Due to hormonal changes, many women have changes in their taste buds making them crave for more and gain more weight than what is recommended. As a result, women develop ugly lines in their tummy, thighs and buttocks. The skin has to accommodate the expanding body by stretching it more than its limit of elasticity causing it to form marks.

Stretch marks, also known as striae gravidarum, are haunting roughly more than 75% of pregnant women, 90% of which are whites. Some marks fade away in six months although it may stay as fine lines which are hardly noticeable, but others have severe stretch marks resulting in a very low self esteem. Fortunately, several ways have been formulated to prevent stretch marks.

Here are some simple tips to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy:

Watch your weight.

Weight gain is the main cause of having stretch marks. The more you crave and eat food during pregnancy, the more your body expands resulting to a greater number of stretch marks you get. Doctors recommend between 25 to 35 pounds of weight gain during pregnancy. A balanced diet and control of your cravings will greatly help maintain your weight.

Drink plenty of water.

Another tip to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy is keeping your self hydrated. Not only does drinking eight glasses of water a day help you and your developing child grow healthy, it also minimizes stretch marks by keeping your skin well hydrated. Your skin tends to become really dry during pregnancy and this will cause uglier stretch marks which do not easily fade away. If you are well hydrated and properly nourished, you’ll less likely develop serious marks.

Keep your skin moisturized.

After bathing, apply a moisturizing lotion all over your body from the beginning of your pregnancy even up to months after your child’s delivery. There are also lotions in the market today containing cocoa butter and elastin which are recommended for preventing stretch marks. These components help maintain the elasticity of your skin to make it more able to accommodate the expanding body. They help keep the skin healthy despite extensive stretching.

Massage your skin.

One of the tips to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy is massaging your skin regularly. This will improve circulation all throughout your body, keeping your skin healthier and able to withstand stretching. Gentle massaging as well as scrubbing also helps exfoliate dead skin to be replaced by healthier ones.

SO, why bother worrying about those ugly scars? Having a baby is probably the most important news any woman could get. Having a life grow inside that body of yours is truly a miracle. You only have to focus on that little child who clings to you dearly. While there are still many tips to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy, still everything boils down to keeping your self healthy. Not only does getting healthy get you that beautiful skin, it will also give you the energy to be with that bundle of joy.