Stretch marks?

catem07

Do you have them? When did they show up? If you're a STM+, when did they show up for you in your first pregnancy? Are they worsening now? Trying to figure out if I'm out of the woods...

Beckyf321

I gained 70 lbs my first pregnancy so I have a ton of stretch marks.  They started around 20-22 weeks, I think.  They are still there, but are really light in color when I'm not pregnant.

HappyAnjel

I have em. Had them with my first too.. they showed up around start of third trimester, but I got more and more until the end. I used all the tips and "tricks" and kept my belly lathered with cocoa butter and it didn't help.. My mom had not a single stretch mark after 5 babies.. I think it's just one of those everyone is different things..

cafedisco

Mine didn't show up until the week I delivered DD. You're never in the clear, unfortunately.

They fade a lot though and it's not as big of a deal as I first thought. They've reappeared much earlier this time but it doesn't bug me as much now. 

peachy0709

I didn't with DD but I am this time.  I have actually gained less weight this pregnancy compared to this time last time, so it's kind of a crapshoot as previous posters have noted. 

LittleChick2

I got my first stretch marks around 12 weeks or so I'm at 27+5 today and now have them on both sides of my hips, I've gained about 20-25 pounds total. 

shaunessa

Around the beginning of the 3rd trimester I started getting them.  I don't mind them though, because they stayed underneath my belly button area, so I can still wear those cute high rise bikini bottoms.  My mom on the other hand.....boy did I do some damage!

smoochie041719

My skin is super prone to stretch marks. I got them on my hips, thighs, and boobs just for going through puberty even though I was super thin then. They are all white/flesh tone now and hardly visable, but I just know it means I will get new ones on my belly eventually. 

lovelongdog06

They never appeared with my first pregnancy and haven't appeared yet at almost 30 weeks. I don't do anything to prevent them, nor am I banking on escaping them again, but I can hope. I have stretch marks on my thighs and hips from puberty so I thought I'd get them. I also started this pregnancy 10 lbs heavier. My mom never got them, so maybe there's something to be said about genetics.

HGRich

Not yet, but I'm thinking it's only because I haven't gained much weight yet. Now that the third tri is here and she's going to be gaining weight quickly, I suspect I will. 

catem07

I have them from puberty, mostly on my thighs and obliques, but I haven't seen any on my stomach yet at 30+ weeks. I put cocoa butter on when I get out of the shower but know that's no guarantee. 

Omie_Wise

I have one or two popping up on my belly. I've heard it has more to do with hydration so I'm really trying to be more conscious of my water intake. 

Blueberry85

Mine didn't show until the last month or two and were just on my stomach. This time I don't have any new ones thus far, but it seems like the ones I developed with DD are getting pink again. We'll have to see.

mrsstuessy

With DD1 I mostly got them in my thighs and hips, with a few on my stomach. Most of the ones on my belly showed up after I gave birth actually. So, I don't want to bum you out, but you might get them afterward. This time I don't think I have any new ones on my thigh/hips/butt, but do see some new ones on my belly in the last month or two and my stretch marks from last time, which were pretty light have also gotten a little darker. Overall nothing I can't live with. My mom has lots of pretty angry stretch marks (along with her c-section scar) from my sister and I, so I am just happy I lucked out better than she did. DD1 was looking at my belly, because we were watching little sister kick a few weeks ago. She asked me why I have stripes. I laughed and told her that sometimes you get stripes when you have a baby in your tummy. She was a little concerned and told me to be careful not to get anymore owes. 

Dannylion24

With my first I got a few on my boobs after my milk came on (I have implants so the twins were freaking gigantic) then between babies I gained and dropped a ton of weight and noticed (after I lost the weight finally and just before getting preg w this babe) that I have some on the outside of my thighs. Nothing on my belly or anyplace else and the ones on my thighs are very very faded and I can't see the ones on my boobs anymore so I'm hopeful that I may escape some of the more angry looking ones I've seen on other ladies, but who knows!? But my legs are an absolute travesty with the varicose veins so I'm praying I've paid my dues with them. 

visualcircus

Honestly mine didn't show up/ or me noticing until after birth and I had the baby 41 weeks 3 days. It's true that they fade over time but when I first got them I was a bit bummed. I also have stretch marks on the chest and thighs but that was from my middle school growth spurt. 

