Let's talk stretch marks...

clebl24 · June 2014

Do you have them? I don't (yet). When will they rear their ugly head? What products, if any, are you using to prevent stretch marks?

[Deleted User] · June 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Knbh · June 2014

I'm 36 weeks and don't have any (yet), but I've been told that you're not out of the woods until you've delivered the baby.

I'm using coconut butter and bio oil. However, it's more of a generic thing rather than a moisturizing thing when it comes to stretch marks.

CandC13 · June 2014

@ 36 weeks i have afew old stretch marks that are starting to "extend" I guess is the best way to put it on my hips...so they are half faded white with new angry red :-) My bellybutton piercing hole has also started to basically tear which hurts some days so its pretty red....but on the overall nothing major. I just use Body Shop Vit E cream...more to avoid itchy skin as the stretch marks are really more genetic...

lindslalala · June 2014

You can't prevent them. I use lotion just to help with the itchiness. I have some right around my belly button from my 1st pregnancy and I didn't get them until I was 39 weeks. No new ones yet.

Kohler2009 · June 2014

I have a ton this pregnancy. Didn't have any last time. I am guessing bc I am carrying twins and my belly is much bigger this time around. Going to talk to a derm friend after delivery and see what he recommends to try and fade them.

iris427 · June 2014

You can't prevent them. You may not get them but if you do, well, you can add your stomach to the list of things your kids will ruin.

stefaniew26 · June 2014

They are genetic. Nothing you use will prevent them.

jamboree jess · June 2014

I've got them, and I have had them for probably a month. A whole bunch. I was slathering myself with anything I thought might help prevent them, so yeah, I'd say if you get them, there's no stopping it.

Note:This is my first baby, and I've gained about a billion pounds.

nolemomma14 · June 2014

They first appeared around 24 weeks for me. I used bio oil and coconut oil, not so much to prevent them, but to help with itching and dryness. My mom had them so I just assumed I would get them, and I did.

BPer · June 2014

I didn't get any until 37w with DD. No new ones yet. You can't prevent them, but I have big plans to have them lasered off after this kid.

AKB090609 · June 2014

I never got them last time (DD was born at 41w) and I didn't get them this time. I do think sit odd that I didn't get any skin darkening this time as I did last)

PregsMcSnoozalot · June 2014

I got a ton of stretch marks on my hips in middle school when I grew like a foot in one year, so I was totally expecting stretch marks from pregnancy, but so far so good!

Not using any products, either.

missyrissy · June 2014

Wow! All you lucky ladies with no stretch marks!! I started to get them around week 13... Used everything I could find to prevent/minimize them, but finally succomed to them. I just think of myself as a sexy tiger momma... Eh.

Julymama714 · June 2014

Almost 35 weeks, none yet, I'm using Burt's Bees belly butter and even if stretch marks are genetic and it isn't helping to prevent them, I haven't had ANY itchy skin so its definitely doing something to help!

abchittam · June 2014

Agreed that it's genetic. I used palmers belly butter with DS and I never saw a stretch mark until 29 wks. Then, they started popping up everywhere. This time I didn't even attempt the belly rubbing routine because it's not going to make a difference. I am covered in stretch marks, but I also have them from puberty anyways (boobs, hips, & thighs). Pregnancy just extended those for me.

Elisew106 · June 2014

I have a ton, but I'm also carrying twins. Stretch marks are like scars. The dermatologist told me it doesn't matter what u use, but keeping your skin moist and avoiding the sun will help the red fade.

cakebatter27 · June 2014

I disagree it's genetic. My mom had zero with me or my sister and had us at age 35 and 37. She gained 15 lbs total with each of us.

I'm 28 and have them on my lower abdomen, hips, ass and starting on my legs. I've gained 18 lbs so far.

I've used bio oil, coconut oil, Palmers, etc. They started around week 26.

darkangel42 · June 2014

I have one above my belly button piercing from last time, a load on my hips from puberty and some on my breasts from the last baby but none on my belly (yet - 36+5). I did nothing to the legs and used cocoa butter on the belly and boobs last pregnancy (5 years ago) then stretch mark specific cocoa butter (both by Palmers) after the baby.

The leg and boob ones have faded to look like very faint scars (from giant purple and red welts) which was time, not product since I had the same result doing nothing as doing moisturiser and my belly never got any marks but boobs got covered. I'm doing a green tea lotion this time around but as a PP said, this is more for calming down the itching.

