into the skin every time after a shower.

The Psychological Aspect

As a rule, no admonition thatit is possible to get rid of stretch marks, does not console the expectant mother. However, try to calm down and stop thinking day and night about how to get rid of stretch marks. Just enjoy life and remember that your stretch marks indicate the most important thing - that you have the honor of helping a new person come into this world! And it is stupid to sit and guess about how to get rid of stretch marks, instead of smiling and forgetting about them once and for all! We recommend reading: