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

Original poster

The dreaded stretch marks!! - coconut oil

46 replies

Louisee58 · 06/10/2015 09:28

I went 5 days over in my first pregnancy and didn't get stretch marks on the front on my bump (got them on my hips straight away in first trimester) until the last week or so, but only now 4 years later do I feel comfortable about them and now im pregnant again! (6 weeks today) I do drink a lot of water anyway but has anyone tried coconut oil? I started using bio oil from day 1 in my first pregnancy which I do feel helped as family are prone to stretch marks! or has anyone got any tips for what helps prevent them? thanks Grin

OP posts:
DriverSurpriseMe · 06/10/2015 09:35

Nothing works, honestly.

On the plus side, I got such horrific stretch marks in my first pregnancy, I only got a few extra in my second pregnancy, because my abdomen had already been ripped to shreds Wink

OffMyAyersRocker · 06/10/2015 09:36

I agree with Driver apart from staying hydrated, creams, lotions etc wont help.

ShowOfHands · 06/10/2015 09:38

The skin tears at a level not reached by lotions and potions. You'll get them or you won't I'm afraid.

You can make yourself more comfortable, prevent itching etc but you won't stop stretch marks.

Original poster
Louisee58 · 06/10/2015 09:42

oh dear Sad

Sorry Driver that did make me laugh, so honest! Hope they don't bother you too much!

Thanks ladies, I do suffer with really bad dry skin so will keep to using a cream to help with the itching but will stick to the cheaper baby oil I think Smile

OP posts:
Ihatechoosingnames · 06/10/2015 09:46

I honestly think nothing works. I don't think anything even helps a tiny bit to be honest. My first baby was quite small but my bump was big and I gained a LOT of weight - I got 1 stretchmark about 2cm long. You can't even see it now. I didn't even really moisturise my bump and I am pretty prone to stretchmarks as I get a few when I gain or lose weight. During puberty I got them behind my bloody calves and everything! That was pure luck.

I am 35 weeks now and the baby is estimated to be a big one! My bump is huge. I haven't had any stretchmarks yet and I haven't bothered trying to prevent them because I really don't think it's worth the effort, it is a waste of money. This time round I might end up with millions, I might end up with none, who knows?!

So try your coconut oil OP if it will make you feel good, but please don't get too down if it doesn't help.

Eminado · 06/10/2015 09:52

I recommend mama mio body butter.

And cocoa butter or vit e oil rather than coconut oil. No science to it i am sure previous posters are right that probably works but i can only tell u what worked for me, of that makes sense.

Maybe you will be lucky!

Eminado · 06/10/2015 09:53

Sorry for typos

Original poster
Louisee58 · 06/10/2015 10:04

Thanks everyone

OP posts:
squoosh · 06/10/2015 10:19

There's a beauticians near me that offers some (very expensive) stretch mark lazer zapping. Not sure how effective it is or how much zapping it entails.

Doublebubblebubble · 06/10/2015 10:21

Nothing works at all. All the creams and lotions and potions can do is affect the appearance of them...

I'm quite lucky in that mine go white almostimmediately so I'm not really bothered by them.

Muckogy · 06/10/2015 10:22

no, nothing works. sorry.
i got them when i was 14, all over my thighs. i looked like i'd been horse whipped.
they have faded now but have changed the texture of my skin.

ClaireFraser · 06/10/2015 10:38

Dont know if it's luck or genetics or whether it did help, but I ate 2tbsp ground flaxseed (mixed in with my cereal, pleasant mild nutty taste) everyday as its high in omega 3and 6, which are good for skin health and flexibility. Didn't get a single stretch mark, nor any sagging of my skin. I was huge due to water retention when pregnant, put on 3.5st and my skin felt so tight.

Also used this cream everywhere as it really helped with the tight itchy feeling. It's quite pricey, but it's an enormous tub and, used after a shower when your skin's still slightly damp, a little goes a long way. I used it daily from 12weeks and two tubs lasted me my whole pregnancy and a good month afterwards.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 06/10/2015 11:07

I do find it slightly grating when people state that, categorically nothing works. Basically, it didn't work for them or for someone they know.

So I'll match that by stating that Bio Oil does work.

