After childbirth, a woman becomes a mother and motherhood makes her a complete woman. Yet, there is one aspect of childbirth that every woman dreads, though very few actually speak about it. It is the fear of dreadful stretch marks. Those bright reddish or purplish lines that extend from the lower abdomen to the hips and thighs and don’t seem to disappear no matter which lotion or cream is applied.

Now there is some good news and some bad news. The good news is that freedom from stretch marks is possible. But, the bad news is that it might blow a little hole in your pocket.

The good news - laser treatment for stretch marks

First let us understand the reason behind those scary stretch marks. Under the thin layer of abdominal skin lies a layer of collagen, which is a protein compound. During pregnancy, weight gain causes this layer of collagen to break from frequent stretching. Laser treatment for stretch marks repairs this layer of collagen, seals off any broken blood vessels, removes damaged skin tissues, and repairs middle skin fibers. The procedure is supported by application of a special skin cream that facilitates stretch marks removal. It is painless, non-invasive, safe, and much more effective than other methods of stretch marks removal.

A little bad news - cost and time

The treatment is time consuming, requiring many laser surgeries, and many visits to the doctor. As a doctor would charge for every session, the entire treatment, though, might not cost you an arm and a leg but still would make your purse a lot lighter. Also, laser surgery is not very effective on old stretch marks that have faded or turned white as the laser is unable to detect them.

Precautions

Exposure to sun needs to be avoided 5-6 weeks prior to the treatment. If exposure is unavoidable, then application of sun cream is absolutely essential. Also, avoid smoking prior to the treatment. This precaution is easy for all caring mothers, as they know how harmful cigarette smoke is for their little ones. Most importantly, if you are planning to opt for a laser treatment after childbirth, please see a qualified and experienced doctor. Never go to any of those cheap unregistered clinics. A badly done laser treatment could cause burning sensations at treated skin areas and sometimes could lead to permanent brown skin discoloration.

Laser treatment for stretch marks is a God-sent gift for all those women who dread childbirth because of the resulting stretch marks. It is an effective and safe procedure, but opt for it only after understanding its limitations, costs, precautions, and side effects.

Learning about pregnancy stages information will help pregnant women take better care of themselves and their unborn child. Basically, the more knowledge you have, the more prepared you are for any eventuality. Moreover, learning about the various stages of pregnancy helps you understand the changes that your body is going through.

Pregnancy normally lasts for around 40 weeks. These 40 weeks are divided into three stages or trimesters. During these three stages, a pregnant woman experiences various symptoms and drastic changes in her body.

First Trimester

The first trimester of pregnancy starts from the first week and lasts till the 12th week. Pregnancy triggers hormonal changes in the body. Due to these hormonal changes, the body experiences several symptoms like,

• Feeling tired

• Breasts becoming tender and swollen

• Stop in periods

• Morning sickness

• Craving for certain foods

• Frequent urination

• Constipation

• Weight loss or gain

• Heartburn

Second Trimester

The second trimester of pregnancy starts from the 13th week and lasts till the 28th week. Many women notice that they are no longer experience morning sickness. The fatigue also goes away. However, the abdomen starts getting bigger. As a result of this, they might start feeling pain in their back, thighs, or groin area.

During the second trimester, some women notice swelling on their ankles, face, and fingers. Their nose, cheeks, forehead, or upper lip may develop patches of dark skin. The skin around the nipples also becomes darker.

Third Trimester

The third trimester of pregnancystarts from the 29th week and lasts till the 40th week. During this stage, many women notice that they have to make frequent visits to the bathroom. Plus, they have trouble breathing or experiencing shortness of breath. The breasts become tender and the belly button starts to stick out. Heartburn, swelling of face, ankles and fingers, and hemorrhoids are some of the other symptoms that occur in the third trimester of pregnancy.

During these three stages, both the woman’s body, and the fetus undergo changes. From being a fetus at the end of the 8 weeks, it grows up to be a baby, whose organs are able to function on their own after birth. From being 1/25 of an inch at the end of 4 weeks, it grows to around 19 to 21 inches by the end of 40 weeks.

From conception to birth, the baby and the mother have a long way to go. Learning all about pregnancy stages information helps the mother-to-be and the baby.

Another way you can help yourself is by exercising. Pregnancy exercise will help you stay fit, maintain your weight, improve blood circulation and beat stress. Yoga, walking, and swimming are some of the exercises that you can take up during your pregnancy.

By learning about pregnancy stages information, exercising, eating nutritious diet and consulting a doctor on a regular basis, you can ensure a healthy pregnancy.