As the baby develops and grows in the womb the belly automatically bulges to take care of what is going on under. By the time a woman gets to her third trimester the skin gets distended beyond what it can handle comfortably and the result is those ugly stretch marks.

Prevent stretch marks
The stretch marks seem to get bigger as the pregnancy progresses and apart from the belly they may also appear in areas such as buttocks, arms, upper thighs and breasts. The best thing you can therefore do to yourself is to learn how you can possibly prevent stretch marks from appearing.
Eat a balanced diet
One important way of preventing stretch marks is to make sure you take a balanced diet since this is the best way to ensure that you are going to gain weight in a healthy manner. When you eat well you are actually able to provide sufficient nutrition for your developing baby as well as strength for your skin which is actually the largest organ of your body. Trouble with stretch marks comes when there are wild swings in weight in such a way that the skin is not able to comfortably cope with rate of growth.
Massage
You can also avoid stretch marks during your pregnancy by massaging your skin using a soft body brush or perhaps a wash cloth on those areas where stretch marks are showing signs of appearing since this will prevent them form moving further and deeper. A good massage enhances blood circulation which is extremely helpful in keeping your skin healthy.
Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to maintain good health and the health of your skin is no exception. You will also be able to check the health of your growing baby and your skin will have sufficient elasticity and will not break down unnecessarily.
Ensure proper nutrition
Whereas proper nutrition is good for your developing body, it also ensures that you stay healthy as far as the skin. You will not only have a healthy baby but your skin will also continue to be supple and healthy all the time during your pregnancy. Your diet must therefore be composed of essential vitamins and minerals and where there is a deficiency your doctor will advice you on what supplements you can safely take.
Moisturize your skin
You can now prevent stretch marks during your pregnancy if you learn to keep your skin moisturized during the first two trimesters. By the time you get to the third trimester your skin will be healthy enough to handle any strain that comes during the third trimester and as soon as your deliver, continue applying a moisturizer al through your recovery period. Many women forget that the dramatic loss of weight after delivery can also trigger stretch marks and go on to ignore proper care at this important period.






