Can stretch marks appear after birth?

[Newmummytobe79]

I seem to have gained a lot of weight on my thighs - which were once lovely and slim and are now chunky and have stretch marks on them :(

I do however seem to have got away without any stretch marks on my tummy (I don't know how as bump is huge but I have slathered myself in baby oil since week 5! :) )

I'm now just over 39 weeks and hoping I will get away with it! But can they appear after you've given birth?

[NatzCNL]

I found that my stretch marks became more noticable after the birth, and discovered I had some in places I hadn't noticed as I began to 'deflate'. You may have got away with it, or may be too stretched to be able to see them yet. Will keep my fingers crossed that you got away with it xx

[SpannerPants]

I only had stretchmarks over the sides of my bump until a week after I gave birth, when I developed them on my thighs and the backs of my knees :( also got a few on my boobs when my milk came in.

[theyoungvisiter]

yes! grrrr.

In my case anyway. I discovered loads on my lower abdomen when it deflated post-birth. Think it was too stretched and in too awkward a position before.

I think it's genetic - my mum was prone to them too.

[RockChick1984]

I had none when I went into labour, I had been checking under my bump with a mirror! They only appeared as I deflated, sorry!! If it's any consolation, ds is now 5.5 months and they are hardly visible already.

[moomsy]

Oh my God this worries me lol - I have the biggest bump ever, so big I keep getting asked if I am carrying twins.

39 weeks + 5 and here is me thinking I have been spared.

Currently creaming oiling and lathering sometimes up to 3 times a day :(

[fleurdemaquis]

I developed mine as I deflated - on the backs of my knees like another poster, and on my breasts, which bother me lots more than the ones on my tummy. BUT I've been on the beach in a bikini top and loving it - it's just a mark of the amazing thing your body has done and I don't know anyone - male or female - who doesn't have at least a few stretchmarks somewhere. Watching them appear is disconcerting but they'll be fading before you know it.

[theyoungvisiter]

I don't know if this is reassuring or not - but there's no evidence that creams or oils help with prevention. Stretchmark damage is done at the deepest level of your skin where the creams couldn't possibly penetrate.

It's a nice thing to do, and it can help with other stuff like that itchy tight feeling. But I wouldn't worry too much about applying religiously.

[StaceyDanielle]

I used dermelastic serum during pregnancy to prevent stretch marks, and it worked! My mom had a lot of stretch marks, so I was paranoid. I rubbed this serum on diligently twice a day and made it through pregnancy without any stretch marks. It also has a nice smell, particularly compared to a couple other stretch mark creams I tried.

[AutumnLeavesandCandleLights]

Absolutely! I got one tiny stretch mark on my belly throughout the whole pregnancy, three days after DS was born, my stomach was completely covered in them. Not subtle ones either. They looked like huge slashes all over the place