How to Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Buy all the expensive stretch marks creams and lotion as much as you want, but unfortunately there is no way to prevent those annoying stretch marks from showing up during pregnancy if you’re pre-destined to have them.  Unfortunately, stretch marks, or the lack of, stems strictly from genetics as opposed to whether your skin is moisturized enough during pregnancy. 

No one ever welcomes the sight of a stretch mark beginning to form, even if it is caused from pregnancy.  When I was pregnant with our first, light stretch marks first appeared on my breasts.  After months went by, they got bigger and darker.  And then I noticed they started forming on my hips.  Lastly, my husband pointed them out on my stomach, light ones that I didn’t even notice until he noticed them.  Needless to say, I was definitely not thrilled with my new marks.  In fact, they really bothered me for quite some time.

When I first noticed them, I asked my doctor immediately what I could do to prevent them.  The answer I was hoping for was not the answer I got.  Her answer left me hopeless in fact.  She said there is nothing that can be done because stretch marks are a stretching of the deeper connective tissue, not the surface skin which moisturizers treat.  But in looking at the bright side, at least she didn’t waste my time or money by telling me there was a magic lotion that worked. 

So are you worried about or are you experiencing stretch marks while being pregnant?  First off, you’re going to have to make an attitude adjustment about your body.  There is nothing you can do to prevent them, so it simply isn’t worth losing sleep over.  It is simply part of life and you either accept it for what it is, or allow your life and body image be affecting in a negative way forever.  Although I still am not thrilled with my slowly fading stretch marks, I don’t let them ruin my image of myself.  Now that I have my son, I can tell myself when I see them what a great reminder they are of how I got to carry him for about 9 months. 

Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones who won’t get any stretch marks.  But if you do find some forming, don’t despair.  Although they aren’t preventable, they are worth the end result!

What is your experience with stretch marks and products that claim to prevent them?

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