Stretch marks

VS2016 · January 2016

I want to lead off with the fact that I'm not ashamed of my stretch marks, they remind me of my wonderful daughter but I was just curious if anyone was in the same boat as me with their first pregnancy. I know some people don't get any, some get a few, and I'm thinking another group gets tons. I was in the group that every square inch had a stretch mark. My stomach stretched so bad and itched like crazy at the end. So my question is, how many STMs were also gifted with what seems like an entire belly full of stretch marks. Again, I'm proud of them, but just curious

doozer1345 · January 2016

I strangely don't get mine until right after birth. Mine faded to clear/white pretty quickly though (unlike everyone else in my family...I'm hoping it's bc I obsessively moisturize). It's kind of funny to think about bc I deflate right after birth haha.

kami09 · January 2016

Oh yeah...me. everywhere. & some are huge...like I can run my finger through them.

JessicaB0627 · January 2016

I mostly avoided them on my stomach until right after birth with DD, but I already have some starting on my stomach this time around. One of them is huge. So I'm afraid I'm not going to be as lucky this time around!

camillaandcarson · January 2016

STM here. The first time around not hardly any on my belly, maybe a couple small ones very very low that happened near the very end. All mine were on my hips and upper legs.
This time seems to be following suit. Nothing really on my belly.

mmemartinez · January 2016

STM also. A tiny bit under my belly button but you have to really look. More on my hips (like side of upper thighs) and the ones I hate the most are on top of my breasts. They have faded considerably but you can still feel them which I don't like. But I breastfed DS for 2 yrs so it was worth it. None on my stomach.

kbrands7 · January 2016

Yep. I had lots of tiny stretch marks all over my stomach, hips, side boob, and upper/inner thighs by the end. I have a few wide, deep stretch marks on each hip towards the front too. I think st that point Mt stretch marks just stretched into each other to make a super mark. The tiny ones faded and more or less blend in to my skin now; my hip divots faded in color but are still very noticeable to the touch. So far, I gained a few small stretch marks on my hip/lower back area this pregnancy, but no more yet. By this time last pregnancy I was already pretty covered-- they didn't pop up until 16-20 weeks, but came with a vengeance.

AuntieCre5 · January 2016

@doozer1345 what do you moisturize with? Anything special?

AuntieCre5 · January 2016

@doozer1345 what do you moisturize with? Anything special?

swflJD · January 2016

I'm a FTM, but my sister just had her first child a few months ago and recommended Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Stretch Oil. She didn't end up with any lasting stretch marks, and she swears by it. I know a lot of it is genetics and not the products you use, but I'm going to give it a try. I've been using it since I started showing about a month ago. I smell like a hippie health food store when I use it, but it has helped with the itching so far.

doozer1345 · January 2016

AuntieCre5 said:

@doozer1345 what do you moisturize with? Anything special?

Cocoa butter and on extra dry/itchy days I use Nivea cream.

cortney626 · January 2016

I had a lot of stretch marks from DD#1. This was 8 years ago. They faded pretty well but never disappeared. Now with my growing belly I don't think I'm getting more but the ones I had are bigger and darker. I don't even care about stretch marks. I want my belly flat more than anything. lol

jessiedee13 · January 2016

I've always had stretch marks, the dr said it's because I grew too tall too fast when my super skinny butt got them at age 7, but I got a whole new set when pregnant with ds1. Then another new set with ds2. My belly is itching again so I have a feeling I'm going to get more. Which is fine with me. Besides being used to having them, I'm one of those "if you don't like it, don't look" kind of people

I've discovered cocoa butter helps more with the itching than anything else!

