One of the most beautiful times in a woman’s life is pregnancy. During pregnancy, a major concern for many expecting women is stretch marks. Stretch marks, while viewed by some women as beautiful during pregnancy, can greatly decrease a woman’s image of herself, causing her to feel not as beautiful. During pregnancy, stretch marks typically appear on the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, and breast of women. I am pretty amazed that I was able to avoid stretch marks completely all through my pregnancy, especially considering that I gained a little more than the recommended weight gain for pregnancy. Stories, tales, and theories typically tell you that there is nothing you can do to completely prevent stretch marks, and in some instances they may be right. However, there are ways you can lessen your chances of stretch marks forming.
Here are three things I did this pregnancy to avoid stretch marks:
- Eight glasses a day– It is important to stay hydrated with water, during pregnancy, for many reasons. Regarding stretch marks, staying properly hydrated helps your skin to maintain its elasticity.
- Coconut oil– It is important to moisturize the areas most commonly effected by stretch marks during pregnancy. Skin that is dry is less elastic and more prone to stretch marks. Coconut oil is a great natural oil for use as a moisturizer, as it contains essential fatty acids and moisturizing properties. Most lotions for stretch marks need to be rubbed on two or three times a day. With coconut oil, I only rubbed it on once a day, after showering at night.
- Exercise– Exercise not only helps you to manage your weight, but also helps to keep your skin firm. I walked between one and two miles a day on the treadmill all throughout my pregnancy.
Have you tried coconut oil as a moisturizer during pregnancy? What were your results?
