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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

very tight skin- are bio oils etc worth it?

34 replies

feekerry · 14/10/2011 19:04

I'm 18 weeks and bump is fast growing. By the end of the day my skin is so tight its uncomfortable. To the point where if I take a deep breath or cough I literally think i'm going to pop. Do oils or butters make a difference and help my skin stretch? Not really bothered about stretch marks just want my skin to stretch a bit easier and not feel its about to rip!

OP posts:

RockChick1984 · 14/10/2011 19:12

They made my skin feel much more comfortable, expensive ones are no better than just either baby oil or cocoa butter though in my opinion. I used whatever was to hand (started off with the expensive ones as I had some as gifts) but when they ran out I found the cheaper alternatives at least as good, possibly better as I felt I could use loads at a time, bio oil etc made me feel I should only use a bit as it's much more expensive!

Trills · 14/10/2011 19:13

Bio oil smells very nice. But in terms of moisturising I think sunflower oil would probably do the same thing. Or baby oil if you don't want to smell like chips :o

kiki22 · 14/10/2011 19:22

I use Bio Oil and have done since the start as i'm very prone to stretch marks and it has been great i'm 25 weeks and don't have any at all yet and my skin feels great on my belly, i've heard lots of people talk about tight and uncomfortable skin but i've not had any problems with it (i'm huge btw). It is expensive i think about £15 for the big bottle but i've had it since 7 weeks and has just under half left as you don't need much.

you can put it in your bath as well just 2 or 3 drops.

Original poster

feekerry · 14/10/2011 19:44

I think it doesn't help that I haven't moisturised at all really as i'm totally put off as i've gone super hairy on my belly and rubbing cream into it is just odd. Lol.

OP posts:

knitterati · 14/10/2011 19:52

I'm using some mamma mio stretch oil - expensive but smells lovely & lemony!

That said, you don't need to go expensive - my mum just used some johnsons baby lotion in her day and she only had 2 stretchmarks! Think anything to moisturise will help!

SleepyFergus · 14/10/2011 20:00

I used a Sainbos own body butter (which smelled divine and I've never been able to get it since having DD 2 years ago). Slathered it on every morning after a shower and my tummy was as supple and soft as a ripe peach (if I do say so myself)

Save your pennies, buy a nice smelling supermarket butter and you'll be fine!

Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy, it's a lovely stage you're at now!

SleepyFergus · 14/10/2011 20:00

Body butter that is, not flora or utterly butterly or anything....

Original poster

feekerry · 14/10/2011 20:12

Thanks. I hear asda do some nice butters- of the non clover type

OP posts:

edwinbear · 14/10/2011 20:24

I used The Sanctuary Mum to Be oil with DS and had no stretch marks, am now 35 weeks with DC2 and used the same one and don't have any yet so am keeping my fingers crossed.

MissRee · 14/10/2011 20:56

Bodyshop has an offer on all their body butters - buy one, get 50% off a second.

Chynah · 14/10/2011 21:39

I moisturise after every shower etc anyway but during pregnancy I used Palmers cocoa butter after showers/baths and bio oil before bed. No pregnancy stretchmarks either time although I didn't put on much weight either time which probably helped too.

cravingcake · 15/10/2011 12:38

I am prone to stretch marks (have a lovely collection at the top of my thighs thanks to puberty) so was recommended Bio Oil. I've been slathering it on daily from about 10 weeks, along with nice moisturiser/body butters that I wanted to use up.

Thought I'd done so well and then overnight at around 34 weeks my original stretch marks had babies of their own and now have more climbing up my hips, along with a nice zebra impression on the front of my (huge) bump.

I would say if you are not bothered about stretch marks then just use whatever nice moisturiser or body butter you like as it will help the skin (mine is lovely and soft).

