Foods rich in antioxidants, which help nourish and protect skin. Eat plenty of spinach, blueberries, strawberries, and other fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods containing vitamin E, which protects skin cell membranes. Eat nuts, seeds, avocados, broccoli, and collard greens. Foods containing vitamin A, which repairs skin tissues. Eat carrots, sweet potatoes, mango, squash, and red bell peppers. Foods containing omega 3s, which keep cell membranes healthy and make your skin glow. Eat fish, fish oil, walnuts, eggs and oysters. Make sure to thoroughly cook eggs and oysters. Don’t eat fish high in mercury. Mercury consumed during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain damage.
Drink 8 glasses of water a day. If you find it difficult to ingest this much water, carry a large water bottle that holds the equivalent of 2 glasses (16 ounces) of water. Refill it 4 times throughout the day, rather than having to refill a single glass 8 times. It will make drinking enough water less of a hassle. Drink herbal tea. Choosing teas without caffeine helps your body stay hydrated, and can alleviate the boredom of drinking only water every day. Eat watery fruits and vegetables. Eating vegetables that contain a lot of water is another great way to hydrate yourself. Eat big salads filled with cucumbers, fresh bell peppers, and celery. Choose watermelon, strawberries, honeydew, and other watery fruits instead of eating baked desserts.
Perform exercises meant to make pregnancy easier on your body. [3] X Expert Source Patricia Ladis PT, CBBALicensed Physical Therapist Expert Interview. 19 March 2021. Stretches, Kegel exercises, and other simple movements can help keep your blood moving and keep you more comfortable during pregnancy. [4] X Research source Try pregnancy yoga and other low-impact exercises. Yoga and Pilates give you an excellent workout without requiring you to move in ways that may feel uncomfortable while you’re pregnant. [5] X Expert Source Patricia Ladis PT, CBBALicensed Physical Therapist Expert Interview. 19 March 2021.
Avoid “eating for two. " You should be eating more calories that you did before you were pregnant, but not twice as many. [6] X Research source When you feel cravings coming on, have a little taste of the food you really want - say, ice cream - and a hefty serving of strawberries or fruit. You’ll satisfy your palate and feel full.
Use a dry brush made from natural fibers. The bristles should be stiff, but not too tough. Start from the bottom of your legs and brush your skin upward toward your heart. Focus on areas where stretch marks might become a problem, like your buttocks and abdomen. When you’re finished brushing, take a shower to wash away the dead skin cells. Don’t use a dry brush on your breasts, since the skin there is more sensitive and could be damaged by brushing.
Coconut oil can act as a healthy skin cleanser. Rub it over your skin, rinse with warm water, and pat your skin dry with a soft towel. It may not be necessary to use a cleanser on your skin, especially if it’s prone to becoming dry. Wash your skin with lukewarm water and pat it dry.
Cocoa butter, kokum butter, almond oil, egg oil, shea butter, and wheatgerm oil are popular and effective choices for moisturizing skin during pregnancy. Pure lanolin, which is made from the oils produced by sheep to keep their wool supple, also works very well. Other popular oils include tamanu oil, rosehip oil and baobab oil. These oils are rich in anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. They support the regeneration of new tissues and accelerate the formation of healthy skin. Moisturize your skin in the morning after bathing and again at night. If you notice itching where your skin is being stretched, that is a sign to add more moisturizer in that area.
Don’t go on a crash diet to lose weight after pregnancy. Lose it gradually, just as you gained it gradually, so your skin has time to tighten itself. Continue hydrating yourself with plenty of water to help your skin retain elasticity.
Strength training. Building strong muscles helps your skin tighten up. Try weightlifting, and work with a trainer to figure out what exercises are right for you. Cardio workouts. Swimming, running, and biking keep your circulation healthy and help your skin bounce back into shape.
Prescription creams containing retinoids, which should not be ingested while you are pregnant or nursing, have also been shown to help with stretch marks. [7] X Research source Using glycolic acid and retinoids at the same time may produce better results than using the products on their own. [8] X Research source If these products just aren’t making the marks go away, laser treatments for stretch mark removal are an effective choice. [9] X Research source
