Giving birth is a big deal. Remember that bringing your child into the world has put a lot of strain on your body.

You’re a warrior for that.

Don’t be ashamed of your stretch marks; instead, embrace them as a symbol of what your body is capable of.

Your stretch marks represent love.

But we understand you’d like to reduce their visibility as soon as possible. That’s why we recommend KOYA Baby to enhance your skin and reduce the severity of your stretch marks.

“Thank you for creating such lovely unfragranced, fast drying products! These are perfect.”
— Salty Hampers

Table of Contents

• Embrace Your Pregnancy Stretch Marks
• You Can Minimize the Appearance of Your Stretch Marks
• Pregnancy Stretch Marks Are Not Harmful
• They Become Less Noticeable After Delivery
• Frequently Asked Questions

Embrace Your Pregnancy Stretch Marks

Did you know pregnancy stretch marks are strongly influenced by genetics? Yes, that’s right! Genetics is one of the key determinants of how elastic or stretchy your skin is.

The more elastic your skin is, the less likely you are to get stretch marks.

However, even if you do get stretch marks, it isn’t the end of the road. There are several ways you can reduce the severity of your stretch marks:

• Eating a balanced diet
• Exercising frequently
• Drinking enough water
• Using KOYA Baby

Let’s take a closer look at why you should stop stressing about pregnancy stretch marks.

1 - You Can Minimize the Appearance of Your Stretch Marks

According to research conducted by the Taiwanese journal of obstetrics and gynecology, a pregnant woman's eating habits impact the appearance and severity of stretch marks.

During pregnancy, you can minimize the appearance of stretch marks by maintaining a healthy weight (slow and steady weight gain to prevent tearing your skin’s elastic fibers).

We all know this is easier said than done. Don’t stress out about it, just aim for healthy eating, great skin care and gentle exercise. Most importantly, make sure your diet is well balanced.

A well-balanced diet must contain lots of minerals and vitamins not only for a healthy baby, but also to promote better skin health and a healthy weight. Try focusing on a pregnancy multi-vitamin or supplement that has antioxidants such as beta-carotene (mostly found in carrots) and vitamins A, C, and E.

Beta-carotene and vitamins A, C, and E are popular skin care ingredients that have been proven effective over the years. Many of these can’t be used in topical skincare treatments while you are pregnant, but you can boost your oral intake using pregnancy vitamins, to supplement your healthy diet.

According to a 2016 study, getting an adequate amount of antioxidant micronutrients such as beta-carotene helps maintain skin health and appearance. Your body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A (retinol), which helps smooth your skin and lessen the appearance of stretch marks.

Vitamins A, C, and E, on the other hand, aid skin cell production and collagen formation. Collagen is a protein in your body that promotes skin regeneration, repairs damaged skin, and keeps your skin soft and flexible.

It’s important to not take in more than your recommended daily intake of vitamins when you are pregnant, so make sure you discuss any supplements with your physician.

That’s why it’s very crucial to focus on a diet that promotes the production of collagen.

A diet rich in foods that encourage collagen formation will minimize the appearance of stretch marks by keeping your skin healthy and elastic. Some healthy, low-fat foods that promote collagen production include:

• Fish
• Broccoli
• Strawberries
• Nuts
• Avocados
• Citrus fruits

Another great way to minimize the severity of your stretch marks is by exercising.

Pregnancy represents one of the greatest physical changes you’ll ever experience. To support these physical changes and your developing baby, try to stay as physically active as you can.

If you choose to live an active lifestyle, you’ll reap many rewards, including improved sleep patterns, high energy levels, and reduced mood swings.

But the most crucial benefit of exercising is improved blood circulation.

By enhancing blood circulation, the increased oxygen and nutrient levels will keep your skin elastic and better equipped to stretch as it expands.

Improved circulation will also encourage the growth of new skin cells, which will contribute to your natural glow.

The table below shows pregnancy exercises you can do to keep active.

1st Trimester	2nd Trimester	3rd Trimester
Low-impact aerobics	Yoga	Walking
Swimming	Pilates	Water aerobics
Brisk walking	Stationary cycling	Easy pilates
Group dance classes	Swimming	Prenatal yoga

Finally, make sure you drink a lot of water. During pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends drinking at least 8 to 12 cups (64 to 96 ounces) of water daily.

The benefits of drinking lots of water are many, including improving digestion, flushing out toxins, and ensuring your body absorbs the vital nutrients from the food you eat.

But since we’re discussing stretch marks, let’s focus on the advantages of water for the skin.

Water will help repair your skin cells and increase elasticity, which will minimize the appearance of your stretch marks. If you don’t get enough water, you’ll have dry, itchy skin.

