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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Can I ask you about your stretchmarks or lack thereof?

67 replies

BalloonSlayer · 22/03/2011 12:37

A comment on the One Born Every Minute thread last night got me thinking about stretchmarks.

I have got stretchmarks on my thighs and bum from when I hit puberty. They are very pale and silvery now. I didn't put on a huge amount of weight in puberty, I was a very skinny teenager.

I have had three DCs, one of which was very large, and I did not get a single stretchmark.

I was 35, 37 and 43 when I had my DCs.

My question is - did I not get stretchmarks because I was an older mother? I am obviously a person who can and does get them, as at 16 I looked as if a cat had clawed my arse.

So could it be that you are more prone to getting them when you are young?

What's your experience? Come on, blow my theory out of the water, I can take it...

OP posts:

LaWeasel · 22/03/2011 16:26

haha! Well hope it's the same for the rest!

Dontbugmemalone · 22/03/2011 16:29

I have a couple of stretchmarks from puberty but they are pale lines now.

I had DS when I was 20 and had a lot of stretchmarks on my stomach. It looked like I had been attacked by a tiger , still does but they are fading slowly.

I haven't heard about age being related to strechmarks. My friend was young when she had her DS and didn't get a single one.
The main factor is genetic as far as I know.

Maternelle · 22/03/2011 16:33

Not a single one and I had DD at 34, DS at 35.5 and will be 38 for DD2. My lovely cousin is covered in them since she had her DS at 18 (she is very slim and toned, I am not).

LostInTransmogrification · 22/03/2011 16:38

36 when I had DS and no stretchmarks. All the mums in my Nct class were in their thirties and I don't think any of us got them!

noodle69 · 22/03/2011 17:01

I was 23 with my daughter and havent got 1 stretchmark. IMy mum was an old mum at 30 and she didnt get them either. Its genetic.

memphis83 · 22/03/2011 17:07

love the comment it looks like a cat crawled up my arse!!!
im 28 had ds last year got sm on bum and hips from when i was a teen but didnt get one when i was pregnant, but i worked out i spent over £400 on cream to rub in, i kept a tube in every room , handbag and in the car so i was always slapping it on the bump!! my sister is covered and had her kids before 21 and my mum was a young mum and got 1 with each child

fatsowhale · 22/03/2011 17:12

This has made me so happy. I'm 32 years old and 25 weeks pregnant and although on close inspection every day now and then I can spot old ones from puberty, I don't think I've got any new ones so far. I understand this could all change overnight, but this thread has given me hope. Thank you!

rubybambini · 22/03/2011 17:17

I've never had stretchmarks, and just assumed I'd get them on my tummy - but no, nothing. It's my first, I'm nearly 38 weeks, and I'm 39. I've put on two stone, and it's all bump - but didn't have any major growth spurts, it's been kind of slow and steady.

Varicose veins, however...I can't bear to look.

rubybambini · 22/03/2011 17:19

Oh - meant to say, have made liberal use of Bio Oil and / or moisturiser after every bath or shower.

And the cat crawled up my arse made me laugh out loud too =)

msbossy · 22/03/2011 17:35

Got stretch marks on thighs during teens and again with DD1 (was 30). This time (almost 33) none until this week at 40 wks - a couple on hips and tummy

Envious of those with early babies (although not too early obviously ).

MrsBloomingTroll · 22/03/2011 17:41

I have loads of silvery lines from puberty, all over my thighs and bum. I was also very skinny as a teenager.

I remember reading at the time that if you do a lot of swimming at puberty it can make them worse (maybe because chlorine dries the skin?). Anyway, I always thought that might be why.

With DD1 I got a few around my sides, but none on my bump. I was 33 when she was born and oiled daily.

Annoyingly, I got loads on my boobs after she was born, when my milk came in.

mamadoc · 22/03/2011 17:52

I reckon there's something in your theory.
I have them on my bum and thighs from puberty (remember being so embarrassed by the ones on my inner thighs) so I thought I'd be a dead cert for pregnancy ones but none at all from DD (although she was only 5lb 4) and none so far in this pregnancy although there's 3 months to go yet so no chickens are being counted!

