Prevention of Stretch marks

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It is important to maintain a healthy weight. Putting on a lot of weight and diets that cause your weight change rapidly, especially over a short period of time, can cause stretch marks to form. If you are trying to lose weight, aim to do it slowly.

Massaging your skin everyday with moisturiser or a massage glove can help to improve circulation, which encourages new tissue to grow. It is also important to eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins, especially vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc and silica that help to keep skin the healthy.

When you are pregnant, it is normal and healthy to put on weight, but it is a myth that you need to â€˜eat for twoâ€™. Pregnant women need to take in extra calories to nourish the unborn baby, but it is important that these calories come from a well balanced diet. Weight gain while pregnant should happen slowly and gradually. As a rough guide:

It is normal to gain 1 to 2kg (2 to 4.5 lb) over the first 12 weeks,
From week 12 to 28 it is normal to gain 300 to 400g (10 to 14oz) per week, and
From weeks 28 to 40 (the last 3 months) it is normal to gain 1 to 3kg (2 to 6lb) per month.

See your GP, midwife or health visitor for advice if you are worried that you arenâ€™t gaining weight at the correct rate.