A word from the wise about stretchmarks.

emmasue18 · June 2013

I did EVERYTHING to prevent them, spent 100s of dollars. I was 130lbs when I got pregnant the first time. Guess what? I have them from my breasts to my knees. I've attempted to count and stopped at 200. If you are going to get them, there is NOTHING you can do. You will waste money on products that help only mamas that will not get them anyway.

I will never wear shorts again, rock a bikini or sport a low-cut dress. BUT I love my children and I have embraced my tiger stripes. You will, too.

So, before we start all of the posts about, "What are you doing to prevent stretchmarks?" and "How many stretchmarks do you have so far?" Let me say that you can't do anything to prevent them and I didn't have a single one until I woke up one morning at 37 weeks with my first son. You don't need a PIP, it will only frighten and amaze.

Stop the research. Save the money. Invest in some Bermuda shorts and one-pieces. :P

Much love,

Emma

jpietropinto · June 2013

So well said.

I also didn't have a single one until I was 38 weeks. Then all of a sudden, I did. No amount of cocoa butter/body butter/baby oil helped to stop them. Either you get them or you don't it's genetics. But the body butter did help me not itch. I recommend Body Shops Vitamin E Body Butter for that.

mrsseguin · June 2013

I got them too...With DS I got them on my sides, then with DD they came on my belly. They have faded over time. Only DH and I ever see them. It is what it is. I put lotion on like crazy with DS, didn't help...

shakespearenluv · June 2013

LOL! I was one of those smug pregnant girls who was like, haha, look at me! I don't have any! Then I got smacked back down to reality with a little thing called varicose veins. That'll teach me to be smug

RondackHiker · June 2013

I thought I'd avoid them since I heard they were genetic and my mom and sister escaped without them.

My belly could turn an entire generation of teenagers off of sex.

I've considered offering to sell photos to assist in sex education classes.

EmeJay · June 2013

I lost a lot of weight a couple of years ago, and my body is already covered in stretch marks.

ETA - Oh and OP - I still rock a bikini.

LotzaLuvz · June 2013

I have a bunch of them but, don't really care too much. To me it's just part of life.

avioletsky · June 2013

I love this post.

Courtney1741 · June 2013

HAHAHA This post made me LOL Thanks!

RustyGirl3 · June 2013

Funny story.

My 18 year old niece who could be a model she is so thin asked me about stretch marks and if there was anything she could do to get rid of hers. I was like WTF? Where do you have have stretch marks? They are on her hips. Her eyes bugged out a little when I told her that they are going to be with her for life so she better make friends with them.

PhCaulfield · June 2013

All of the above! I slathered on the lotions, but unfortunately, I've still got proof of my first pregnancy. Also, mine isn't just the stripes. My skin just must not be as resilient as some people's, because it's also wrinkly in places like a raisin from getting all stretched out. Ah, genetics!

MaineMama · June 2013

Yeah, I've had stretch marks since I was 14years old. I grew 5 inches, and went from flat as a board to a D cup in a month and a half. It sucked, and I got marks on my boobs, shoulders, and knees. Now 3 kids later I'm a road map. Whatevs.

neener*neener* · June 2013

RondackHiker:
I thought I'd avoid them since I heard they were genetic and my mom and sister escaped without them. My belly could turn an entire generation of teenagers off of sex. I've considered offering to sell photos to assist in sex education classes.

OMG< this cracked me up!!! haha

iwubrory · June 2013

Love this post! I started getting stretch marks before you could even see my belly growing. Super early on, maybe around 8 weeks. It was absolutely ridiculous but oh well, they're worth it!

morsey2011 · June 2013

Love this post. I started getting mine around 28 weeks pregnant with DD. They're all over my stomach and hips. I tried all the lotions and nothing helped. If you're going to get them, you're going to get them.

Sweets11 · June 2013

Perfect post!

You either get them or you don't. It has to do with skin type.

They are a fair trade for motherhood.

Sweets11 · June 2013

shakespearenluv:
LOL! I was one of those smug pregnant girls who was like, haha, look at me! I don't have any! Then I got smacked back down to reality with a little thing called varicose veins. That'll teach me to be smug :

That's me! No stretch marks, but my right leg looks like a road map.

I don't show my tummy off often, legs are a different story in the summer.

safora33 · June 2013

After 3 pregnancies and hundreds of stretchmarks later......I don't care anymore! They fade over time which is good enough for me.Its just part of life and I learned to embrace them.

ziggy903 · June 2013

EmeJay:
I lost a lot of weight a couple of years ago, and my body is already covered in stretch marks.

ETA - Oh and OP - I still rock a bikini.

story of my life

luvablegrace154 · June 2013

Sweets11:
Perfect post! You either get them or you don't. It has to do with skin type. They are a fair trade for motherhood.

This! They get darker with pregnancy and fade to silvery in the mean time. Babies/kids are totally worth it though!

Brownie928 · June 2013

I didn't get them until after T was born! I thought I had made it. You can't see them now and I'm sure they will be worse this time.

Oh well! I may have a mommy makeover when I'm finished having babies. These boobs may end up touching my knees if I don't!

KA92013 · June 2013

I love this thread! I have stretch marks from puberty, and they have faded where no one can really see them unless they look hard. I know it's genetic, but even those cocoa butter ads are so persuasive!!

I"m going to be a FTM, and this thread made me laugh. Thanks for the words of advice, mommies!

PreDempsey · June 2013

Where is the "like" button when you need it?! I'm with the other girls that have had them for years outside of pregnancy. I'm almost glad because I'm over it now. They're going to be there and it's just something I'm going to live with regardless. There are much worse things to lose sleep over. Plenty of people would take stretch marks all over if it meant they could have a baby so no complaints here.

OutOfStep81 · June 2013

Love this post.

With DS I didn't get any, but he was a preemie ::35 wks:: and several doctors have commented on my mom having good elasticity in her skin... Even if I have that same elasticity in my skin I still might get them, maybe I won't. Either way my body will be different after this baby just like it was after the first... And I will be damn proud of it.

mamathefox · June 2013

RondackHiker:
I thought I'd avoid them since I heard they were genetic and my mom and sister escaped without them. My belly could turn an entire generation of teenagers off of sex. I've considered offering to sell photos to assist in sex education classes.

Haha!! I got a bunch (not a ton) and most are gone, which is surprising. I'm overweight but weigh less now than how much I weighed when I got KU last time...your body is such a cray/wonderful/awesome thing.

tiggernorton04 · June 2013

shakespearenluv:
LOL! I was one of those smug pregnant girls who was like, haha, look at me! I don't have any! Then I got smacked back down to reality with a little thing called varicose veins. That'll teach me to be smug :

The stretch marks don't bother me so much but I despise my varicose veins that got much worse last pregnancy! I can't even wear shorts anymore!

Lexie Marie · June 2013

car seat:
I didn't have a single one until 35 weeks, and then it was just suddenly too much. You could almost imagine the ripping sound as those layers of skin gave way and I suddenly had a tiger belly.
I don't even care. My kid's awesome.
Also, I know someone who didn't get a single stretchmark until two weeks after she gave birth. And then all of a sudden she had a ton of them. This sh'it happens, people!

This! I religiously used vitamin E and cocoa butter but guess what.. that didn't matter because I still have them. They are only on my belly thankfully but if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen!

emmasue18 · June 2013

You ladies are my heroes! :-)

Rock those tiger stripes, mamas! You earned them.

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