Stretchmarks - when did you first spot them?

[LittlePeaPod]

Sorry for repeating a subject that's probably been done to death. But at 28 weeks tomorrow and touch wood no stretchmarks so far but I seem to have started becoming obsessed with strecthmarks. I know its different for everyone but just wondering, when did you notice your first signs of strecthmarks?

Also not convinced you should put too much stock in genetics, I'm sure it plays a part but it's not the whole story. My mum and sister had 7 babies and 0 stretchmarks between them. I'm 40 weeks pregnant and have quite a few, even though I did everything "right" (lathered myself in cream, didn't put on too much weight, etc)

No use fretting over it, it'll happens if it wants to. Frankly, as long as my baby is healthy, I'm really not that bothered.

It's a bit suck it and see. I will keep my fingers crossed.

33 weeks. no stretch marks yet, mother didn't get any, using oils, creams etc. I'm giving birth at 38+5 so if they were going to come at 40 weeks I might avoid. However if they arrive at the 37 week mark then I'm going to be gutted. Here was me thinking I'd avoided them! #naive

I didn't get any first time round, but DS was born at 32 weeks! I'm 32 weeks today with DS2, so we'll see...

over the past few days, just tiny ones, coming from from my appendix scar. I'm 28 weeks.

About 35 weeks.. Though they are fading fast and my little one is just over three weeks.

The creams, lotions and potions will stop the itch and soreness but they don't prevent them. They don't reach the layer of skin where it tears and produces the stretchmarks. It's just another thing pregnant women are guilted into spending ££ on. Genetics do play a key role (though obviously 'my mum has none and I have loads' doesn't dispute this, you don't get all of your genes from your mum) but so do factors such as age, health, elasticity, weight gain etc. Largely though, you have little control over it.

I was mid-20s when I had my first and I already had stretchmarks from puberty. I was covered by the end. From my knees up to my breasts. Angry, purple weals all over.

Second pregnancy I was 30 and had a much bigger bump (excess water) and had no more stretchmarks than first time round. No new ones. And I'd used cream first time round (was childless, itchy and had time) and nothing second time (had a child and was too busy).

They don't bother me now. They all faded to silvery and they're just a sign I've had two lovely children. I certainly can't do anything about them and they are what they are.

I got them at sodding 40 + wks..Arghhh. My Mum, Aunt and Grandmother didn't get any, go figure.

After DS was born; when the bump was going down. As said upthread it was like a deflating balloon.

7 weeks. It was ridiculous. Got them on my breasts and hips almost as soon as I'd POAS. Bump then got covered in them by about 26 weeks. Typically, no-one else in my family got any.

Around 32 weeks- thought I'd got away without any esp as my mum never got any but sadly I wasn't so lucky!

Used cream from the beginning as well.

Mine have been really red and painful- like Chinese burns so I hope you don't get any!

Today! Arghhhh. They aren't too bad yet and a mark of creating something amazing.

Today! Arghhhh. They aren't too bad yet and a mark of creating something amazing.

42 weeks.....

I think there is something in age. I was 10 years older than my sister when we had our first children. She was 22 and I was 32.

We both got them but the difference in how many and how bad is very noticeable.

There is hope - I didn't get any. Put on an average amount of weight, and by the end (42 weeks) my bump was pretty big.
I did slather myself in a lot of palmers every morning, and also used almond oil.
And I actually thought I'd get loads as I have them on my legs and bum from puberty.

However, my tummy does have a bit of a deflated balloon look going on. There's clearly extra skin there now - but just no stretch marks!