early stretch marks

[rhia22]

currently 24 weeks, i have sooo many stretch marks they're getting darker now and are all over the bottom of my stomach, just started going above the belly button too!!! i'm so sad about it i know it's making my lovely baby but it's so hard trying to adjust to your changing body!!
my partner is saying it's fine that i'm still attractive etc but i just feel sad about it !! i had weight on my belly anyway didn't think that they would stretch so much !!! :(

It absolutely is a knock to confidence, there’s a lot of changes and it all gets so overwhelming. It sounds like you have a great supportive partner but I don’t know a woman who loves having stretch marks.

A friend of mine has used mamamio stretch mark products and has found they’ve helped. Whilst it won’t prevent it will help keep the skin hydrated and she found it helped a lot with the stretching skin feeling.

I've had stretch marks on my sides from 21 weeks for some reason one side is covered and the other has like 5 🤷🏻‍♀️ also now getting some under my bump at 30 weeks as well as inside of thighs. I have used bio oil/palmers cream daily from like 12 weeks but knew I would get them as I had them as a teenager, the ones I had as a teenager are completely non noticeable now so I know that the pregnancy ones will fade as well.

Whilst I know they will fade and its worth it for the gorgeous baby I will have its still a shock and everytime I find more I go through the same thought process. I've bought some scrubs and creams to use on them once baby is here and for some reason that has made me feel better so trying to be proactive!

They arr dark when they are new and with time they fade to silver.

There are women who love and proud of their stretch marks. Instagram has loads of posts on this. If your confidence is knocked by that i think you have bigger problems. Sure not saying you must be thrilled, but seriously?!

@GinasWig bit harsh?

Watching your body change in ways you can't control and are not used to is really difficult to accept. I think we understand all the symptoms and side effects of pregnancy but doesn't make it easy.

Does anyone's stretch marks feel like burning and tearing? Any any product recommendations to help?

I've been using bio oil but need to get better at using it daily

So sorry you’re feeling upset. It’s completely understandable. Unfortunately there is very little that can be done to prevent stretch marks. When I got mine in my 1st pregnancy (at around 40 weeks) I was really upset. But 3 years later I don’t notice them. They really do fade a lot x

@GinasWig just because some people 'love' and are 'proud' of their stretch marks doesn't mean op has to be. It's completely understandable that she feels this way, we sacrifice a lot for these babies in a relatively short space of time. No need to be harsh.

I hope you find something that can make you feel a bit better op, take care of yourself

thanks everyone!! it's just a big change over a short time, i know once he's here it will all feel better! i'm just 22 and my baby was a biiiig surprise so i guess it's all come as a bit of a shock.

@GinasWig oh well if people on instagram love theirs i just love mine too by default! that's definitely how it works

It's okay to not be happy with tour body ❤️ there's plenty of creams and oils you can use and they'll fade eventually , don't dwell on it too much, don't want to be getting down ❤️ I'm currently pregnant too and should probs take my own advice I've also been getting down about my body, but I just keep thinking worry about that when baby's here happy and healthy , your doing amazing , stay strong 🥰

I felt the exact same.

I started getting stretch marks on my thighs and hips at 19 weeks, I’d not really put a lot of weight on either so was a total shock 😔

The whole back of one of my thighs is covered now and they’ve got darker as my pregnancy has progressed, I know how hard it is to look at them every day and not like what you see.

I read that raw shea butter helps them heal and fade quicker so I’ve been using that on my existing marks and on my belly to try prevent them, so hopefully it does something! I know they will fade over time either way but it is so hard when your body changes so much in such a short space of time.

Know you’re not alone and hope you feel better soon! 💕

It was in response to this
BF888

It absolutely is a knock to confidence, there’s a lot of changes and it all gets so overwhelming. It sounds like you have a great supportive partner but I don’t know a woman who loves having stretch marks

Yes, so harsh to be body positive and give a reality check, crucify me.

It hasn't necessarily even knocked my confidence, it is just a bit of a shock! I am really quite a confident person body and otherwise I just feel like I have a lot for 24 weeks haha

@ginaswig I’ve spoke from a perspective from people I know and personal experience not from Instagram which you referred to. It certainly not for you to tell anyone how they feel and how big or little of a problem is for them. I’m sure For those women it took time to show them off with pride on social media, I’m sure they also take a lot of photographs to find one they’re happy to post. It swings in roundabouts. But not everyone is like that, if Instagram is your source of reality get a new one and you feel like you need to put women down for how they may or may not feel then evaluate where you can be less judgemental.

Apologies OP if I mis interpreted your post how they made you sad, hence my comment regarding confidence! I’m pleased to hear it hasn’t and you will get used to it over time x

@BF888 ahh you seem so kind! thanks for the nice words

I referenced instagram because anyone online can access their posts. If i refered to my cousin you would not be able to see them and check for yourself. I was trying illustrate that there are women who love their stretchmarks since you dont know any woman who does (your words). The irony of you telling me to be less judgemental and to get a different source of reality when you are posting on social media. Yes these women on ig must be lying because how dare a woman love her body as it is without years of therapy?! It must be fake, eh? 😂

@GinasWig some people love them and post them all over instagram. A lot of other women don't like them or how their body is changing. Simples.

I personally do not like them and find them painful. Also difficult to accept your body will not look the same again.

@New2020 Christ, it was in response to this I don’t know a woman who loves having stretch marks nobody is asking you to love them. Simples.

@GinasWig you’re clutching a straws. I don’t know a woman who loves them and I didn’t say there’s not women who do. I also didn’t say that they’d be lying but pictures aren’t always everything as they’re shown.

That's quite sad. Hope you you and the women you know find some self acceptance, stretchmarks and all xx