Stretch marks: one of the most common and most irksome side effects of a pregnancy.
Fortunately, these things are also easily avoided if you know exactly what to do.
Never mind expensive surgery, all you need is to prepare for it and save yourself the trouble.
First of all let's deal with weight gain - that's the main problem that causes stretch marks.
You need to keep your weight gain to a minimum twenty-five to thirty-five pounds.
Anything over that and you will regret it.
Have a healthy diet that prevents you from suddenly packing on the pounds that make your skin stretch in the first place.
Plus, having a healthy diet means your baby will be healthy too.
Next, make sure you massage the areas where your stretch marks may appear: your thighs, belly, arms, and butt.
Increasing circulation helps your skin regenerate new cells and prevents scarring.
Use a loofah during showers and apply lotion before getting dressed.
On the subject of water, you will need plenty of it.
Not only does water help retain moisture and keep you hydrated, it also helps get rid of cellulite.
It is important if you want to keep your skin elastic enough to stretch without breaking and tight enough when you finally give birth.
Make it a habit to drink lots of water every day.
Remember that just drinking water is not enough.
Do not forget to take your vitamins together with your meals.
These will help you absorb the nutrients from your food better and distribute them evenly between you and the baby.
It is also crucial to use moisturizer or lotion everyday especially during the first two trimesters.
Apply a liberal amount of lotion on your breasts, stomach, arms, legs and buttocks every day to keep them moisturized.
This will also help keep your skin elastic and ready for the gradual change in weight.
Now the most important part here is constancy! Make sure that you do all of this even after you give birth.
Rapid weight gain and rapid weight loss both cause stretch marks, so stick to this regimen every day until you are back in shape.