The Best Ways To Prevent Stretch Marks - What Can You Do?

For a number of women facing pregnancy one of a number of worries they have is how to prevent stretch marks or at the very least reduce the amount they get.

Pregnant women are very likely to suffer from this problem and it's suggested that between 75% and 90% of women will develop them during this time to some degree.

During pregnancy your growing baby stretches the skin of the stomach and if a woman also gains too much weight then higher levels of body fat may also be stored all over the body.  It's this extra weight gain that can be minimised and therefore may assist in reducing stretch marks appearing.

It's vital not to try and lose weight during pregnancy as there is a greater need for extra calories to help improve the healthy growth of the baby.  As an alternative, aim to get the extra calories from healthy wholesome sources as much as possible as opposed to calorie packed refined foods.  Have the occasional treat but don’t go crazy either.

Remaining active right up to birth will assist in preventing stretch marks as this way any extra calories eaten are likely to be burned off instead of being stored as body fat. By staying active you are also preparing your body more thoroughly for the birth.

You should try to drink at least two litres of water every day to prevent dehydration. Make sure you drink this in little amounts throughout the course of the day to prevent placing too much extra work on the bladder and pelvic floor muscles.

The secret of how to prevent stretch marks is not a conclusive one.  Moisturising creams have little professional support though shouldn’t be discounted totally.

• Take care of yourself by consuming regular balanced meals that contain natural wholesome foods. 
• Drink heaps of water to maintain the skins natural moisture levels. 
• Finally keep up to an active lifestyle which uses regular low intensity aerobic exercise. 

Sticking to these suggestions will not only help in how to prevent stretch marks but more essentially provide your growing baby with all the factors it needs to be healthy and strong.If you want to find out more about losing weight after pregnancy, then take a look on this next page. Click here to find out more

The Secrets to Losing Baby Weight - The Facts You Need To Know

Losing baby weight is more often than not a concern for most new moms at some stage, but there is usually a misunderstanding of exactly what makes up this extra pregnancy weight gain.

During pregnancy most women will expect to put on an average of between 25 - 35 pounds.  However for every woman this weight gain will vary, some will put on more than others. The list underneath gives an average breakdown of where the extra weight is from.

• 7.5lbs is an average weight of a new born baby
  
• 7lbs can be put down to stored fat other nutrients
  
• 4lbs is from the production of extra blood
  
• 4lbs is retained water and other bodily fluids
  
• 2lbs due to increased size of the breasts
  
• 2lbs from enlargement of the uterus
  
• 2lbs amniotic fluid surrounding the placenta
  
• 1lb is an average weight of a placenta

Understanding what makes up your weight gain during your pregnancy allows you to know exactly how much post pregnancy weight loss you need to achieve and how much of it is actually body fat.

From the example above you will notice that only a minor percentage of the body weight gained throughout pregnancy is actually from storing body fat. It's this fat that needs to be the target of any agenda.

Losing baby weight must be tackled in a gradual and orderly way.

A diet high in natural wholesome foods and low in refined, packaged easy meals is the ideal. The key here is to be prepared, buy and prepare foods beforehand. Making bigger batches of each main meal and putting them in a freezer makes things much less of an issue at times.

Exercise ought to be very low impact and not very physically demanding. Try not to do any jumping or bouncing activities for a minimum of 12 weeks. Careful resistance training may be started quite soon after giving birth, but use only light weights with higher repetitions, try not to strain, twist or bend too much.

Losing baby weight fast will give you loads more energy, confidence and a much more content and happier outlook on life.

If you'd like to lose your baby weight quickly after having a baby, then take action instantly.  Make your health and fitness your priority so that you can be the best mother possible and face motherhood with confidence, energy and a vigour for life. Go here to find out more

Gentle Exercise After Really Is The Key To Looking Great

For a large number of women, exercise doesn’t play a role in their day to day lives. To get back in to shape after having children, exercise after pregnancy must be included in some way.

Many women think that the only type of exercise that works for losing weight after pregnancy is either going to the gym, fitness classes or some other type of high impact or competitive sport.

A more apt description, especially where post pregnant women are concerned would be to use the phrase activity.  Activity doesn’t sound as daunting.

Activity might include many things from cleaning, gardening and general household chores to walking, swimming or dancing. The crucial thing is to take it slowly, be consistent and find something you find enjoyable to do.

The ideal activity for new moms is walking with your baby in a pushchair, because you can work at your own pace, you have the support of the pushchair and you and your baby will get heaps of fresh air.

To commence with go for a gentle route that takes you from between 10 - 20 minutes and do this twice at separate times throughout the day. Slowly increase the distance or the tempo you walk at to keep it slightly demanding. Avoid too many hills at first as this may feel too tough, but add some in as time goes by.

• You should try to walk for 20 60 minutes at least 5 days a week.
• The abdominal muscles also need strengthening, but they are in a very delicate state and there are some particular movements that must be done, called pelvic tilting exercises. 
• Stay clear of sit ups, they could leave you looking at a pot belly every time you look at your feet.

You can perform a test called the Rec check which will reveal you when you can begin doing more advanced activities. You can find out how to do this in ‘The Baby Belly Fat Loss Plan.’

If your body shape is crucial to you, you need a plan to follow that includes: -

• Important exercise after pregnancy advice
• Pelvic floor tightening techniques and exercises
• A unique 8 week diet especially designed for new mums
• A straightforward walking program and
• Very important stomach tightening exercises.

You’ll find this and much more in my NEW weight loss program for moms. To find out more go here now – http://www.greatshapeafterbaby.com

How To Boost Your Cesarean Recovery

If you've given birth by a cesarean delivery, your body will have to be treated with care. Full cesarean recovery may take up to six months, but you ought to be able to start becoming a little more active within a few days.

Simply getting out of bed may feel daunting after the operation. Hospital staff will normally encourage you to get out of bed within the first 24 hours so that your circulation improves and to get the bladder and bowels functioning again.

Try moving around your room in hospital initially, taking very small steps and having plenty of rest in between. This can be moved on within a couple of days to walking around the hospital, be careful not to do too much too quickly, be patient.

Keeping moving at this stage is essential since it helps to increase blood flow to the wound, which speeds up recovery. Staying active will also prevent the build up of blood clots in the legs, which may potentially be very dangerous.

The key to any cesarean recovery program is to take things little by little. Work to a plan which includes constant but gentle exercise. Starting off easily and increasing the distance you can walk steadily over the following days.

Pushing your baby in a buggy provides a great opportunity to become more active. Holding on to the handle will provide you extra support, removing some of the stress off the tummy muscles. The pushchair will also help balance and maintain an upright position.

Steer clear of walking up hills or inclines when walking with a pushchair until after your six week check up, as this may place too much work on the weakened abdominal muscles.

Whilst you are in pain during your cesarean recovery you will be given medication to take away the tenderness. You should be aware that any discomfort you could feel will be masked so don’t make the error of doing too much, just because you can’t feel any discomfort doesn’t mean it’s ok for you to do.

To help in a quick cesarean recovery, it's important to remain active but also to work within your body’s own comfort zone.  Stay away from any stretching, twisting, excessive bending or impact movements, for the first six to twelve weeks in order to shield the injured area.

If you'd like to lose your baby weight quickly after having a baby, then take action instantly.  Make your health and fitness your priority so that you can be the best mother possible and face motherhood with confidence, energy and a vigour for life. Go here to find out more.