Stretch Marks During and After Pregnancy

Stretch Marks During and After Pregnancy

When do stretch marks start during pregnancy?

You’ll start to notice these beauty marks when you're somewhere around 13 weeks to 21 weeks pregnant (think of them as modern art for your baby bump). Up to 90 percent of all expecting women get these pink, red, yellow, tan or sometimes purplish or brown streaks. You'll most likely notice them across your belly, butt, thighs, hips or breasts.
What causes stretch marks during pregnancy?

Stretch marks are actually tiny tears in the supporting layers of tissue under your skin as it's pulled tight to the limit during pregnancy. Whether or not you get them has a lot to do with genetics: Chances are, if your mother had them, you probably will too, but if she sailed through her pregnancies with smooth skin intact, you'll likely follow suit. Rapid pregnancy weight gain can also make you more prone to getting stretch marks.

What can I do about stretch marks when I'm pregnant?

Though stretch marks are usually genetic, there are a few ways to try to minimize their appearance:

Moisturize. Cocoa butter certainly won't hurt, though no stretch mark cream is a miracle cure. If nothing else, moisturizing daily will help with the dryness and itchy skin associated with pregnancy.

Nourish your skin from the inside. Eating plenty of vitamin C-rich foods may also help keep your skin toned and less subject to stretch marks.

Watch your weight. Keep an eye on that scale during pregnancy and put your pounds on slowly and steadily instead of in big spurts. Keep in mind that eating for two doesn't mean literally eating twice as much.

When can I expect my stretch marks to go away?

They’ll be around for a bit, and might even look a little more noticeable post-delivery. Fortunately, your stretch marks won't stay so vividly hued forever. After baby arrives, they usually fade to a less noticeable (and more easily concealable) silvery gray color. Meanwhile, try to wear them with pride.
 

Sources: whattoexpect.com