Stretchmarks. One of the most worried about superficial problems during pregnancy. Yet, we love our babies so much, we really don't mind them! But, they can be prevented by some extra knowledge and care at the right time, so why not!
The truth is, stretchmarks are much easier to prevent than to cure - even with modern medicine. Genetics definitely do play a big role, but we can and should also do some effort to help the skin out and give it all the nutrients it needs to stretch as far as it needs to. Remember, your skin is a very large living organ, and responds very well to the nutrients it is given.
I am currently 24 weeks pregnant and find myself massaging my bump (and well everywhere!) with oils and creams three times a day! Now, you don't have to be as extreme and obsessed as I am, but definitely take a moment each day to invest in your body's skin.
Here's my personal favourite tips and tricks to care for my belly and all the other expanding areas:
SCRUB: Scrub the areas every couple of days to get rid of old skincells, which will allow your creams to absorb through to the subdermal skin layers where the actual stretching takes place.
QUALITY PRODUCTS: We are so lucky to have so many quality products available nowadays - and there is one for every budget! My personal favourites include Dermastine (amazing elastin content), Happy Event (creamy and oily all in one, and keeps skin moist) and Bio-Oil (powerpacked vitamin-E oil).
SUN EXPOSURE: Exposing the skin to too much sun really affects its elastic capability, so avoiding sunbathing during pregnancy is always a wise idea. There will be plenty of time for this after birth and when your skin has settled. But if you are like me and really enjoy a good bronze glow, rather opt for a safe self-tan to look more sunkissed.
COLLAGEN BOOST: I loooove my daily supplements and one of my favourites (that I had to stop drinking when I fell pregnant) was my beloved pure collagen syrup. It is still not a 100% safe to drink during pregnancy as research on this is so limited, and with the variety of brands out there, you can never be sure of what you are ingesting. But take heart! I found something that works in the meanwhile: Apply a collagen face mask to your belly regularly to replenish those collagen stores, until baby is born and even therafter, to help the skin settle back to normal.
In a nutshell, every bit of TLC you give your body during pregnancy goes a long way, so take care and love those beautiful bumps!
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