I'm very prone to stretch marks - have them on my thighs and boobs from being a teenager. I"ve had three babies, and used Bio Oil throughout. I used it every single day, never skipped a day from 12 weeks, twice a day, and walked around naked until it had absorbed.

I got a couple of stretch marks on my hips where I didn't oil, but not a single one on my stomach.

Bio Oil does work. It might not have worked for some, but it definitely, definitely does work for others.

My mum's a pharmacist and explained why Bio Oil works where other creams don't.

I'm so tempted to gavel but won't...

specialsubject · 06/10/2015 11:08

nothing works. In some people they will gradually disappear, or never happen at all.

it's a great market to be in because even though the cream makes no difference at all, some people will have marks that heal anyway and so will sing praises.

the flaxseed-sourced omega oils have been subject to some studies. Some evidence that they are nowhere near as useful as the fish sourced omega oils. Eat the stuff if you like it.

squoosh · 06/10/2015 11:09

And what magic ingredients are in bio oil?

squoosh · 06/10/2015 11:09

My mum's a pharmacist and explained why Bio Oil works where other creams don't.

So, what is her explanation?

Muckogy · 06/10/2015 11:43

i would also like to hear this explanation. i used bio oil for years and years and it didn't work.

specialsubject · 06/10/2015 11:51

as I said, it's a great one this - you can't disprove it because some people get stretch marks, use these magic potions and the marks disappear. The marks would probably have disappeared without using it, but without a time machine and a clone this can't be shown.

perhaps a trial with somebody using the stuff on half of their marks?

JohnWick · 06/10/2015 11:53

My mum swore by Chanel No 5 Body lotion. My dad bought her some when she got pregnant.

Nicky333 · 06/10/2015 12:08

I had an operation in 2006 and had scars. The consultant managing my after-care said that Bio Oil doesn't work. He said that it's a waste of money and that it saddens him that so many people are buying it when it doesn't work.

Admittedly, that was for scar rather than stretch marks.

squoosh · 06/10/2015 12:14

I've always thought Bio-Oil is just one of those brands that has done a really good job at marketing itself. All it is is a bog standard mineral oil but it's now the first product people think of when they think about stretchmarks.

Similar to the way that lots of people think Clarke's shoes are the only acceptable shoes for children.

tbtc20 · 06/10/2015 12:14

Not what you asking I know, but I don't mind my stretch marks.
They are my badge of Motherhood.
A few people have been surprised to find I am a mother not sure I want to know why they think I am not mother material so I take a sort of pride in people maybe seeing my stretch marks (in changing rooms) and realising that I am.

ShowOfHands · 06/10/2015 12:45

Okay, FirstWeTakeManhattan, anecdotes tell us nothing. I'll put it another way.

Science tells us that it doesn't work. They do trials of these things and the evidence from testing tells us that bio oil does NOT prevent stretch marks. I happen to know a consultant dermatologist involved with various trials and iirc, there's only one ingredient which might help prevent stretch marks, though the results were only found in one of the trials and that's something like centella asiatica (I may have the name slightly wrong) and only seems to work in certain groups.

Anyway, the point is that the evidence from research tells us they don't work. The shea and cocoa butters have never been shown to work in trials either.

It's like saying 'sex started labour for me'. It's not true. Sex isn't related to labour starting. It's just coincidence. Some women will use bio oil and not get stretch marks. It's just the way it works. I can't categorically say that there isn't a link for an individual, but the research suggests that there's no link. I ate a lot of gingerbread when pregnant and never had SPD. Can I claim a link there?

People are free to believe what they like and I can never prove them wrong I suppose. However, we do have to be careful at how we market things at women who are feeling worried and vulnerable and we likewise have to take care not to make people feel like biological inevitability is somehow their 'fault'.

EmGee · 06/10/2015 13:05

I slathered myself with creams, oils, lotions and didn't get a single stretch mark in either pregnancy. Most were cheap but I foolishly splurged on a Clarins body oil. But funnily enough, as a skinny and petite teen I got them on my bum and thighs. Very odd.

FoodPorn · 06/10/2015 13:36

I used bio oil in two pregnancies (not religiously). No stretch marks. I also took Omega oils (the Opti vegetarian ones). I didn't put on much weight. I think that's probably the biggest factor.

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