Trills · 15/10/2011 12:43

You're not alone cravingcake - I have lots of my hips, thighs and bum from puberty. I quite like my tiger stripes in a way.

nickelbabe · 15/10/2011 12:45

glad someone else is having the same problems.
I'm 34 weeks now, and for the past couple of weeks, my skin has felt stretched to bursting.
It feels really bruised, too, so I have tried Arnica hand cream

I only had a sample, though, but it smelled nice and felt goooooooood.

didn't know about oil, so I might investigate that too (have a little samply bottle of baby oil)

louby86 · 15/10/2011 12:49

I've been feeling like that too. Been getting strange looks from my husband when I tell him I feel like I'm going to burst! My SIL bought me a massage bar from lush and it's not felt as bad since then and I can tell when I haven't used it. I'm not buying any of the expensive ones though, like you if I get stretch marks I get them it's just the feeling uncomfortable I wanted to do something about!

RickGhastley · 15/10/2011 12:49

If you want to try Bio Oil get it off Amazon, much cheaper than high street.

I used it with DS1 (no stretch marks despite being under consultant care for ENORMOUS BABY) now 24 weeks with DC2 and it's doing the trick again!

Tip- don't just moisturise your stomach, do your boobs, hips and bottom aswell, these bits stretch too when you are PG!

starjules · 15/10/2011 13:02

Asda do a maternity stretch mark oil and a cream i use the cream in the morning and the oil at night and they are £2.50 for 2. I started off on bio oil but I prefer the Asda ones!

Hotpotpie · 15/10/2011 14:30

feekerry I can totally sympathise with the hairy belly, its so bloody unattractive isnt it! I also have a collection of stretch marks on my hip that looks like a picket fence - Im feverishly lathering myself with a collection of everything with no great difference so far :(

Mother keeps calling them my baby war wounds

brighthair · 15/10/2011 16:54

I have stretch marks that get really itchy and tight despite not being pregnant
Therapy massage bar from Lush is lovely and safe in pregnancy or palmers cocoa butter

Rikalaily · 15/10/2011 16:58

HomeBargains sell bio-oil under a different name and it's just as good as the 'bio-oil' brand but a fraction of the price. I had a 2nd degree burn on my arm and used it from about a week after it happened, I barely have a mark there now, not even an indent where the bottom layer of skin came off.

I wish I'd known about the stuff years ago with pregnancies 2 & 3, I'm covered in massive stretchmarks, lol.

SleepyFergus · 15/10/2011 17:03

I think some people are more prone to stretch marks regardless of how much moisturising you do. Im sure I read you either get them or you don't, and there's not much you can do to stop them if you're going to get them.....

Just to save anyone spending a fortune on 'specialised' creams.

Original poster

feekerry · 15/10/2011 18:14

Just to clarify i'm not really that bothered about stretch marks, if I get them then so be it- its more the close to ripping tight skin that is uncomfortable and bog standard creams dont seem to be cutting it. Would rather not splash out on bio oil, just a really decent butter would do. Maybe body shop or palmers. Tho the bio oil does seem to get some good reviews. . .

OP posts:

twogirls1more · 15/10/2011 18:42

I swear by Bio Oil! Worth every penny I reckon and even a small bottle seems to last ages! I'm on pregnancy no.4 and whilst I got a few stretch marks (below my belly button), in my 2nd pregnancy, I didn't use any moisturiser then. For pregnancy's no.3 and this one, (am currently 36wks,) I used Bio Oil and was fab! Am massive! (I tend to sport a 47" bump, all out front at term ) and these last two pregnancies I've not developed any further stretch marks :)

laracroft2001 · 15/10/2011 19:52

i completely love bio oil! I am 32+4 and was tiny before so my skin on my stomach has been stretched quite a bit but I dont have a single stretch mark yet. I also love palmers cocoa butter!

MissRee · 15/10/2011 20:32

I got my bio oil half price from lloyds pharmacy £9 for the biggest size bottle - might be worth keeping an eye out for special offers?

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