Taking Care Of Stretch Marks After Childbirth - Part 1

Stretch marks are the bane of every woman who has delivered a child. They are long, wide and shiny or silvery marks that happen on the stomach, breasts, buttocks and thighs. They happen because of the stretching that occurs during pregnancy as the baby continues to grow. Under the skin the collagen separates and the results are stretch marks. Because they happen as the skin stretches they often occur in the later stages of pregnancy as the baby is growing at a fast rate.

Although every woman is at risk to develop stretch marks, there are some who have a slightly higher risk because of other factors. For instance women who are delivering multiple births will grow larger than a woman who is going to deliver a single child. Family history is also another indicator. If your mother or grandmother had stretch marks during their pregnancy then you have a greater chance of experiencing stretch marks during your pregnancy.

But the biggest factor for developing stretch marks is the additional weight gain that you carry during pregnancy. This means that if, instead of gaining the standard 25 pounds during pregnancy, you gain 40 or 50 pounds, you are at greater risk for developing stretch marks.

Interestingly hydration also plays a part in the severity of stretch marks you may experience. If you remain hydrated during your pregnancy your skin has a better ability to bounce back easily which decreases the appearance of the stretch marks. Another factor is skin color. African American women will experience less scarring and less frequently than Caucasian women.