Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Does anything work for stretch marks?

27 replies

JustPretending · 06/08/2013 12:35

Just that really - my first pregnancy & no bump yet but is there anything that helps minimise the tractor lines?
Thanks

OP posts:
PrincessKitKat · 06/08/2013 12:40

I can't help Just (sorry) but I'd also be interested to read the answers to this!

lambinapram · 06/08/2013 12:40

I took Omega 3 oils through both pregnancies, never got one single mark.

ILoveAFullFridge · 06/08/2013 12:43

Nope. But you can have a lot of fun trying WinkGrin

Empress77 · 06/08/2013 12:51

Ive got none yet (30 weeks and huge bump) and have been using regular applications of moisteriser and baby oil - my sister recommended the baby oil as its so cheap and what she used and never got any - but then my mum doesnt have any either so maybe we are genetically lucky. Ive used some of the bio oil but thats expensive. Mainly just loads and loads of baby oil and moisterister - I feel so huge and like Im going to pop that this massively helps me feel better & that my skin can stretch - or something -feels like I can breathe better when my skin feels nice and moisterised!

absentmindeddooooodles · 06/08/2013 12:53

Recall interested to see replies too. I have a 2.5 yo ds. Had no bump until I found out I was pg at 21 weeks ( long story) and then just ballooned so fast that the stretch marks were awful!! Still bad now and so wide that they still split and bleed. Nothing works :-( although, my mum has had 4 children. Not a mark on her....she swears by bio-oil. I think if you start using it now you can hope to avoid the worst?

TwickyWoo · 06/08/2013 12:56

As I understand it, whether you get stretch marks comes down to your genes... so some won't get them, although I also believe they are in a minority! I think all you can do is keep your skin moisturised to try and minimise any itchy skin and then deal with the aftermath and hope they fade quickly :S

stickortwist · 06/08/2013 12:59

Hmmm... Well i admit ive tried everything. And i still cried(!?!?) when i got my first one with ds1 at about 34 weeks.
They are mainly luck/ genetics i think. Im now on dc4 and they fade a lot with time. Plus fake tan helps disguise them. I once heard someone describe them as "tigerstripes"...or a kind of badge of honour for being lucky enough to carry a baby. I like thinking of them like that.

LousThighBurn · 06/08/2013 12:59

It tends to be a genetic thing, I didn't have any until I was 36 weeks pregnant.

Gerty1002 · 06/08/2013 13:00

Apparently nothing can stop you getting them, they are mainly genetic though I think a bit of luck is involved too. Having said that keeping well hydrated improves skin elasticity so drinking plenty of water can't hurt, and creams/oils/lotions can soothe the itch that comes with stretching skin.

Things like bio-oil are said to help fade stretch marks once you have them, but I have no experience of whether this works. 36+4 today and not a stretch mark in sight thankfully, but my mum never got them either.

Monkeyandanimal · 06/08/2013 16:10

i never used any moisturisers and was lucky enough not to get any stretch marks on first pg and only one small one on second. its genetics, not products i reckon. though if you like pampering yourself then buy something nice and get moisturising!

Xenadog · 06/08/2013 16:15

I am using bio oil in the morning and then in the evening Palmers do a stretchmark cream. I am hoping that they will help prevent me getting any (I'm 21 weeks) but I suspect it is just down to genes and I have some marks on my boobs from when I developed them as a teen so I'm not hopeful.

charleybarley · 06/08/2013 16:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SaucyJack · 06/08/2013 16:42

Nope, nothing you can put on the surface of the skin can help as the damage is caused much deeper down.

Sorry.

LittlePeaPod · 06/08/2013 16:45

Genetics I am afraid. The stretch marks happen in the dermis (middle skin) were its too deep and creams / oils don't reach. You are either lucky or you ar unlucky. Saying that I am 18+5 and I have been applying loads of bio oil daily since 11/12 weeks. Psychologically it helps me even though I know its genetics. It can't hurt applying oils/cream.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/stretch-marks/Pages/Introduction.aspx

aprilj11 · 06/08/2013 16:47

I think its genetic also. I'm all stripe-y - but in general my body has changed since I gave birth and I try very hard to focus on that amazing gift that our bodies change in a way to house and create a brand new human being.

