Pregnancy is a time to shine, grow, prepare and wait for your sweet newborn to arrive. However, in the nine-month journey it takes for your bundle of joy to grow, many changes happen to you physically. And I’m not just talking about that adorable bump.
Pregnancy stretch marks are a reality for many moms. If your own mom had stretch marks during pregnancy, your chances of developing them are even higher. What you may not know is that there are a few things you can do to prevent stretch marks in the first place!
I’m Liesel, a labor and delivery nurse and the face behind it Mommy Labor Nurse. Today I’m excited to share three daily habits to prevent stretch marks. As an added bonus, these tips will help you have a healthier, more comfortable pregnancy too!
So whether you’re a first-trimester mom looking to prevent stretch marks before they start, or hoping to minimize the appearance of stretch marks on your already growing belly, you’re in the right place!
Photo Rights: @the_floridagirl
Drink plenty of water
Staying properly hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your overall health during pregnancy. There are SO many benefits. Drinking plenty of water prevents constipation, ensures the transfer of essential nutrients to your baby, helps with the production of amniotic fluid and can help prevent stretch marks.
What does hydration have to do with stretch marks? When you are well hydrated your skin is softer and more elastic than dry skin. This means that as your body changes and your skin begins to stretch, you may be less likely to develop stretch marks.
Aim for ten 8 oz. glasses of water a day to start. But if you’re still thirsty, exercise regularly, or the weather is particularly hot, drink more! You really can’t overdo it and hydration is extremely important.
Apply belly butter for stretch marks
Just like moisturizing plays a role in keeping your skin soft and increasing its elasticity, applying belly butter or stretch mark oil has a similar effect! By moisturizing your growing bump, you can prevent stretch marks from forming in the first place. As an added bonus, it will prevent an itchy belly – which can be a common discomfort during the third trimester.
Photo Rights: @laurenhasz
What you may not know is that you can start putting belly butter on your bump before you even show a bump! It’s great to make this part of your daily routine as early as possible in pregnancy to keep your skin soft and supple.
And don’t think it’s just for the belly! Some moms are also prone to stretch marks on their arms, thighs, hips, breasts and booty during pregnancy. So be sure to apply it liberally everywhere.
Incorporate exercise and eat right
In addition to keeping your skin soft and well hydrated, another key aspect to preventing stretch marks is aiming for a healthy weight gain. This will look different for different moms depending on your weight and activity level before you got pregnant. If you haven’t already, discuss this with your provider at your next prenatal appointment!
To help achieve healthy weight gain, you should emphasize a healthy diet that is full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Check out mine Pregnancy cookbook for some great nutritional information and recipe ideas!
Additionally, aim for moderate exercise 3-5 days per week. This can be in the form of a brisk walk, prenatal yoga, swimming or a prenatal exercise program.
In addition to preventing stretch marks, healthy weight gain can help prevent many pregnancy discomforts (such as back pain, fatigue, and bloating).
Add these habits to your daily routine right away!
By adding these tips to your daily routine, you’ll go a long way in preventing pregnancy stretch marks. As I mentioned before, stretch marks are often hereditary and for some moms, they cannot be completely avoided, but the right habits can reduce their intensity or prevent them altogether in some cases.
Here’s to a healthy, happy and comfortable pregnancy, Mom!
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Liesel Teen is a Labor and Delivery Nurse (L&D RN), mom, the face behind the popular Instagram pregnancy page @mom. laborer and creator of the online childbirth course, Birth It Up. Birth has been something she’s been passionate about for as long as she can remember, and she loves sharing her nursing knowledge to help moms-to-be learn more about pregnancy and birth. She lives in North Carolina and is expecting her second baby in August 2020.