Original poster

BalloonSlayer · 22/03/2011 19:30

Hmm, lots of interesting replies!

I have heard the genetics theory before and not sure it applies to me. My Mum had her children at 26, 29 and 31 and I know she had stretchmarks, as she was always moaning about them when I was a child. I'll ask her which pregnancies she got them in but if she's anything like me she won't remember

My sisters both had their first babies at 32 and neither of them had stretchmarks. We were all a similar size to Mum to start with.

OP posts:

nicolamumof3 · 22/03/2011 19:42

don't think it does really. much more to do with your skin type i believe?

I had ds1 when i was 23 i was slimmer more toned etc then was the smallest pg i'd ever been. no stretchmarks

I am now expecting dc4, I am 35yr am 23w so far no stretchmarks on this or any of the other pg's..

stripeywoollenhat · 22/03/2011 19:47

stretchmarks are scarring that occurs when the extent to which the skin has to stretch overcomes its elasticity. as you age, your skin gets saggier, and this is its only upside... (had dd at 39, no stretchmarks, but breasts have a faint white web of stretchmarks from the speed of their arrival when i was fourteen)

busyboysmum · 22/03/2011 21:53

I had my boys in my thirties and have no stretchmarks whatsoever - currently pregnant at 41 with number 3, so hoping your theory is correct. x

CountScoutula · 22/03/2011 22:09

36 weeks pregnant with my first. I'm 33 and have got lots of stretchmarks on my hips and bottom of bump; started to notice them from about 27 weeks. Have religiously applied Mama Mio stuff since I found out that I was pregnant. My mom had my sister and I at the ages of 28 and 30 and didn't get stretchmarks.

thumbwitch · 23/03/2011 06:51

I certainly don't think it's as simple as "it's genetics". Genes may play a part in skin type but it's no way that simple or I'd have as many stretchmarks as my mum and sister, and I have none.

Bunbaker · 23/03/2011 06:58

I have heard this theory as well. I had DD at 41 and have absolutely no stretchmarks at all. I don't even look like I have had a baby.

doodledee · 23/03/2011 09:49

I developed stretchmarks at 15 on inner thighs and bum and was also a very skinny teenager - never been overweight. 1st DC at 34 - no stretchmarks, now 33 weeks with 2nd and TOUCH WOOD none as yet. Neat bumps both times and no excessive weight gain.

Bumpsadaisie · 23/03/2011 11:27

I got not a single stretchmark with DD, I was 34/35 when I was pregnant with her.

iAmore · 16/08/2011 08:54

I've heard that you can make them better by using oil or special creams. I've posted a freebie of SilDerm for the Prevention of Stretch Marks Oil at www.iamore.co.uk/index.php/freebies/health-and-beauty-freebies/13-silderm-stretch-mark-prevention-oil-free-sample might help?

neolara · 16/08/2011 08:58

35, 37 and 40 when I had my dcs and no stretchmarks here.

KikiRC · 16/08/2011 09:20

I'm interested in this thread as I was also a skinny teen and had loads of SM over my thighs & bum which faded, but you can still clearly see the silvery lines. I'm still fairly on the thin side at 33 (just 9 + 5 wks) and have started using bio oil as my tummy is going to have to do a lot of stretching! Have other slim women found that they are more prone to SMs? And have you found that you tend to just put the weight on your tummy, or all over? I really don't know what to expect.

notcitrus · 16/08/2011 09:51

Never had any until I got pregnant. I got to about 36 weeks thinking I didn't have any, but then looked in a full lengh mirror and saw the underhang of my belly that I couldn't see had turned into raspberry ripple!

3 years on they've faded to very pale pink and slightly ridged, and are starting to be replaced with new ones (pregnant again).

I've got no facial wrinkles or anything.

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