Most expecting mothers wary of post-pregnancy looks: Survey

Eighty seven percent of expecting mothers in India agree that they worry about their physical appearance during and post-pregnancy, according to a Nielson Group survey released Wednesday.

The Yummy Mummy Survey, that spoke to over 600 new and expecting mothers across India, uncovers the desires, worries and challenges that rule their minds.

The survey reveals that 76 percent respondents agree that they sometimes feel low because everyone is focused on the child, while it is their body and them going through changes.

Additionally, 93 percent of them believe that their husbands would want them to look the way they were before pregnancy.

According to the survey, 90 percent women agree that stretch marks are one of the most worrisome issues with respect to their looks, with 52 percent feeling that they have no cure.

"Many of my patients worry about stretch marks and ask me for remedies. But, very few actually know the facts behind them," gynaecologist, Kiran Coelho said.

"Pregnancy stretch marks can be prevented by keeping the skin hydrated. Eat foods that are rich in Vitamin E and C and drink sufficient water. Use a natural ingredients-based product such as a dry oil which gets rapidly absorbed into the skin without leaving behind a residue," she said.

With 57 percent of respondents believing that having a beautiful body post-pregnancy is what they associate with being a 'Yummy Mummy', 61 percent of the respondents named Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty as the 'Yummiest Mummy'.