We’ve all heard the struggles that come along with being pregnant: the nausea, the fatigue, the cramps. But the one thing that women can’t complain enough about, are the stretch marks!
Of course, with pregnancy comes a lot of changes. Among those changes, the biggest one will most likely be the physical changes to your body.
Stretch marks are thin, streak-like lines that can develop on the surface of your skin. Although women get them all the time throughout their lives, it’s extremely common to develop during pregnancy. They can appear on your tummy, thighs, arms, and beasts in most cases, however it does differ for all women.
The first sign that you may get before noticing stretch marks appearing is a feeling of itchiness around a certain area on your skin where it becomes thinner. They will start off as a red or purple colour, and then fade to white or grey.
Although stretch marks are a struggle for many women, the good thing to keep in mind is that they are not harmful to you. Although it’s something that many women prefer not to develop, it’s important to know that they will not cause any medical problems for you or your baby.
What Causes Stretch Marks In Preganancy?
About 8 out of 10 women are affected by stretch marks during their pregnancy, so you may be wondering what is causing this to happen.
Stretch marks begin to develop when your body is growing faster than your skin is able to keep up with. This causes the elastic fibers of your skin to break, ultimately causing stretch marks to form on the surface of your skin.
Now knowing that, you can easily connect the dots and understand why stretch marks are so common among pregnant women, specifically. As you go through the term of your pregnancy, you are gaining about 30 pounds over the course of 9 months. Growing that much and that quickly can cause stretch marks.
The areas that are most likely to form stretch marks are on your belly and breasts since those are the two areas that most likely will grow the most while you’re pregnant.
Genetics also play a role in determining whether or not you will get stretch marks during your pregnancy. If your mother had them, then you’re more likely to get them as well.
How To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy?
For the women out there who are thinking of a million different ways to prevent stretch marks from developing on their bodies... Well, many will say that there is no way to prevent it from happening. Although there are many creams and lotions that promise to prevent or get rid of stretch marks, many women and doctors will say that they actually won’t work.
However it’s always a good idea to use cream and lotion to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. This will make you feel better, and make your skin look smoother and more toned.
Another thing you can do is watch out for your weight throughout the term of your pregnancy. As mentioned, stretch marks begin to form as your body is growing faster than your skin is able to keep up with. The biggest factor isn’t how much weight you gain, but how fast you gain the weight.
Keep your weight gain in check by trying to keep it at 25-35 pounds, which is a good place for normal-weight women. This will help keep your skin from overstretching and ultimately keep stretch marks to a minimum.
The Big Picture
Pregnancy is full of changes; changes in your appetite, changes in your sleeping schedule, and most of all, changes to your body.
The good news is that if you do get pregnancy stretch marks, they will most likely disappear a couple months after your delivery. The best option for you is to embrace all the changes you’re going through and remember that it’s all worth it when your pregnancy has come to a close and you have a beautiful baby in your arms.