Found my first cluster of stretch marks :(

[melissa1215]

Hi,

I'm 26 weeks pregnant and found my first set of big, very noticeable purple stretch marks on my lower stomach today. Not gonna lie, I cried a lot.

I knew it would happen, I just didn't realise how they'd look. I have a large scar across my stomach which is a keloid, I was very self conscious over it and it looks as tho the stretch marks are coming off it.. the skin is very tight in that area due to the scar.

It's just knocked me. I know it's part of pregnancy and this time last year I'd of given anything to have stretch marks and a bump, I've been through a lot for this pregnancy so I'm not being ungrateful just a little upset. I struggle with low self esteem anyway and thought I was adjusting well to all the changes but this has knocked me quite abit.

Any advice?... do they eventually go white?

Mine went white within about a year. Can barely be seen unless you are looking closely

Oh bless you, please don't let them upset you so much! But I do understand completely where you are coming from though.
Do you have any bio oil? I'd start using it now, rub it in twice a day, over the stretch marks and all over the bump, you're hips and get someone to do your lower back too, once in the morning after a shower and evening before bed, it is oil so if wear a vest top to sleep in to save your sheets. Continue using it after baby has arrived. It'll help to fade the marks to silver, but also help with preventing more from arriving.

Congratulations BTW.

Mine are almost gone; baby is 7 months. But also I love them...I see them as my tattoos; a reminder of an amazing thing my body did. Sadly can’t convince myself to feel the same about my wobbly belly yet, but the stretch marks I’m ok with. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

Thanks everyone, I just got such a shock at how big and angry they'd look and I still have 14 weeks left... I know the main thing is I'll have my baby in my arms, I just need to work on my confidence I guess xx

I got loads with my first child & it does make you feel awful no matter how lucky & happy you are to be having a baby...I scar really badly.Mine are thick...But they did ho white.Im on number 4 now & I didnt get more each time.But as you get a bump the old stretch Mark's get massive again & it is scary...I had a breast uplift a few years ago & scarred badly...And my boobs have got huge with this baby and all my breast scars have got huge and it's really upsetting me.It looks horrible...I just keep telling myself they will shrink again.They will go white...and we will have a beautiful baby at the end of it...I understand how you feel.Especially in the summer.Everyones bodies are out & the sun high lights ever bit of cellulite & stretch mark...x

It's a shock when you first get them, have you got some stretch mark cream? It doesn't make them disappear or stop them but it helps them at least not be as bad or fade... bio oil or palmers are great (palmers is only about £4 too).

Hyaluronic acid (I get mine from The Ordinary) is completely pregnancy safe and one of the only substances that studies have shown to work at preventing stretch marks. I’m free of the buggers at 39 weeks and have been rubbing it on my belly for a couple of months.

Oh op it isn't nice, but they do fade to nothingness eventually. I didn't get any on my stomach, despite getting absolutely massive, because I slathered myself in almond oil twice a day(much cheaper than bio oil and just as effective imo) But I forgot about doing my boobs, bum and hips and woke one morning horrified at all the angry purple lines that had literally appeared overnight.

You're not ungrateful or silly for feeling upset about body changes, it's a lot to take in, I'm on my fourth and I'm still hoping there's no extra damage (not that it'd msjr any difference now.) They do fade, mine didn't really go red/purple always white and after birth quite wrinkly in a small area that was most affected, you do get used to them but I felt really rubbish about not being able to wear a bikini without feeling self conscious at the age of 24 but over the last 10 years I've found plenty of amazing high waisted bikinis and cut out swimsuits that cover up the marks. For a while I hated my husband seeing them too and I must admit I still do prefer him not too, not that he seems to care he probably prefers that I have them as I make more effort with nice lingerie that covers my marks now 😂. Xx

I felt the same about mine. I started getting them in my first pregnancy around a similar time to you and by the end I had loads of very red/purple ones. I used bio oil but it didn’t make a jot of difference. The biggest factor is genetic and you will either get them or you won’t unfortunately. What I will say is they will fade over time and won’t look so bad. I’m currently 36 weeks pregnant with #2 and this time round I haven’t used anything as didn’t see the point and so far I haven’t got any new ones. Just the silvery white ones from my first pregnancy.

It just really threw me, feeling abit better now.. thanks for the replies I'm hoping they do fade x