2 - Pregnancy Stretch Marks Are Not Harmful

According to the American Pregnancy Association, pregnancy stretch marks do not pose any risk to the mother or baby.

Stretch marks simply develop when your skin can’t keep up with how fast your body is growing. This causes the elastic fibers beneath your skin’s surface to break. Even people who aren’t pregnant get stretchmarks when their body grows quickly. Teen girls, bodybuilders… you are not alone, and it’s perfectly normal!

According to research conducted by the British Association of Dermatologists, 90% of women will experience stretch marks after their sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. Therefore, instead of stressing about stretch marks, just focus on the measures you can take to reduce their severity at this point in time.

According to Dr. Mary Lupo, a clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine, women who are at a healthy weight should gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. Growing that fast is likely to leave you with stretch marks, especially on your breasts and belly.

She recommends staying within that range by adding weight gradually rather than rapidly to avoid unnecessary weight gain and reduce the severity of your stretch marks.

In other words, how quickly you gain weight is as important as how much you gain.

3 - They Become Less Noticeable After Delivery

The good news is that, after delivery, stretch marks usually become considerably less noticeable over the next six to twelve months.

Although their texture remains the same for a while, the pigmentation does fade as they gradually become lighter than the surrounding skin.

However, you can achieve great results if you start treating the stretch marks early enough (ie as soon as they start appearing).

Did you know that according to a 2017 review, treating new or early-stage stretch marks is more effective than treating older ones? Though you may not permanently get rid of older marks, using products like KOYA Mother & Baby will help you enhance your skin's tone & appearance.

To maximize the effectiveness of this lotion:

• Use it on early stretch marks.
• Massage it into your stretch marks (and all over your body).
• Apply it every day (suitable for pre & post-natal skin).

KOYA Baby lotion is created with a unique formula suitable for new and expecting moms. This lotion is specifically designed to be easily and quickly absorbed and to never be greasy or oily.

It’s also enriched with vitamin E and contains Gingko Biloba to visibly tone and energize the appearance of your skin.

Regular use of vitamin E will aid in skin repair and restoration. Additionally, it will support cell function, the immune system, and your overall skin health. Winning!

Side note regarding Gingko & pregnancy. Our lotion contains certified extracts of Gingko Biloba, for topical use on your skin. Our COSMOS-certified Gingko Biloba is made from the leaves of the Gingko Biloba tree, which has been used to make medicine in Japan and China since the 15th century.

In addition to its antioxidant properties, Ginkgo Biloba is also known for its anti-inflammatory and soothing qualities.

We do not recommend taking Gingko orally during pregnancy unless advised by your healthcare professional.

Even though we’ve been selling this lotion into different markets for more than ten years with no reports of negative skin reactions, ‘pregnancy skin’ can react differently, so please test any/all skincare products before use, on a small patch of skin to observe how your skin reacts to it.

If you find your skin is especially sensitive right now, please don’t worry – after the baby comes you’ll find your body will find its sense of ‘normal’ again.

Expert Tip: Remember, our bodies are all different. Some people may see their stretch marks fade earlier, whereas others may have to wait longer to see results.

There’s no race in pregnancy or childbirth. Wear your tiger stripes proudly, as they are a symbol of strength, power & self-sacrifice. Growing a human is incredible, it’s your journey. No rush & no need to hide any part of your story.

“Love that it’s not oily but replenishes the skin! Thanks for the wonderful lotion.”
— Madeline Massingill, Ogden, United States

Frequently Asked Questions

What trimester will I get the most stretch marks?

Stretch marks are most likely to appear on your stomach (and other parts of your body) while you’re between 6 and 7 months pregnant (at the end of the second trimester and the beginning of the third trimester).

Why do I have so many pregnancy stretch marks?

During pregnancy, your body’s hormone levels might substantially fluctuate. Although the substantial change in estrogen levels is essential for a healthy pregnancy, the skin can suffer as a result.

The skin becomes more prone to stretch marks as it has lost its elastin fibers and collagen, reducing its elasticity. This renders it vulnerable to tears when stretched too far, which is why you get so many stretch marks during pregnancy.

Are pregnancy stretch marks inherited?

Your skin’s elasticity is determined by a connective tissue known as elastin. Reduced levels of elastin predispose you to stretch marks during pregnancy.

This reduction is a genetic trait passed from your mother, implying that stretch marks are inherited.

Will lotions help reduce stretch marks during pregnancy?

Using an effective lotion, such as KOYA Baby, on stretch mark prone areas such as your thighs, belly, and breasts, will help you improve the skin’s appearance and replenish its elastin.

This will help your skin resist tearing by reducing the pressure of stretching. Start applying the lotion as soon as you realize you’re pregnant.

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