How do I prevent from getting “stretch marks”?

Stretch marks are due to tearing of the elastic fibers in your skin. Your skin’s ability to stretch over your enlarging uterus is due to genetic, hormonal and constitutional factors: meaning that you are really born with the factors that cause (or avoid) stretch marks. The following advice may help decrease the severity of stretch marks:

- Avoid sudden jumps in weight gain in pregnancy: let your skin stretch very slowly each day
- Use of skin creams to improve the softness and resilience of your skin (cocoa butter, Neutrogena, Lubriderm, Vaseline Intensive Care, etc.)
- Avoid any steroid creams medications: the high levels of cortisone from your placenta is a main factor that works on the elasticity of your skin