Advice please ladies....

[WickerHearts]

Hi ladies,

Just after some advice...

Anyone have any experience of using Bio Oil to prevent stretch marks?
And did it work? Or would you recommend something else?
And lastly, at what stage did you start using it?

Thanks

[Roarlikeadinosaur]

Hi,

I used a combo of bio oil from about 10weeks and then palmers cocoa butter stretch mark cream (came in a pump-easier to use and smells nicer!)
I used it daily on tummy and thighs but little stretch marks appeared from about week 36 regardless! I really thought I had got away with it but hey ho! They aren't that bad and have already faded loads (DS is 4 months)-I see them as little reminders of how much my body changed!

Good luck!

[WickerHearts]

Hi Roar,

Thank you for your reply
Maybe I will grab some coco butter too then. Im 6 weeks now, was thinking of getting a head start and using it on my stomach, sides and boobs.
I'm expecting some stretch marks, thought if I could stop them going too crazy then it would be a bonus

Xx

[DowntonDiva]

I've gone a bit OTT with my oil regime. 39 weeks and nothing showing yet.

1st trimester (from the day I found out I was pregnant)- Bio Oil then switched to Palmers oil as it was less messy with the pump and caused less of a clean up operation in the bathroom.
2nd Trimester switched to Mama Moi Oil - twice a day.
3rd Trimester Mama Moi Oil and Tummy Butter double whammy at least twice a day more if the skin felt sore.

Completely ridiculous routine I know and Mama Moi is expensive. I looked out for offers on feel unique and got cash back via Quidco on orders, used discount codes etc...Money Saving Expert had an amazing deal £10 off when you spent £25 so I went mad and bought lots then using lots of different email addresses.

I read the Vitamin E cream from body shop is good but haven't tried it myself. A friend swears by coconut oil. Nothing fancy or banded the version you cook with that you can get in the supermarket.

[Sparrowlegs248]

I mostly used Palmers, both the pump dispenser and the tin of tummy butter. I got one stretch mark!

[WickerHearts]

I'm expecting to slightly OTT as well
I've found some Palmers coco butter I used a while ago, but almost empty. Maybe will grab some of the tummy butter too
Never heard of Mama Moi, will google...

Thank you for your opinions ladies, very helpful to hear voices of experience....when I say hear, I mean read
Xx

[badg3r]

I used it at first every morning and night, then switched to baby oil which seemed just as good to me. My mistake was in the last three days of pregnancy feeling so shit I stopped using anything... My well oiled bump literally had fingernail sized flakes of skin hanging off it once DS was out. Ew
On the plus side though I only had about 4 or 5 stretch marks very low down and they are practically invisible now.

[confusedandemployed]

I used nothing at all, put on 4 stone, went to 40+12 and didn't get a single stretch mark.

I think it's 99% down to genes: DM and DSis got none either.

I can assure you I was less lucky in other ways (losing baby weight, breastfeeding to name but a couple)!

[kiki22]

Start now the more supple your skin is to start with the better, look for something containing for A&E, alpha hydroxy acids and Elastin. Daily massage to the areas will also help increase the circulation and encourage new tissue to grow so you are less likely to have damage from your skin stretching.

[frikadela01]

You could spend hundreds of pounds of creams and it won't make an iota of difference. You will either get them or you won't. I use Palmers just to keep nice and moisturised and my sister said it stopped her belly itching when she was in the later stages. Shes had 2 dc and was almost obsessive about using various creams from the day she got her bfp both times. First time she didn't get a single stretch mark. Second time and her belly hips and bum were covered in them. And she was actually smaller overall the second time.

[LumpishAndIllogical]

Bio oil made no difference for me. I got loads with ds1 but used bio oil religiously

It's down to genetics apparently, I dont think you can prevent them as stretch marks are tears in the dermis (middle layer of skin) which I don't think creams/oils can really get to. However bio oil really soothed my stretching skin and may help fading after.

[Sanch1]

Its all genetic, you'll either get them or you wont. I used it first time, no stretch marks until after DC arrived, not used it this time, no stretch marks yet. Makes no difference! Just nice to sooth any itching or tightness.

