Stretchmarks: if you got them, when did they appear?

[naturelover]

And do you have any stretchmark avoidance tips?

Terribly shallow, I know...

From 4th month of pregnancy, I covered myself from knees to above the breasts in (1) Biotherm gel anti-vergetures (anti-stretchmark) in the morning, and (2) almond oil at night. This I continued until about a month after I stopped breastfeeding when DD was 6 months old. to be richly put all over, from knees to breasts included. Until a month after breastfeeding.

Without meaning to sound smug about it, I don't have a single stretchmark. Everybody I know who used cocoa butter got loads of stretchmarks. It did not give me the impression that it works too well.

There might be a hereditary part to stretch marks, but I don't think genetics is all. My mother has quite a few stretchmarks on the sides of her tummy.

I hope that helps!

I got them when I was a teenager when I grew hips! I didn't get them when I was pg though. I think this is hereditary as my mum never got any during pregnancy. We are both very pale so I don't think being pale makes you more likely to get them. Actually, if you are pale they are very difficult to see once they go silvery - I have to look quite hard to see them on my hips.

I also used Palmers coco butter every night on my bump before I went to bed. I had a huge bump but I think not putting on too much weight (and by that I mean over and above the guidelines for healthy and necessary weight gain during pregnancy) helps as your skin isn't having to cope with even more stretching!

when i went through a growth spurt as a teenager.

have four from ds

I read a study (i'm crap and can't remember where) which said

Hereditary link
Weight gain related
More likely in younger mothers

Obviously all of these are generalisations, as all those people who put on half a stone and got stretch marks jump on me...!!

FWIW, I have loads of faded ones on my thighs from teenage years when I was a bit of a bloater, but didn't get any during pg. Put on 2 stone and had dd when I was 34. My Mum didn't get any either....she put on 2 stone and had me (first and only) at 34. Perhaps theres something in the research....

Oh...I used Bio oil as well and it it was very nice.

38 + 2. I remember it well (ok it was only 10 weeks ago) I thought I was getting away with it despite the fact I'm prone to getting them (my first appeared on my hips at 10 - had no idea what they were until I was about 15. I have since got plenty more on thighs, bum, boobs and even armpits!). However even with lavish use of bio-oil, a purply veined tummy was inevitable methinks.

My sister smugly announced she had none at all when she came round the other week with her DD - then asked me how many I had. How many? How on earth do you count them - its not like they're in orderly rows She was clearly telling the truth - no one who has them would ask such a daft question!

I didn't get any until about a week before the end. I was so smug as well, I probably deserved them.

Boobs, almost immediately
a few around my belly button at 40 weeks (I carried to 41 weeks)
Thighs, only discovered them about 2 months after delivery, I suppose because I could seen them!

boobs about 36 weeks,
stomach day after birth!
was also far too smug up until then, serves me right really!!!

Nothing as yet, but then not really showing yet - have loads from my teens though, so am somewhat expecting them and not looking forward to them (although in fairness, hardly notice mine, they've faded so much). So keen to find out what, if any, pre-emptive action works!

Did try to stave them off early by attempting to get into the habit of using Palmers Cocoa butter but it made my skin peel off!!! Most peculiar, I do get eczema but have never had a reaction like that to anything, just like the peeling people get after sunburn. Just wondering, those of you who've used other stuff such as bio oil do you suffer from any allergies - am always very reluctant to splash out on something just in case my skin does its "party trick" of deciding to be allergic to things 2 weeks after I start using it (can't use Clinique and Biotherm, for example).

Ta!

i got them at 36 weeks, and had been using bio oil since early on. my mum and sisters didnt have them but i had the hugest bump and am not very big it was mostly fluid, not baby!!

I didn't get any, but then my sister and Mum didn't either. Having said that I used a witchy concoction every morning after a shower (mix of rosehip, borage, wheatgerm and jojoba oils with aloe vera gel to make it less greasy) and neals yard's mothers balm every evening. Still think it's largely down to luck, but my philosophy was at least if I tried to keep them at bay and STILL got them i wouldn't kick myself for not bothering!!

None until 42 weeks which I was devastated with, but they ave now faded and cant be seen unless I strech the skin

Very early in my first pregnancy - it looked as though a large tiger had scratched me all the way up from the base of my tummy leaving red claw marks. Each pregnancy I got a few more. They are now not a vlived red but the skin is irrevocably "torn" underneath. My tummy is a total mess now. My Mum has the same from her 4th pregnancy (me). She calls it her "boiled elastic"!

Didn't get any with DS - and think i was smug because now, at 37+4 with my second, a few have appeared round my tummy button (although not v bad) AND, having read this thread I looked UNDER my bump and think there is one lurking there. Didn't realise they could appear afterwards - how unfair is that? Am using Palmers and bio oil so fingers crossed.

I think one of the reasons celebrities have an elective SC at 37 weeks is to avoid the greater risk of stretch marks appearing. I certainly think I got mine in those last weeks.

I got them really late in pg - but I've been using strivectin-sd and it really works!

I got them on my thighs from about 30 weeks with DS1 and very very low down on tummy (ie, can hide them in my knickers) at about 36 weeks. Also got lots on boobs (as they went from teeny to humungous) and few on bum. With DS2 got them on my bump from about 34 weeks I think but no new ones on my legs. Used creams and stuff with both pgs, gave me lovely soft skin at least! They are mostly faded now but tummy looks a bit crepe papery if you push the skin together!

I would highly recommened Boots Meditteranean Body Butter. It's only £5 a tub, smells great and sinks in really fast so doesn't make you slimy.

I used it after my shower and didn't get any stretchmarks with either of mine. My mum is covered in them, I have very pale skin, I've a really boyish 5'3 frame and my babies were 7lb14 and 9lb3, so I was expecting loads.

It was by far the best cream I tried. I got through about 4 tubs each pregnancy

I got one after each baby was born! Well they were extensions to ones I got during puberty really. I used Palmers cocoa butter formula from boots, very cheap and smells like chocolate.

i didn't get them till after milk came in! oh well, am even less likely to show off top half than belly so doesn't relly matter. i think it is hereditary also and maybe if you put on a lot of weight quickly.

ddidnt get them until after bubba was born! but they seem to ahve faded now, although still have ones from puberty on thighs and boobs. I used boots pregancy body butter, smells lovely and i think helped!

I was very lucky and got no stretchmarks with dd but spent almost over £100 in 8 months on Shea butter from body shop. Everyone said nothing works but my sis and mum are covered in them. Try something, you never know!