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Pregnancy

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:
irregularegular · 06/10/2015 13:54

To add to the anecdotes - I've never had any stretch marks that I noticed. I didn't do anything special - I'm not even much of a body lotion user. Sorry! I put on a low to average sort of amount of weight and had a normal sort of size bump in both pregnancies.

SoftBlocks · 06/10/2015 14:26

I used Mama Mio oil and body butter twice a day and didn't get any. I don't know if it was all the oils or just luck. I did get a lot on my hips as a teenager though.

BumbleBee0 · 06/10/2015 14:59

I used weleda stretch mark oil and only got a few tiny faint marks round my tummy button, and I think that was only because I forgot to put it on for a few days and it started to itch in that spot. I'm using it again this pg.
It's hard to say if oils etc work as some people seem to get them regardless. But the weleda oil smells lovely and calming and keeps the skin soft so it is still nice to use.
Also, quite off topic but their nappy rash cream is amazing and clears it overnight.
no I'm not on commission for weleda Blush

ObiWanCannoli · 06/10/2015 15:01

I used stuff religiously and got stretch marks and then didn't bother.

Love my stretch marks, my dd has always called them her hand prints after I had my 3 ds she referred to them as our hand prints and used to put her hands on my belly to show me which ones were hers and which were the ds.

I wouldn't be without them and it helps me remember dd was an adorable toddler as she's slowly becoming a slightly less adorable teenager - 9 going on 15.

Original poster
Louisee58 · 06/10/2015 15:20

seems I have started a debate sorry everyone! Blush

Think I will just keep my skin hydrated with water and baby oil and hope for the best!

OP posts:
StewedFruit · 06/10/2015 21:35

I slathered my bump in almond oil in my first pregnancy and had no stretch marks. I've done the same in this pregnancy, 39 weeks now and no stretch marks so far... I read somewhere it's something French women do. My mum got stretch marks when having me, so perhaps the oil has worked or maybe I'm just lucky.

ababsurdum · 07/10/2015 06:16

I second sweet almond oil. I got no stretch marks during my first pregnancy despite having them elsewhere from puberty and I'm using it again this time. It's cheap and not a mineral oil like bio oil.

WorzelsCornyBrows · 07/10/2015 06:31

I think using oils can help ease the feeling of the skin being stretched, but there's no medical evidence to suggest that anything can prevent them (quite the opposite). I think some may be able to reduce the appearance of them, depending on how big they are.

You'd be far wiser trying to come to terms with the fact that you might get them and it's not the end of the world. I suspect more women in the UK who have had children have stretch marks than don't, it's not out of the ordinary and it's not something we should be ashamed of. They're just there.

Tootsiepops · 07/10/2015 06:50

I'm of the opinion that there's nothing to be done to prevent stretch marks. I do think though that regular massage - with whatever your product of choice is - can help them to fade faster.

I have very fair, stretch mark prone skin. I was covered in them as a teen, so when I got pregnant, I was expecting the absolute worst (and in all honesty, it put me off getting knocked up for a while as I didn't think I'd be able to cope with the aftermath Blush), but, so far, I've had only a couple of little ones on my bump.

I do still have 6 weeks left to go though so perhaps I shouldn't jinx it...

blondiejess1982 · 07/10/2015 08:21

My mum used baby oil throughout her 5 pregnancy and has no stretch marks. She has also advised me to grin and bear wearing my bra constantly through pregnancy and breast feeding. She did this and swears that it is the reason for having boobs of a 20 year old at 56. No saggy or drooping at all. No idea whether this is the reason or if it is good genes, but I am happy to give it a go anyway !

fourlegstwolegs · 07/10/2015 17:18

Trofolastin. Google it. The only one with clinical trials and prove efficacy. I am prone to stretch marks and I didn't get a single one when pregnant with DS...

rdm10 · 07/10/2015 19:57

36 weeks and I've just started getting them. The look of them doesn't really bother me as much as I thought it would but the itching is unbearable!? Any tips to stop the itching?
I use Bio-oil every morning and stretch mark cream every evening but they don't really do much. I only seem to get any relief when I have a wet flannel on my belly!?

Original poster
Louisee58 · 08/10/2015 08:47

mmm I bet almond oil smells lovely too!

rdm10 sorry for your discomfort. I don't know anything to stop the itch sorry, maybe keep a moisturiser in the fridge and when the itch starts put some moisturiser on your bump?

OP posts:
Workingmum473 · 08/10/2015 09:16

I'm using bio oil and I have definetly noticed that it works...a bit expensive but I think its worth it

DriverSurpriseMe · 08/10/2015 10:43

Almond oil doesn't smell of anything!

Tried that. Tried vitamin E oil. Various creams. Pure Shea butter. Honey and propolis ointment. None of it made any difference.

It's not even about your propensity to stretch marks, or your genes (my mum didn't get a mark during either of her pregnancies). I am short and carried WAY out in front. My babies were also on the big side (but not nearly as big as my bump seemed, iyswim). I have a short torso and no room for a baby to grow other than OUT. I'm pretty sure not many people's abdomens could have survived that degree of expansion intact.

Skiptonlass · 08/10/2015 11:01

The damage happens below the level the creams/oils can be absorbed into the skin... Hence nothing works.

It's basically down to how elastic your skin is and how fast it expands, if it expands faster than it can stretch, you get damage.

Oils and whatnot certainly help with the itching though and it is pleasant to massage the bump.

Mine was also a vast bump ( fellow shot rarer here) and I'm now covered in stretch marks. Honestly not the worst thing that can happen to you during pregnancy! They do fade in time.

Skiptonlass · 08/10/2015 11:02

Shot rarer ? I meant short arse!

ConnorLazowy · 14/07/2017 08:45

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chelle85 · 14/07/2017 08:53

I don't know whether it categorically "works" but I have been taking gelatin powder and drinking at least 3 litre water a day throughout my pregnancy and so far at 36 weeks no signs of any stretch marks. I am certainly not genetically designed to not get them as I have them on my thighs and calves from growth spurts as a teenager and my mum is covered in them.

I would say though that trying to avoid them from the inside out by diet and avoiding too much weight gain is more likely to be effective than creams and oils (though I have been keeping moisturised with cocoa butter and have only suffered minor itchin)

jlou2015 · 28/08/2017 20:11

In my 1st pregnancy I gone absolutely none but I moistuirised my bump every other day from about 5 months with Palmers belly butter and I think greasy balms help not so much oils or creams. Im 35weeks with no.2 and I feel the stretching belly expanding like I didnt with the first. Im using Palmers Body butter again and I do it every other day as I sometimes miss a day or 2 here but Im.hopig it will work. So far so good no marks. I have never.moistuirsed my body before pregnancy but thats because I have very.smooth skin naturally and that may well be a factor as I only moistise my fave and thats dry because Ive done that since a teen and my skin needs it now. I will update and.let you know

krakentoast · 28/08/2017 20:33

The whole stretch mark debate is so lacking in evidence that it reminds me of this .

I sing to the moon three times a day and shower only in holy water and I don't have a single stretch mark, so there you go... Wink

actually I have hundreds of the fuckers

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