We discuss the scaling theory of topologically disordered swollen networks and apply it to the study of uniaxially and biaxially stretched gels. While ins-solvents the response to deformation is qualitatively similar to that of usual elastic solids, the theory predicts that under good solvent conditions there exists a range of intermediate deformations for which the gel swells normal to the stretching direction and its elongational modulus is reduced. At larger deformations there is a crossover into a new regime in which the gel is stabilized by nonlinear restoring forces. The experimental ramifications of our results are discussed.