| Stretch marks occur during pregnancy when your skin | | | | can also ensure your baby engages in an optimal |
| is not supple enough to handle your expanding figure. | | | | position for delivery. Remember to check with your |
| They are most common across your stomach, where | | | | midwife or doctor first before continuing with your |
| pregnant women see the most growth, but if you are | | | | previous exercise routine. |
| really unfortunate you can experience them on your | | | | One form of exercise that comes highly |
| hips, thighs, buttocks and breasts. | | | | recommended during maternity is pregnancy yoga. |
| In order to prevent stretch marks, or at least | | | | Pregnancy yoga can help you relax, it can improve |
| dramatically reduce the amount you will have, you | | | | how supple your skin is, as it gently helps it stretch. |
| need to take steps to make your skin more supple. It is | | | | Practicing yoga throughout your pregnancy will also |
| a myth that stretch marks cannot be prevented, whilst | | | | help prepare you for labour and certain positions can |
| you may not be able to stop them altogether, that | | | | be used as a natural form of pain relief. Again you |
| does not mean you can't reduce the amount you will | | | | must check with your midwife or doctor before |
| have quite significantly. | | | | starting with an exercise routine. |
| Another myth about stretch marks is that they are | | | | As we get older, our skin loses the amount of natural |
| hereditary. It is true that if your mother or sister has | | | | oils it retains and produces. There is no set time line for |
| them you are more likely to have them, but it doesn't | | | | this, each woman will see an individual reduction, but |
| mean that stretch marks are inevitable for you. This | | | | there are ways you can help retain oils externally. Try |
| myth stems from women being more likely to produce | | | | adding some Bio Oil to your bath or applying it after |
| the same amounts of corticosteroid as their mother | | | | you have showered, this will help lock in the moisture |
| and sisters, which is the hormone that stimulates | | | | and keep your skin nice and stretchy. |
| collagen production, which is needed to make your skin | | | | Bio Oil is also one of the few treatments that can |
| more supple. | | | | correctly claim to reduce the visibility of scars and |
| Drinking plenty of water can also encourage collagen | | | | stretch marks that do occur. Whilst it will not rid you of |
| production. It is recommended that pregnant women | | | | them altogether, it can make them less obvious. This is |
| stay on top of their water intake religiously as it is | | | | due to its Vitamin E content. |
| needed to prevent dehydration and to enhance foetal | | | | There are pregnancy safe anti-stretch mark creams |
| development. Health benefits aside, it can help you | | | | available for you to use. It is another myth that these |
| prevent stretch marks and it can also reduce the | | | | don't work. Whilst some brands may make ludicrous |
| amount of spots you have during that rocky first | | | | claims regarding the altogether prevention of stretch |
| trimester. | | | | marks, many can and do dramatically reduce the |
| Keep that water intake topped up with plenty of fruit | | | | amount you will see. Remember these creams will not |
| and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables such as | | | | work alone, it is useless applying a cream and |
| cucumbers, celery, lettuce, grapes and melons have a | | | | expecting it to work wonders, they must be used in |
| high water content in themselves as well as many | | | | conjunction with exercise, a good diet and a high |
| vitamins and minerals. Fruits and veg containing Vitamin | | | | water intake. Assuming they will work by themselves |
| C are of high importance as Vitamin C can also help | | | | is like assuming a vitamin tablet will provide you with |
| encourage collagen production. | | | | fantastic health by itself. |
| It isn't just the production of collagen that will help you | | | | As with everything, preventing stretch marks does |
| battle stretch marks during pregnancy, you should also | | | | take work, but it need not be an up-hill battle. Don't set |
| exercise. | | | | yourself unrealistic expectations, some women may |
| If you exercised before pregnancy, by running or | | | | see slight stretch marks in places, but you won't be left |
| walking regularly, then it will usually be safe to continue | | | | looking like a lion has clawed at your stomach for nine |
| with your previous routine and is often recommended. | | | | months. So good luck and at least take on some of |
| Walking or running can help improve your over all | | | | my tips to see the fantastic health benefits they can |
| muscle tone, which will help your expanding bump. It | | | | bring during your pregnancy. |