Bio oil? or other ideas to prevent stretch marks.

[CoffeeAndOranges]

I'm 18 weeks now and starting to show properly and I seem to have had a bit of a growth spurt (belly wise) this last week. I haven't got any stretch marks yet but it's only a matter of time.

I realise they are probably impossible to prevent entirely but if anyone has any tips on how to limit the damage I'd be grateful to hear them. Have you used bio oil? Is it any good? Seen a bio oil lotion in tk Maxx but it's £15 so not buying if it's no better than ordinary moisturizer!

I don't mind a few 'battle stripes' but I'm so pale any skin marks show up really badly.

[Focusfocus]

Your skin stretches at a level that lotions, oils and creams simply do not penetrate. It stretches from it's deepest depths. So, no oil or cream will prevent them. If you pre disposed to them, you will get them.

Naturally therefore, you see, some women will say - "I used X and Y and didn't get a single mark" and others will say "I didn't use anything and didn't get any" and others will say "I used X Y Z A B and C and got a load of them anyway".

However using lotions and creams will help you to -

1. Feel like you are doing something
   
2. Give you a sense of control
   
3. Moisturise your skin to prevent you the discomfort of itchiness
   
4. Be a bonding time with your bump and changing body
   

So by all means do this. But using these will not link to the appearance of stretch marks.

I got loads during puberty and have concluded I am pre disposed. I haven't gained any new ones or any on my bump yet at 21 weeks, but people get them after the birth even. The three things I've been trying to do from the inside include -

1… drinking tons of water
2...taking a high quality prenatal Omega 3 fish oil supplement
3...gaining weight very gradually

Sometimes I do rub my bump, bum and thighs with an oil I've made - sweet almond, wheat germ, jojoba in equal measures, with neroli and mandarin essential oils in it. It feels wonderful.

Good luck with whatever you choose, closest to natural is best, enjoy the experience, but don't link it to the appearance or non appearance of stretch marks.

[CoffeeAndOranges]

Ooh focus those natural oils sound wonderful, I have a huge tub of coconut oil in the cupboard do might try some of that.

I know they are impossible to prevent and in a way, like you say, if you used something and didn't get any then how do you know if it was the lotion or you were just lucky?!

I got some too during puberty so guess I'm in for a few. I was gaining weight reasonably gradually but this last week...oh dear! I really am not too anxious about it, as you say it's all part of the experience. There are worse things to happen!!

[Number3cometome]

Nothing in this world will prevent you from getting stretch marks i'm afraid, it is totally down to your skin and how it responds.

I'd save your money, buy a normal moisturiser for the nice feeling / smell and save money for a nice treat for yourself or baby

[Sansarya]

I bought a £1 oil from Savers and didn't get a single stretch mark but I don't think the oils has anything to do with it. As PPs have said, it's down to genetics. I have stretch marks from puberty so assumed the same thing would happen in pregnancy but fortunately that wasn't the case.

[TakeDeux]

I liked Red Fix cocoa butter moisturising lotion. Comes in very handy post baby to for hands dried out by constant washing.

[TakeDeux]

Ref FOX

[applecore0317]

I didn't use anything and didn't get stretch marks.

I have faint ones on the top of my legs from weight gain and loss when younger, but didn't get any on my stomach during pregnancy.

[Lunastarfish]

I use almond oil I bought from a local Indian supermarket fit £1.99. I'm 36 weeks and only have two tiddly stretch marks on my hips which I am surprised about given I have stretchmarks from teenager. That said, I drink a lot of water and have barely put on any weight

[Orangeisthenewbanana]

I think it is maybe more due to genetics and how small-framed you are to start with - plus luck! I used the Cusson's Mum and Me Bump cream for DD and didn't get any stretch marks. But then I didn't put on a lot of weight either and am average build (not petite). DD was also not huge (3.3kg).

Am using the same cream again this time as I don't want to "risk it", even though I probably know there's no magic prevention for them!

