tips to prevent stretch marks

More on preventing stretch marks and how to minimize them if they do appear.

And yes, I would try buying pure cocoa butter. ^^< It's called "mantika de cacao" in our own lingo and has been used since long before to reduce the appearance of scars. Although when I was young (until today at some point), I have never been the one that's so keen on applying anything.

still from the same page...

How to Prevent Pregnancy Stretch Marks

Tips

• Your moisturizer should be safe and all natural, for your health and your baby's. You can make your own pregnancy stretch mark cream with cocoa butter, olive oil, and vitamin E cream (just squeeze the contents into the other ingredients, mix and apply!).
• Consult a specialist; your OB/Gyn or a Dermatologist (skin specialist) may have some suggestions.
• Wheat germ oil may help.
• Avoid sun exposure and tanning booths. Also, it is unclear if the ingredients in sunscreen can harm your baby as it develops, so if you are going to be outside, use clothing as your sunscreen.
• Avoid allowing your skin to dry out. Cold weather and hot showers or baths will dry out your skin. You may need to moisturize your skin two or three times as often as you normally would during winter or if you take hot showers.
• Even if you are prone to getting stretch marks (you already have them, or women in your family have them), don't get discouraged. You may still be able to avoid getting them to some degree by taking care of your body and skin.
• Purchase pure cocoa butter from a health food store. Common brands found in regular retailers are not usually pure--check the label. The cocoa butter will be rather hard and solid, so grate some with a microplane or cheese grater, then heat it in a double boiler or a glass measuring cup in the microwave. Once the melted cocoa butter has cooled to just warm, gently smooth it over your belly. This is very soothing, smells wonderful, and helps Mom's belly feel better if nothing else!
• You can only minimize the appearance with the constant and regular use of creams and other applications. The marks will only fade but they are still there if you look closely or touch the skin. All those expensive creams, oils and ointments can do is improve the tone and appearance of your skin and make the stretch marks less noticeable.

Warnings

• Avoid using certain high tech stretch mark products while pregnant. You will find there are several well-known brands that say "not for use by pregnant or nursing women."
• Similarly, if you are using lotions or creams to prevent or minimize breast stretch marks, be careful when you're nursing. You don't want the baby ingesting the chemicals.