If you didn't get stretch marks with your 1st and 2nd - did you get some with your 3rd?

[Excusemyfrench]

That really.
At n3 is it still down to genetics or does your body eventually 'stretch'?

[SueGeneris]

No. Tho I do have stretch marks on my hips from gaining weight as a teenager. But no stretch marks from my three pregnancies.

[BigApple11]

3 babies, no stretch marks here

[Excusemyfrench]

Ok. Thanks :)

[yearofthehorse]

6 here - no stretch marks, all genetics.

[lljkk]

no, not with 4th, either :)
I have lots from teenage yrs, too.

[lemonymelanie]

4 babies no stretch marks - but old ones across back of top thighs/buttocks (like VPL) from teenage growth spurts

[UnicornPee]

I'll find out soon! I've had two big babies and was very lucky to get no stretch marks.
3rd pregnancy now, hopefully I don't get any!! xx

[searchingfortheanswer]

Yes! But it's not all bad.

Nothing at all with #1. With #2 (who it turns out was enormous - almost 11lb) I had at 38 weeks the tiniest 3/4 red lines near my tummy button which I think may have been stretch marks but they disappeared very quickly after birth.

With #3 I had a few stretch marks develop around my tummy button again and I freaked out a bit. They actually looked worst in the early weeks after birth. However they are now (10 months on) basically invisible to naked eye. The skin is a bit crepey if I lean in certain ways. But you know what, I'm not that bothered. Pics are 9 days after birth and now.

[searchingfortheanswer]

My tummy button is also pretty weird after three babies!

[daisiesinherfootsteps]

One of the many reasons I won't be having a third! My stomach is mark free despite two large bumps,one overdue. But I have stretch marks on my thighs from puberty.

Really interesting to see a few of you with similar experiences.

[DramaAlpaca]

No. Three babies and no stretch marks here. Lucky genes I think.

[Whoopiedoo]

I've had two babies and no stretch marks. My babies were 6lbs 3ozs and 7lbs 9ozs so not huge but I'm a 5ft 3ins size 8 woman so looked like I had swallowed a beach ball with both of my pregnancies. I'm convinced it's partly genetics but mostly down to how you look after yourself during pregnancy. I slapped on lots of Mama Mio anti stretch mark cream after my bath every day and ate normally (and healthily) throughout both pregnancies. I have a friend same height and weight as me who ate everything in sight for 9 months, gained 4 stone and is covered in stretch marks.

[Saltlake]

No. But elasticity of skin over belly deteriorated.

[AGenie]

I don't have any from pregnancy either, though I do on my hips from teenage years.

[Molecule]

Four babies, ranging from 7.5 - 9 lbs and no stretch marks. I was once told you either get stretch marks or piles, and I got the latter, the most painful thing ever other than the after effects of having them sorted. I reckon it's all genetic, never put any cream on my bump, well may have done with first one but never had time to think about it with the subsequent ones.

If you get the choice go for the stretch marks.

[GreenShadow]

Another one with 3 births and no stretch marks.

I was quite small throughout all pregnancies and had relatively light (but long) babies
Although I didn't get any, poor teenage DS has numerous stretchmarks round his lower back/top of thighs!

[FrancesHouseman]

Yes, no stretchies with #1 & #2 and fuckloads of them with #3. They all appeared in the last few weeks as well, so I was a smug twat until then. Just to add insult to injury my baby is nearly 10 months and I weigh the same as I did when I was full term and my belly looks like it's still housing a foetus.

There was a big gap between #2 and #3 though - was 30 when I had #2, 36 when I had #3 and I guess I'm just older and (a lot) less elastic.

[EddieStobbart]

No, none. I specialise in varicose and broken veins but zero stretch marks.

[Terramirabilis]

Only had one but zero stretch marks here. Did nothing whatsoever to prevent them. It's genetics in my view - that's it. So nothing you can do either way.

There may be creams that can help with disappearing the marks afterwards but I don't believe there's anything that truly prevents stretch marks. No one's going to do a controlled test on one side of their bump.

[Alwaysfrank]

None here despite the fact that pregnancy number 3 was twins with a combined weight of just under 14 pounds! The saggy skin didn't snap back after that one, though, unfortunately.

[Happybunny19]

No stretchmarks on my tummy after 3 kids. Some on my hips in my teens. Not sure about the genetic thing, as my mother has loads on her tummy after all three pregnancies.

[Excusemyfrench]

So general consensus is that it is down to genetics, which is interesting. Thank you very much for answering my question, have a lovely evening X

[PetyrBaelish]

Stretch marks are really random in my experience. I knew a few new mothers of a similar age and weight to me when I had my son and some had loads, some had none. I had a big boy and got away with none, but weirdly I had expected to get them because my bum ended up covered in them just because I went from size 10 to 12 years earlier! No consistency.

[Bluesrunthegame]

3 pregnancies, no stretchmarks on tummy. But won't discuss state of bum and/or thighs, and I don't think these were related to pregnancy, but just to occasional weight loss or gain. Usually gain.

[Cantusethatname]

No - 4 big babies and no marks. (3 stone weight gain each time)
Not that I would wear a bikini.
I think it's the type of skin.