Pregnancy is such a wonderful and exciting time, but also a time when our bodies go through a lot of changes! I’m sure one concern of mama’s out there is: “how do I prevent stretch marks”? Now, whether or not you will get stretch marks is not entirely up to how many creams or potions you rub on your belly, but a lot is dictated by your genetics. That being said, there are things that you can do to prevent them!
Use a good belly salve
I’ve tried many belly salves during the course of my first and my second (current) pregnancy, but my favorite so far is the Mother Love Pregnant Belly Salve. The ingredients are: Non-GMO apricot oil, beeswax, shea butter, marshmallow root, rosehips, lavender flower, chamomile flower, calendula flower, and lavender essential oil. Every ingredient in this salve is organic except for the apricot oil!
The salve melts into the skin so easily and has a nice, light lavender scent. The company states this will also help with itchy skin, but it did not help reduce any itchiness for me. The same brand also has a Pregnancy Belly Oil that can be used to baby and perineal massage as well.
Take a good quality collagen
My second tip for preventing stretch marks during pregnancy is to take a collagen supplement. Other than having great pregnancy benefits, collagen helps skin elasticity, joints, and the pelvic floor muscles. My go to collagen during this pregnancy has been the Perfect Supplements Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen Unflavored. I love this brand because they do third party testing on every batch of their finished products, testing for glyphosates, heavy metals, and more!
Do you have any tried and true tips to share?