Stretch Mark Prevention

[wishinanhopin]

My best friend is tiny, and 17weeks along. She is wondering if anyone knows of any good stretch mark prevention methods or cream brands???


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MNHQ Update
This is an old thread, but if you've landed here while on the hunt for recommendations or advice on stretch mark treatment and prevention, our guide to the best stretch mark cream has been recently updated. It includes a wide range of options and has been compiled based on the advice of Mumsnetters and skincare experts. We hope it's helpful!

[SusieCarmichael]

i used olive oil twice a day all the way through and i have none but i now believe that it is down to skin type not what you use as my friend did the same and is covered!

[TheBreastmilksOnMe]

There is nothing you can do to prevent stretch marks. You will either get them, or you won't, it's all down to genetics, size, age and skin elasticity I'm afraid. You can spend a fortune on lotions and potions and it might seem for some as though they work, but that was because they probably wouldn't have got them anyway. Sorry. Me? I'm covered in them and I slathered Bio-oil all over me throughout my pregnancy.

[SusieCarmichael]

oh, but definitely no scratching the bump! when she gets big and tight it will become itchy but as the skin is so tight it will tear/stretch easily if she scratches

i lied, i have one stretch mark from when i was 8 mo and the dog jumped up and scratched my belly! it turned into a stretch mark

[ShowOfHands]

Nowt you can do. I have them on my boobs, belly, thighs, back and knees. It's genetic.

[SusieCarmichael]

its funny though because i got them on my boobs and thighs when i was developing as a young teenager but never got any on my belly whilst pregnant. Maybe i have different skin in different areas

[Trillian42]

Out of curiosity, when do they start to show? I'm 29 weeks and there's no sign yet, but my bump is expanding rapidly so I presume they might still make an appearance?

I'm putting bio-oil on twice a day, but more as a moisturiser than as a magic potion. It helps with the itchy belly! My mum didn't get any, but I have some from my late teens on my thighs so don't think I'm immune.

[SusieCarmichael]

you sound like me trillian, good point being that MY mum doesn't have any either! i was totally expecting to get them due to having some already so i covered myself with the olive oil maybe it was that that helped

[ShowOfHands]

My Mum had none and I had them from puberty, also on my thighs.

Mine started to crop up at about 36 weeks, most appeared in the last fortnight.

[Trillian42]

Susie - fingers crossed! Though I'm worried Showofhands might be right. I'll keep up my bio oil regime just in case (can't hurt!)

[ShowOfHands]

Yeah, I applied bio oil twice a day. Sorry.

It's genetic, you'll get them or you won't. But 2.10yrs on, you can barely see them, they're silvery and much improved.

[missedith01]

I had none at all until about 34 weeks - using BioOil every day and sometimes twice - feeling quite smug - then the baby shifted into a comfier position (for him!) and they came out of nowhere, almost overnight.

I'm now firmly in the camp that believes there's nothing you can really do. I'm still using the oil because my skin is (and always has been) quite dry, and I'm hoping it might help them fade.

[MumNWLondon]

I got mine from 36 weeks onwards... thought i'd got away with in but they are not that bad - but yes most in last fortnight. just got my first one of this pregnancy again at almost 36 weeks

[yetanothernickname]

I hear baby oil can help which seems to be a theory that holds some weight as using it frequently also helps the perinium strech in labour without tearing.

But I think the best method is weight control, making sure you don't put on an excessice amount.
I have no strech marks with this pregnancy (almost finished too) as I havent gained much fat. Too busy chasing toddler around to gain much! But I got strech marks with the first as and second as I was the size of a whale with both of them.

[sungirltan]

i know its genetic but my mum has none its so unfair!

i had none until the last month when the bumped dropped.

i used sactuary lavender bump oil when i was preg which was v pleasant but i dont think it helped.

am using bio oil npw though which i think is helping.

[annamama]

I have no stretchmarks on bump (at 40 weeks) and have used absolutely nothing, not even moisturiser because I'm a lazy cow. But just like Susie I got them as a teenager because of growing. I wonder if diet has anything to do with it, apart from just genetics. Protein supposed to be good for skin? But no one will know for sure what makes a difference unless you take 2 pregnant identical twins and experiment with them...

[Walnut8]

I didn't get any until 37 weeks and then bump suddenly grew and I'm now getting one or two more on my belly every day (at 40 plus weeks). They aren't too bad, but still - I did think I had gotten away with it! I made sure to get plenty of zinc and vit C, and have been eating really well, not put on loads of weight either, so I'm not convinced it's anything to do with diet. I think my skin just reached a stage where the stretching got too much - while my bump was still relatively small I had none.

[ShowOfHands]

I didn't put on huge amounts of weight either. Ate healthily, still cycled 16 miles a day. It's genetic I tells ya. And surprising when you have given birth and you realise there were more stretchmarks hiding under the bump where you couldn't see them. Sneaky fecks.

Don't worry too much. While they can look red and angry and like Freddy Kruger's been at you at first, they fade and almost disappear. I swear you can't see mine unless you're close enough to be a Very Good Friend Indeed.