JoMunson · January 2016

(Oh shit. I'm THAT FTM)
I'm 24 weeks and I haven't noticed any so far. Maybe a small one on my right hip. I've been pretty liberal with pure vitamin e oil. I rub it on my legs, hips, belly, sides, under my arms, on my breasts, on my neck and dab the remaining on my face. Then I have my husband moisturize my back with eucerine (back skin is thicker and my back usually has some skin problems). About once a week I don't do anything so my skin has a chance to breathe. I'm also drinking about 64 ounces of liquid a day and really focusing on making sure I get lots of good nutrients I read that, while stretch marks are hereditary, they can be combatted with proper hydration both inside and out.
Of course my body isn't done growing and my milk hasn't come in yet, so I could end up with a bunch later.

ayeshaohara · January 2016

@JoMunson you're not alone. I don't have a single one yet either. I have some from my rapid growth as a teenager so I know I can get them but I don't think I'll get many until right at the end. Don't feel bad about not having them...I feel pretty lucky actually

RMLandy · January 2016

I got a few on my boobs when my milk came in (went from A to a D!) but I otherwise made it through my first pregnancy unscathed. I'm following the same routine and hoping for the same outcome this time. Stretch marks aren't always a given!

mommar13 · January 2016

With DS I only got one going across where my bellybutton ring used to be, and it didn't show up until I had him. This time around I've already got thick purple stretch marks going across my lower back, and the stretch marks I had from my teenage years are getting larger. I know they say every pregnancy is different, and she is for sure giving me a much harder time, but I had hoped that physically it'd be pretty similar.

kami09 · January 2016

@JoMunson not to scare you...but I was you. Like to the tee... hopefully you don't get them as bad as I did though (or at all!) I did get them very late into the pregnancy though

VS2016 · January 2016

I was completely stretch mark free until week 30. Then it was like fireworks! They were everywhere! And I moisturized like crazy the entire pregnancy. So I believe if you are meant to have them you will get them!

kbrands7 · January 2016

For anyone with the itchy problem, I've also found that the heavy cream that's intended for weather-chapped hands from Duluth works wonders. I've sort of claimed DH's tub of this stuff...woops.

JoMunson · January 2016

kami09 said:
@JoMunson not to scare you...but I was you. Like to the tee... hopefully you don't get them as bad as I did though (or at all!) I did get them very late into the pregnancy though

So true! I'm counting my blessings now and preparing for my well earned tiger stripes!

southerngirlgetsfit · January 2016

I started getting stretch marks as early as 8-10 weeks and I've only gained 7 lbs (I'm 25 weeks now). I don't have them everywhere but I'd say I have a pretty good amount. It bothered me at first but I've had some on my hips from puberty and they faded really fast, so I'm hoping these will be the same. Either way, it's all for a good cause!

bkjade · January 2016

This is my third, and I made it through with no stretch marks the first two times, so we will see how it goes. I'm not holding my breath. With the last two I used Mother's Special Blend oil, I have been using it as my lotion year-round for years. But for any DIY mamas - I finally started making my own blend of oils (coconut, sweet almond, cocoa butter, vitamin E) which I prefer since I can add my own essential oils (or leave it unscented). Super easy, super cheap, works super well! Mountain Rose Herbs has a great website that I order all of the goods from (bonus-they have a great selection of organic spices and great Matcha!).

Pascal86 · January 2016

No stretch marks (yet) at 22 weeks, but last night I ask my husband, "Will you still love me if I get stretch marks?" He says, "Of course... I'll love you like my grandma."

Ouch. I was kind of asking for it with that one, though.

wamam027 · January 2016

I knew I was prone to stretch marks because I have them from previous bouts of weight gain/loss/repeat and I've heard if you're prone, you'll get them no matter what. They started on my stomach super early, maybe around 7/8 weeks and have been on a rampage since. My ob yesterday (new one) says "don't bother wasting your money, it's all genetics and they start from the inside anyway, by the time you apply something on the outside you're already screwed". Good thing I stopped caring several weeks ago. It's all worth it in the end and they won't stay pink forever, they'll fade.

