Sarah Bowmar here, I am an AFPA prenatal and postpartum certified personal trainer and pregnant with my second, here to bring you my tips to prevent stretch marks!
Being pregnant and growing a human being is one of the most beautiful aspects to life. It also can be a stressful time for women worried about stretch marks. The number one question I received during my pregnancy with Oakley was how I did not get any stretch marks. I do want to preface- there is absolutely nothing wrong with stretch marks. Some women get them and some women don’t. The main determining factor with stretch marks is genetics. However- there are five tips to preventing stretch marks during pregnancy!
Healthy Weight Gain
Stretch marks occur when the skin is stretched, we all know this. What’s the best way to prevent deep stretch marks? Mitigate the amount of stretching the skin has to do. The “normal range” for healthy weight gain during pregnancy is 25-35lbs according to the ACOG if you are in the “normal BMI range”. During your first trimester during a healthy pregnancy, you do not need to consume additional calories above maintenance, during your second trimester, you should be consuming 300 calories above maintenance, and 450 calories above maintenance during your third trimester. For reference, 300 calories is equivalent to a large avocado.
I know weight gain during pregnancy can be a sensitive subject for some. I highly recommend remaining AS ACTIVE as you can during all stages of pregnancy, and not just for vanity reasons. Active women are PROVEN to have less birth complications, quicker recoveries, healthier weight gain, less risk of gestational diabetes, quicker births, etc. If you are unsure of where to begin with a fit pregnancy, I recommend downloading my free guide, available HERE
For reference, I am 5’3 and gained 28lbs with my first pregnancy with Oakley. I went from 135lbs to 163lbs. I walked 10,000 steps every single day, lifted 5-6 days a week, lifted the day I morning I was induced, and ate as best I could during my entire pregnancy. I always like to remind women- you are not eating for two, you are eating for one person that is growing another small person. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of the cure and the heather you can remain during pregnancy, the healthier your baby will be according to the ACOG!
Collagen
I gave birth to my daughter in August 2020 and am just over 18 weeks pregnant with our second baby, due at the end of February 2022. I did not get stretch marks with the first and I do not have stretch marks yet with the second. Please know, when I recommend taking collagen every single day, it’s because I have had HUNDREDS of women message me on social media telling me they didn’t take our collagen during their first pregnancy and got a ton of stretch marks and then took our collagen for their second pregnancy and got either zero stretch marks, less stretch marks, or lighter stretch marks. I also have received countless reviews from women taking our collagen postpartum and completely reversing the visibility of stretch marks- some that are even a decade old!
I personally take collagen every single day. With any supplement, please consult with your doctor before adding in a supplement to your daily routine.
Water and Prenatal
Your skin is your largest organ and is a true reflection of what you consume. For this reason, keeping your skin hydrated from the inside out is VITAL during pregnancy. A great goal is a gallon of water per day- don’t worry, the supplements you are taking (like collagen above), all count towards your total water intake. I also have a blog dedicated to how to increase your daily water intake, you can access that HERE
I also highly recommend a high quality prenatal during your entire pregnancy to ensure you and baby are getting all the nutrients you need. The healthier you are, the healthier your skin will be!
Creams and Oils
Much like keeping your skin hydrated from the inside out, you need to use topicals to keep your skin as moisturized as possible. I recommend starting IMMEDIATELY with whatever creams and oils you decided to use. You don’t need to wait until you start showing! The skin becomes extremely itchy during pregnancy so keeping it hydrated to prevent scratching can greatly improve the overall health and appearance of your skin. It’s recommended to apply not only to the belly but also hips and breasts as well!
I use the oil in the morning and the butter at night! The oil is not greasy at all!
Sunscreen (if you are planning to have your stomach in the sun)
I hope this blog helps put your mind at ease when it comes to stretch marks during pregnancy!
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