Home Remedies

Stretch marks are common during pregnancy and most of the pregnant women face this problem. Listed below are the reasons why it occurs, causes, treatment and preventive measures for Stretch marks.

Why Pregnancy Stretch Marks Occurs?

When your body gains weight during pregnancy and due to the growth of the baby inside you, the skin expands. During this time, there is a chance for the skin to lose its elasticity and breakdown of collagen & blood vessel dilatation causing stretch marks.

Pregnancy stretch marks occur in abdomen, breast, hip, thigh and buttocks.

Treatment & Removal of Pregnancy Stretch Marks:

• Heat cocoa butter in a pan and apply this on your belly where stretch marks are found or in places where you feel itching or dry. This helps to soothen your skin and helps to cure stretch marks.

• Mix 1teaspoon of wheat germ oil, 1teaspoon of vitamin e oil, 3teaspoon of beeswax to ½ a cup of cocoa butter and heat this mixture until beeswax gets melted. Then use this as a cream over the stretch mark area.

• Mix 1/2cup of alovera gel with ½ cup of olive oil and use this mixture to massage the stretch mark area.

• Applying cream rich in almond, cocoa or wheat germ oil also helps to get rid of stretch marks.

• Laser therapy is a modern technique used to clear stretch marks.

• Blue light therapy –this is a treatment given using gel and light.

• Regularly exercise your body tones your muscles and reduces stretch marks.

Prevention of pregnancy stretch marks:

• Take hot shower in morning and evening which helps to open the pores in the skin and helps in maintaining elasticity of skin, thereby helps to in preventing stretch marks

• Maintain healthy diet as this help in gradual weight gain and prevent stretch marks. Massage your abdomen, thigh etc., gently

• Avoid scratching if you have itching sensation as this will increase stretch mark production.

• Drink plenty of water .Keeping your skin hydrated increases elasticity and prevents stretch marks.

• Apply moisturizing cream

• Take vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E rich diet

• Maintain gradual weight gain

Third Trimester Scan helps to determine the growth of baby. Third Trimester Scan is also known as Growth scan.

Optimal time to perform Third Trimester Scan is between 28-34weeks of pregnancy.

Preparation for Third Trimester Scan:

It is not necessary to drink more water as full bladder is not really necessary for Third Trimester Scan.

Reasons for Taking Third Trimester Scan:

• If previous pregnancy had complication like still birth

• When your doctor feels that your baby is smaller or bigger for the gestational age

• Diabetic pregnancy

• Twin pregnancy

• High blood pressure  or preeclampsia

• Low placenta level during second trimester scan

What Third Trimester Scan Can Detect?

• Detects Intra uterine growth restriction

• Measures the size of head, abdomen and femur

• Helps to know the position of placenta in relation to cervix

• Helps to measure the level of amniotic fluid around the baby

• Examine fetal movement

• Assess blood flow to placenta  and baby by using Doppler ultrasound

Fetus can be clearly seen in scan taken during the mid trimester. Scan taken in the Second Trimester is known as anomaly scan as it is used to check if the baby is normal or show any abnormalities.

What Second Trimester Scan can detect? / Reasons for Taking Second Trimester Scan:

• No. of fetus present

• Quantity of amniotic fluid

• Position of placenta in relation to cervix  can be viewed

• Can view fetal movements.

• Anatomy of fetus can be seen from 18the week. You can view baby’s brain, spine, heart, spine, bowels and limbs.

• Measurement of baby’s head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), Height of femur can be taken to know if the baby is growing normally.

• Measurement of heartbeat and blood flow through umbilical cord by using Doppler

• Neural tube defects, major limb abnormalities, kidney problems, congenital heart disease, hydrocephalus, defects of abdominal wall can be detected.

• Baby’s gender can be identified around 16weeks of pregnancy.

• Chromosomal abnormalities that can be identified are Trisomy 18 (Edward’s syndrome), Trisomy 13 (patau’s syndrome), Turners syndrome (XO) and Trisomy 21.

Ultrasound scanning during pregnancy is a non invasive method. It does not cause any harm to both mother and baby

The optimal time to perform First Trimester Scanning is between 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

During First Trimester Scan, gestational sac can be clearly seen which helps to measure fetal age .Heart beat can be seen at 7weeks.

Preparation for First Trimester Scan:

It is necessary to drink more water as full bladder is necessary for First Trimester Scan.

First Trimester Scan can be done abdominally or transvaginally.

Reasons for Taking First  Trimester Scan:

• To assess Gestational age of the fetus

• To rule out ectopic pregnancy

• To know normal pregnancy or multiple pregnancy

• To monitor any miscarriage

• To determine position of placenta

• Nuchal Translucency scan can be taken between 12^th and 14^th week of pregnancy to check for abnormality like Down’s Syndrome

• Keep moving freely around during labor

• Be active till last day of your pregnancy

• Do some stretches to help the pelvis open for delivery

• Practice meditation

• Do walking regularly. This will allow the hip to swing sideways and help the baby to come into proper position

• Walking and standing will cause a gravitational pull, and pull the baby lower into pelvis.

• Take warm water shower before going to bed. This will relax your body and remove strains.

• Take lots of fluid to keep you from dehydrated

• Practice Pregnancy exercise for normal delivery.

1. Kegels exercise: Practice stopping flow of urination in midstream. When performing this contract muscles that are located in the area of vagina and rectum. Hold the contractions for about 5seconds and release. Try to perform 15-20quick set of this kegels exercise. This kegels exercise helps to strengthen the muscles in and around your uterus, vagina, bladder and rectum and helps for easy labor.

1. Cardiovascular exercise: Practice safe and mild cardiovascular exercise like walking, swimming and stationary cycling. This helps to build stamina for delivery process.

1. Cobbler Pose Stretch: Sit with your back against a wall and legs flat on the floor. Bring your feet in towards each other until they are touching. Knees must be bent. Hold this position and with your hand apply gentle pressure on your knees to push them downwards. Stay in this position for five minutes everyday.