Really struggling with stretch marks and weight gain

[Jg93x]

Hi everyone,

Bit of a backstory so that it makes sense, I had anorexia for nearly 10 years from age 14-23.

I’m 26 now and recovered, and currently 29 weeks pregnant.

At my lowest I weighed around 5 stone 12, I got up to around 8 stone 10 pre pregnancy which took a few years to do (I’m 5’2 so this was a healthy bmi)

Because I’ve been so skinny most of my life I’ve never really had a lot of stretch marks or sudden weight gain. The odd tiny one when I was growing as a teenager. Since getting pregnant I’ve put on a lot of weight for me anyway, and I’m now 10 stone 5.

Everyone keeps telling me it’s all in my bump and it looks like I’ve but nothing on elsewhere, but I’m covered in stretch marks all over the backs of my thighs, my hips, top of my thighs at the front, my boobs and even my calf.

The only place I have none (yet, I’m sure it’s a matter of time) is my belly.

I’m so down about it. It’s bringing back all of my disordered eating thoughts and making me want to diet. I’m not even trying to eat a lot, in fact after years of anorexia I am still aware of how much I’m eating and I’m shocked I’ve put on so much weight. I feel so disgusting and I honestly hate myself. Even my face looks puffy and swollen.

I’m too embarrassed for my fiancé to see my body, I know he couldn’t possibly find me attractive anymore and it’s making me so sad.

Is there anything I can do to stop the marks appearing? Why am I gaining weight so quickly :(

It’s my first pregnancy and I’m really struggling to be honest.

Hi OP,

I’m really sorry to hear that you’re struggling at the moment. I don’t have much advice unfortunately but wanted to provide some words of comfort as I’m currently pregnant with my first at 20 weeks.
Like you I’ve had a very disordered relationship with food and weight gain for many years. I’m also 5”2 and started my pregnancy at 7.7 stone.
I’ve never been someone used to gaining weight and looking bigger and so far I’ve found it really challenging too.

All I can offer is what people have said to me, in that your body might need to put on more for the baby since we started small, and that it won’t be forever. I’ve cried to my other half so many times about this and he’s been so supportive, I’m sure your other half will be too and will love you even more that you’re carrying his baby - that’s something only you could do and it’s amazing.

I know it’s really hard, please know you’re not alone. I’m trying to believe that it’ll all be okay in the end and I offer you the same encouragement.

With regards to the stretch marks, that’s something that eventually fade in time even if you’re not using things to help fade them (I think bio oil or the like can speed it up though I’ve never tried it) I have very bad stretch marks on my thighs from years ago and they’re now just silvery marks you can hardly see. I never think about them much anymore because I don’t notice them xxx

Hey doll 🥰

We can all have similar thinking styles when we are pregnant this is normal as we loose a part of our identity if you like with weight gain and feeling really not like ourselves with the changes to our appearance and it can be really challenging, but always remember you recovered from that illness and do remember these aren't your thoughts remember to separate them from anorexic thoughts because you are in control of your thoughts and feelings not anorexia and you are in charge if you want to be. You know you are growing a baby and you know that in order to grow this baby you have to gain weight and fill out with fluid around your body, these gains are not because you have been unhealthy you are growing a baby. Lock anorexic thoughts in a box and throw away the key because you are in charge doll.

Always remember every anorexic thought that comes your way, break it down look at the situation, the thoughts the feelings and look at the evidence/facts behind these thoughts to see if your anorexic thoughts match your own thoughts. You are in control always!

Lots of hugs, from a mental health nurse working in eating disorders 💕

I’m using this band that you wear every day and applying cream every night. It’s called secret saviours and is clinically proven to prevent stretch marks in 82% of women (but only on your stomach I think). I haven’t got any stretch marks yet but I’m only 28 weeks so I’m guessing there’s a lot more time for them to arrive. Here’s the link if you want to check it out secretsaviours.com/ But as PP said stretch marks do eventually fade. I have quite a lot on my hips, thighs and boobs from puberty but my husband has never even noticed them because they’re so faded.

In terms of weight gain, it’s easy to say to not worry about it during pregnancy because it’s totally normal etc. but almost everyone struggles with it. I’m struggling with weight gain and I’ve never suffered with anorexia or anything like that. I think you really need to speak to your midwife about your concerns, anorexia is very complex so I think you need professional help. Don’t feel like you need to do this on your own