my top 3 tips for avoiding additional stretch marks during my last pregnancy

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Palmers. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Some women are blessed in the collagen and elasticity department when it comes to dealing with stretch marks. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. I have the typical stretch marks that occur with growth spurts, puberty and weight gain/loss. But then there are a special kind of stretch marks, pregnancy stretch marks. 

This is my third pregnancy and apart from the stretch marks that occured while carrying my first born, I do not think I have added any new ones. Here is how I avoided adding additional stretch marks with this last pregnancy. 

1. Moisturize!

There are tons of ways to moisturize and various products to use, but my not so secret weapon is Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula, applied specifically right after a shower on damp skin. Palmer's has been a household staple even as a child. I recently attended the Palmers Belly Event, launching their new and improved formula - Enhanced Stretch Marks Line, which is free of parabens, mineral oil and phthalates.

I am particularly a huge fan of their Massage Cream as it is a concentrated cream with amazing ingredients like shea butter, collagen, elastin, and argan oil. It smoothes right into the skin leaving behind no residue.

The products are designed to target the collagen and elasticity breakdown that pregnancy hormones cause.With consistent usage you will be able to see a noticeable difference in your skin after about two months.

It was great exchanging pregnancy "battle stories" with fellow bloggers and hearing about their own experiences with Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula for stretch marks. 

2. Drink Water

Keeping your skin hydrated by drinking an ample amount of water daily will help to prevent the skin from feel, dry and itchy. Dry and itching is the perfect recipe for stretch marks. Drinking more water during this third pregnancy definitely helped me to prevent further stretch marks. 

Not a fan of water or have an aversion? Try adding flavor drops, I like using the MIO brand. You can also add in a few squeezes of lemon/lime or My personal favorite during the first 6 months, Sparkling ICE! The apple flavor, which I only found while in Florida is amazing and was like drinking a mock Angry Orchard. 

It does contain sucralose, beware if that is a concern for you.  

3. Watch Your Weight Gain

As I mentioned earlier I already had stretch marks, specifically on my buttock, hip area from weight changes and so on. None on my abdomen though, but after the 40lb weight gain during my first pregnancy, and improper stretch mark prevention that all changed.

With my second pregnancy I had such bad nausea, vomiting and acid reflux throughout the 9 months, my only comfort were grilled cheese sandwiches on Portuguese rolls. I gained a whooping 65lbs (You can read about how I lost the weight with 21 Day Fix, here). As you can imagine that definitely added some new stretch marks!

This time around I did my best to gain less weight by simply attempting to not overindulge or give in to the eating for two. I will admit, grilled cheese sandwiches and chocolate milk were still a relief when feeling those discomforts but this time around I relied more on Heartburn & Gas Relief Chews and was able to gain weight at a slower pace.

I also walked way more this pregnancy; I did not work out much, just a few weeks in the beginning. Whatever you decide to do to manage weight gain during your pregnancy will help to not gain too much too fast, thus preventing additional stretch marks.