Belly Stretch Marks - Prevention Tips!

Statistics show that around 75 to 90 percent of pregnant women develop belly stretch marks during the last stages of their pregnancy. As your body continues to experience rapid weight gain, most especially during the sixth and seventh months of your pregnancy cycle or calendar, robust red, brown, or purple lines appear on your bulging tummy and even on other areas, such as your breasts and thighs if you're carrying a big baby. Naturally, just like any other pregnant woman, keeping your body as intact as it was before your pregnancy is your goal and to be able to achieve this, you should find out how to prevent pregnancy stretch marks.

Before surfing the web for tips on how to avoid belly stretch marks, you should first learn about stretch marks in generally, specifically basic information as to what they are and what causes them. This way, you can understand what it takes to prevent them and discern which products are credible and likely to work.

Stretch marks are depressed streaks that can develop in your skin when your body goes through an unexpected or very rapid growth or weight gain. This is because the elastic supportive tissue that lies beneath the skin experiences changes, and the dermis, the middle layer assigned to help the skin keep its shape, loses support. Pregnant women usually get them on the abdominal area as their pregnancy progresses. Before belly stretch marks pop out, itching around the area is normally experienced. When they first appear, stretch marks are red, purple, or brown in color but change into silvery white or gray over a period of time.

While some experts have said that genetics play a role in the development of stretch marks, there is no clear proof to support the connection. However, some factors have been determined to boost weight gain, which is the primary cause of stretch marks. When you are pregnant, you are more likely to get belly stretch marks if you are carrying a big baby or multiples, have excess amniotic fluid, eat fattening foods that make you gain more than the necessary and expected weight.

Most pregnant women use their pregnancy as an excuse to pig out. On the contrary, there is no need to switch to a bigger diet just because you are pregnant. In fact, the recommended weight gain in most cases ranges from only 20 to 35 pounds. Gaining the weight slowly is key to preventing belly stretch marks from forming. What you need to do is to stick to a healthy diet and regular exercise, with recommendations from your doctor as to what you are allowed to do, of course.

To control your weight gain, eat a diverse and balanced diet that has the nutrition you and your baby needs. Perform some stretching in the morning and evening to help your blood circulation improve and make your skin's elasticity better. Avoid scratching your belly as this may trigger the manifestation of stretch marks. When you feel the itch, use a soft wash cloth to massage the area. These free prevention tips should keep those ugly, unwanted belly stretch marks away.