[Artioo2]

I don't think any oil or cream can prevent stretch marks - loads of people use them religiously and still get the marks. If you're going to get them, you'll get them. I used bio oil through two pregnancies and didn't get stretch marks, but I don't think it's because of the oil! I used it because I found it really helped the itching on my bump and I found it relaxing to do last thing at night.

[marsbarmarsbar]

Apparently the act of massaging the oil in and stimulating the skin is what reduces stretch marks rather than the product itself but I'm too lazy to use anything so have a few that will probably never go away. I kinda like them in a weird way.

[lovelilies]

I used bio oil in all pregnancies, from beginning pretty much.
Now 28 weeks with dc3 no stretch marks yet!

[Jod1985]

I used bio and palmers With my first and I didn't get any. Used nothing with my second and didn't get any. I think it's genetic. My mum has 5 pregnancies and didn't get any either

[eternalopt]

I loved the smell of the mama mio products. Expensive, but I saved a fortune on wine for 9 months, so it was mg treat to myself! A bottle if the oil lasts ages too.

[eternalopt]

On a more practical note, I got no stretch marks on the way up. Whether that was the mamma mio or not I don't know. However, gave birth, baby took over and I thought nothing more of it .... until I noticed my striped stomach 2 months later! The marks came on the way down, not way up. Started slapping the oil on again and they soon went, but make sure you keep using it afterwards as well as before to avoid the same panic as me!

[CityMole]

Apparently it's all down to genetics, but there is some evidence that this might work, and I've been slathering myself in it three times a week, which is about as often as I ever remember :)

www.amazon.com/Trofolastin-Anti-stretch-1517/dp/B003Q3FPR6?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

No stretch marks yet (5/6 weeks to go).

[DramaAlpaca]

It's genetic so nothing will prevent them. I've had three DC, didn't use any lotions or potions on my bumps during pregnancy, and didn't get a single stretch mark.

I did get horrendous cellulite on my bum though. I think I'd rather have had stretch marks

[WickerHearts]

Thank you ladies for all of the replies

Yes I've heard a lot of it is down genetics, so perhaps won't get too carried away.
But will look into the products you have all mentioned and try some of them out, can't do any harm can it

I have a few stretch marks already on my thighs and hips from growing as a teenager, so probably not much hope, but it's worth a go

Xx

[kiki22]

Genetics if a factor but you can reduce the risk by keeping your skin in good condition, your skin is an organ too it needs care or it can go wrong.

[letthefundusbegin]

Has anyone used the 'secret saviours' band and gels? Apparently the bumps on the inside of the belly band help to prevent stretch marks as it doesn't let the skin pull out on the same way? I have no idea if there is any evidence or proof in this, but didn't know if anyone had tried it?

I'm on bio-oil and aveeno cream in the meanwhile but find the bio oil quite greasy!

[Julieb85]

I used mandarin oil with DS as I just couldn't take the smell of anything else...it was great. My midwife told me that most stretch marks appear when/if you scratch your tummy. So my advice is to trim your nails and fight the urge to itch!! X

[WalterandWinifred]

I slathered myself religiously in Bio Oil and Cocoa butter with my first pregnancy but got them badly regardless. Nothing you do will help, other than to make you feel better about it! Genetics in my case. My skin wasn't itchy so I never scratched it. They faded to silver grey and I didn't get any new ones with DC2 and so far with DC3 (currently 36 wks).

I have noticed, and One Born Every Minute etc seems to back this up, that younger Mums seem to get them worse. Totally anecdotal, but I wonder whether age is relevant?

[GoingLoopyQuickly]

As others have said, you will get them or you won't. However, you minimise their impact by moisturising daily. Even if you used lard (not that I am recomending lard!).

I had bio oil for dc1 and got marks all across unser my bump, like flames. They are now silver and look like silver flames protecting this bump (I am one for looking at positives were poss). But I am using somebany oil which I have in stock almost every day and hope it will keep things under control.