Hi Fellow Mamas (and Mamas to be)!
Pregnancy is a trip. We are literally growing life inside our beautiful and amazingly profound bodies. Throughout pregnancy our bodies change so much. Within the second and third trimester our babies are growing at a rapid speed and we rely on our bodies to keep up. Every part of our bodies have to make sacrifices and create space for this tiny human that has made a home within our wombs.
Our belly skin needs to stretch and expand to a remarkable size and can push our skin to it’s limits. This can lead to itchy, dry and extremely tight skin and even lead to stretch marks. This is where Mama’s DIY Belly Butter comes in. Not only does it have soothing butters and oils that relieve irritation, these specific ingredients promote healthy elasticity in your skin.
On a side note, this belly butter isn’t necessarily the saving grace for stretch marks, there are other things to take into consideration and healthy habits to develop before, during and after pregnancy. Lets take a closer look…
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What Causes Stretch Marks?
1.Genetics
Yes, it’s true.. and I’m sorry to say it, but genetics play a small role in developing stretch marks along with your body type and hormones. This isn’t to say that there aren’t things you can do to help the appearance and severity of stretch marks, because there is.. read on!
2. Elasticity
If your skin has lost it’s elasticity and is unable to stretch, being pregnant pushes the limits and may cause stretch marks. What you eat plays a vital role here. Make sure to load your plate with vitamin c and antioxidant- rich foods such as berries, oranges, peppers, broccoli, kale, walnuts, asparagus, beetroot, sweet potatoes, avocadoes etc.
If you are eating fruits and vegetables daily, your skin will be provided with the nutrients and hydration it needs to stay stretchy. Sugary and processed foods are harder on the body to brake down and lacks overall nutrition which doesn’t contribute well to the elasticity of your skin.
3. Hydration
If you are the type of person that prefers to drink everything under the sun other than water, you are living in a chronic state of dehydration. Your body will not have the ability to to stretch and grow around that beautiful baby without developing stretch marks. YOU NEED PROPER HYDRATION!
Keeping your body hydrated on the inside as well as the outside helps to improve your skins abilities to stretch. Drinking enough water is CRUTIAL to having a healthy body and glowing skin! And if you are in need of an amazing new water bottle, check out my favorite Owala water bottle here! Hydrating your skin is the other part to this equation and can’t be skipped. I used this DIY Belly Butter for both of my pregnancies’ and I honestly continue to use it to date because it gives my skin a healthy glow and the hydration it needs.
So in turn, adding in my DIY Belly Butter to your daily routine will definitely benefit your changing body during pregnancy. However, you get to also make sure you are eating a nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich diet and drinking plenty of water. Consistency is key and will help your body do it’s job in growing a happy, healthy baby! If you are needing additional mama and baby products check out BE SAFE!
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional nor is anything is this post medical advice. I used this DIY Belly Butter during my own pregnancies and wanted to share it. Be sure to consult with your doctor or midwife before using essential oils while pregnant, some essential oils interfere with other issues and it’s best to speak with your provider first. Do not use any ingredients that you are allergic to. Stop using immediately if you experience itching, rash or swelling. furthermore, avoid bitter varieties of almond oils during pregnancy. Bitter almonds are known to increase the risk of birth defects. Consult with your doctor or midwife with any questions or concerns. Use 1-2 times per day. It is VERY OILY, so make sure you allow 15 mins to soak in and wear clothes that you don’t mind getting stained. Suggestion is to use after a shower when your skin is warm and moist, which will result in better absorbtion into your skin. 2 TBS Virgin Coconut Oil 2 TBS Sweet Almond Oil 2 TBS Organic Cocoa Butter 2 TBS Organic Shea Butter 1 TBS Beeswax Pastilles 3 tsps Non-GMO Verified Vitamin E Oil Optional- Essential Oils 15-20 drops of your favorite E.O or E.O combo. Essential Oil options that are safe during pregnancy: Lavender, Geranium, Cypress, Frankincense, Helichrysum, Chamomile, Ylang-Ylang. Note on Essential oils- This DIY Belly Butter is still extremely effective without the use of essential oils. If you’re nervous to use them, sensitive to smells, or your provider recommended against the use of E.Os, do not add them in. You will still get great benefits out of the belly butter. All my insights and secrets on how to keep your skin happy, healthy and hydrated before, during and after pregnancy. With that in mind, keeping stretch marks from developing may not be 100% possible, but it’s worth the effort by using Mama’s Easy DIY Belly Butter, developing good eating habits and keeping your body and skin hydrated. Again, it is all about consistency and creating a happy home for that baby to grow and thrive inside you. And, in the chance that you do get stretch marks, be PROUD of your body and wear those stretch marks like a badge of honor. You did that and you created life! If this is the first blog post of mine you are reading, I believe that you are or will be a badass mama that will celebrate parenting wins and learn from the parenting mistakes. That is to say, we all make them and that is why I am here, to help you learn from mine! Cheers to a pregnancy win. Wishing you success, lots of patience and minimal stretch marks! Love, Trista Please check out some of my other posts on realistic parenting, and Follow me on Facebook and Pinterest!Mama’s DIY Belly Butter Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
*IN ADDITION: You may also choose to continue using this belly butter after your baby is born to help:
And There You Have It!
Katie
My little one is so sensitive to diaper creams. I use coconut oil but I’m going to give this recipe a try.
Trista
Katie, absolutely! I have used this for diaper cream for sure. I honestly still use it a lot and I had my last baby 2 years ago!
Julie P.
Love, love, love this! Beautiful and super awesome for mommy and baby with nourishing gentle oils. As a certified aromatherapist, I can say that you did good, mama. Thank you for sharing!
Trista
Julie, Thank you for the comment and the love! It’s nice to hear that a certified aromatherapist approves!! I absolutely love essential oils and use them often!
Gabby olivera
I have such a hard time finding a good homemade body butter recipe! I can’t wait to try this one! Looks promising 😊
Trista
I did too and so I kept tweaking the recipe until it was my favorite! Thanks for trying it and let me know what you think!