You gain about 30 pounds during the 9 months you are pregnant, says Heidi Waldorf, MD. She is an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Powdered vitamin C is thought to be more stable than other forms of vitamin C. Here’s how it works and when you may want to use it. Some people are more likely to develop stretch marks. It helps … Many things change after you have a baby: schedules, sleep time, and sense of freedom, to name a few. Essential oils are very concentrated and can be absorbed by your body and can reach your baby. The following is a sponsored post by Mother's Special Blend. Fortunately, there is a way to help prevent stretch marks by toning and conditioning your belly during in the first trimester and during your pregnancy. Best for Sensitive Skin. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: “Weight Gain During Pregnancy.”. Mother’s Special Blend is soothing for sore nipples. Test all products on your baby in the same place before using. Continue to use it after the baby is born when your body is returning to its normal size. Eat whole foods, drink lots of water, be active, exercise daily and take care of your body as it expands and contracts back to its normal size, tone and condition your belly to help prevent stretch marks. It also helps to keep your body hydrated with water, says Anne Chapas, MD, a clinical instructor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. In other words, when it comes to stretch marks, how quickly you gain may be as important as how much you gain. Vitamin C can be found in many fruits and vegetables. Exercising daily may seem difficult but you can stay active by taking a 30-minute walk (15 min each way), gentle stretching, doing prenatal yoga and sitting / bouncing gently on an exercise ball. Use it every day after you bathe or shower when your skin is warm and moist. Here's how to identify it, as well as the other symptoms…, One of the most helpful things you can do to prevent stretch marks, whether you’re pregnant or not, is to maintain a, Drinking enough water may help keep your skin hydrated and soft. Along with a changing schedule, there are the many physical changes you’ll see. There is very little evidence to date of a connection between zinc and stretch marks, but including zinc-rich foods in your diet, such as nuts and fish, may help keep your skin healthy. Citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons, are especially good sources of vitamin C. Zinc is an important nutrient for skin health. Stretch marks can also show up on the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms. If you can’t get in 8 hours of sleep during the night, try taking 20 minute naps. Vitamin C is an important nutrient for the development of collagen. Stretch marks commonly appear during or after pregnancy, after a sudden change in your weight, or during adolescence. Some changes, like stretch marks caused by weight gain, are synonymous with pregnancy. Collagen plays a role in keeping your skin strong and elastic. It helps reduce inflammation and plays a role in the wound healing process if tears occur in the peritoneum during delivery. Home Remedies for Stretch Marks: 5 Ingredients to Try, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, 12 Essential Oils to Help Heal or Prevent Stretch Marks. “It’s not a bad idea to not only try to stay within that range but to also gain slowly and steadily, as opposed to in fast spurts,” says Mary Lupo, MD. Top Treatment Tips, The Essential Pregnancy Gear List for Expectant Moms, Ovulation Tool: Find Your Most Fertile Days. Check with your Health Care Provider for the daily dosage which is around 11-12 mg. Folic acid plays an important role in the production of red blood cells and helps your baby’s neural tube develop into their brain and spinal cord. Zinc also helps your baby’s brain develop. Learn other causes and how to treat them. The vitamin supplement is also available. Growing that fast can leave you with stretch marks, especially on your belly and breasts, two areas that grow the most. There’s not a cream, lotion, or “mommy” balm that can do that -- and if that’s the claim on the bottle, don’t be fooled, Lupo says. If you can’t totally prevent stretch marks on your skin, you can work to minimize their appearance so they aren’t as noticeable in the long run. Many do have chemicals. American Academy of Dermatology: “Mom and Baby Skin Care.”, American Pregnancy Association: “Are Pregnancy Stretch Marks Different?”. They may not help, but in most cases they aren’t likely to hurt, either. Sleep is vital to regulating your appetite and metabolism. It helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, but it may also be important for preventing stretch marks. Mederma’s Stretch Marks Therapy cream helps prevent stretch marks and has been clinically tested as safe to use during pregnancy, starting in the second trimester.