As soon as life begins in the female body, changes of various kinds begin to occur in it. The happiest state of the expectant mother is when she is worried. One of the reasons is stretch marks on the abdomen during pregnancy.
You can prepare for all unwanted changes in advance by following simple and useful recommendations.
If the moment of prevention is missed, it is possible to stop such an unpleasant process. And of course, we will tell you how to get rid of stretch marks and remain beautiful after the birth of your baby.
As the skin stretches, scars appear on it; these are stretch marks. It is unlikely to make any assumptions about the presence and type of stretch marks in each individual case.
The elastin fibers of the upper layer of epithelial skin tear as the abdomen grows, and scars (striae) appear in the second layer, the dermis. Their appearance depends on many factors that we will consider.
Factors influencing the appearance of stretch marks
Stretch marks typically appear around the 17th week or around the fourth month of pregnancy, when your belly begins to enlarge. Does this mean that any pregnant woman is likely to get stretch marks? Not always. According to experts, several factors can predict if you're prone to stretch marks:
Genetics
If your mother had stretch marks during her childbearing years, you will likely also get them when you become pregnant. A stretch mark is a mark that appears on the skin after being stretched to its limit and becomes such because the skin lacks elastin. Elastin is an elastic protein that can be found in the connective tissues of the skin. This allows the skin to stretch without tearing. However, when elastin is depleted, the skin stretches and eventually develops into stretch marks.
Your age
When you are young, your skin is elastic. It's easy to think that this plays a major role in preventing stretch marks. However, doctors say that as the abdomen expands, young skin is more likely to tear under pressure than mature skin.
Weight gain
The skin stretches as a person grows and adapts perfectly to regular changes. However, 42 weeks of pregnancy is short, so your skin may not have enough time to adjust to your rapidly growing baby bump. As the body increases in size faster than the skin covering it, it ruptures like a mini injury, resulting in stretch marks.
Did you have stretch marks when you were younger?
Having these marks on your skin during puberty makes you susceptible to them again when you become pregnant. Hormonal changes cause your skin to become sensitive and fragile, making it more prone to breakouts.
Fresh stretch marks appeared on the stomach during pregnancy: what to do
If scar bands are detected, measures should be taken immediately to eliminate them. It is easier to get rid of fresh stretch marks than old ones.
Dermatovenerologists recommend using creams containing vitamins A, E and C, and collagen-elastin complex. Cosmetics begin to be used from 3-4 months of the gestational period. The means are selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the body.
Massage using oils helps a lot. Light stroking and pinching improve blood circulation, stimulate the synthesis of fibrillar protein, which is responsible for maintaining the structure of the dermis, oils provide sufficient hydration.
Stages of stretch marks during pregnancy
- Early stretch marks appear pink in color and may also be itchy. The skin directly around the stretch marks will also appear “flattened” and “thin.”
- Gradually, the stretch marks will increase in length and width and become reddish or purple in color.
- Once stretch marks mature, they lose their reddish or pink hue. A few months into pregnancy, they will begin to fade and turn pale white or silvery. They may also appear slightly depressed and irregular in shape or length.
Most women develop stretch marks on their abdomen during pregnancy, but they also often appear on their breasts, hips, lower back and buttocks. Although, they can appear anywhere on the body, they are most likely to appear in areas where large amounts of fat are stored.
While it's important to know why, how, and where stretch marks form during pregnancy, it's even more important to know how to prevent them from forming in the first place.
Stretch marks on the stomach during pregnancy photo:
Gymnastics for stretch marks
Here are some examples of exercises for gymnastics. They will help you relax, replenish your energy supply, feel a surge of strength, and of course strengthen your muscles.
Cat pose
Get on your knees, place your hands on the floor so that your palms are at shoulder level. Bend smoothly and at this time raise your head up. Reach your nose towards the ceiling. Then round your back and tilt your head down. Start with ten times, but watch according to your condition. If you feel dizzy or nauseous, stop. If everything is fine, you can do it twelve times.
We also recommend reading: Skin care during pregnancy
Butterfly pose
Sit on the mat, connect your feet one to the other. Pull them towards you as much as possible. Place your palms on top of your knees, with your fingers pointing in different directions. Slowly at first, then start pressing harder with your hands on your knees. You should get a sway similar to the flapping of a butterfly's wings.
Crunches
Without moving your pelvis, you need to turn your body to the right and left. This exercise can be done both standing and sitting.
Gymnastic ball
It is very useful to do gymnastics using a fitball.