If you get them, you get them and they'll fade over time and there's nothing you can do except maybe getting them lasered or surgically removed later if it's an option.

Honestly, I don't care about stretch marks because I can grow people - it's a fair trade for being a Mama. I told my OH the marks on my hips were from a shark attack and he believed me for years

edit: typos

JKGordon · June 2014

missyrissy said:
Wow! All you lucky ladies with no stretch marks!! I started to get them around week 13... Used everything I could find to prevent/minimize them, but finally succomed to them. I just think of myself as a sexy tiger momma... Eh.

Mine look JUST like this @missyrissy‌. Thanks for sparing me having to post a pic. I tell people it looks like I've been mauled by a tiger.

OP, I've found Tummy Butter helps make them slightly less noticeable and definitely less itchy, but I haven't found anything that makes a drastic difference.

missyrissy · June 2014

I'm just glad they don't itch!!! Instead, my scars from past surgery hurt bad!

littlemissmarla · June 2014

Not sure how true it is.. but i've heard staying very hydrated helps with elasticity of the skin.. but I have also heard that it is genetics as well. I've been using palmer's massage lotion for stretch marks, i put it on AM and PM, I don't think it has prevented stretch marks but it for sure helps with keeping my skin moist and helps with the itchiness.

LenaLove · June 2014

I have a bunch from puberty, but only got 2 last pregnancy, right at the end (I went to 38 + 3). Nothing new yet. My mom didn't get them, but my aunts and sisters did. I only sporadically put creams/lotions on, they make me feel sticky.

sxymamakat · June 2014

cakebatter27 said:

I disagree it's genetic. My mom had zero with me or my sister and had us at age 35 and 37. She gained 15 lbs total with each of us. I'm 28 and have them on my lower abdomen, hips, ass and starting on my legs. I've gained 18 lbs so far. I've used bio oil, coconut oil, Palmers, etc. They started around week 26.

Um, I'd check with the grandmothers on both sides of your family before deciding there isn't a genetic contribution- it's not just about if your mom had them! :-)

emineminem · June 2014

Rawrrrrr I'm a tiger.

mamakiss · June 2014

I got em. I went from "is that a baby bump" to "why is she smuggling a basketball in her shirt" in a matter of days and they literally happened over night.

I've always gotten them easily, all genetics. Hell, I got them first tri from losing weight too fast.

I've been using Burt's bees mama's belly butter and it feels nice and is maybe slowing them down? Hard to say, I use it more or less for peace of mind.

Also my 7 year old cousin saw my bare belly and said "aw cool, now you get the rip marks that only mamas have!" And wanted to touch them in amazement. She thought it was so cool that my growing baby made my skin different.

cakebatter27 · June 2014

sxymamakat said:

cakebatter27 said:

I disagree it's genetic. My mom had zero with me or my sister and had us at age 35 and 37. She gained 15 lbs total with each of us.

I'm 28 and have them on my lower abdomen, hips, ass and starting on my legs. I've gained 18 lbs so far.

I've used bio oil, coconut oil, Palmers, etc. They started around week 26.

Um, I'd check with the grandmothers on both sides of your family before deciding there isn't a genetic contribution- it's not just about if your mom had them! :-)

None! My mom said she was always worried she'd get them because she had us at an older age while her mom had 4 kids and got none. And as far as my dad's mom, she's never been modest so I've seen plenty of her over the years and haven't seen any. She's 87 and we have to ask her to at least where a tankini ;-)

Maybe genetics play a role but apparently not here. Unless my great grandmas had them and it skipped 2 generations.

Soon2BMrsN · June 2014

I've never gotten any on my stomach, but I do have some on my butt from my pregnancy with DS1. I just use regular lotion since I figure I will probably not ever be in a situation where they'd become public knowledge. DH doesn't even seem to notice them.

jnnfrrose6 · June 2014

cakebatter27 said:

cakebatter27 said:

I disagree it's genetic. My mom had zero with me or my sister and had us at age 35 and 37. She gained 15 lbs total with each of us. I'm 28 and have them on my lower abdomen, hips, ass and starting on my legs. I've gained 18 lbs so far. I've used bio oil, coconut oil, Palmers, etc. They started around week 26.

