Baby Life

Stretch Marks: Is it Possible to Avoid Them During Pregnancy?

2008-03-11 05:22:04

Trust Your Genes-Not Creams

There are quite a few old wives' tales regarding stretch marks and pregnancy-including height and the liberal application of lotion. Anna, 42, read that baby oil was the key to keeping stretch marks at bay. "Every morning, noon, and night, I would rub my belly with baby oil. It worked; I never got stretch marks."

But Olivia, 26, had no such luck with that routine. "I bought the most expensive stretch mark prevention cream on the market and used it religiously. I was absolutely devastated when I got my first stretch mark during the 36th week of pregnancy. By the end, I had a belly full of them, and I was out hundreds of dollars on this stupid cream that didn't work. I'm convinced that you're either destined to get them or not, so don't waste your money."
Unfortunately, science tends to side with Olivia. When skin stretches at a great rate over a relatively small period of time-like during pregnancy-it's natural for the skin to get itchy. So while lotions and creams might make it more comfortable for the mother-to-be, it probably doesn't prevent stretch marks.

Toni, 31, believes that her height has something to do with her lack of stretch marks after two babies. "I swear it's because I'm tall. At five feet nine inches, I have a lot of room for the baby to stretch out length-wise, so I never got very big with either of my kids. My girlfriend, who's five feet three inches, had stretch marks by her 28th week. She was already huge at that point-where else is the baby supposed to go besides straight out?"
Toni is on to something, though whether you get stretch marks or not has less to do with how tall you are and more to do with how much weight you gain during pregnancy. Mums who stick to their doctors' recommendations about how much weight to put on have a better chance of avoiding them. It makes sense: the more weight you gain, the more your skin has to stretch to accommodate that weight.
Another valid indicator of whether you'll get stretch marks is to ask your mum if she has them. Like many other things in pregnancy-and life in general-stretch marks tend to run in families. If your mother, your grandmother, and both of your sisters made it through their pregnancies without stretch marks, you have a better than average chance of escaping them as well. And if the opposite is true and they all have them? You may want to resign yourself to the possibility that you'll end up with them.

Amy, 29, firmly believes in this family connection. "My mother had five kids and never got stretch marks. And now I've had three and have never had a problem. She may have passed on a lot of things I don't like, but I'll always be grateful that along with the weak ankles came the no-stretch-mark gene!"

Other factors that influence your chances of getting stretch marks:
• Whether you got them during puberty (another period when you probably gained weight rapidly) or during a previous pregnancy.
• Your ethnicity. Women of African heritage tend to get them less often than Caucasian women.
• Your hydration level. Skin that has adequate hydration stretches more easily.
• Your exercise routine. Women who exercise regularly generally have more toned skin and don't tend to put on as much weight during pregnancy.

Dealing with Stretch Marks

If your fears are realized, and you end up with stretch marks as a reminder of your pregnancy, you can take two approaches: regard them as badges of honor in return for becoming a mother, or do whatever is necessary to remove them.
Stephanie, 30, decided to take her stretch marks in stride. "At first I was really upset about them, but then I took an objective view of the situation. I can't wear a bikini; so what? I've always been a bit overweight, so I've never worn a bikini in my life anyway! The only person who knows about the stretch marks on my stomach is my husband, and believe me, it hasn't dampened his desire to see me naked," she laughs.
Stephanie's attitude is wonderful-if you can manage it. Nicole, 35, couldn't live with the stretch marks on her breasts after her daughter was born. "I've always had great breasts; they're kind of my trademark. When I didn't get stretch marks on my belly, I thought I was home free-until I noticed some red lines forming on the top part of both breasts and down into my décolletage. I had no idea you could get them on your boobs! Now I can't wear strapless dresses or anything even remotely low cut. I'm looking into treatment to remove them because I really think I'm falling into a depression about it."
Stretch marks fade to silvery streaks soon after the delivery of your baby, but you may feel like they stand out in neon colors if you despise them. Fortunately, there are ways to fade them further. Keep in mind that most treatments can't be done if you're breastfeeding, however, so be prepared to wait if that's the case.

The least invasive way is through creams that are sold over the counter or prescribed by your doctor. These creams typically include Retin-A and have varying degrees of success. If you want serious results, you may have to consult a plastic surgeon or dermatologist. Dermabrasion and chemical peels are two ways a doctor can help. Originally developed to help remove scars from skin conditions such as acne and chicken pox, dermabrasion is a way to sort of "sand" the skin down to reveal a smoother layer of skin. It requires anesthesia and is considered an invasive procedure. A chemical peel does what its name implies: it uses chemicals to peel off a layer of skin. There are three types of chemical peels, ranging from mild to very strong, and they each have side effects. A doctor can discuss whether either of these options are right for you.

Over the last several years, laser treatments have been showing promise in reducing the look and depth of stretch marks. A tummy tuck is another tool that may help remove stretch marks below the belly button, though most doctors won't perform a tummy tuck simply to get rid of stretch marks. The good news is that there are new treatments becoming available all the time.
The best advice about stretch marks, however, is to do what you can to prevent them and then concentrate on the little bundle of joy that caused them in the first place!

 

Stretch Marks: Is it Possible to Avoid Them During Pregnancy?