So you’ve heard the news! The Stork’s finally chosen to visit you and you are simply delighted. As you begin to rejoice, now is the time to tend to your body and make sure your beautiful skin doesn’t suffer any irreparable damage—like stretch marks.

Till now, experts are divided over whether there is a sure cure or prevention tactic for stretch marks, especially in pregnancy. Some strongly advocate using cocoa butter while others vouch for regular massage with coconut oil. Whether or not these applications succeed in preventing the occurrence of those terrible marks is still a subject of debate. In any case, a regular massage with any or both of these will surely gift you a soft, sensual and glowing skin, if nothing else.

So, is there something you can do yourself to prevent stretch marks at all?

Well, to begin with, plan a healthy diet for yourself. Even as you give in to your cravings, stay clear of fried or high-calorie foods as they can potentially damage the skin. Include a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, seeds and nuts. Keep yourself well hydrated with a lot of fluid intake to keep the skin immensely supple and elastic. In addition, though it might not be in your hands, yet try to gain weight slowly and steadily, to as much extent as possible. If you are serious about controlling your weight gain and don’t have risk factors, it is a must to incorporate a gentle exercise regimen throughout your pregnancy.

At the end of the day, in spite of all your earth shaking efforts, if those stretch marks still turn up, there are a lot of things you can do to conceal and help them fade.