:( 34 weeks with 2nd and iv just discovered stretch marks - gutted.

[justhayley]

Ok I know in the grand scheme of things a few stretch marks shouldn't matter, but I escaped them with my first & thought I was heading the same way this time round. However iv just discovered some popping up & it's made me feel really down.
Already feeling pretty unattractive and massive right now could have done without these as well this well

Please don't tell me I'm being ridiculously shallow or they are beautiful.
Anyone hating stretch marks appearing? Let's moan and carry on like the worlds ending together

Seriously? They are the tiny price of new life. I've always been proud of mine. YABU! :-)

To give you some reassurance - I was similar to you, none with ds1, got some about 35wks with ds2, was v annoyed as I too thought I'd escaped. I used some bio oil afterwards and within 6mths-1yr afterwards they'd gone. I honestly can't remember exactly when as they weren't that noticeable afterwards anyway.

I got to about that stage before mine appeared. I cried. It will take a while, but they will pretty much disappear eventually.

I've been using bio oil every day since 16 weeks. Had a few on my boobs but even those have got better since they appeared.

I then had some appear on my waist about 2 weeks ago. Which figures - 3 weeks ago baby started measuring 3 weeks ahead. I've had a growth scan and he is looking like he is going to be huge. I think I'm just going to have to accept that it is only going to get worse - 10 weeks still to go.

Keep up with moisturising, it does help keep my skin a little more supple so hopefully they will start fading like my other ones.

They ARE depressing, and difficult to cope with at a time when you're fed up and feel like you'll never have your body back.

It's worth slapping cream or oil on - try DermaMum oil from Sainsburys or Boots, it's £12 but one bottle will last you months. (it's like bio oil, but cheaper and better quality). Keep using it post birth - it will help the skin retain its texture and speed up the fading of the marks.

You do learn to accept them, I have them on my hips and thighs from teen growth, and I couldn't give an arse about them any more, really.

Mine arrived the day after dd was born! Totally gutted.
None so far with this one but I just know as soon as it's born there will be loads.
Ah well. My stomachs screwed anyway- not like I'll be wearing a bikini ever again!

Yeah my few stretch marks don't bother me.

The pendulous, saggy boobs do though.

In comparison I think I'd rather a few more tiger-attack marks (stretch marks my arse!)

However, it is shallow and we have beautiful children (well, I do) to show for it. So we mustn't moan about such things.

I can think of stuff we can moan about...

Piles
Post c-section trapped wind
"Helpful" parenting advice from everybody you've ever glanced at
In-laws
Pets
Parent and Child parking
Prams on the bus
Trolls

But not stretxh marks or droopy boobs

oh no op don't say that!! I didn't get any with ds1 and so far have escaped- though plenty of time yet. Im paranoid, I slap on all the oils and shea butters and pray. I need to drink more and eat less though...

Id be gutted too, but keep up with the oils etc and fingers crossed they fade well.

My little girl is 7 months now and I had the worst stretch marks through pregnancy as well as a scar from a c-section, but they've almost completely cleared up now! I've been using various creams and oils but my favourite is a Tummy Butter from The Spoiled Mama:

www.effortlessskin.com/p-3422-tummy-butter-for-stretch-marks.aspx

A bit pricier than the ones I used through pregnancy but it's definitely my favourite and really has done the job.

Use a good cream/oil/butter twice a day religiously and they will likely clear up within a few months of childbirth. They're never much fun though! :-(

OP I very much sympathise!

It really is a bit depressing when you feel like your body is going out of control & it's almost out of your hands!

I got away with no stretch marks but they appeared at just before 39 weeks, my LO was born a few days later.

Was a bit gutted as I thought I'd got away with it!

I was riddled with them with DD1, so I am expecting them this time too. However the ones I had were barely noticeable after a few months and I can honestly say they didn't bother me, still wore a bikini no bother.

It is not shallow to need some time to adapt to your body changing and to find it upsetting but then it would quite unusual not to have any stretch marks after pregnancy and you should be proud, you earned those stripes!

I went a week over last time and didn't get any - I'm 30 weeks with 2nd pregnancy now and I don't THINK I'm much bigger this time round - maybe a week or two ahead in terms of when bump appeared.

I was hoping to escape again but we'll see :(

I haven't used any oils at all, I reckon you just get them or you don't...

37+4 and was feeling really smug that I had none, until I actually looked in the mirror properly and noticed loads of thin ones just above my pant line. Of course I just couldn't normally see them :( I was totally gutted at first, but hey, getting used to them...

Hello!
Stretch marks are totally gutting.In the grand scheme of things (as we tell ourselves everyday as we catch a glimpse in the mirror and nearly puke/cry!) they obviously don't matter BUT nothing can prepare you for them and how they make you feel. There is nothing you can do to get rid of them-if bio oil worked no one would have have stretch marks and I think sucks that people are led to believe that creams/oils work. They don't!!! There is no rhyme nor reason to them and why some of us get them and some of us don't.They are not preventable-I have friends who got huge when pregnant and didn't get them. I have tiny friends with small bumps that got them. I have a friend who has them everywhere but her bump.They are not genetic-my mum has them, my sister doesn't. If you have stretch marks that you think have disappeared-I doubt they were stretch marks! There is nothing I could do to get rid of mine-they are deep scars-creams simply don't cut it!!!!! Don't feel bad about hating them-I have no love for mine! I don't see them as battle scars and they don't make me proud!!! I'm not being negative but just honest and realistic. What is most gutting is the years I spent hating my tummy before babies)! If I could turn back time!!!
X

I'm at 31 weeks and I have some little ones on my hips and also randomly at the back of my knees! I've had them before when I gained weight and they fade away eventually. I guess if you have had them when growing up, you probably feel less bothered by them in pregnancy.

My whole stomach is covered I stretch marks despite using moisturiser a lot during pregnancy. I'm pregnant with dc2 and curious to see if I get anymore or not! I don't really mind having stretch marks but I do mind having a saggy tummy!

Can totally sympathise,I didn't have any with my first and then with second stomach looked like an AA road map.I hate them.I know they are signs of growing new life,I know they are nothing to be ashamed of and I never think anything bad of other people's but I just have developed a real hatred of mine.Dread to think what I will end up with this time!
Sorry that's no help but just to know you're not alone!
x

I'm with you - I hate mine that appeared about a month ago and have just got steadily worse (36 weeks now). I have always hated the ones I got during puberty that haven't disappeared in the c. 16 years since they first arrived. I don't see how other people's have gone?! They have faded a bit but still very much there. Grr.