Sample of severe pregnancy stretch marks by aafp.org

by Brenda Greer

Pregnancy is known as the time when a woman has the baby inside of her uterus. Many women love the amazing feeling of being pregnant, but stretch marks often end up making women frustrated and unhappy with their appearance.

As your skin begins to stretch beyond it’s natural size, stretch marks can start to show up. The skin stretches and small tears in the layers of the skin occur causing them. The tears develop scar tissue, which shows up as a stretch mark. Unfortunately or more women who are pregnant end up dealing with stretch marks. Many studies also show that women who develop them can end up dealing with self confidence issues. So, it’s easy to see why women worry about them.

Some of the most common areas where the stretch marks occur can include the belly, upper arms, thighs, butt, and the breasts. Even though many pregnant women have a fairly flat stomach for the first few months, sometimes women really start to grow in the following months. This leads to fast growth of the stomach, that can stretch the skin fast and lead to stretch marks occurring.

Today we are made to believe that you can totally get rid of stretch marks later, but this isn’t the truth. It is best to work on the prevention of the stretch marks in the beginning rather than to work on them later. It is best that women who are pregnant start using pregnancy stretch mark creams in the beginning to help keep the stretch marks from forming.

These pregnancy stretch marks creams are made to add moisture to the body, keeping stretch marks from appearing. Putting on plenty of the cream several times a day is excellent for pregnant women, and there should be several hours between applying it. A mistake many women make is to quickly apply the cream. Instead they should put the cream on their hand and massage it fully into the skin using a clockwise motion. This helps to make sure the cream is more effective, since it is massaged deep into the skin’s layers.

In the manufacturing of the cream, it is made to help make skin more pliable so it can more easily expand during pregnancy. Inhibiting the stretch marks is the real key here. When the skin is moist, it can more easily stretch as women grow while pregnant. This keeps collagen from being torn, preventing the stretch marks from occurring so easily.

Some women don’t understand that these pregnancy stretch mark creams work the best for prevention or for early treatment of stretch marks, such as in the first year after development. If you don’t work on them during this time, it can be very hard to get rid of them later on. It is best to work on prevention of the stretch marks so you can keep your skin looking beautiful throughout pregnancy and in the years to come.

You can control the way your skin appears. Skin that is glowing and healthy is a great beauty. Using the pregnancy stretch mark cream, you can have confidence in your skin and enjoy pregnancy at ease knowing your skin will be okay.

First Three Weeks

The first three weeks was an amazing ride! I started splitting into two cells. And then there were four of me. The next thing I knew, there were eight of me. I was already three weeks old, but I was only about as big as the mole on my Uncle Johnny’s face. I think I was ten times smaller than an inch.

But I felt very proud. But why, I already had a brain, a stomach, lungs and my very own pair of eyes. And I was surprised by how my heart was beating on a regular basis. It already started to beat when I was only eighteen days old, but it was unpredictable and irregular back then.

Maybe it was the regular flow of water, food and air coming through the umbilical cord that was making me better each day. That tube was attached to my mid-stomach. I tried to see where the other end of the tube went. I think it was attached to the inside of Mom’s uterus. Yeah, I think it was my Mom who was giving me all those nice things. I love you Mom!

Fourth and Fifth Week

Then the fourth and the fifth week came. I was amazed by how my fingers and toes started forming. They were very cute. Then all those nice stuff started showing on my face. Yeah, that was when my mouth, ears and nose started to appear. And my, oh my, I noticed that I’ve grown. I was no longer as big as Uncle Johnny’s mole. I’ve grown to the size of Aunt Tina’s fingernail! And I loved how I could now wiggle my body. And buds started growing in my mouth too.

Sixth Week

The next thing I knew, I was already six weeks old. My skeleton was finally complete. I must say I loved my new frame. It started out as an elastic-like substance, a cartilage, and then it started to harden. The soft cartilage turned into bones. I had bones!

Seventh Week

Then I grew a week older. I was taller then, about the size of my big brother Mike’s toe. My heart was already pumping blood that was all my own, not my Mom’s. Then I noticed something growing between my legs. It was weird but that’s how I found out that I was a boy. I was to grow up to be more like my Dad than my Mom, more like Mike too.

Ninth-Tenth Week

I was about 9-10 weeks old when I started to choose my own rhythm of play and naps. My mouth, my eyelids and my hands became much more sensitive to touch. I started feeling all sorts of things. I started playing. I enjoyed sucking my thumb too. I was proud of my fingers and their perfect nails. I also enjoyed opening and closing my mouth. I was only 1½ inch tall but I could do a lot of great things. I felt very proud!

Second Month

Before I knew it, I was already two months old. That’s when I felt really grown-up. I thought I heard my Mom laughing too. They told me later that it was because they were taking ultrasound images of me. My Mom was laughing because she could hear my heartbeat. I don’t know what’s so funny about it though. Grown-ups can be really weird.

Third Month

I was already two inches tall back then. And I could swim like one of those fishes my Grandma liked to keep in her aquarium. I must say I was very good. There was urine all over the place though. And it was all coming from my kidney. Good thing my Mom always changed the water in the uterus.

I was starting to make poopoo too. But they all went out through my Mom’s bloodstream. Thank God! And oh, I started making all sorts of funny faces. I loved how I could now smile and frown and do all sorts of stuff with my face.

Fourth Month

I got really big when I was four months old. Would you believe that I was 6 inches tall? My Mom started noticing me too, especially when I kicked and squirmed.

Fifth Month

I was five months old when I started to breathe. They say that was to get me ready for when I was finally out of my Mom’s womb. I was also already starting to really hear my Mom. All Mommies should be really careful with what they say when they have a baby living in their wombs.

Sometimes I would hiccup a lot. My Mom would then tell me to go to sleep. Maybe I was bothering her or something.

Sixth to Eighth Month

I was twelve inches long! I was all grown. My eyes were getting better too. Sometimes I would even see a red glow. I had to cover my eyes with my hands. Maybe my Mom was at the beach or something.

I’ve become fatter that time too. I felt ready to finally get out and meet my Mom. Besides, the womb was getting too small for me. I couldn’t swim or wiggle anymore.

Ninth Month

Though my Mom’s womb was already too small for me, it still felt soft and warm. And I loved how I could hear Mom’s heart beat. It never failed to lull me to sleep. But I was ready and willing to get out and finally meet her. I was all grown. I was ready.

Then it happened. After a really tight hug, blinding bright lights forced my eyes to open. Voila! I made it! I was out. Then I met my Mom. I knew I would love her forever.

Remember, taking good care of yourself now is imperative including your diet. If you have concerns or a motherly interest about the food and beverage you’re consuming, consult your doctor and down-load this pregnancy diet guide and read it!

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