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!๐
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!
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:
Get yourself a big tub of cocoa butter ๐and 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!
Wondering what you need to help you survive your first trimester?
Are you battling morning sickness? I’ve been there mama! 4 times!! Read these tips below to help you survive morning or all day sickness!
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For more information on my favorite baby and breastfeeding must-haves, click the photos below!
I used dermalmd stretch mark serum during pregnancy to prevent stretch marks, and it worked! My mom had a lot of stretch marks, so I was paranoid. I rubbed this serum on diligently twice a day and made it through pregnancy without any stretch marks. It also has a nice smell, particularly compared to a couple other stretch mark creams I tried.
Great to know! I’ve heard good things about that brand as well. I think the secret is to just make sure you are moisturized with a really good cream in areas we tend to gain the baby weight and it will help so much!
Also sometimes you may just end up getting stretch marks too… I was diligent about moisturizing daily and sometimes twice daily. I used a blend of cocoa butter, Shea butter, coconut oil, and then mixed that with a liquid oil including Rosehip seed oil and vitamin E, along with skin rejuvenating essential oils. I maintained a healthy diet and drank a sufficient amount of water daily. Around 32 weeks I got my first stretch mark… I kept up with my routine and despite my efforts, now at almost 40 weeks it feels like a losing battle. I’m still lubing up my belly every night but I continue to get them. I feel like I did everything I could have to avoid them. I’ve only gained about 26 pounds but baby popped around the time they first cropped up and my tummy grew quickly. Also, my mother and sister also got stretch marks so I do think my genetic predisposition is why I ended up with them.
I do not follow the whole “they’re my tiger stripes” or whatever people say. I think they say that to feel better about them. I actually hate them BUT I’m proud my body has grown this baby and carried her to term. Now i can’t wait to meet her!
Hi Savannah!
Yes, genetics can take over no matter what you do! I’m sure using the cocoa butter has helped and maybe even prevented a few of them. If you didn’t get any until 32 weeks, that’s actually great! Many women I know got them early on so whatever you did seemed to help you some! And yes, be proud your body was able to grow a healthy little baby because in the end, that’s all that matters! Congrats and best wishes!! ๐
I had a similar experience. I made my own body butter with cocoa butter, coconut oil, argan oil and essential oil and I applied this twice a day throughout my entire pregnancy (consequently, our bed sheets are irreparably greasy, but I think it was worth it). I didn’t get any stretch marks until the last month of my pregnancy at which point i started getting some on my belly.
But I continued with my routine even after my baby was born and the stretch marks have faded to barely noticeable. This may be partly just due to time, but I do feel that the body butter helped.
I have also heard a lot of moms say cocoa butter kept them from getting stretch marks. But I do think genetics play a part too.
Thanks for the tip! Stretch marks for me arenโt a stranger. I used to be overweight in my younger years and have some reminance of that. But Iโm excited to try this. One question for you: the cocoa butter is pretty stiff, right? Do you have a trick to help apply it easily?
Hi Ammi! Yes, I agree that the Palmers Cocoa Butter can be pretty stiff at first. Honestly, I would take a huge scoop in my fingers and rub my hands together with it to warm it up a bit and it makes it much smoother and easier to rub over your belly! Remember to start the process early during your pregnancy even when you aren’t showing yet! It will still help you out! Hope this helps! ๐
What do you do after you apply the cocoa butter when your all oily? How long does it usually take to stop being oily? And do you usually do it in the morning or night?
Hi Sarah, so sorry I’m just getting back to you! Been a hectic week! Yes, the cocoa butter is super greasy! I actually ended up buying a bunch of cheap tank tops to wear under my clothes because I couldn’t always wait to let it all dry! I’d put it on and just throw on a tank and it would be fine to wear under my nicer clothes and nothing else would get ruined. YOu actually want it to be greasy and take a while to absorb, that’s how it works so well and smoothes out your skin! I hope this helps and good luck! ๐
Hello,
This is my first pregnancy. I really wanted to use the palmers cocoa cream but I cannot stand the smell. Iโve tried the frangeante free and oil version but I can still smell the cocoa, which doesnโt help with my morning sickness. I have bought bio oil as a form of a gel that melt into oil once spread instead, but what would you recommend instead ?
Kind regards,
Betty
Hi Betty!
So sorry the smell bothers you! My best friend also hates the smell of cocoa butter! There is another brand called Trilastin that is made of essential oils and I heard works really well. I never used it myself but if I couldn’t handle the smell of cocoa butter, I’d try that one instead! It has many other ingredients so it shouldn’t smell like the cocoa butter and it should still be a good alternative to the cocoa butter and work! Hope this helps! ๐