The 3 Things You Should Do For Minimum Stretch Marks

Stretch marks across the tummy are common among mothers.

Some mothers wear them with pride, while others strive to retain their smooth pre-pregnancy tummy skin. I’m one of the latter.

Fortunately, my midwife, a lady in her early sixties with experience managing over 60 pregnancies, has a few tips. I followed them for a major part of my pregnancy and early post-partum, and I have fewer stretch marks.

Later, when one of my close friends got pregnant and wished to not have stretch marks, I realized the secret had to be shared.

Before we dive into the tips, do you know why stretch marks appear?

Your uterus grows from the size of a lemon to that of a watermelon during the nine months of pregnancy, and the skin stretches to accommodate this rapid change by breaking its elastic fibers in the dermis, its middle layer, forming stretch marks as a result.

Therefore, you can’t get rid of stretch marks completely, but you can certainly control them. In this article, I’ll share the tips my midwife gave me to practice to minimize stretch marks.

You can never over-moisturize skin that is pulled to accommodate something that grew ten times its actual size.

Rubbing a considerable amount of moisturizer daily on the skin will increase skin elasticity and control the breaking of fibers. This will also heal discomfort due to another common pregnancy irritation- itching.

My midwife advised using traditional Ayurvedic Dhanwantharam oil, a mixture of sesame oil, castor oil, and ghee. The oil helps strengthen muscles and firm sagging skin.

For me, it kept itching at bay and delayed stretch marks till the seventh month.

Here’s how to use it:

Heat the oil till it’s lukewarm.

Apply it on your bump and slowly massage for 10–15 minutes.

Shower an hour after applying to wash away excess oil.

Retinoid-free stretch mark prevention cream or other bio-oil are also great choices.

Here’s how to apply:

Take a handful of the product.

Rub it over your bump for at least ten minutes.

Repeat this for 3–4 times a day.

Start doing this as early as possible for best results. I began during my second month, even before my bump showed.

Stretch marks during pregnancy have a lot to do with skin elasticity, and hydration is the key to maintaining skin that can stretch and bounce back.

Not to mention, drinking sufficient water is good for maintaining fluid in the amniotic sac.

I drank 8–12 glasses of water daily, depending on how thirsty I got. This should amount to approximately 2 to 4 liters per day.

Other than water, I strongly recommend drinking buttermilk, homemade fruit juice, and tender coconut water for a better supply of vital vitamins and minerals.

A challenge I faced in this facet was spacing between drinking and eating. When I drank right before snacking, I didn’t eat enough because I felt full.

Here’s how I tackled it:

Keep a reminder for every hour. I would either snack or hydrate myself every time my phone notified me.

Drink 30 minutes after your snack, and never before.

Alternate between drinking water and other juices.

It’s tempting and easy to give in to your cravings repeatedly, even if they are unhealthy. This can cause rapid weight gain over a short time period, rupturing skin fibers and leading to stretch marks.

Therefore, you must curb indulging in unhealthy food frequently and consume a more protein-rich diet as that’s beneficial not only for the baby’s growth but also for controlling stretch marks.

Try to have a diet consisting of plenty of vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, collagen, and vitamin E, which can help the skin have the required elasticity.

My main source of daily essential vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids were fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seafood. I would also consume chicken, mutton, and beef weekly.

However, I struggled to track my intake of vitamins, minerals, and other essentials in the beginning.

Then, I found an app that helped. Here’s how I did it:

Tracked my carbs, proteins, vitamins, and other essentials via a calorie-tracking app. (I depended on Healthify Me; you could follow any)

Stretch marks are quite normal as they come as a package with pregnancy. However, if you don’t want them, you can take certain steps to reduce their occurrence.

I religiously performed the tips my midwife shared, and it worked for my body. I hope these tips help you as well.