Stretch marks

As your baby grows (and so do you) your skin gets stretched. And stretched. Stretch marks affect about 90 per cent of pregnant women and you can't prevent them, although many of us spend a small fortune trying to do so.

"The pregnancy hormones that loosen your ligaments do so by softening collagen. They also soften skin collagen, so it's more vulnerable to tearing when the skin is stretched by pregnancy. Retin A cream and lasers have been shown to be effective at reducing stretch marks, but work best when they're still red." Aloha

"According to a dermatologist friend, nothing you put on topically has any effect on whether or not you get stretch marks. They happen many layers below the surface. Unfortunately, you either get them or you don't… I got them (lower belly, hips and boobs - sigh)." Chelle

Stretch marks can look very visible at first, as this mum describes: "The later half of the pregnancy it looked like there were flames rising from my pants." Bruntwig

Although they do fade from fiery red to a silvery colour, and don't affect your physical health, many women find them very undermining...

"I'm so, so grateful to have had healthy babies and I know babies are more important than bellies but I do feel utterly despairing when I inspect it too closely." ScummyMummy

And rather limiting...

"I've just accepted I'm never going to reveal my tum in public ever again." ChanelNo5

So do they serve any purpose?

One mum says: "I see them as scars of childbirth that remind us what a bloody painful time it was and helps stop us from thinking of having any more!" Rhubarb

And as TheOldDragon puts it: "There's only one surefire way to prevent stretch marks – don't get pregnant."

 

Weight gain | Morning sickness | Tiredness | Constipation | Swollen ankles and fingers | Hyperemesis | High blood pressure and pre-eclampsia | Cholestasis | Symphysis pubis dysfunction | Vaginal bleeding | Gestational diabetes