Stretch out!
Congratulations, you’re newly pregnant! I’ll bet putting on a bikini next season is about the last thing on your mind – it’s easy to forget (or simply not care!) about the way you look as your body, diet, routine and relationships are all adapting to make way for baby.
Up to 90% of women develop stretch marks during pregnancy. As you put on weight your abdomen is gradually stretched further and further… and if you‘re destined to get them, stretch marks can appear in the sixth or seventh month. And if you’re really unlucky they can develop on your thighs, butt and breasts as well.
The marks start off as thin, parallel red lines in the dermis (the middle layer of skin). They happen when the skin is stretched over a short period of time and as time goes on, the skin becomes thin and silvery and may appear scar-like. While the marks can fade and become less noticeable after you have your baby this may take years – so don’t surrender totally! A few simple precautions from the early days of your pregnancy can help get you back in bikinis that little bit faster...
Will you get them?
Not necessarily. Doctors think some people get stretch marks because their bodies produce more of the hormone, corticosteroid, than normal. This hormone decreases the amount of collagen in your skin – and collagen is the protein which keeps skin fibers stretchy. Most women’s skin needs daily help to give it the best chance to survive the 9+ months intact.
A healthy diet helps…
It’s vital to eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins, especially vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc and silica, all of which help to keep skin healthy. And drinking lots of water will help with many aspects of pregnancy, including skin hydration.
Don’t eat for two!
Your appetite increases at various points in your pregnancy and it’s normal to put on weight, but it is a myth that you need to ‘eat for two’. Pregnant women need to take in around 300 or so extra calories a day to nourish their baby, but make sure these calories are from nutritious foods, not fatty ones, so you’ll put on weight gradually. Discuss your worries with your obstetrician if you’re worried that you aren’t gaining weight at the correct rate.
As a rough guide:
Weeks 0-12 It’s normal to gain 2-4.5 lb.
Weeks 12-28 Expect to gain 10-14oz) per week.
Weeks 28-40 You should gain 2-6lb per month.
Massage your skin
Start early, and pick creams which contain vitamin E or vitamin A. Creams containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are made with plant extracts and can also help. Don’t be drawn in by false promises – there’s no proof these creams can actually prevent stretch marks. But there’s some evidence that frequent use from early on can help reduce the effects by keeping your skin supple, and the action of rubbing in the cream can encourage better circulation.
A simple 2:1 mixture of almond oil and cold-pressed wheatgerm oil has been used by women for generations, but there are lots of ready-mixed non-greasy creams on the market now. See below for recommendations from our team of moms!
1 Palmer’s Cocoa Butter is full of vitamin E and is an inexpensive option (and you’ll get a good workout when you put it on, too!). It’s stocked at most major drugstores and pharmacies.
2 Mamma Mio’s Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Cream is a real treat but good value and effective if used regularly. Get it online at www.mammamio.com.
3 Clarins Tonic Oil is slightly more expensive but claims to help after the event. Buy at Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Dillards.
4 Clinique’s CX Stretch Mark Cream is top of the range, but plenty of moms still say it’s worth it! At Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Dillards, Saks Fifth Avenue and online at www.clinique.com.
Other solutions
If you’re concerned about stretch marks there are alternate treatments, though you’ll have to wait until you are no longer pregnant and have finished breastfeeding. Tretinoin, which is available as a generic or in branded creams such as Retin-A, is derived from vitamin A and available on prescription – ask your physician for more info.
If you’re really keen to be rid of the dreaded marks laser surgery may help fade them. A more extreme option is abdominoplasty, an operation that removes excess fat, skin and stretch marks from your belly area.