stretch marks - nooooo!

[raggybaggy]

Does anyone have any suggestions for avoiding or minimising stretch marks? I've only just started to show but i seem to have a stretch mark developing already - if i've got one now god knows how many i'll have by the time i drop my little sproglet...

massage! i wouldnt worry too much about the proper stretch mark avoiding creams, although of course, some are very nice.

good old massage oil, sweet almond is my favoured one, not too heavy and absorbs quite quickly... good for dry skin too.

massage helps to improve circulation to the area and encourages cell renewal. the oil of course helps the skin to remain supple.

having said that, i think stretch marks are also a bit genetic, so if you have that sort of skin, they may be hard to avoid.

you can moisturise - which is always good anyway - but a midwife once told me - you've either got stretchy skin or you haven't and there ain't much you can do about - I tend to go with this view as I oiled myself throughout pregnancy to no avail - but you may get other posters who can tell you otherwise. The difficulty is - if you didn't get them was it because of a cream you used or would you have not got them anyway? Don't worry if you get more - they fade - mine are barely noticeable now.

Welcome to motherhood, raggybaggy!

Not getting pregnant is a pretty good way to avoid them but I guess it's too late for that

Im using the rosehip oil - has made my skin softer and the marks less visible theres another thread i started on this from a month or so back if you search you should find it sorry no time to look for link

I think I've got stretchy skin - never used any creams and didn't get any stretchmarks with ds1 - did get a few on my lower belly in the last couple of weeks with ds2 though, before you all hate me

Hi raggybaggy and congratulations
Yes, I think it really does depend on your skin but FWIW I bought stretch mark cream from Mothercare (£4/£5 for a tube) and used it every other day from early on - and I don't have one single stretch mark! God only knows how, 'cos I was big!!!

Raggybaggy, I have been using the Clairns oil and another one from SpaceNK called erbaviva, both smell amazing and it feels great massaging into bump morning and night but low and behold, week 36 a nasty one appeared, I thought I had made it without any but I am huge, I think it does depend on genetics etc but no harm in lathering up with the oil. Have also heard Sweet Almond Oil is just as good and no-where near as expensive as the other oil. Good luck but I think they are worth it in the end.....I have two weeks left.

Here's
the other thread on strech marks products

As Turtle35 , mine appeared very fast in only the last 3-4 weeks of pregnancy, despite using a multitude of oils and creams. The ones on my stomach are invisible now luckly.

I truly think all oils are useless. the damage to the skin happens quite far down, way beyond where creams and oils can penetrate.

I remember reading when I was pregnant that it is very much hereditary. If your mum had bad stretch marks, then you probably will as well. Something to do with the make up of the layer below your outer skin layer (can't remember). All I know is that after 2 births within 15 months, my stomach looks more like a sack of potatoes than a six pack (and that's not even mentioning the stretch marks on my legs, bum etc. aarrrghhh)!

Agree with aloha and the others in that it's in your genes - either you're stretchy or not!!
Nothing to stop you (or DP) enjoying the massage bit though!

hello

few friends advised me to use neals yards massage oil for pregnant woman.

from 4 months i rubbed it in every night and morning around my tummy, ass, thighs and boobs and nope I have no stretch marks.

it maybe in the genes or the oil might of helped.

i would use the oil just incase, it costs about £13 and waitrose even sells it.

also my weekly yoga helped, i went to post natal yoga we done lots of stretches using our sides, our teacher told us the more flexible your skin the better it will stay during and after pregnancy which makes sense as if worked on it becomes more flexible whish allows it to stretch and shrink

so yoga and oil and genes too

I massaged oils with both ds & dd, nothing special, plain carrier oils mostly. I didn't get any stretch marks but how much of that was due to the oils..?
It has been mentioned already but it can't do any harm to try and it does make you take time out for a bit of much deserved pampering.

I used Palmers cocoa butter for yrs now and since being pregnant i switched to the Palmers stretch mark cream and so far so good!
ask your mum if she got stretch marks whilst pregnant as i think it has alot to do with genetics too! my mum rolls her eyes at me when i tell her all the things i am doing to help me with creams and vitamins and constantly reminds me that she didn't do any of it and i was fine, lol
Mothers hey, you gotta love em!

I've also found that people whos weight has flucuated in the past are less likely to get them. something to do with the skin having already been stretched once. So there is something to be said for getting fat occasionly.

I'm covered in them, no cream or massage helped and I would have thought with young skin (22 for first pg 23 now for 2nd) it may have helped but no such luck. Theyre on my thighs, bum, boobs and stomach and they didnt fade much in between pregnancies but then that hasnt been long so I'm trusting all you people who say they will fade in time. Its very annoying cos the figures not too bad just dont dare show it off

Wow! thanks everyone for all the advice! I did ask my mum and she showed me her poor belly & i felt sooo guilty, it's quite nice and flat but absolutely covered with stretch marks, she said they faded a bit but they're still quite distinct. So I'm going to try and defy the genes and try all the lotions, potions, massage oils I can get my hands on! & when I'm feeling a bit less yucky I'll give the yoga a try too. I only discovered this website a few days ago & it's absolutely brilliant for greenies like me who don't have a clue! Thanks all!

I agree with Bronze about having put on and lost weight before the pregnancy. I too think it somehow makes the skin more flexible.
My mum didn't have 1 strechmark with 2 pregnancy, although she's never put on weight or lost weight (she's always been slim). I got enough for her too. But apart from the ones on my breasts, all the other ones have gone.