Not always easy looking in the mirror and thinking back to the good old days, comparing myself to celebrities ect, but bottom line is your body is doing an unfathomably superhuman task and you just might have some markers to show what its done.

littleacceb · 06/08/2013 17:13

Purely down to genes, and not necessarily your mother's, but anyone who has contributed to the wonderful make-up of you, just like any other attribute.

I gained weight extremely slowly, ate plenty of salmon and smothered myself with Bio Oil twice daily, but still ended up with a particularly spectacular "flame tattoo" as my mother calls it.

Not one study rooted in actual real-life science has ever found an applied substance to reduce/erase them, but applying moisturiser can be a nice treat, so do it for that reason if at all.

It's weird - two years later and I don't even notice them. :) But then I was never a hotty to begin with, so I don't have to lament the body I lost!

Kelly1814 · 06/08/2013 17:26

Am using bio oil like going out of fashion. 31 weeks and no marks so far. Plenty of time for them to come though!

Seff · 07/08/2013 15:06

With my first, I didn't get any till 38-39 weeks. As it happened, she was born at 41 weeks and my bump kept growing so I do have a few round my belly button. I quite like them now, it's proof that the crazy 3 year old running round naked really was in there once!

But as my bump stretched, it would get itchy so I'd still moisturise anyway.

BentleyBelly · 07/08/2013 15:59

I am 37 weeks and thought I had got away without getting any stretch marks....I noticed some this morning, one on my bump and 3 on my hip :( I've been slapping on E45 or Bio oil everyday and don't know whether it has made a difference or not!

Anjou · 07/08/2013 16:31

I've always had pretty good skin and a good (but curvy!) figure. Didn't put on much weight with DS1 (when I was 35) used baby oil every day on wet skin but I've been doing that since I was about 13. Got 2 stretch marks on my tummy which disappeared within a couple of weeks. I also got my fkat tummy back within about 4 weeks. I was well happy!!! Didn't use Bio Oil as I hate the smell. With DS 2 (aged 37) I got horrible stretch marks at around 25 weeks. The bump got big MUCH quicker second time and thats why I think the stretch marks were so bad. I didn't worry too much as I thought they'd go away as they had done after my first pregnancy. Erm .... NO!!! They were just as bad 8-10 weeks after DS2 was born. I switched to Bio Oil and it made a difference straight away. 6 months on, they're still there but much better. However, I've not lost the baby weight I gained second time around and my tummy is still pudgy. GGGGRRRRRRR!!!

I think genetics are a big part of it, but that weight gain/loss, your long term moisturising regime and time in between pregnancies are also factors.

Feelingworried67 · 07/08/2013 16:35

27weeks preg with 2nd baby and only have one stretch mark, from first pregnancy, it's on the inside of my thy. Lol

I have used bio oil in both pregnancies, but I reckon we have good skin, my sis and mum didn't get many/any either!

I reckon it's about genes but creams and oils probs help the elasticity of your skin stretch so may ease the look of them xx

Chopsypie · 07/08/2013 16:35

Didn't for me. I used everything I could get my hands on ad still ended up covered. I've got some really wide ones near my appendix scar but they've faded plenty and I was never going to be a bikini model anyway. DH is the only one that sees them and he caused them so he's got to love them!

maggiethemagpie · 07/08/2013 19:33

Don't know if this is just because it's my second time round, but last pg I didn't use anything and got loads of really bad stretch marks. This time round I have been using palmers stretch mark lotion every night and none so far! I've still got a few weeks to go though so there's still time. I also got really bad itchy skin last time so even if it doesn't prevent the stretch marks it will be worth it to avoid going through that again.

KarmaBiatch · 07/08/2013 20:03

I've been using bio oil daily agter my shower, and no stretchmarks on my tum so far (29+2). Been using it since about week 19, and my belly is quite 'out there' :)

I would advise keeping under your boobs oiled up too, I managed to escape the tum marks, but got lumped with the red stretchmarks on the under sides of my boobs since they grew so quickly early on Shock

Monka · 07/08/2013 20:23

I am genetically predisposed to stretch marks got some in my teens on my bum and hips however I haven't got any on my tummy or anywhere else during this my first pregnancy. Have stayed well hydrated and used neals yard remedies mothers balm all over as its organic and I didn't want to slather chemicals all over my bump. It's certainly seems to have worked and I don't get any itching or red scarring.

Swipe left for the next trending thread