Belly Bands can't prevent stretch marks, but there are indications that they can help by reducing the weight on your body and preventing your skin from overstretching. One recommendation on avoiding stretch marks during pregnancy is to keep your weight gain slow and steady. Yes, we know, easier said than done but avoiding rapid weight gain may help keep stretch marks to a minimum.

We often get the question, "how I can I avoid stretch marks during pregnancy?" While stretch marks, in many cases, are hereditary, you can do things to try and reduce the risk, such as maintaining a healthy weight, staying hydrated, and eating a nutrient-rich diet. You can also treat stretch marks when they appear with products such as our Silicone Skin Defense which can help minimize their appearance. You may also want to use oils and creams on your body. The best stretch mark cream for pregnancy is one that is made with natural ingredients and is safe for sensitive skin and pregnancy/nursing friendly.

This varies, but most women find that they begin noticing them around 13 to 21 weeks as their skin stretches and pulls due to pregnancy weight gain.

Pregnancy stretch marks appear at various times depending on numerous factors, including genetics and weight gain. While some women will see them early on as their belly starts to grow, others find they only become visible later in pregnancy. One way to help defend against them is to ensure that your skin maintains its elasticity and is well hydrated. Our Silicone Skin Defense can help with this, as can using topically applied lotions and oils. Keep in mind that the best stretch mark prevention cream during pregnancy is one that's specifically formulated to maximize skin elasticity.

Stretch marks never go away completely, but the good news is that they fade over time and may become less noticeable with various treatments. These treatments range from using silicon repair sheets to using creams with cocoa butter or vitamin e. You can also speak to your doctor about prescription creams as well as laser therapy and chemical peels.

Yes, look for one that's designed for use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

There are numerous options, from oils to lotions that contain cocoa butter. It's a personal preference and depends on your opinion of the overall smell and texture and ultimately whether you get the results you want. We also suggest asking your doctor for skincare recommendations.

Yes, many women use stretch mark cream post-pregnancy to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Stretch marks can appear as you gain and lose weight, which is why many women see them in the postpartum period.

Most women find that stretch marks become less noticeable about six months to a year postpartum.

Almost 90 percent of women develop stretch marks during pregnancy. Stretch marks are caused by stretching of the skin as your body grows rapidly, and your skin doesn't have time to catch up. A C-section won't cause stretch marks, but you may notice them during the post-surgical period.

We recommend using our Silicone Skin Defense to help reduce the appearance of both stretch marks and the C-section incision scar.

You can never completely get rid of stretch marks. However, just like a vaginal delivery, C-section moms can use products to help diminish the marks' appearance. These range from over-the-counter treatments to dermatological treatments such as lasers, microdermabrasion, micro-needling, radiofrequency and more.

It's best to try and avoid scratching the skin while pregnant as you could create scars or open yourself up to a skin infection. We recommend trying our WonderWeave products as the material is specifically designed to keep lotions and creams on your body to help fight stretch marks and hydrate dry, itchy pregnancy skin.