swflJD · January 2016

So far, I haven't gotten any stretch marks, but I have a feeling it's just a matter of time. I already had a few on my hips from previous weight gain, so I know my skin is prone to them. I had a bad accident a little over a year ago where I ended up with third degree burns from the backs of my thighs to my waist (my entire backside), and I have some pretty terrible scarring from it. My doctors had told me to give it about a year to heal on its own (which would have been this past November) before doing laser resurfacing therapy. Since I was pregnant by November and don't want anyone near me with a laser until I deliver, I'm waiting until later this summer before having the procedures done. If I end up with bad stretch marks from this pregnancy, I'm planning to have those touched up while I'm at it.

sarawifenow · January 2016

And my stretch mark count is up to 30 this morning. Now, ask me if I care.

ayeshaohara · March 2016

Digging up this thread because I have a question....don't hate me, I currently have one stretch mark and it's less than an inch long but omg it actually hurts. Is that normal? It's fairly wide, like maybe almost half inch. Just want to see if others who have them, if yours hurt too?

dsmith211 · March 2016

ayeshaohara said:

Digging up this thread because I have a question....don't hate me, I currently have one stretch mark and it's less than an inch long but omg it actually hurts. Is that normal? It's fairly wide, like maybe almost half inch. Just want to see if others who have them, if yours hurt too?

Mine itch mostly, but I've also heard of them hurting as well. When skin is stretched too far, your skin is technically breaking/tearing, which is what causes stretch marks. I could see how that might hurt for some people.

proudparent2b · March 2016

Like several other PPs, I already had stretch marks. Not really doing anything to prevent them because it won't make that much of a difference. I do notice that they pretty much disappear when I lose weight, but it pretty much is what it is.

Spylon · March 2016

I don't have any yet, but I have old ones from puberty so I just know they're going to explode all over me soon enough. My mom had four kids and not a single stretch mark, but I did not inherit her skin. So unfair.

VS2016 · March 2016

Mine never hurt but the itching was so bad toward the end I couldn't sleep. I was even given cream to put on my stomach. It didn't help. I'm just praying that doesn't happen again. I'm ok with getting more stretch marks, bring them on, but that itching was a torture I wouldn't wish on an enemy!

saladflambe · March 2016

I'm hoping I get to avoid them because I am absolutely covered in old, now-white stretch marks from when I gained a ton of weight. I've not gotten any new ones, but I can definitely see the old ones better now ...maybe I'll get lucky... maybe

slfezz · March 2016

I ended up with a ton of stretch marks with DD1, but with DD2 and this LO I haven't gotten to any new ones. My old ones are enough to allow my skin to stretch without becoming red or itchy again

seasalt123 · March 2016

Just a note that having stretch marks as a teen does not mean you are guaranteed to get them during pregnancy.

cgg0707 · March 2016

I got them everywhere with my first pregnancy. I also went from 117 to 167 so I think that had a lot to do with it. I'm 31 weeks now and have not noticed any new ones. I'm hoping I can make it thru the pregnancy without any more. Once the SM faded (summer before I got pregnant), I finally felt like my old self and felt comfortable enough to wear a high rise bikini. I'm being healthier this time around, so I believe that has something to do with it.

ayeshaohara · March 2016

Found another one this morning...actually my husband did because let's be honest I can't see anything beneath my belly...I think my time has come...I am joining the club!

lalala2004 · March 2016

I had some on my hips that were almost completely faded from puberty. Now I have new ones in my hips! Anyone else getting them just on their hips? I don't have any on my belly at all.

kbrands7 · March 2016

I had them all over my stomach and hips during my first pregnancy. This time, I only have a couple on my lower back/hips and two above my belly button. Apparently just as each person is different with stretch marks, each pregnancy is too.

JoMunson · March 2016

Any STM's get them after your baby? I haven't gotten any yet (it's okay. You can throw rotten food at me for being that girl) but I have them from puberty so I'm wondering if when my body gets back to pre-babyhood if they'll start appearing then?

kbrands7 · March 2016

JoMunson said:

Any STM's get them after your baby? I haven't gotten any yet (it's okay. You can throw rotten food at me for being that girl) but I have them from puberty so I'm wondering if when my body gets back to pre-babyhood if they'll start appearing then?

Yes. Some didn't show up until around a week post-partum.

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