I don't hate my stretch marks

[fruityb]

I'm stunned about this in a honesty.

I didn't have any till about 28 weeks and then they started appearing underneath my bump. They're all mainly in the middle third of my bump and underneath my belly button. I have a few starting to radiate out from the top of my belly button but not many. None on hips so far, apart from the silver ones from being a teen.

I've bio oiled daily at least twice so they're maybe not as angry red as they could be, but I'm not looking at them and feeling upset or that they're ugly. I know I can't grow a human without stretching a lot and they were expected, but I look at them with a sense of pride. Baby is due any day really, am 38 weeks, and I don't know if I'll feel differently later but they've been caused by something that is already much loved and was much longed for.

I expected to hate them, to feel repulsed and to feel annoyed they'd damaged me somehow. But nope, they're just there and they are what they are.

I think I have a new found respect for my body after going through this. My pelvis has hurt for about 4 weeks now and my feet hurt so much when I get up, on the soles, and I'm suffering with swollen fingers and feet but in all honesty it's not been a bad experience.

Child birth is yet to come... But right now I feel really good about myself.

It's brilliant you feel great. They do look different when your belly goes back to normal though so you may not like them as much then but hopefully you will!

I'm awaiting the popped balloon effect but I'll deal with that later. I know it's coming! But I'm really pleased at this stage I'm not looking at myself and crying! I've had a difficult relationship with my body and shape all my life and I think this has been a real eye opener. It's amazing what it can do!

I've never hated my stretch marks I've been lucky though in that mine are pinky and thin then fade to silver quickly, my sister however has some that are 3cm wide and purple I think I wouldn't be ok if I had them as bad, also my friends at very crinkly mines are not they are more flat to the rest of the skin which improves the appearance.

Well done for being so confident keep it up after birth

I never hated mine, although I didn't think I had any until DD was born and I got to see the underside of my stomach!
It is what it is in my mind, you're very lucky I'd you don't get any so it's great that you feel like OK about it.

Good for you.

I suffered with bulimia for 10 years. Pregnancy sorted me out. I don't have many stretchmarks but I feel like you. My body is awesome and I love it.

I can't see my stretch marks it was only when I looked in a mirror and thought "bugger!" But since then I've just accepted them and feel proud of them, I've grown a baby!

So much pressure on women all the time - should be proud of what we have! Plus I'm not ready to give up maternity clothes as I love them too much lol