Annsor

I got them after my first kiddo was born. Which was a little surprising. i weighed like 110 when I got pregnant so I though for sure I'd get them, plus my mom had them all over her belly. None on my tummy. Hips, thighs, boobs and bum got all of them. Didn't get any with #2. Hoping the ones I have on my hips don't come up any higher. They are harder to hide now that I have the permanent mom muffin top going on. 

MWoodside

I don't think you are out of the woods until you deliver

With DD1 I got a few on my butt (my butt gets a lot bigger during pg, ugh) in the last month. They disappeared and couldn't be seen a few months after birth.

With DD2 I carried her VERY low and I got some on the underside of my belly below my belly button. Same thing, they couldn't be seen a few months after birth.

None so far this time. I was examining everything to check last weekend. But since mine don't stay visible I am not really all that worried about it honestly.

SnarkasaurusRex

I don't think you're ever truly out of the woods. Also, keep in mind that while hydration and moisturizing are important, there's a huge component that determines your skin's elasticity and whether or not you'll get stretch marks.

I got some on my thighs with DS in like the last month...nothing on my belly. My milk never came in so my boobs made it out unscathed. My thigh ones were always pretty pale and unnoticeable, and I do think they faded quite a bit after pregnancy. Nothing has started to pop out this time, so we'll see. I've lost weight/muscle in my thighs, so maybe those won't get any worse? I do feel like my belly has grown very quickly this time, so I keep moisturizing and hoping for the best, haha.

kitkat8387

I don't have any yet (at 30 weeks) which is surprising since I have gained almost 30 lbs. I figured I would get them, since I have them from puberty on my hips/boobs (but they are almost invisible, just a little bit lighter than my skin which is already really pale - I think I am the only one who notices them). I haven't been doing anything to prevent them either, since they don't really bother me to be honest, and from what I've heard it's mostly based on genetics/skin elasticity anyway. 

jennielynn+

Hah! There is no "out of the woods" for stretch marks. I gained, by most standards, very little my 1st pregnancy. I only gained about 25lbs but, I noticed pp I had a few stretch marks near my hips. I was pretty regular about lotions and coconut oil on my belly too. I'm not tight enough yet for any new ones but, I'm sure this baby will leave a few to remember her by. 

Koukonei

With both pregnancies I got them around 4 months in. Only on my hips, upper thighs, and underside of my breasts though lol! They all faded and were barely noticeable 6 months postpartum though.

smallanimal

Nothing on my belly yet.  I have been told by about 5 different women to use a specific german oil that prevents it.  I am religiously rubbing it every evening.

My bum and thighs are a different story.  They were never too supple, and now they just look awful, just soft and large and lumpy and drooly.  This is where I will get marks, I am sure.  This will take some crazy post natal exercise to go away!! 

DaisyCW

It depends on the elasticity of your skin. I got them bad during 2nd trimester with my 1st. Up to my belly button and on my boobs. 2nd go around, I got some just above my belly button and developed new ones on my inner thighs and the back of my knees. This go around, I can feel my belly stretch but can't figure out where the new ones are developing cause I'm already marked all over 

smoochie041719

pretty sure I have the start of stretch marks on the underneath side of both breasts. That spot doesn't bother me at all, but I know I'll be a little bummed when they first appear on my bump. 

andrea0418

Do you have them? Yes a few on my hips 

When did they show up? They are from my 1st pregnancy 

If you're a STM+, when did they show up for you in your first pregnancy? They didn't show up till the very end. 

 Are they worsening now? No they haven't changed. 