Um, I'd check with the grandmothers on both sides of your family before deciding there isn't a genetic contribution- it's not just about if your mom had them! :-)
None! My mom said she was always worried she'd get them because she had us at an older age while her mom had 4 kids and got none. And as far as my dad's mom, she's never been modest so I've seen plenty of her over the years and haven't seen any. She's 87 and we have to ask her to at least where a tankini ;-) Maybe genetics play a role but apparently not here. Unless my great grandmas had them and it skipped 2 generations.

Your mother and grandmothers may have nothing to do with it. It could also come from your father or grandfathers. Stretchmarks are not something you only get when pregnant which is why you shouldn't only look at the women in your family for any idea on this. It's simply how your skin reacts to the quick growth and expansion it has to do and that happens to people who don't get pregnant too.

iris427 · June 2014

You're not a genetic clone of your mother or grandmothers though. I don't have the same eye color as my mom, but eye color is still something that is genetically determined. You also get genes from your father and grandfathers, and some genes may be recessive or not expressed in your other family members but still show up in you.

Furthermore, something can have a genetic component but also be influenced by other factors. For stretch marks, things like your age, how much weight you gain or how you carry the baby, how healthy your skin is going into pregnancy, etc. could all also potentially interact with your genetic makeup to influence whether you get stretch marks.

livkight · June 2014

I've got 'em on my butt only. Crossing my fingers that's all I get!

kmawb · June 2014

I have some on my lower belly (below my belly button) from being pregnant with DD that didn't appear until she finally dropped overnight at 40w+.

Now I have some above my belly button from baby boy that started appearing a month ago. I got them all in a matter of hours one night when he decided to stretch as much as he possibly could right in the region of my belly button - I could actually feel the skin kind of "popping" as he was pushing out like crazy.

I use Bio Oil to try to keep them moisturized (stave off the itching) and after birth I will continue using it to help fade them.

AutumnBonfire · June 2014

I don't have any on my stomach yet and I didn't get any with DS either. After he was born I noticed some new ones on my hips (they just joined the ones I got with puberty). We'll see what happens this time.

Lhalliburton · June 2014

With DD, I gained 60 lbs, but didn't get any stretch marks until the 8th month. I used bio oil and cocoa butter like it was my job but I got them all over my belly, on my back, thighs, and hips. My boobs never grew until my milk came in, and they grew like 2 cup sizes in a week, so I got stretch marks there too.

This pregnancy, I have no new ones. I've been hydrating a lot better, and I'm still 10 lbs under my pre-pregnancy weight, but I've got 5-7 weeks left, so we'll see what happens.

argonne · June 2014

I don't have any yet from this pregnancy. I had them by this time around with DS, but I think I was bigger with DS than with this pregnancy. I got them right around 32 weeks with DS. I know that they can show up at any time now. Maybe they won't since I'm pre-stretched. I dunno.

argonne · June 2014

AKB090609 said:

I never got them last time (DD was born at 41w) and I didn't get them this time. I do think sit odd that I didn't get any skin darkening this time as I did last)

I totally had a dark linea negra last time and I have nothing this time. It seems like everything is different about this pregnancy.

mrsmorman2 · June 2014

I totally have them, they look like angel wings going up my belly lol. I was told that " if your mother has/had them then you would to" which def. is not the case. My mother has 5 kids and not one stretch mark from pregnancy.

iris427 · June 2014

argonne said:

AKB090609 said:

I never got them last time (DD was born at 41w) and I didn't get them this time. I do think sit odd that I didn't get any skin darkening this time as I did last)

I totally had a dark linea negra last time and I have nothing this time. It seems like everything is different about this pregnancy.

All 3 of my pregnancies have been different in many ways. I had a linea nigra with my first two and I don't really see one at all this time (although it's pretty hard to see the bottom half of my belly these days haha)

gallifreygirl · June 2014

I have them practically everywhere but then I expected it seeing as how I got a bunch during growth spurts in middle school too and practically all my family (male&female) have them.

Tiffles · June 2014

Yep I've got them. I got them on my belly with baby #1, BUT not until week 41!!!!

Now with baby #2, I had no new ones, until two weeks ago, and the ones from #1, (plus some ones around my waist that are getting bigger) started to stretch even further, and I think I may have gotten a few more as well!! Such is life when pregnant I suppose! Boo

Athenanolen · June 2014

So itchy!

Want a personalized experience?

Let's talk stretch marks...

Re: Let's talk stretch marks...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards