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Frequently Asked Questions About
Pregnancy and Stretch Marks
Do stretch marks cause health
problems to me or my baby?
Stretch marks do not cause health problems, although they
can cause the skin to be itchy or tingly. Applying lotion will help
reduce the dryness and subsequent itching of the stretch marked tissue,
but will not help make the stretch marks themselves go away.
Where will stretch marks appear
during my pregnancy?
Approximately 50-90% of pregnant women get stretch marks at some point
during their pregnancy. Stretch marks appear most often on the abdomen
during the last trimester of pregnancy. This is because most of the
baby’s weight gain occurs at this time. As the abdomen grows to
accommodate the rapidly growing baby, stretch marks may occur. Some
pregnant women also get stretch marks on the thighs, hips, arms, butt,
and breasts.
Are some women at a greater risk of developing stretch marks during
pregnancy?
Women with a mother or sister who developed stretch marks during
pregnancy are more likely to get stretch marks during pregnancy
themselves. Furthermore, women who had stretch marks during a previous
pregnancy are likely to develop them again in later pregnancies. A woman
who is carrying multiples or a large baby, or who gains pregnancy weight
rapidly is also more likely to develop stretch marks.
Can stretch marks be prevented?
Monitoring your weight gain so it is slow and steady will decrease your
chances of developing stretch marks. Keeping your total weight gain to
within your doctor’s recommended weight gain, generally between 25-35
pounds, will also lessen your chances of getting stretch marks.
Applying creams regularly to the abdomen area will help your skin
maintain its elasticity, but a doctor should be consulted before
beginning such a skincare program. In addition, keeping the body
well-hydrated helps keep the skin more elastic and, therefore, better
capable of stretching to accommodate for pregnancy weight. Both may help
decrease the severity of the stretch marks gained during pregnancy.
Will I ever get rid of my stretch marks?
Stretch marks never go away completely, though their color usually does
fade. Fortunately, most pregnancy-related stretch marks become less
noticeable about six to twelve months after the child is born. At this
point, the pigmentation becomes lighter – often lighter than the
surrounding skin. Nonetheless, the rough, irregular texture of the
stretch marks will remain the same.
For more aggressive treatment of stretch marks, laser treatments are
available. Laser treatments may return some of the skin’s natural
elasticity while helping to match the color of the stretch marks to the
color of the surrounding skin. Laser treatment is, however, a cosmetic
surgery and is not covered by insurance.
Some women also disguise stretch marks with sunless tanning lotions or
body makeup, which helps even out the skin tone throughout the body.
Body makeup, however, does not last as long as sunless tanning lotions
and will often wash away with water. Furthermore, a natural tan is not
effective in reducing the visibility of stretch marks because scar
tissue does not tan the same as skin that is not scarred.
Will wearing a bathing suit be out of the question after I get
stretch marks?
Most women find that their stretch marks are barely visible within
months after giving birth to their child. If, however, you still feel
self-conscious about your pregnancy-related stretch marks, bathing suit
choice can help reduce the visibility of stretch marks.
For example, “boy short” bathing suits are a current fashion favorite.
Athletes who wanted a bathing suit that wouldn’t “ride up” while
engaging in sports made this style of suit popular. The advantage to
this style of bathing suit is that it covers the butt and the upper
thighs, thereby hiding many unsightly stretch marks.
In addition, high top bathing suits are becoming a fashion favorite, as
well. This style of bathing suit will help hide stretch marks in the
chest and abdomen area.
Motherhood is a blessed occasion accompanied by a variety of body
changes. Through proper monitoring and care, these changes can be
reduced or prevented altogether, resulting in less concern about your
own body and more time spent enjoying the new, precious addition to the
family.
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