Why do mums-to-be get stretch marks and what are they?
Stretch marks appear naturally during pregnancy as your skin stretches with your growing tummy and creates tears in its deeper layers. Depending on your skin tone they will be red or brown in colour. Then, as you go through your pregnancy, the marks will darken. A few months after you’ve had your baby, the stretch marks should become silvery white and more like your own skin colour. So if they look harsh now, don’t panic, because it’s quite likely they will fade.
What can you do to minimise your stretch marks?
Whilst you can’t stop stretch marks appearing, the good news is that there are things you can try which may minimise their effects:
- Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, cereals, seeds and nuts
- Drink plenty of water
- Do regular gentle exercise to help control your weight gain
- Vitamin E can help your skin stay supple. You can massage your bump, thighs and bottom with a quality cream or natural oil that’s rich in Vitamin E
How to get rid of stretch marks
Unfortunately, there are no absolute guaranteed ways of removing stretch marks. Even laser removal isn’t always 100% successful. Put simply, what works for one mum may not work for you. However, many therapists recommend daily massages with any of the following moisturisers, both during and after pregnancy:
- Wheat germ oil
- Almond oil
- Creams containing Vitamin E
- Cocoa butter
- Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
- Jojoba, or rosehip seed oil
- A combination of the above oils