Preventing Stretch Marks During Pregnancy: What Worked for Me

I just want to preface this post by acknowledging that this really can be a sensitive subject for some people. At the end of the day, whether or not you get stretch marks from pregnancy (or weight gain), can sometimes simply be due to genetics. Some people do everything “right”, do everything they can, and will still get stretch marks.

These tips are just what worked for ME. I really hope my tips can help others as well 🙂

If you’re anything like me, you understand that bathroom shelves are precious real estate. I sometimes end up with so many products I don’t even know how to incorporate them all into my routines and end up just throwing stuff out.

When it came to lathering up my belly while I was pregnant, I had ZERO time for anything I wasn’t loving. It didn’t take long to find a few faves.

 

♥

I can remember clear as day: getting out of the shower, I was maybe 6 months pregnant, and as I started to apply my body lotion, I saw a little red mark that looked like it was going to become a stretch mark. I was terrified. I thought “Oh no. This is it. I’m going to get stretch marks from this pregnancy”

I feared that I was maybe too late. I had been applying oils daily but thought maybe I hadn’t been doing it enough. From there I really started to amp up my day and night routines.

I may have been a bit excessive, but hey! That little red mark never did turn into a stretch mark and I went through my pregnancy entirely stretch mark free.

My List of loves:

1. Lily
2. Tyler
3. Coconut oil

(Wine is in there between 2 & 3)

Every morning after my shower, I would apply an oil. Usually coconut oil. Sometimes I would just grab some baby oil if it was within quicker reach and I was in a hurry. But coconut oil almost every.single.day.  Immediately after, I would add a layer of body butter. Something super thick to really seal it all in.

My favourite is the Guava body butter by Korres. (Canadian’s, you can get it at Shoppers Drug Mart) but I went through so much body butter, I’d rotate through so many kinds from  The Body Shop even Victoria’s Secret Pink Body Butters . I just find the Korres butters are so nourishing.

During the day I’d sometimes apply a little extra body butter to my belly. I kept some in my bag at all times. I live in a very dry climate and noticed my skin was getting super itchy. Ick!

At night, because I worked on my feet all day, I loved to take a bath. I would LOAD it with baby oil so I’d come out with already moisturized skin. Then I would apply Palmer’s Cocoa Butter OIL. The OIL was my favourite. It’s so thick and hydrating. It’s the perfect thing for before bed, where your skin loses so much moisture (and you don’t have to care about it sticking to your clothes). I really loved this product. Sometimes I would layer it over top of coconut oil too.

I know, it all seems a bit excessive. But it’s worth it if it can prevent or even help the appearance of stretch marks. I always moisturized daily anyways, it was just a matter of amping up the routine and REALLY paying attention to what I was putting on my body.

On top of these products though, don’t forget to hydrate from the inside! Make sure to be drinking toms of water and eating nourishing foods. And for those who have stretch marks from pregnancy: Love them!

XO