Stretch Marks

TNlove1027 · May 2016

FTM mom here looking for suggestions/tips on your favorite cream to help battle stretch marks, and at what point should you start applying it?

kmvisioli · May 2016

If you do a quick search (scroll to the "search" bar at the bottom and type "Stretch Marks") you'll find lots of answers in the previous threads on this topic.

Main answer: Stay hydrated, stretch marks are genetic, and a good moisturizer will help with the itching as your skin grows. Also, something with Vitamin E is probably most helpful, as that is a key ingredient in creams for scarring. I use Burt's Bees Mama Bee oil, some people love Bio Oil, some use regular lotion or plain coconut oil.

NoraAurora · May 2016

Scientifically speaking, anything claiming to prevent stretch marks is basically snake oil. BUT simply because I was lucky & didn't get stretch marks with DS I continue to be a devotee of burts bees mama bee cream. It feels nice & won't hurt, even if it doesn't really do anything.

strickland8052 · May 2016

I'm just using coconut oil and hoping for the best.

UponAStar16 · May 2016

I figure it's probably inevitable as my abs expand to the size of a watermelon in a matter of months, but I started putting on cocoa butter lotion when it's getting uncomfortable/itchy. Someone also suggested to me to try the spray oil because I don't like how greasy the lotion is.

Edited to fill in missing words

mommym234 · May 2016

Moms Stuff is my go to salve. It's good for almost everything and has lanolin, so helps with sore nipples too. I also use coconut oil and Shea butter. If the itches are super bad, I use a sugar scrub, that seems to work really well too.

freckledlemonade · May 2016

I like Mama Bee Belly Butter because it's unscented. I had an enormous belly last time and ended up getting some stretch marks below my belly button around week 37/38. Hoping to not get any new ones this time around, but it is what it is. I mostly like moisturizing to keep the itchiness at bay.

fitlady21 · May 2016

I like tummy butter a lot.. I think it's kind of expensive ($38 per tub) but have found that the tub is lasting forever!

coffee89 · May 2016

Water and lotion daily. I think last time I mostly used coco butter. I've also tried bio oil but it's too greasy for me to slather all over. This time, I'm lucky if I remember to lotion once every two weeks.

Stretch marks have to do with your skin elasticity as well as just how much you grow. Lotion up, it will help with the itching if nothing else.

TurtleMomma · May 2016

Stretch marks are genetic, honestly. The best you can do is take care of your skin by staying hydrated, lotion and vitamin E.

LizaKate1213 · May 2016

I use Mama Bee as well but I actually hate that it is unscented. It has a play-doh like smell to it that I despise. I mixed in some lavender essential oil to make it more tolerable.

kmvisioli · May 2016

LizaKate1213 said:

I use Mama Bee as well but I actually hate that it is unscented. It has a play-doh like smell to it that I despise. I mixed in some lavender essential oil to make it more tolerable.

I actually switched to using the Mama Bee Oil instead of the butter, which has a nice scent and is actually a better price! I feel like the oil goes further and is more effective, too.

kamroberts · May 2016

I use Momma Bees Burts Bees belly butter and also their vitamin E oil. The belly butter is un scented but the oil smells like lemon & almonds. I am a FTM and haven't developed any new stretch marks yet, but we will see!

kmvisioli · May 2016

oops, posted in wrong thread!

CaptainPhasma · May 2016

I'm using Trader Joe's brand vitamin E oil. I've also heard good stuff about Jason's natural cosmetics brand.

i got stretch marks when my boobs came in so I'm doomed regardless, but hoping between the vitamin E oil and my pre-existing beer gut the stretch marks will be mitigated somewhat. A girl can hope anyway.

Mintz1982 · May 2016

Coconut oil saved me last time however my first had already done a number on me.

vanessa11411 · May 2016

My last two created quite the road map on my stomach. I have them from my pubic area all the way to above my belly button. At this point, I'm not too worried about getting more. My plan is to get a tummy tuck once I'm done breastfeeding. I put lotion on when I can remember to.

kmtz89 · May 2016

CaptainPhasma on the boob stretch marks. I figure I'm doomed. Oh well.

Schell2013 · May 2016

I tried everything with my first. Used it properly and still got a pile of stretch marks. It's genetics, if your mom has them chances are you will get them too. If your skin is like mine and not very stretchy, you'll be more likely to get them. Regardless coconut oil and Shea butter are nice to use to prevent an itchy tummy, but there is no true way to entirely prevent them.

ibabyloveb87 · May 2016

My friend swears by Mustela. It's like $40 a tube, but she says the only place she's gotten any stretch marks are her hips where she hasn't been applying it. She is due end of June. I'm sure it's just her genetics, but a little extra moisturizer can't hurt. Though I might want to try something a little less expensive. I haven't looked at much....are all the creams that expensive??

kmvisioli · May 2016

@ibabyloveb87 For what it's worth, I thought I was all free and clear last time - stayed super hydrated, lotioned and oiled my belly and hips every day, yada yada...then boom, stretch marks showed up at 38-39 weeks. A friend of mine didn't have hers show up until the week AFTER delivery. Just saying, don't put too much stock in people saying they don't have any yet with whatever "magic" they're using.

ibabyloveb87 · May 2016

@kmvisioli Definitely not putting any stock in it. Another girl used it too and never got any but again, she's probably one of the lucky ones.

I honestly haven't let potential stretch marks even worry me. They are what they are. Is that weird? Oh well.

kmvisioli · May 2016

Yup. And they really do fade a lot in the following months. I think my stretch mark cream/oil routine was actually more helpful afterwards for fading the ones I got.

ignoscemihi · May 2016

@kmvisioli I thought I escaped, too. I gained weight pretty steadily (and slowly), used cocoa butter twice a day and drank a bunch of water. Didn't notice stretch marks until I was giving myself a shot in the outer thigh early in this pregnancy. Yep, there they are, all over my butt and thighs. Oh well. No one's going to be looking that closely.

NoraAurora · May 2016

+1 to a lot of women not having visible stretch marks til after baby is here.

Also- after a couple months BFing, I developed them on one boob. They did disappear later though, so one can hope.

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