Stretch Marks

Babyramsey

So what's everyone usin to prevent stretch marks.  None yet buy want to be proactive incase!

caymanianseminole

I rub camellia oil or use palmer's cocoa butter 2-3 times daily all over my stomach/breasts/thighs.  I have a few on my thighs but they haven't gotten any worse since i've been doing that and none on my stomach or breasts so far.  I'm only 15 weeks but definitely showing quite a bit.

Nericole

You cannot prevent stretch marks.

BabyMakes 3

Can't prevent it I'm sure. But, I read in Bringing Up Bebe that women were using sweet almond oil. I've been using that everynight after a shower. Don't know that it does anything but I do love it. Makes my skin sooo soft!

Tennis Chick

Nericole:

You cannot prevent stretch marks.

This. I'm using just lotion only because my stomach skin seems to get so dry. If I get stretch marks I get them, I'm not worried about it in the slightest degree. 

jkg0527

Mostly just using lotion to prevent itching from dry skin, nothing will really help with stretch marks. 

MinaE01

I'm using Palmer's Cocoa butter once a day. I got stretch marks as I teenager, so I don't have high hopes that I will avoid them in pregnancy.

dodo1202

I tried several and finally staying with extra virgin olive oil twice a day after shower everyday.  It works great on stretch mark and it doesn't have scent too if you're like me couldn't stand the scent during pregnancy. 

ashtonblair123

You can't stop them. If you want to try and prevent terrible stretch marks--lotions with vitamin e or you can buy vitamin e, puncture the pill and rub that on your stomach. And (most importantly) keep yourself hydrated. If your hydrated your skin will be and this will do way more than any lotion can.

Winnychan

Shea butter does help improve skin elasticity. I I'm surprised at all the negative replies. Obviously it does not cure the ones you already have, but you will get fewer if you rub the cream on your belly, breasts, and thighs on a regular basis. 

Don't buy the expensive miracle creams that cost $40 and up at maternity stores... they are a total rip-off. Usually the active ingredient is good old fashioned shea/coco butter. I was able to find a jar of it at my local grocery store for less than 10 bucks.

 - Whitney

Winnychan

Oh, here is the exact stuff I have been using... I guess it's a bit more expensive on Amazon but still $15 isn't too bad IMO. 

https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Hut-Butter-Original-7-Ounce/dp/B000KFX10Q/

I also really like the way it smells for some reason. 

- Whitney

jamdv3

Nericole:

You cannot prevent stretch marks.

This. From what I've heard/read, it's mostly genetic. If you have a tendency to get stretch marks in other places, chances are, you'll end up with them during pregnancy. I didn't get any during my first pregnancy, but I have olive/darker skin and never got them from weight gain/puberty either. I still use oil and cocoa butter on my skin, but that's just to help make the stretching more tolerable. 

lauraliz24

I got the mama mio tummy rub oil - I know logically it may not do anything, but it can't hurt either.

sschwege

I've heard the only thing that may help is gaining weight at a steady rate.  This makes sense to me.

No cream or lotion will help.   

meaglamillion

Whether or not you get stretch marks depends on your genetics, direct from my ob last time around. Lotion is great for the itchiness, but other than that it does not prevent stretch marks.

CurlyQ284

I have heard you cant prevent them but I have also heard staying hydrated helps more than anything.  I drink a TON of water anyway, no stretch marks yet.  Im also using Palmers just in case it helps.  My skin is dry so I figured it might help with elasticity some.

ChristyML

My mom asked her dermatologist about stretch marks for me. He said that I could use Medela Stretch Mark Therapy. I think it's for getting rid of (not preventing) stretch marks. My mom bought it for me (shelled out almost 40 bucks for it at Walmart), and I've used it once so far. We will see, but I'm pretty skeptical.

Also, is anyone on here a dermatologist that can tell us for sure that stretch marks are not avoidable? 

tiffmatt

Can't completely prevent them, but keeping the skin moisturized can improve elasticity and reduce what you would normally get anyway.  I use Burt Bee's Mama Bee oil.  It has a nice light lemon scent and no junk in it.

SaphrineDragon

I was told that I can't stop them from coming by my doctor... She did however tell me that using the lotions and staying hydrated will help with the appearance of the ones I already have and making the ones to come less noticeable.

So far the ones I have are less visible and my tummy feels so soft I just use Palmer's concentrated stretch mark cream twice a day and baby loves when I rub my tummy so its fun and relaxing. 

I force myself to drink the required daily amount of water and then a bunch of extra in order to keep myself hydrated... especially in this heat. 

Jill62

Ive been using Josie Maran's argan oil for the past two years and started incorporating Mederma and Cocoa butter once I found out I was pregnant in hopes of not ever getting stretch marks. Unfortunately, at month 8 I literally got them overnight which I kept hearing from several women would happen at some point. I really do think their genetic and that you can probably reduce the appearance but not avoid them all together.