Stretch Mark | My Mills Baby

I’m not just talking a stack of trial sizes either! Here’s what’s on offer!

Bepanthen Win GIVEAWAY: Win a bundle of Bepanthen products (CD: 17/11/2014)

Bottle of Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream
Bepanthen Nappy Rash Cream
Bepanthen Baby Moisturiser
Bepanthen Baby Bib
Bepanthen Cuddly Toy
Bepanthen Baby Sun Cream

That’s one awesome luxury bundle for your little one (with a much sought-after gift for mum too!).

This is a staggeringly generous gift as offered by the lovely folks at Bepanthen HQ as part of their recent launch of the Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream. I reviewed this cream recently and have continued to use it on my tummy post-birth. Like most mums, I suffered from body confidence issues following the birth of Heidi. I won’t lie - It hasn’t faded my current marks BUT given I’m losing weight (a major cause of the pesky little buggers), it has stopped new ones appearing. Read my full review HERE.

Bepanthen Stretch Marks GIVEAWAY: Win a bundle of Bepanthen products (CD: 17/11/2014)

In fact, stretch marks have been cited as one of the worst aspects of being pregnant by a third (28%) of mums – with almost one in five (18%) admitting that stretch marks have made them feel depressed, and a further 31% of women saying that stretch marks have caused them to lose confidence in their bodies, according to research by baby skincare experts, Bayer HealthCare, makers of Bepanthen Stretch Mark Cream^®.

When asked about stretch mark prevention:

Over a quarter (26%) of mums wish that they had done more to help prevent stretch marks while they were expecting
Almost half (46%) would recommend using a stretch mark cream to a pregnant friend
One in four women (24%) admit that they didn’t think to take any action to help prevent stretch marks as it didn’t occur to them

So what’s so good about it…

Extract of Centella Asiatica which encourages the production of collagen
Provitamin B5 and glycerine which are proven to nourish the skin to improve elasticity
Pure Olive Oil and skin lipids to moisturiser and act as a barrier to external influences
Hypoallergenic and free from colours and preservatives

It’s pretty revolutionary in this sense. Centella Asiatica is fairly new on the skincare scene and does have a whole host of benefits. Owing to its ingredients, this product is more prevention than cure. During phases of rapid growth it nourishes your skin and delivers and burst of vitamins to help boost skin elasticity. Your skin stays super hydrated and poised to deal with skin stretching and fluctuation.

Mums-to-be should look for a stretch mark cream that can actually help strengthen the skin before stretch marks appear – rather than just trying to remedy the situation afterwards. Look for a product that not only moisturises the skin – but one that can encourage collagen production, as a lack of this is a known root cause of stretch marks. Looking after your bump when pregnant is also a great opportunity to ensure that you are bonding with your baby before the birth. Dr Faye Kennedy (GP & mum of two who has produced a number of online videos giving advice in pregnancy for mums-to-be)

The cream itself is incredibly mild (as you would expect) making it ideal for sensitive skin and for use during periods of hormonal ‘excitement’ (a.k.a. pregnancy). It smells pleasant, rubs in easy and keeps your skin really hydrated - much like an oil rather than a serum. Better yet, it has been recommended by a massive 96% of mums-to-be during a product trial on Netmums!

Enough about the Stretchmark Cream - most of you will be here as you’ve been enticed by the GIVEAWAY…

Bepanthen is a household name most of us mums here in the UK are all too aware of. Many of us will smear Bepanthen Nappy Rash Cream all over our babies bums when irritation flares. But their wider range will be unfamiliar to many. They’re experts in baby skin care and want to spread the word!

Okay the bib is a gimmick but a cot-safe snuggly toy, and a whole host of other other scrummy goodies for your little one should appeal. You can never have enough SPF suncream, baby moisturiser and bum cream after-all! AND you’ll also win the Stretchmark Cream worth £24.99! Entry is via rafflecopter so good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&C’s – a.k.a – the boring bit!

Only 1 option is mandatory (leave me a comment) – the rest only improve your chances of winning so just complete as many as you feel like
UK entrants only – you must be over 18 too (sorry)
The winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 1 week of having been emailed (I’ll try all known avenues to contact them) or a new winner will be drawn
When the giveaway is closed, Rafflecopter will select the winner completely at random
The winners name will be published on this site

Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

… And I’ve had enough. In fact, I’m counting down the days until I can serve Mini Madam with an eviction notice without being seen to be willing on prematurity. The thought of another 9 weeks (2+ months!) of swollen hips, uncontrollable moodiness, and cries of “Ooompf” when I accidentally stomach crunch my little girl, seems like nothing short of punishment.

Dex 31 Weeks Pregnant

It’s taking sooo long, even Dexter needed reminding.

Now all my final appointments are booked, there’s nothing to do but wait. In a few short weeks, we’ll discover how this birth plan is going to play out and whether April will see #Labour tweets and unsightly pictures of me flailing around on a birthing ball from inside the Royal Berks Hospital.

My once pert little bump is now a sagging lump like an old sofa cushion riding low on my pelvis, and I’m now kicking myself that I didn’t undergo hypnotherapy to kick my cherry bakewell habit in the first trimester. This has bought on a relatively new phenomena for me - stretchmarks. In fact my belly now looks like the glaze on a loaf of tiger bread. No amount of smothering myself in Bio Oil seems to shift them and I’m slowly facing up to the fact that my bikini days are now definitely over.

SPD and sciatica continue to plague me at each at every waking moment. I’m getting by on around 4 hours sleep at night and as many naps as Dexter will allow. I’m definitely struggling to switch off as the pressure to get our 52 name shortlist down to 10 heats up. This insomnia is real problem and I’m positively hideous to be around. I’ve caught Craig camping out in the kitchen a few times and his eyes will widen in fear if I go within 3 metres of him.

When I’m not being as evil and cynical as Katie Hopkins, I’m usually crying at something ridiculous on the television. Coverage of the floods on the news, the sheer offensiveness of Mister Maker’s theme tune, or the GB curling team at the Sochi Winter Olympics… yes curling. What has my life come to?

31 weeks 31 Weeks Pregnant

Preparations for baby’s arrival are still woefully underfunded. With not one but two insurance claims put in this week (one a result of a nasty car accident) we’re berating ourselves for not having attacked the January sales with more ferocity. She now has a bath, and all the furniture she needs, and I’m delighted that she’ll be spending her first few month in an NCT bedside crib courtesy of Bednest, but she’s looking set to be a right exhibitionist as we haven’t bought her a single sleepsuit or babygrow. My breastfeeding ambitions better go to plan too as there are no bottles in the kitchen cupboard either > This is all a little woe-is-me isn’t it? We’re not as poor as I make out, but it certainly feels like it sometimes.

I was very close to reneging on the No Pink rule this week too. Having had my head turned by a seriously cute Laura Ashley print, I very nearly abandoned the grey and yellow nursery theme in favour of chintzy flowers. Thankfully Craig caught me just as the mouse cursor hovered over the checkout button and he gave me a stern talking to. I can now safely say I’m back on track and thinking rationally again.

So that’s it. This is the person I am at 31 weeks pregnant. Please tell me it gets quicker from here on in - Please, please, please.