Can stretch marks be prevented?...

Due to...

• Eat a balanced diet to keep yourself and your skin as healthy (and stretchy) as possible.
• Drink lots of fluid (preferably water) to keep skin well hydrated.
• Massage with moisturising cream (Palmer's) or oil regularly (in pregnancy this is worth doing anyway). People use a wide variety of creams and oils, including Vitamin E oil and Cocoa Butter which are freely available to buy.
• Some recommend essential oils such as lavender or neroli, but if you are pregnant check with a practitioner or your doctor to verify what is safe.
• Try not to gain weight too quickly. In pregnancy try not to put on more than the recommended weight and try to increase steadily rather than suddenly. This can be difficult and may be the reason why more than half of pregnant women end up with stretch marks
• Avoid yo-yo dieting.
• If you are losing weight, lose it gradually at a rate of 0.5kg (1 lb) per week to give skin a chance to adapt.
• Regular exercise will keep you fit and help prevent excessive weight gain.