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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Stretch marks

20 replies

3rdTriMossTer · 10/01/2007 10:27

I'm 29+2 weeks pregnant and have started to notice quite a few stretch marks just underneath my bump. Actually they seem to have come up overnight (reminds me of the Oxycute advert in the eighties)!

Anyway my question is, does this mean that by the end my tummy's going to be covered in little red lines?

I don't mind so very much (although did get a moment of when I saw them this morning) but if I'm gonna be covered in the things, I just wanna know so I can prepare myself mentally for mornings of standing in front of the mirror chanting the mantra "these scars are beautiful signs of life. These scars are beautiful signs of life. These scars are beautiful signs of life."!!

OP posts:

princessmel · 10/01/2007 10:29

Probably

I had them with both my pregnancys. Worse with the first. I got them on my breasts and inside top of my legs too. They are very deep there.

BUT....they do fade. Mine are so much better now and I'm much less worried about them. Dd is 17 months.

Original poster

3rdTriMossTer · 10/01/2007 10:55

Princessmel did they bother you or did you get used to having them there?

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PrettyCandles · 10/01/2007 11:03

Get ready to wear your badges of honour with pride!

I don't think you can really avoid them - it's genetic, and made worse if you're overweight - but don't tell your OH. Persuade him instead that he needs to give you a gentle massage with cocoa butter every evening to prevent them or stop them getting worse .

Original poster

3rdTriMossTer · 10/01/2007 11:05

PrettyCandles, I will give it a go! Do you think he'll believe me if I tell him there's also a chance I could get stretch marks on my back if he doesn't massage it every night???

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princessmel · 10/01/2007 11:15

I hated them and never wore tops that rode up etc. I'm a bit better about them now they've faded.

Original poster

3rdTriMossTer · 10/01/2007 11:27

Princessmel I don't think I've worn tops that ride up since I was about 15 so no danger there

Just looks a bit weird, like someone's drawn on me in red pen. I am going to have to get used to it.

Now where's my The Best Tibetan Nasal Flute Album In The World... EVER album? I need it so I can go and chant my mantra

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Leoladyofleisure · 10/01/2007 11:46

Moos, I posted this on our other thread.

Moss, I am/was very sporty, slim with extremely good stomach muscles and a very flat stomach when I got pregnant with ds (and had a very good body image). Oiled and creamed excessively and didn't put on that much weight, but the skin on my stomach gave up a week before he was born. Was very, very upset about it and couldn't bring myself to wear a bikini again and got obsessed with staring at mum's tummies in the swimming pool and on beach to see if anyone with stretchmarks did. This time around it seems much less important, maybe because i've got them now and know with twins they are just going to get worse (and they are already). Its funny, NONE of my closest friends with babies have got stretchmarks, my mum has horrendous ones and both my sisters have them as well. I just don't think there is anything you can do to prevent them. I also feel/felt really embarrassed about them, but not sure why though.

I didn't really get used to them but they faded and shrivelled up and just left my skin looking wrinkly. If they stay below your belly button its not so bad as you can wear high bikini bottoms (or have a tummy tuck ) but mine are all around my belly, but only on the front, definitely get your dh to massage you everynight, I think they can appear around the sides and back as well.

I use the Palmer's cocoa butter cream for stretchmarks and clarins has a lovely oil.

Original poster

3rdTriMossTer · 10/01/2007 11:54

Leo thanks for this,

I have never been sporty or trim and never worn a bikini, but it's more just the look of them, they look really angry and sore and, well, red!

As I said on the other thread, I've never suffered from poor body image (far more concerned with people finding me amusing and witty than with thinking I'm attractive iyswim! ) but it did get me down a bit this morning when I saw them!

Have been doing the massage myself, will get dh to do it!

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princessmel · 10/01/2007 12:01

Leo I felt exactly the same as you about mine, embarrassed etc and also agree they are ok if stay below tummy button. Mine didn't.

Moss I know what you mean about red pen.
When I was in the bath when preg with ds my dh came in and said it looks like Freddy Kruger has attacked your boobs . They were so red and angry looking.
They've faded loads now too.

Original poster

3rdTriMossTer · 10/01/2007 12:04

Princessmel it's weird isn't it, my dh will gleefully say "hey you're looking massive today"! I tell him it's a good job I'm not sensitive or I'd be in floods of tears. Do think that the Freddy Kruger comment was a bit close to the bone though!!

OP posts:

princessmel · 10/01/2007 12:06

I don't even think he was being mean , just describing them. He was quite shocked. He did ask if they hurt though and was concerned.

Original poster

3rdTriMossTer · 10/01/2007 12:09

Do they hurt, when they become more prevelant (sp) I mean?

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princessmel · 10/01/2007 12:12

No they just look like they do. I hope I'm not scaring you. I'll stop talking now.

Leoladyofleisure · 10/01/2007 12:16

Dh knows I am sensitive about them and is very careful what he says ! Ds looks at my belly now and says 'ouwa, ouwa, bobo' (which means something hurts).
Moss, mine didn't hurt, the skin always felt a bit funny afterwards though, but this time around the skin on my belly has been incredibly sore and sensitive to touch for a long time. I think that it is partly the stretchmarks restretching but maybe also the speed that my belly has grown with twins.

PrettyCandles · 10/01/2007 12:21

Absolutely, 3rdTMT ! You can get stretchmarks anywhere . Honestly, though, they do fade, and they don't hurt, even if they look gruesome for quite a while. Also, you rarely get any more in subsequent pgs. I didn't with no2, but did get some more with no3 - but then he was MASSIVE.

Often your priorities change once you've had a baby, and these things may not seem to be quite the big deal they were before.

Original poster

3rdTriMossTer · 10/01/2007 12:43

Princessmel you're not scaring me, I just want to prepare myself (and dh) for the fact I'll look like something out of a slasher film for the next few months

I suppose it isn't a big deal, really, in the grand scheme of things. I think once I've given birth I'll proabably be too tired to notice anyway!

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Booboobedoo · 10/01/2007 13:36

Mossy: they won't stay red forever. Eventually they go silvery and are virtually invisible.

(Got mine going through puberty, and now have a fetching purple paisley design on my bump).

I suppose we'll have to cancel the appointment with the underwear modelling agency.

Original poster

3rdTriMossTer · 10/01/2007 13:50

Oh Boo, I hadn't thought about that, I'll have to get on to Bravissimo now, they'll be so disappointed, especially as they keep leaving me begging messages on my answerphone every night!!!

OP posts:

Booboobedoo · 10/01/2007 14:00

It's awful, when they've been relying on us for the Autumn/Winter collection show.

Agent Provocateur are very cross with me.

Original poster

3rdTriMossTer · 10/01/2007 14:15

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