BecNJake

I got stretch marks about 37 weeks into my first pregnancy a couple years ago. I have them on my belly, hips and thighs. I was pretty little before the pregnancy and gained a lot of weight so I wasn't shocked. It was kind of depressing, I felt like my body was just ripped apart for the baby (I also had a c-section which contributed to those feelings). That's something I've had to work through, and they've actually lightened already with the use of essential oils. My skin feels firmer and the marks are lighter. It took me awhile to come to terms with the stretch marks- although I will keep treating them in hopes they disappear, I may have them for life and I'm realizing that's ok. Pregnancy is a hard business and I'm finding value in myself and joy with who I am apart from just my bikini body. All that to say, I think it's ok to get them and be real about your emotions connected to them.

Magheeta

I was really lucky and didn't get any stretch marks until the very end of my first pregnancy. I had one tiny little battle scar that showed up on my side a little less than a month before DS was born. My Mom didn't have many (if any) from both her pregnancies, so when people told me it was hereditary, I believe it. This time around I'm still not seeing much, but it's hard to tell because I'm veiny so some of the veins look like they could be stretch marks (purple, but not raised), so I'm just going to try to take it in stride. I've been using the Honest Co. belly balm, and while it smells bad, it feels really good. 

super_sam03

I have preexisting stretch marks from some 9 or so years ago.  I gained a lot of weight, fast.  It started with one stretch mark and then they were all over my gut.  Since getting pregnant, I use Palmer's stretch mark cream and bio-oil.  30 weeks & 30lbs in and I don't have any new ones and the ones I had have actually lightened up a bit.  They'll never go away completely but at least now it LOOKS like I had some kids :P 

ConstanceGoodspeed

I got them in the weeks post partum, after delivering when my weight and loose belly skin shifted. 

MrsBakes

So far no stretch marks. I didnt get a single one with DD and hoping to keep it that way. But I don't think you are ever truly out of the woods until a couple weeks after delivery even. If I get them.. oh well.... They do get lighter with time I hear... 

smoochie041719

Bringing this one back to life since it has come up on the Facebook page. I have gotten a couple under my boobs and I think they will start on my hips any day now 

nwshay

Found my first two! Uuugh. 

NurseLaLa

I seem to be starting some on my hips and bum, none on the stomach yet, but that can definitely change. 

LittleChick2

I've had them on my hips for months, but now I have them on my inner thighs as well. Last night I noticed that the ones on my thighs pretty much extend down to my knees, and I have back fat! It was a very sad night. 

shaunessa

LittleChick2 said:

I've had them on my hips for months, but now I have them on my inner thighs as well. Last night I noticed that the ones on my thighs pretty much extend down to my knees, and I have back fat! It was a very sad night. 

This is the worse!  I'm okay, with having some chunk in my thighs, but I hate back fat and its so hard to get rid of!!!

LittleChick2

@shaunessa Now that I've noticed it, it's been constantly bugging me too! 

jennielynn+

No new stretch marks (I'm only 32 weeks though). I have noticed how completely disfigured I look in the mirror though. My boobs officially rest on my tummy like two little kitty ears. They are starting to look like they will slide off and start looking like DJ headphones. Ugh, I hate getting out of the shower where we have a 6ft long mirror. Its like looking at myself underwater.

My husband says I look wonderful. We both know what I looked like 10 years ago when we first met. He says but, you wouldn't trade that 19year old body for the two kids this one made. Swoon!   

HGRich

@jennielynn+ aw! That's sweet. Also I love your hilarious comparisons. Pregnancy has done nothing for my boobs either. 

chelle087

@jennielynn+ I have been avoiding looking in the mirror as much as possible.  I did notice the other day though that my nipples have started to get bigger and darker and it just looks so weird to me.

BecNJake

I totally get not wanting to look in the mirror! I have stretch marks on my thighs, stomach and hips and I've gained almost 40 lbs now. My midwives challenged me to look in the mirror and pick out things I like about myself. They really hit this hard for awhile to help me get past my c-section scar. Anyway, I've been looking at the mirror more and pulling out positive things. I am feeling more confident and I actually feel good about myself. I leave the house feeling like I'm glowing and full of life in the morning. When people give me compliments I am actually hearing them and believing them. For me, changing my perspective and appreciating my body has made some great changes in the past few weeks and months. Try picking out just 3 things you see that you like in the mirror each day, I would have never thought it works so well!