Prevent Stretch Marks: 3 Simple Solutions

I’ve never met anyone that wanted stretch marks or was happy after they got them. Being so nervous about having to look at stretch marks after my baby was born, I read everything I could to try and prevent them. I used these 3 simple steps and was successful to prevent stretch marks.

Weighing in at 188 pounds at the time of labor and having a 9 pound baby. I do not have the first stretch mark to show you!

I started gaining a lot of weight in my last trimester. Come to find out my body was retaining fluid.

My skin was stretching so bad I thought for sure I would get stretch marks either on my legs or my belly. I couldn’t bend, I couldn’t get my feet up under me on the couch. I was miserable.

As is any woman is in her last trimester.

Prevent Stretch Marks: 3 Simple Solutions #stretchmarks #pregnancytips #pregnancy

What To Do To Prevent Stretch Marks:

Do not scratch.

Scratching damages the skin. It needs to be at it’s strongest to prevent stretch marks.

Scratching weakens the elasticity in the cells and makes them more susceptible to marks.

Keep Hydrated.

I tried to drink as much water as I could. Skin has to have water to grow and stretch.

Get a water bottle that has a straw. We drink so much more water out of a straw than sipping out of a cup. Get something big. You need a lot of water.

You don’t want to waste time filling the thing up all the time. Like this water bottle.

CamelBak Chute Water Bottle, 1.5 L, Charcoal

Don’t worry about it being insulated. If it has time to get warm then you’re not drinking enough.

Keep Moisturized.

I applied lotion after my showers.

Before I got into bed.

When I got up in the morning.

Anytime I had an itch.

After I washed my hands.

After I.. well I think you get it.
I went through bottles and tubs of lotion.

Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter was my go to lotion for lathering up my belly. It’s thick and would last all day.

I went through 2 tubs.

Mama Bee Belly Butter with Shea Butter & Vitamin E 6.5 Ounce (185 g) Cream

They make in-shower lotions that I would use after I used body wash.

Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion was something I found later in my pregnancy.
I don’t know how I went without this product for so long.
It does make the floor of your shower slippery if you don’t rinse enough, so be careful.

NIVEA In-Shower Cocoa Butter Body Lotion 13.5 fl oz

Lotion, water, and no scratching. That’s it.
Take care of yourself. This is easy self care.

Did you get stretch marks with the second baby but not the first? What did you do differently? I’d love to hear from you and see if I can have a second child without getting them!