I have stretch marks! Help!!!

You asked and you shall now receive. It’s only fair for us to share all of this stored up knowledge about having a baby and what is going on with your body during those nine (really ten) months. We now will answer, in a very public forum, all of those burning questions about having a baby. Each Monday, we will tackle a commonly-asked-question from the point of view of an expectant parent. Chiming in to give feedback will be an expert (you know someone who does this for a living). Earmark, share and add your own input to today’s question; it’s good karma.

I have stretch marks! Help!!!

The good news? Usually most moms who get stretch marks don’t care about them as much as they did while expecting. Hereditary also plays a part in their development – did your mom have stretch marks? Stretch marks are most often chatted about during pregnancy, though stretch marks are also common in both men and women that have gained and lost much weight. Prevention is your best bet when it comes to warding off these guys. Some tips:

– Exercise often to keep the circulation flowing and the skin glowing

– Moisturize often – skin that is hydrated can help prevent stretch marks

– Eat a balanced diet and minimize greasy, fatty, over processed foods

Best to put on the pregnancy weight slowly, and lose the pregnancy weight slowly – rule of thumb – forty weeks on, forty weeks off.

Expert: Renee Sullivan

Renee Sullivan, parent coach and Founding Director of Mommybites support groups, works with moms each week to create their own personal parenting plan that is right for them, while making sure that each mom gets the support, resources, and community they need for their parenting journey. Drawing from her experience as an birth coach and educator, she guides moms – new, seasoned and expectant through the never – ending array of decisions that come with having a child. Weekly sessions that are “nurturing, informative, and fun” and her “calm-laid back personality” has made her a “dynamic resource” to the parenting community since 2006. Renee’s positive, warm and enthusiastic personality relaxes and guides new and expectant moms to enjoy the journey and her personal attention to detail allows all parents that work with her to quickly get the resources they need to feel at ease to make informed and educated decisions. Before joining Mommybites, she narrowly escaped the trenches of Corporate America where she was a Senior Project Manager for The New York Times, Morgan Stanley and Pfizer. She lives in New York City and is the mom of one happy kindergartener.