First I want to say that I am by far not an expert on stretch mark prevention. I am simply going to share with you what I did throughout my twin pregnancy to avoid stretch marks. And it worked!!
How I Avoided Stretch Marks
Preventing stretch marks starts on the inside….
Throughout my pregnancy I at healthy with a few splurges here and there. Pretty much I ate how I normally eat except I added more calories and protein. In order to prevent stretch marks you need to have healthy skin. Stretch marks happen because the skin is stretched beyond its comfort level.
Slow and steady weight gain is one of the most important things you can do to help prevent stretch marks. During my first pregnancy I gained 20 pounds, my second pregnancy I gained 25 pounds and my third, twin pregnancy I gained just under 30 pounds. It is important to enjoy pregnancy and splurge now and then, but don’t go over board.
Water, water, water. I cannot express this enough. Hydration is key to healthy skin. During my twin pregnancy I drink at least 128 ounces per day. Not only is this healthy for your baby(ies) it is also amazing for your growing belly.
Omega 3 fatty acids. I took a supplement each day with my prenatal vitamin. Essential fatty acid’s help to reduce inflammation. Not only are Omega 3’s important for healthy skin it is also wonderful for your babies development. It is a win-win.
Vitamin C. I took a vitamin c supplement every day. This vitamin is needed for healthy collagen and elastin.
Joli Mere Prenatal Vitamins. Unfortunately, I didn’t find this wonderful vitamin until the last month of my pregnancy. The company has put all the vitamins needed to prevent stretch marks and promote healthy skin together for us. By taking these prenatal vitamins you don’t even have to think about it. The supplements are all put together for you. You can read my original post here.
and finishes on the outside.
Starting at about 15 weeks or so (when my belly started to expand) I applied a Mama Mio Tummy Rub twice a day and coconut oil once a day. You can read my post about coconut oil and mama mio here and here.
By doing everything I have stated above it is nota guarantee that you won’t get stretch marks. These are simply what I did during my twin pregnancy and I was stretch mark free. Now I do believe genetics has something to do with stretch marks, but not everything.
Please remember that if you do get stretch marks you did so while making a miracle. Our bodies are wonderful!!
In the Comments Below:
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What are some things you did during your pregnancy to prevent stretch marks?
That’s awesome! I too didn’t get any stretch marks from my recent twin pregnancy, woohoo. I, like you, have great genetics (!!), drank tons of water and used belly lotion/oil twice a day (morning and before bed). I think these three things did the trick! I would SLATHER the lotion on every day. I was preparing myself to get stretch marks w/a twin pregnancy but I’m pretty happy that I don’t have any. I think it’s rare to not get any, so I am thankful!
YAY!! That is wonderful. I really think those are all so helpful. I was preparing myself for them too. But I also tried anything I could to prevent them. 🙂
Lucky you! I’ve only gotten a few small stretch marks so far. NOTHING like I thought I would get. I’ve seen pictures of what twin pregnancies can do and it scared the living daylights out of me. I’m sure they will fade very quickly once these girls are born (soon!). I think it has a lot to do with how you carry the babies as well. My stomach hasn’t stretched out too far because of the way these two are laying.
I know what you mean about seeing pictures of what our tummies could look like. That is why I thought it was important for me to do my postpartum posts. I want women to know that even though you are pregnant with twins you can still get your body back. 🙂 I am sure you will perfectly fine and bounce right back!!
Hello,
I find your blog very helpful. I am 6 weeks pregnant, first pregnancy and I am researching so much information. I notice that my tolerance for coconut oil smell is not that great. Makes me feel nauseated. Would you happen to have another recommendation?
Congratulations on your pregnancy. I am so glad I have been able to help you. Cocoa butter is another wonderful moisturizer. Once you make it to 12 weeks you may be able to tolerate the smell of coconut oil better. You will have to wait and see. During all of my pregnancy smells were big for me too. Keep me updated. Let me know if you need anything else. xoxo