How I prevented stretch marks in pregnancy

How to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy

Prevent Pregnancy Stretch Marks

So, you’re pregnant for the first time and freaking out about getting stretch marks???

Please don’t freak out, these are beautiful battle scars and if you do get them, you should be proud of them!

However, if you start using these tips early, you will be able to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy! 

What Exactly Are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are streaks or stripes on the abdomen caused by extension of the skin from rapid growth or stretching.

This rapid growth can happen during pregnancy or even during puberty. When the skin is overstretched, the normal production of collagen, which is the protein that makes up the connective tissue in your skin, gets disrupted and forms stretch marks. (Source)

Some of the streaks can be lighter than others depending on your skin color and ethnicity. Many stretch marks start out a reddish or purple color and then may lighten up over time.

Stretch marks are not painful in any way and can be with you for a lifetime. Many women get stretch marks during and after their pregnancy. Some stretch marks are not that noticeable and others are very obvious.

When Can Stretch Marks Appear In Pregnancy?

Stretch marks can appear anywhere from when you are 13 to 22 weeks pregnant. (Source) However, I have had friends tell me that their stretch marks appeared as early as 6 weeks!

One question every mother has when they first find out they are pregnant is “How can I prevent stretch marks?”.

When I was only a few days pregnant with my first child, I had two very close friends tell me these secret stretch mark tips they swore by and it’s worked for me through all four pregnancies!

Yes- it worked for all four pregnancies! Don’t take stretch mark tips from women that have only had one pregnancy because trust me, all babies are different sizes! Every pregnancy is different and just because you got lucky once, doesn’t mean anything!

These honest tips helped me avoid stretch marks 4 times because I did them religiously!

Keep reading below and find out what honestly helped me and other moms I know prevent stretch marks during pregnancy!

 

 

The Secret To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy!

Now, I know what you’re going to say….you’ve already heard about using some kind of stretch mark cream!

This may be true because it’s all over the internet!

However, what many websites don’t tell you is how often and when to use the stretch mark cream to get the actual results you want!

Follow these instructions below as much as you possibly can and you’ll be stretch mark free!

Step-by-step Instructions to prevent stretch marks:

As soon as you find out you are pregnant, go and buy a good size jar of coconut oil or cocoa butter! 

DO NOT get the cocoa butter lotion! That isn’t thick enough! You need the cocoa butter formula in the circle tub like the photo below or click here.

The larger size jar, the better, I literally went through one big jar a month! So that alone should tell you how much you should be using it!

I swear by using cocoa butter and have been told by many different mothers that this works and it truly does!

Follow these steps:

  • Every day after your shower, rub some cocoa butter or coconut oil all over your belly, sides, back, breasts, and even butt. Put enough on so it can soak into your skin. (yes, this may feel super slippery, but it’s worth it in the end)
  • If you tend to gain weight more in certain areas than others, those areas are where you should apply the most amount of cocoa butter!!
  • Try your best not to miss a single day! It’s fine if you didn’t start this process until you are about 7 weeks pregnant, but the sooner you start, the better.
  • Continue to use the cocoa butter on your breasts even after you have delivered the baby! If you are breastfeeding, your breasts will get engorged and that may also cause some stretch marks, so don’t forget about your breasts before, during, and after delivery!
  • I believe the secret to this actually working is to make sure you apply it right after your bath or shower when your skin is moist!

This photo below is actually me! I don’t post many photos of myself either so this wasn’t easy! LOL, It’s hard to see my stomach with the writing over it but if you look close, there are no stretch marks! I wrote this post after having my third baby and I now have 4!๐Ÿ‘‡

Prevent stretch marks during pregnancy

Other Ways That Help To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

I believe eating a healthy diet and gaining your pregnancy weight slowly will also help prevent stretch marks.

Gaining weight at a steady pace and moisturizing your tummy as much as you can after your shower will dramatically help you prevent stretch marks!

Your skin needs time to grow and keep up with your weight gain and the very first two months are crucial in preventing stretch marks!

stretch mark prevention

Genetics?

Last but not least, some people say that genetics plays a major role in whether or not stretch marks appear on your skin.

This can be absolutely true! However, I really believe that if you take care of your skin and moisturize as much as possible, you can prevent some stretch marks.

It just takes a little extra time and effort after your shower every day, but the benefits are so worth it in the end.

How do I know this works??

As I mentioned above, I had four babies of my own and used Palmer’s cocoa butter along with pure organic raw coconut oil.

After my first pregnancy, I noticed a tiny amount of stretch marks on my lower thigh area which seemed to always be the place I would skip on the cocoa butter because I was in a hurry!

I was shocked because this meant the cocoa butter actually worked!!

So try not to skip any areas!

Best Cream To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil for stretch marks

I recommend using cocoa butter more because it’s thicker and not as greasy. You’ll still be a grease ball but not as much as you would be with the coconut oil.

Coconut oil will also do the trick but it’s really greasy, especially in the summer months when it warms up and turns more liquid-like. Sometimes, I would even mix it together to form the right consistency.

Some people rave about shea butter but I used what my best friend swore by and it worked! So, stick with the cocoa butter! I believe the shea butter is just not thick enough.

Click the photos below for more details:

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Butter Balm for Stretch Marks and Pregnancy Skin Care, 4.4 Ounces (Pack of 3) 

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Daily Skin Therapy Solid Lotion with Vitamin E, Body Moisturizer for Extremely Dry Skin, Softens and Soothes, 7.25 Ounces, (Pack of 1)

           

Get yourself a big tub of cocoa butter ๐Ÿ‘†and leave it somewhere right outside your shower so you don’t forget to put it on!

Conclusion

I hope these secrets to preventing stretch marks help other moms out there trying to avoid them! Let me know in the comments if this works for you or any other products you swear by! I honestly believe staying consistent and using the coca butter every single day in those areas that you gain the most weight is the key to keeping stretch marks at bay!

Congrats on your pregnancy and remember to enjoy every second of it, stretch marks, and all because it goes by so fast!

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