Whats the best way to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy?
What are stretch marks? Stretch marks are small, depressed streaks in the skin that appear most often on the abdomen in the later stages of pregnancy when the belly is rapidly expanding to accommodate a growing baby. Some women also get them on their buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. Stretch marks are caused by changes in the elastic supportive tissue that lies just beneath the skin. They start out pink, reddish brown, purple, or dark brown, depending on your skin color. They later fade, although they never totally disappear. How can I tell if I’ll get them? It’s hard to predict. At least half of all pregnant women get stretch marks, but no one really knows why some women get them and others don’t. Research suggests that genetics plays a role: If your mother or sister got stretch marks during pregnancy, you’re more likely to. Whether you’ll get stretch marks also depends on how much and how quickly your skin has to expand during your pregnancy. “The skin is very elastic, but the wei
