How did you avoid/ minimise stretch marks from your pregnancy??

[YourVagesty]

I'm pregnant with my second and had no stretch marks with my first but I can't remember what I used to rub on my bump. I think it was Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (weird name, but it smells divine).

I'm not so vain that I am trying to avoid stretch marks altogether but I would like to avoid looking like a burst balloon when this whole shindig is over.

So if you escaped your pregnancy with few/ no stretch marks, how did you do it?

I got no stretch marks with 2 pregnancies, had 2 huge bumps.
I did absolutely nothing.
Didn't moisturise once.
It's genetics.

Well 2 single births and a twin and still I have none and wouldn't be bothered if I did either 😊

I’ve asked two dermatologists about this: both said the same things:

1. no cream or lotion or potion will make a difference;
2. Bio Oil is a load of bollocks; and
3. those in their 20s are more likely to have them than if you’re an older mother.

One seem said that if I really wanted to, a cheapo emollient on the bump would be fine

I believe it’s predominantly genetics. I was terrified of getting them but didn’t. (Vain I know, but I don’t care).

It’s genetics, lotions and potions won’t stop them! I had none with my first then a few days after my second was born a few appeared, I was so annoyed as I’d had none throughout the pregnancy so thought I’d got away with it again! Haha

6 pregnancies with 3 full term and no stretch marks, never applied any creams or potions. As others have said, I think it’s down to genetics….

I agree it’s genetics. I got none, my mum had none and my nan who had 8 kids had none.

I did however have the driest skin ever on my bump. It felt disgustingly tight so I was constantly rubbing Palmer’s cocoa butter into my stomach. By the end I’d say I was averaging 10 times a day.

I would say there is a genetic element. No harm trying bio oil.

Religiously applied Palmers Cocoa Butter and didn’t have a single stretch mark, but may not have anyway. Unsure about genetics, my Mum has stretch marks 🤷🏼‍♀️

ETA: Just read the post above about age. Interesting. I was 40 when I had DS, my Mum was 20 when she had me.

It's genetics, nothing can stop them. My stomach is ruined. But so are my thighs, arms, backs of my knees. I'm just predisposed to have them.

I don’t think there’s anything you can truly do to change this, your skin either gets them or it doesn’t.
I have had 2 full term pregnancies and didn’t get stretch marks with either of them. I would periodically oil my belly when it felt tight and itchy but nothing that regular and no fancy products, only baby oil.
But I didn’t get stretch marks as a teenager either, my body just isn’t predisposed to them.

In my totally anecdotal experience, this checks out. I had babies when I was 38 and 40 and have no stretch marks from those pregnancies despite not doing anything to try to prevent. I don’t even use body lotion or anything like that- would if I had the time! But I do have stretch marks on thighs from puberty and my mum had stretch marks from pregnancies in her 20s. I would bet that most people who swear that any particular cream or regime kept them away wouldn’t have got them anyway

I didn’t get any but I already religiously moisturise my entire body every day as I’m a dry skinned girl!

Bump specific, I bought a mama mio tummy oil - it was reduced at the time, maybe around £6. It was lovely, very moisturising and easily absorbed.

Is it genetics? Maybe, although my breasts and thighs are completely covered in them from puberty (and obviously flesh coloured now). This means my post pregnancy boobs are like two wrinkled old socks with a little bean bag dropped into the bottom 😂😂 (you know the ones I mean, from primary school, that had a funky smell!)

I have quite a lot of stretch marks with my first pregnancy :(

I agree that it's genetics because both my mum and sister got them too. That didn't stop me from using stretch marks products on my next pregnancies though!😅 I used Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion on my second and then the Natural Botanical Maternity Stretch Marks Cream from Pigeon on my third - both seems to be working ok because I didn't have stretch marks other than those that are left during my first pregnancy. And maybe my age was a factor too, I've read younger mums are more prone because their skin is tighter and less elastic.

My mum and grandmother were covered in them, so I applied every lotion and potion under the sun.

I'm also covered. Thanks genetics!

No stretch marks from either of my pregnancies (or any other stage of life). I didn't do anything. I didn't use any kind of body lotion moisturiser at that age. I was 30 with my first, 31 with my second. It probably is just luck/genetics.

Sorry OP, it's genetics. I don't have any, neither does my mum or my nan - and my nan had 5 kids!