Stretchmarks

[Ahemily]

I know this may well be considered vain and / or trivial, but is there ANYTHING I can do to avoid stretchmarks? I had big purple scars after my DS which have happily now faded to silver, but as this one progresses (I'm now 17w pregnant) I'm wondering if there was anything I could have done to avoid them.

I once heard that's it's genetic, so slathering the bump in Bio Oil each day will make sod all difference - is this true?

I'm using the secret saviours band, none so far (38 weeks).

I believe there's a genetic element to them, but watching your weight is important too. It's hard though, I've MFP'd every mouthful since getting my Bfp and have still gained 25lbs.

I've got a few... have started using bio oil but before was on palmers tummy butter.

I wash with aqueous cream (I get severe eczema) and have always moisturised every day (eczema) so I really believe it must be genetic.

My mum has then, my sister's both have them. I think the only thing the moisturising has done for me is stave them off for a little longer - both sister's were amazed when I was 26 weeks and had no stretch marks yet... but in a couple more weeks a few had started so I got to be smug for a couple of weeks only!

The horrible thing for me was I couldn't see them as they're under my bump (our full length mirror only fits in the spare room) so was a surprise when I did see them... thing that was most horrible for me is my DH LIED to me and had told me only the day before that I had no stretch marks!! Bastard.

(He's since said that he didn't know what they were...)