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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Are my stretch marks really bad? :(

25 replies

user1470335762 · 13/08/2016 18:39

They go all across my stomach. They're so nasty and thick :( I think this is as light as they're going to get.

OP posts:

SfaOkaySuperFurryAnimals · 13/08/2016 18:45

I use dove fake tan on mine, I had huge twins. Mine aren't going anywhere fast but this product makes mine less obvious.

Elllicam · 13/08/2016 18:49

They don't look bad at all. How long has it been since the baby? Mine kept lightening for years.

99GBPChargeToUseMyPostsJournos · 13/08/2016 18:50

They will definitely get lighter, I don't notice mine at all now.

BastardBernie · 13/08/2016 18:52

I have similar all over my arse and thighs. I got them with DD 5 years ago, they are still lightening til this day. You nearly can't see them, don't worry!

londonrach · 13/08/2016 18:52

They not. I dont get why people get worried about stretch marks. They show you have been lucky enough to have children. Its a badge of honour. Im upset i havent got any!!! I keep looking (almost 3 week old bfb). Im reminded of educating rita. One of my first boyfriends said every scar on your body shows you lived life and gives you a story of your life. Ive never forgotten that! Be proud of them!!!!

VioletVaccine · 13/08/2016 18:52

They are stretchmarks! No, they 'aren't that bad'. They aren't bad at all. You grew a healthy human being, and that took you to capacity and your skin stretched to do it, that's all!

I'll show you mine if it makes you feel any better OP, ha ha

abigwideworld · 13/08/2016 18:53

I have stretch marks from when I put on weight as a teenager, they're literally white now so I'm the only one who knows they're there. You look fine OP and I'm sure they will continue to lighten.

dangermouseisace · 13/08/2016 18:54

they aren't that bad at all. My ex DH had worse stretch marks than that…all across his back, on his thighs etc. He had about 90% more stretch marks than me- in all seriousness. He wasn't, and had never been even remotely overweight. He wasn't bothered about them and his didn't signify that he had gone through the utterly amazing experience of producing a whole entire human being. They will get a bit less pink…any sort of scarring ends up white over time. It takes years though.

heehaaw · 13/08/2016 18:54

Mine are waaaaay worse. They have faded but still there. Honestly it's not worth worrying about. I look at DD & stop caring.

BodsAuntieFlo · 13/08/2016 18:54

I have loads. They get lighter with the years and I don't notice mine now.

Bodicea · 13/08/2016 18:54

They will fade. I had angry red stretch marks all over my boobs as a teen. Honestly they were so awful. I thought they would never go. You can barely see them now xxx

JigglypuffsCaptor · 13/08/2016 18:58

I'm covered in them, the ones on my arms, thigh and bottom are now white and barely noticeable but the ones on my pubic line and tummy are still purple. DP has never complained so meh not bothered. I don't think people notice half of what we notice about ourselves.

They will fade, they are fine.

RubyCav · 13/08/2016 19:13

Mine are worse I think. I have some over 2cm wide on my stomach. I'd also say my stomach is more stretch mark than normal skin. They do keep getting lighter but I think the wide ones are pinker and take longer to lighten.

I have fine line ones on my legs and arms where I got tall too fast for my skin. They are totally white because they are from so long ago.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 13/08/2016 19:17

They aren't bad at all.

Mine are really bad, I gained far too much weight during pregnancy and had 2 large babies within 21 months. My stomach resembles a deflated balloon and to compound the issue, I had abdominal surgery when ds2 was 15 months old so now have an overhang too.

The abdo surgery was for cancer though which did wonders at getting my life in perspective. I'm alive, fit and well, I can even run long distance when I'm not injured. My stretch marks really don't bother me anymore and the overhang is just a reminder that I survived cancer.

I've never used anything on mine op but I've heard bio oil can help. I think the most important thing though is to try not to worry. Your body nurtured a human being, that's a miracle

eightbluebirds · 13/08/2016 19:18

Mine are worse! They stretch down past my bikini line too. If that's any comfort...
I'm getting on with it.

Trills · 13/08/2016 19:19

Very few people are going to get anywhere as close to you as that picture.

And those that do are probably preoccupied with something other than stretch marks.

TheRealAdaLovelace · 13/08/2016 19:23

I have seen a lot worse if that is any comfort

isitseptemberyet · 13/08/2016 19:26

im pregnant with my fifth and have started using bio oil twice a day religiously (slapping it on just at i get into bed so it can soak in over night),
and its really lightened the stretch marks that i had from the others quite significantly in only a few weeks, would highly recommend it.
Try not to worry tho, ud honestly be hard pushed to find a woman over 20 without Any stretch marks, lots of people get them just from growing in teenage years or from losing weight. I saw a meme on facebook that i Love which says
'Your body is not ruined, you're a god damn tiger who earned her stripes' !

On a side note, i worked as a midwife previously and have seen stretch marks Much thicker and Much darker than yours. Ive heard people joke that their tummies looked like a map of the london underground !
I know it's hard to 'put it into perspective' when something makes you feel unattractive , but really as long as you're healthy, nothing else matters X

BathshebaDarkstone · 13/08/2016 19:26

They're not bad at all! Would you like to swap them for my bloody great scar?

user1469553305 · 13/08/2016 21:17

Those are your stripes, tiger. You grew another human being for nine months. They will fade and eventually you will wear them with pride

HeresashatinaboxpAt · 13/08/2016 22:08

Op... I used to hate mine too until I burnt myself with fat all across my abdomine... Realised the stretch marks weren't to bad after all... Now I look like Frankensteins bride!

MyBreadIsEggy · 13/08/2016 22:13

They are not bad at all
I have similar ones on one side of my tummy where my Dd stuck her massive bum out and refused to budge for a week before she was born. They run through a tattoo which cost me a few hundred pounds and few hours of excruciating pain (worse than childbirth actually!) which is now completely wrecked. It kind of looks like what it used to be....an obese, stretched, misshapen version of what it used to be all distorted by a big fat stretch mark right through the middle

Fluffsnuts · 13/08/2016 22:54

I hate my stretch marks. They aren't 'tiger stripes', they are evidence that my body is not my own, another thing I can't control. They are ugly and fat and even faded I still see them every damn day in the mirror. Mine are much, much worse than yours OP, they are all over my hips and thighs, back and bum and where yours are. I love my DS but hate what he did to my body. I'm very envious of my friends who have none.

SignedUpJust4This · 14/06/2019 10:35

Zombie endorsement!

MNHQ

MichaelMumsnet · 14/06/2019 11:05

Ta @SignedUpJust4This - we've zapped the spammer.

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