Being with child is an
incredible and unique event in the life of any woman. The opportunity to give
birth and bring new life into this world is the closest to magic we can get in
real life. Unfortunately, it also comes with a few physical and mental side
effects that discourage many from pursuing such an experience.

One of the first that comes
to mind is stretch marks. A lot of ladies
out there fear that bearing an infant for nine months will ruin their skin, but
that’s hardly the case. In fact, these can be diminished and kept under control
with ease. Here are six essential tips to help you reduce stretch marks during
pregnancy.

1.   
Use a Targeted Cream

Ointments are hands down the most prevalent treatment for
stretch marks. In fact, studies have uncovered that as much as 78% of
pregnant women resort to using a targeted product in order to diminish their
appearance. By far the most widely-encountered choice was Bio-oil. Cocoa
butter-based creams and lotions were also very popular among participants.

Putting on a specialized ointment is the most popular method
of encouraging pregnancy striae to fade away. Find the best
stretch mark cream that suits
your personal needs, and you will most likely achieve visible results in no
time at all.

These variations occur because women tend to seek advice on
this from family members and friends, according to the same aforementioned
research. Furthermore, it also depends greatly on what each person is
comfortable with the most. Thus, depending on every woman’s preferences,
differences are bound to become observable.

2.   
Try Homemade Remedies

Although the market is ripe with creams and lotions,
sometimes the best treatment can be found in your pantry. There are plenty of
organic ingredients that can be put together in order to produce an
incredible homemade remedy for stretch marks. For example, a few teaspoons of
lemon juice, lavender oil and sugar can turn into an effective scrub.

For an at-home lotion, use equal parts mango butter and
coconut oil, and apply the resulting mixture topically as you would any other
store-bought ointment. Shea butter is also great because it helps treat
scarring as well. And let’s not forget about the all-time favorite natural skin
regenerator, aloe vera.

By combining three parts aloe vera oil with one-part castor
oil, a handy promoter of skin elasticity, and applying it directly onto the
affected area, the quality of your skin will discernably improve almost
immediately. When the options are so many, not trying at least one of them
would be counterproductive.

3.   
Gain Weight Steadily

Topical ointments and home remedies diminish the appearance
of pregnancy striae once these occur, but they do less in terms of prevention.
Although hydration is a must and keeping the skin plump and elastic does indeed
keep damage at bay, its beneficial effects are null if other requirements
aren’t met.

According
to Healthline, most experts agree that the best way to impede stretch
marks from forming is by gaining your baby weight steadily, instead of all at
once. The best way to achieve this is by consulting with your doctor and coming
up with an appropriate diet plan that provides your body with the right amount
of nutrition. 

4.   
Drink Plenty of Water

As previously mentioned, hydration is essential in protecting
the skin. The biggest drawback in using topical creams as far as this is
concerned is that they work locally. Fortunately, there is a straightforward
way to keep up moisture levels in the body, namely drinking plenty of water.
You already have to do that to ensure the health of your baby, the glowing skin
is just a plus.

5.   
Consult a Dermatologist

Usually, the best
moment to treat stretch marks is immediately after they appear on
the skin. And when hydration fails, consulting with a dermatologist can be of
great help. A medical professional can prescribe you advanced treatments, such
as retinoid, microdermabrasion and even laser sessions.

6.   
Wait It Out

If all else fails, just remember that pregnancy stretch marks
eventually fade on their own post-partum. Although they will never be fully
gone, they won’t stick out like a sore thumb either. Don’t forget the
importance of embracing the changes your body is going through during this
beautiful and challenging time of your life. After all, they are natural.

Although stretch marks can rarely be prevented during
pregnancy, hydration through topical ointments that are either natural or
store-bought is a great start. Drinking plenty of water is also recommended, as
is consulting with a dermatologist if you feel the need to try something new.
And at the end of the day, try to remember that they will fade away sooner or
later.