- Sit on the mat, straighten your back and cross your legs. We hold the fitball at face level, and whenever possible we try to squeeze the ball with our palms. We do it ten to fifteen times, thus strengthening the muscles of the chest and arms.
- Lying on your back, you need to bend your legs so that one rests on the floor, and the other stands on the ball. You need to roll the ball back and forth. Then do the same movements with the next leg. Do this exercise for the right and left legs six to ten times.
- Without changing your lying position, you need to bend both legs at the knees. Raising your legs one at a time at right angles, rotate your foot from right to left and vice versa. So, seven, eight times, for each.
- Wear anatomical maternity and nursing underwear and bandages
After the end of the first trimester of pregnancy (12-14 weeks), you should look for anatomical underwear. Of course, at first it will be difficult to give up beautiful and familiar underwear, but you don’t need to worry about the fact that it may not be very beautiful. The figure of a pregnant woman is beautiful in its own way, and anatomical underwear will only emphasize the beauty of its rounded shape. Thanks to such underwear, the skin does not sag anywhere and is not stretched again. The soft fabric creates comfort, does not press anywhere, does not pinch or cut into.
Somewhere from the twenty-first week you can wear a bandage. To do this, you need to consult a doctor. Decide on the size and shape of the bandage. The circumference of the tummy varies, so you need to measure it first. It is advisable to purchase the bandage at an orthopedic pharmacy; pay attention to the quality. It can be used after the birth of the baby, but again, consulting a doctor will not hurt. The bandage will support the abdomen, as if preventing unnecessary stress on the back and, of course, will help to avoid stretch marks.
- Relaxing massage
Taking a small amount of time each day for a massage will also help your body avoid suffering from stretch marks. In addition, massage relaxes not only the muscles, but also the nervous system.
- Shower massage
Before going to bed, when taking a shower, direct a stream of warm water to the skin of the abdomen, hips and chest, rotate in a circular motion clockwise. Be sure to alternate cool water with warm water. Massage with warm water should be three times more than cool. You can also massage with a loofah or sisal washcloth.
- Massage with creams and oils
This massage is also recommended for expectant mothers. During massage with creams and oils, the skin must be moist. You also massage problem areas using circular movements. The question arises: how to smear the stomach during pregnancy for stretching? When purchasing an oil or cream, it is very important to pay attention to the “hypoallergenic” or “allergen tested” label. Make your purchase at a pharmacy; for your own safety, ask for a hygiene certificate and a quality certificate.
We also recommend reading: Preparing for childbirth
Creams such as Vitex for Mom, World of Childhood, Mama Comfort, Vichi, Avent, Sanason, Chicco Mamma Donna have proven themselves well.
It will be useful to massage with heated natural oils. Olive, almond, peach, jojoba, and grape seed oils nourish and moisturize the skin very well.
Remember! If pregnancy occurs against the background of a threat of miscarriage, massage is contraindicated.
Whatever means you start doing massage for the first time, you need to conduct a small test for an allergic reaction. Apply a couple of drops of the product you are going to massage with onto your elbow and wait. After a couple of hours, evaluate the result to see if there is any redness, itching, or swelling. If everything is in order, proceed. You should also pay attention to the smell to see if it causes discomfort.
- Breathing exercises
By doing breathing exercises, you saturate your body with oxygen. This type of exercise is not only good for the skin, but also has a calming effect on the nervous system. It benefits the baby. Be sure to consult your doctor and alternate breathing exercises with gymnastic exercises.
How do stretch marks appear in pregnant women?
It is worth remembering that skin changes such as stretch marks cannot go away on their own. Moreover, if they have already formed. You won’t be able to get rid of it with the help of creams and even professional masks. You shouldn’t believe the manufacturer’s advertising that even the bluest and deepest stretch marks will come apart. The cream can be used as a preventive measure or to discolor stretch marks. No cream can provide for a lack of skin cells.
How do stretch marks manifest themselves, and how can one determine that there is a risk of their formation? The first sign that the skin will soon be covered with unpleasant lines is itching, burning and dryness. These three factors provoke the formation of stretch marks, promoting their formation on the deeper layers of the skin. If after bathing a woman feels dry and her skin seems to be tight, then it is worth taking measures to moisturize it around the clock, thus counteracting its drying out.
If a woman notices that itching, especially in areas such as the chest, lower and sides of the abdomen, is constantly itching, then this is the first sign of deformation of the skin. You should act immediately, using moisturizing creams, lotions and gels to retain moisture.
