Can someone make me feel better about stretch marks?

[LuckyEarthDragon]

Currently 39 weeks pregnant and they have sprouted up all round my belly button and lower stomach.

I started off a normal healthy weight, I’m measuring bang on track and everyone keeps saying what a neat bump I have (although it’s certainly not small and I feel like baby is going to be big because my husband is 6”7’). But I keep thinking maybe if I’d only eaten salad and chicken, or drunk more water, or done xyz I could have prevented it.

My mum and my sister (who had twins) kept going on about how I definitely wouldn’t get stretch marks as neither of them did, so the genetic argument doesn’t seem to be true in my case either.

This baby is obviously a miracle but I’m finding it difficult to come to terms with this latest physical change, on top of all the very normal discomforts of pregnancy. I just feel a bit sad :(

Mumsnet please cheer me up?

Try not to let it get to you, I was quite small with I got pregnant with my first did get big but nothing out of the ordinary... and my belly is covered with stretch marks. Always been prone to them... my mum on the other hand 3 pregnancy's later had not one.

I'm now on my second pregnancy and am bigger this time around so most likely will get more.

Lots of us get them, believe me soon as you hold your little baby you will forget all about it. They are so worth it don't be to hard on yourself xx

Thank you justmyluck 🙏

Has absolutely nothing to do with eating salad, massaging in creams, or praying to the stretch mark gods. It’s genetic in the fact it’s to do with your body’s make up which will come from your parents essentially, but it’s like getting blue eyes or freckles - your parents and sibling may have one, both or neither. They will fade over time, but unfortunately there’s not a lot you can do. Ultimately if I had to choose between having a healthy baby or not getting stretch marks - I know which I’d pick!!

I got them and I weighed 1kg less at 9m pregnant than I did when I got pregnant!!