[applecore0317]

not sure frame size makes a difference either, I was less than 8 stone pre pregnancy and went up to over 11 1/2 stone

[Itsallaboutme3]

I uses bio oil throughout both of my pregnancies twice a day and not one stretch mark - i swear by it.

[Roseotto]

Neal's yard mother's balm is excellent and very moisturising (coconut oil base) - I have suffered from extreme dryness this time round and it's the only thing that has touched it.
My grandmother, mother, aunt - luckily we are all stretch mark free, I think it's down to genetics I'm afraid. I am really quite small framed so it isn't that. I've gained 2 st with each pregnancy (not incremental thankfully, haha).

[Blackandwhitecat3]

I've been using bio oil but it's too early to see whether it's working on stretch marks. I have got some old scars/spots of pigmentation and it's definitely making them disappear so I'm going to continue.

[Skiptonlass]

Nothing will prevent them if you're prone, unfortunately. Moisturising does help that itchy bump feeling though.

I like monoi - smells utterly divine. You can get it online from Amazon.

[goodnessgraciousgouda]

I refuse to parrot the "IT'S GENETIC YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING" spiel, which helps no-one...

OP - There are only so many things you can do to limit the damage on stretch marks, and as other have said - if you're prone to them, you'll probably get some. However, you'll always wonder if you would have gotten fewer if you'd done something about it.

The generally accepted ways to limit SM are:

• To gain weight slowly and steadily throughout the pregnancy, and to do you best to gain - in total - within the recommended guidelines.
  

• To drink plenty of water throughout the pregnancy so you stay hydrated.
  
• To eat a varied and balanced diet with enough omega 3&6 and protein.
  
• To not be pregnant with multiples....
  
• To use basically any pregnancy safe rich body lotion or oil to prevent topical dryness, itching, etc.

[BlueBananas]

I use baby oil gel while I'm in the shower/bath then just pay dry and whack any old moisturiser over the top
Bio oil is ridiculously expensive!

[changingagain]

The big bottles of bio-oil are bogof at boots at the moment if you are planning on getting any.

[MyNameIsSuz]

I liked Palmers tummy butter, from the baby aisle in boots. Not sure it did much for stretch marks (though I only got a few right at the end) but it was really soothing and smells lovely.

[iniquity]

Bio oil did nothing for me first time round. I think its just a con. And an expensive one.
I've been using a secret saviours support band and coconut oil this time and my skin is in better nick than at the same time last time. Coconut oil costs around £2 as well.

[Poppytime]

Another one who won't state the genetics again but last pregnancy and this one I used the mama mio tummy butter and the clarins huile tonic stuff - no stretch marks last time and none so far this time (25 weeks) - may be nothing to do with the products but I liked using them last time and as a kind of just in case I am using them again this time!!

[BlinkAndMiss]

I'm on the fence over the whole genetics argument because my mum had 3 of us, put on a significant amount of weight each time and didn't get any. I moisturised with cocoa butter with DS1 and didn't get any until after I had him, they faded quickly and I continued moisturising as normal. I did exactly the same with DS2 and added bio oil too, I'm covered - all over my stomach and thighs. I'm hoping they fade soon, it's only been a week.

[CoffeeAndOranges]

Thanks for all your suggestions, sounds like I should just work my way through the stockpile of lotions and creams I have got in the cupboard, keep up with drinking plenty of water, try not to scoff so much I pile the weight on too quickly (ahem may be too late for that!) and hope for the best!

[MummyPiggy87]

I tried loads of different creams and oils and it makes no difference

[MummyPiggy87]

Also, using creams can create a barrier which can lead to the scans not being clear, I made that mistake. Being quite slim the doctor doing the scan said the barrier from the cream is acting as though I have 5 inches of fat in the way, so the scan pictures came out the same as a larger persons would have. I was gutted!! They took an hour to do the measurements because of this. So maybe start using them after the 20 week scan x

[CoffeeAndOranges]

Wow wouldn't have thought that would make such a difference but might just do that - only 2 weeks till the next scan.

I was quite slim, but am not any more so don't want to add more hindrance!