Important.
The amount of water consumed (not compote, tea and coffee) should be agreed upon with the obstetrician leading the pregnancy. In some cases, it is advisable to increase its portions, especially in the summer.
What stretch marks look like
Women who have already given birth have probably discovered, after abdominal reduction, unsightly stretch marks in the lower abdomen or on its sides, and they know that these are stretch marks. Those who have not seen stretch marks, and want to be able to promptly distinguish them from other manifestations, are interested in what stretch marks look like at first and then. Appearance of striae:
- Bluish stripes of a smooth or wavy format.
- The skin feels softer to the touch, almost like a child’s, thin and velvety, whitish stripes appear on it.
- Pinkish stripes.
- Pearlescent-bluish stripes.
- Dark purple, deep streaks that itch are the most severe form of skin stretching.
Depending on what preventive measures were taken, the manifestation and treatment of stretch marks will depend. Some formations, for example, purple and deep stripes in the lower abdomen or on the sides of the back, cannot be removed with creams or even reduced in color intensity. The only option is plastic surgery.
The bluishness and even purple tint of the stripes on the body are explained by the fact that the skin has become thinner, and the capillaries and veins are closer to the surface of the cuticle (the thinnest skin). Over time, such changes become less noticeable. But there are no physiological resources for complete healing and overgrowth of cells. Stretch marks may lighten, but they cannot disappear completely.
What means to moisturize the skin?
Moisturizing the skin in each trimester is the main preventive measure to avoid the appearance of stretch marks on the skin. If creams have not been used before, the skin is at risk, so you should pay attention to this and immediately begin comprehensive moisturizing. The first signs of stretch marks are itching and discomfort. In this case, you urgently need to purchase a good cream. Moisturizing cream for stretch marks contains amino acids and collagen.
It is worth paying attention to the composition of the cream. It may contain seaweed, microorganisms, plant extracts, vitamins A, E, essential oils, panthenol. Only such creams can and should be used during pregnancy for stretch marks. To prevent stretch marks from appearing, such creams are used daily for up to four months. You need to moisturize the skin of your abdomen, chest, and other places every day after a shower.
An excellent method for enriching the skin during pregnancy and after childbirth can be coconut oil - Palmer's. This cream contains collagen, elastin, Shea butter, and ginseng. This product is approved for pregnant women; it promotes skin regeneration and tightening. Another product that can improve skin condition is based on wheat germ. This cream contains almonds, apricots, avocados, sunflowers and vitamin E.
How to avoid problems - preventive measures
It is almost impossible to get rid of stretch marks that have already appeared, and making them less noticeable will require a lot of time, money and patience. Dealing with existing defects is difficult and expensive. Therefore, if you want to maintain skin elasticity, prevent and prevent the appearance of unwanted scars during pregnancy, try to start the fight as early as possible.
Physical activity
Pregnancy is not a reason to forget about physical activity. Of course, if there are no medical contraindications for this.
Walking in the fresh air, simple and regular exercises aimed at improving blood circulation and maintaining physical fitness will be beneficial for the woman and the unborn baby.
You can train at home at a time convenient for you, or enroll in a group for pregnant women. Many fitness centers today offer various programs in Pilates, fitness, stretching, and yoga that will help you feel more comfortable throughout the entire period of pregnancy.
Particular attention should be paid to exercises for the hips and legs, as they prepare the muscles for the upcoming birth and help avoid the appearance of stretch marks.
Special diet
It is important for an expectant mother to properly adjust her diet in order to provide herself and her child with the necessary vitamins, microelements and nutrients.
But the quality of nutrition can also affect the condition of the skin:
- Be sure to include chicken and beef dishes in your diet - meat contains proteins and other beneficial substances that prevent the destruction of collagen.
- Omega acids necessary to ensure the elasticity of the skin are found in fatty fish, for example, salmon and trout.
- Also give preference to foods that contain a lot of protein and vitamin E.
- Make sure your diet includes cheese, eggs, legumes, nuts, whole grains and dairy products.
- Eat more greens and fresh vegetable salads. Consume fruits and natural juices - vitamin C is necessary for collagen synthesis.
- Consumption of sweets, flour and sugar, on the contrary, should be limited, since they negatively affect the condition of the epidermis, holding collagen fibers together.
Water treatments and massage
Water procedures will help maintain muscle tone. An excellent option for a pregnant woman would be swimming in the pool. If for some reason you cannot visit the pool, then a contrast shower is an alternative. During the procedures, it is good to perform a light massage of the areas most vulnerable to the formation of stretch marks. To do this, make circular movements with the shower, focusing on the chest, hips, and tummy.
