How to prevent loose tummy skin?

[kylieeee]

So I know I should embrace the soon to be 'mum bod' and be proud of what my body was capable of during pregnancy, the tiger stripes I can just about deal with, but I wondered if anyone has any tips or products they can recommend that will prevent my tummy skin going saggy after pregnancy. I'd really like my skin to spring back and not be left drooping. I'm 24 so this should go in my favour but I know it all depends on your collagen etc.

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to carry my baby and am amazed what our bodies can do!! I'd just like to still feel like 'me' after baby is born

The loose skin is from putting on weight quickly or losing it quickly, that & putting on too much weight. I never got the loose skin look, I'm on dd4. If u eat healthy & try not pile on too much extra weight you should be ok

Totally agree with star flake. I have 3 children and a flat and tight belly.

Don't put on too much weight. Don't eat junk or take aways, eat a ton of colourful vegetables and fruits, especially orange and red ones (carrot, watermelon, tomatoes, berries, ....) .
Be active, go to the pool or the gym or for walks or even walks in the pool.
For skin care, I always used almond oil with some drops of pure rose hip oil, but be careful as it is orange and can stain.
Enjoy your pregnancy. Give your baby the best start in life ever by making the right choices when it comes to food.

My belly looks fine - no sagginess or stretch marks at all - but that might be because I never really got that big, and my mum never got them either so it’s probably a bit genetic too. So it could just be luck basically - but I did use lots of body shop body butter and bio oil daily from about 20 weeks, maybe that helped too. Also, I had quite good abs before that, apparently that helps too.

I'm pregnant with my third and I was only 18 and 22 when I had my dcs. I bounced back after DS1 and DS2 was a hefty 9lb1 I swear he looked like a toddler so I had the tiniest bit of crinkly skin on my tummy (not loose as such just a bit wrinkled under my belly button but could still wear bikinis etc and not feel self conscious (I actually had it tattooed over which hid it anyway)

I'm now 32 with a DD and I'm hoping for the same luck despite age not being on my side any more! As pp have said try and eat healthy and exercise, although I think genetics play a big part too.

I didn’t put on a lot of weight or have a big bump either but unfortunately still ended up with a bit of wrinkly skin about my belly piercing. Still wear bikinis etc and looks better when my belly is toned from the gym but didn’t manage to escape it completely.

Don't have a baby is the answer to that and I suspect it's too late for you.

I didn’t put any baby weight on other than the actual bump if you see what I mean, and had massive babies and voila : saggy belly. I ate properly and was young so I think it’s just luck of the draw sometimes. Although at first I didn’t like it I soon realised after having 4 kids that I honestly have bigger fish to fry than worrying about my flabby gut. Skinny jeans with a high waist are my friends. People think I’m joking when I say “it’s all tucked in” lol

I have gone to 42 weeks in both pregnancies and it’s those last few weeks that have caused any stretch marks and a bit of saggy skin. It does get better over time though. So tell the baby to arrive a bit early

I've had two babies (pregnant again now) and only had a bit of wrinkly skin where my belly button piercing was, nobody warned me about that!! I put on loads of weight with DS1 as well, I certainly didn't eat lots of colourful fruit and veg, I ate lots of colourful haribo... anyway I think it's just luck unfortunately!

I think it's luck and genetics.
I have slim, healthy eating friends who put on minimal weight and got a lot of loose skin.
Others who put on a lot of weight and loved on beige carbs and emerged unscathed.

Eat well and keep active (if you can) for the health benefits, but I think the skin issue is largely luck.

You’ll be fine and will snap back over a few months, don’t worry about it.

Just be healthy, keep active and don’t over do it.

I had both of mine before 30 and I think being younger helped.

I was the size of a house (think looking like you're carrying twins and about 38 weeks gone when it's a single baby and you're 20 weeks). Wrinkley tummy. I'm not sure you can stop it happening. Good news is that wearing the baby so "outside" I didn't have to pee more often and I never had an elbow digging into my stomach.

Luck and genetics! I have 3 and have a few stretchmarks on either side of my belly but my stomach is otherwise quite flat. I had a big third baby and was in my late 30s. But some people just get more loose skin and cellulite.

I only gained 9 kg and had a small bump but I still have wrinkly skin on my lower belly. My belly is flat when I'm standing and I'm borderline underweight but it still looks wrinkly and I have stretchmarks. If it's skin, not fat then I don't think you can do anything about it.

Mine was fine with my first but has sagged after my second went to term. I didn't put on excess weight, I'm just very slim and my baby made a very large bump.

I don't think there's too much you can do to predict it.

Thank you lovelies for your advice, hopefully good genes are on my side 

@Lamentations what happened to 'if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all' ... you don't know peoples situations with body dysmorphia and anxiety. Perhaps you could get some compassion before you have a baby, although 'I suspect it's probably too late for you'. Have a nice day

I certainly didn't eat lots of colourful fruit and veg, I ate lots of colourful haribo...

This made me laugh, I got my blood results back yesterday and my midwife complimented what must be my "good diet"

I didn't dare tell her it was a large proportion of 20 McDonald's nuggets and sugar doughnuts

As others have said stay healthy and don't pile on the weight, but sadly some of this will just purely be up to your genetics and there's nothing you can do to change that.