Stretchmarks aka tiger stripes can occur at any time during your pregnancy. The areas most affected are the bum, hips, thighs, stomach, upper arms, behind the knees and around the waist. However, they can appear anywhere. The best way to handle them is through prevention. However, if they have already formed then there are tips and tricks to minimize their appearance. This is a personal account of what worked for me. please note that I am not a medical practitioner of any kind. I’ll break it down into 2 parts. There are two main ways to deal with tiger stripes. One is from the inside out and the other is from the outside in.

Let’s start with the first part; from the inside out.

1.  Ensure you take your multivitamins religiously. This will help ensure that your body is getting all the vitamins it needs at this crucial time. It also helps improve skin elasticity.
2. Take your omega 3 supplements daily. Omega 3 is not only good for your skin but also for your baby’s brain.
3.  Eat fish at least twice a week. Be careful not to eat too much because of the mercury content.
4.  Add avocados to your diet. Celebrities have sworn that avocados have helped them retain youthful skin.
5.  Add flax seeds to your diet. You can have this in your smoothies salads or soup. One teaspoon a day is enough. Flax seeds make the skin glow.
6. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. This is non-negotiable.
7. Drink plenty of water, hydration is key. Carry a bottle of water with you everywhere you go. The thirst in pregnancy is real.
8. Get some exercise. Walking is a great option, but don’t strain your body. Not only does exercise help to get your blood flowing, it’s good for your mental health as well. It’s also a well-known fact that mothers who exercise during pregnancy are more likely to have intelligent children. it also helps your body bounce back faster to its original shape.
9. Don’t smoke during your pregnancy. it’s bad for your baby and your skin. it’s the worst toxin for your skin. don’t expose yourself to second-hand smoke either, it’s just as bad if not worse than first-hand smoking.

The second part is preventing stretch marks from the outside in.

1. Use a gentle and moisturizing shower gel or soap. Soap can be very harsh on our bodies and most are very drying. Dry skin is perfect for stretch marks to develop.
2. Apply a good moisturizer all over your body. You never know where they can develop. Raw products that are free from chemicals are good for pregnant women.
3. Apply heavier creams or body butter at night and in colder months. In warmer months a light moisturizer or oil will do.
4. Apply body oil to the stretch mark prone areas i.e., stomach hips and bum frequently, at the minimum twice a day. I highly recommend palmers stretch marks cocoa butter and any raw organic Shea butter.
5. Continue to moisturize after delivery. Most ladies think that they are out of the woods after delivery, but stretch marks can appear even after pregnancy. This is because the body is losing weight and the stomach is contracting and all this plays around with skin elasticity. Bio-oil helps greatly with skin pigmentation and stretch marks. It also gives the skin a youthful appearance.
6. Don’t scratch your belly when you feel itchy. Get some oil and massage. Raw coconut oil helps reduce itching quickly and you can carry a tub of oil with you. Any raw coconut oil will do.

Here is a list of the products that I used

• raw Shea butter https://amzn.to/3eraRAb
• holly wood cocoa butter  https://amzn.to/3Bk4GrA
• bio-oil https://amzn.to/3ew19wx
• pregnacare plus omega -3  https://amzn.to/3etLM7u
• dove deeply nourishing body wash  https://amzn.to/36GXsiX
• palmers cocoa butter formula massage lotion for stretch marks   https://amzn.to/3zff7e7
• palmers cocoa butter formula original solid formula  https://amzn.to/3xOXr8N
• raw coconut oil https://amzn.to/3zfIay9