Doctors also often recommend attending specialized massage sessions during pregnancy, which is also aimed at preventing stretch marks.
Bandages and support garments
Special underwear will also help prevent stretch marks. It not only partially relieves stress and prevents allergies, but also protects the skin from excessive stretching.
In the middle of the second trimester, you can consult your doctor about wearing a prenatal bandage. It helps perfectly in maintaining the tummy, unloading the muscles and spine, and also reduces the risk of stretch marks.
To prevent sagging skin in the abdominal area, you can also use a special belt.
Be sure to replace your regular bras with special ones designed for pregnant women. Their design is safe for breasts, which gradually increase in size, and provides the necessary support due to wide straps and other features.
Give preference to lightweight underwear made from natural hypoallergenic materials with a minimum of seams.
Salon products
During pregnancy, the skin especially needs care and hydration, and the sooner you start taking care of it, the better. Cosmetic companies today offer a wide range of specialized products for the prevention of stretch marks: all kinds of oils, gels, creams, scrubs, etc.
They contain vitamins, minerals, moisturizers (aloe, chitosan, hyaluronic acid), amino acids, collagen and other substances. Almost all products contain vegetable oils (from wheat germ, avocado, grape seeds, cocoa). With regular use, such gels and creams increase the elasticity of the skin, moisturize and soften it well, and prevent the appearance of swelling.
But keep in mind that these are only auxiliary tools that do not provide a 100% guarantee. In addition, you should be careful and always study the composition, because some substances can provoke an allergic reaction.
Review of some tools in this video:
Traditional methods for removing stretch marks
It is not necessary to buy special cosmetics in the store; some products can be prepared independently from natural ingredients.
An effective assistant is a scrub. Its use helps exfoliate the upper layers of the skin and smoothes its surface, making stretch marks less noticeable.
One of the most effective and easy to prepare is a coffee scrub. It is prepared on the basis of ground coffee with the addition of various ingredients: sour cream, cinnamon, liquid honey, essential oils, cosmetic clay, etc. Additives can be mixed or used to your taste, while monitoring the body’s reaction. Reviews from girls who have used this product are overwhelmingly positive.
To prepare the scrub, all selected ingredients are mixed together. Apply the product after a shower to clean, warm skin. Rub it in with light massage movements, then leave for a few minutes. After rinsing, lubricate your body with moisturizer.
If you don't like coffee, make a sugar scrub. To do this, mix a glass of sugar and salt and add ½ glass of vegetable oil (preferably olive or almond) to the mixture. Stir well and use in the same way as coffee.
An easy to make lotion at home using almond butter and carrots. To do this, pour a glass of boiled water over peeled and grated carrots and leave for 15 minutes. After this, filter and squeeze. Add tbsp to the resulting infusion. l. almond oil and shake well. This lotion should be used twice a day and stored in the refrigerator.
Various creams are also prepared at home. They may contain mumiyo, aloe, oatmeal, vegetable oils, etc.
Essential oils have a good effect: olive, almond, wheat germ, lavender, blood orange and others. Using them is extremely simple: just rub a few drops of it with massage movements into cleansed skin.
Any product purchased in a store or prepared at home should be used with caution and monitor the reaction, this is especially important during pregnancy. If any manifestations are detected (itching, peeling, etc.), you should stop using the drug.
Proper nutrition
When choosing effective remedies for stretch marks, special attention should be paid to nutrition. The most important thing during pregnancy is not to go overboard with diets. To strengthen tissues, you need to include more salads with flaxseed, olive, and corn oils in your diet. It is also necessary to consume vegetables, dietary meats, fish and dairy products.
Essential foods for a healthy diet during pregnancy include whole grains, nuts and legumes. It is this set of ingredients that will help cope with tissue stretching.
Expectant mothers should definitely include vitamins in their diet. Every gynecologist knows about this. The main enemy of stretch marks is vitamin E. This vitamin helps fight harmful deposits in the body and strengthen the skin. In addition, vitamin E contains collagen and elastin, which will help rejuvenate your skin.
Advice! You need to control the rate of weight gain and try to avoid stretching the skin. Otherwise, the appearance of stretch marks cannot be avoided.
During pregnancy, even if you really want to, you need to put a “taboo” on flour products. If you want to avoid the appearance of stretch marks, you should forget about pastries, cakes and all kinds of desserts before and after childbirth.
