Has anyone EVER managed to prevent stretch marks?

[carlablack]

I want to know if it's possible for someone to avoid stretch marks using creams and oils. I have them everywhere but my belly. Mom says she avoided them by applying creams but then again, she doesn't have any stretch marks on her body.

Has anyone who had marks before managed to prevent them from happening during pregnancy? If it's not possible I won't bother with creams and all...

[AuntieMarys]

Aren't they genetic? I have no stretch marks ...no idea why.

[Charlottejade89]

They're genetic. My mum hasn't got any from pregnancy and neither have I from my first. so if your mum hasn't then it's likely you might not get them either. Creams just keep the skin soft and stop them from itching if you do get any

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

I think people who have ‘prevented’ them were never going to get them. My bump with DD was fine until about 30-32 weeks. Now I look like a tiger.

[Russell19]

Weirdly I never got a single one. But like PPs said my mum never got any either.

[Alittleshortforaspacepooper]

I was very careful about using stretchmark cream and by 8 months I thought I had escaped with only a few small ones... then in the last few weeks of my pregnancy I suddenly got a load of them! I now look like a zebra.

[RosieposiePuddingandPi]

I avoided them the whole way through pregnancy and only got a couple of small ones at the end. The EMCS I ended up having gave me loads though when they pulled my skin about so much! It must have been stretched pretty tightly

[TeaAtBettys]

I have had stretch marks on my thighs and boobs (and even my knees!) since being a teenager. As soon as I found out I was pregnant I applied bio-oil to my stomach twice a day and came away with one tiny stretch mark. I realise that it may be pure fluke but I like to think the oil helped!

[Megan2018]

It’s impossible to tell. I used literally nothing in pregnancy, not even normal moisturiser and I have none. But neither did my mother.

But if I’d used products I’d think they had worked, you can’t know if you’d have got them or not. I think products can help those that are prone, but I don’t believe you can prevent.
I only have 2 tiny ones on my hips from when I was a teen and I’m now 40’s. I do think it’s genes.

[JustJayne69]

My sister has got wicked stretch marks , real tiger stripes yet I've got hardly any - although I never had much of a bump.

[carlablack]

@TeaAtBettys wow that gives me hope!! I also have marks even behind my knee and I have a bottle of bio-oil at home! I'll use it up and see how it goes then.

[llwynogbach]

I didn't have any, no idea why at 4ft 10 I was fully expecting some as the only way was outwards for my bump. I think it must be genetic

[moveandmove]

I've not got any. I didnt use creams or anything. Must just be genetics I guess.

[Celibacydidntwork]

@carlablack hi, I have 3 children and not v many stretch marks. Not sure if it’s generic but I also used olive oil on my bump after every shower, bio oil too. My sister bought me a clarins body oil for my birthday one year I was pg and whilst I’m not sure if it helped it was a lovely relaxing treat and made my skin feel super soft.

[Celibacydidntwork]

*genetic

[Fiddlesticks345]

My mum and sister both got major stretch marks and still have loose skin years later, so I thought I’d defo get them. I used bio oil every morning and have got away scot free, my stomach looks the same as before I was pregnant! Could be a coincidence though, and I did have my baby at 37 weeks.

[fabulous40s]

Yes - I used baby oil in the shower from knees to boobs during and after pregnancy- not one stretch mark and my mum has loads bless her

[LilyLolo81]

I have stretch marks all over my legs and seem to be really prone to them but weirdly have none on my stomach from pregnancy. I slathered my stomach in sweet almond oil twice a day as soon as I found out I was pregnant. It could have helped or it could have just been a fluke that I didn’t get any. I was pretty shocked as my legs really are a bit of a mess with them.

[Drivingdownthe101]

So here’s my anecdote.
Baby number 1... used bio oil, no stretch marks.
Baby number 2... used bio oil, loads of stretch marks appeared bang on 40 weeks.
Baby number 3... didn’t use anything (didn’t have the time or energy at that point)... no new stretch marks.

My mum doesn’t have any. Baby number 2 ruined me!

[IlanaWexler]

I avoided them... by having a premature baby... wouldn't recommend...

[Minkies13]

My mum only got them on her boobs when pregnant, low and behold, I only got them on my boobs too. I didn't use any creams or oils on my belly or boobs

[Pinkblueberry]

My mum said the same as yours - and I did apply creams and didn’t get any. But I do have my suspicions that it’s simply genetic. By bump wasn’t that big which probably helped too.

[SecondStarFromTheRight]

My thighs are covered in stretch marks from my teen years so I was sure I would get them again. I used a bit of cocoa butter for massage a couple of times a week in pregnancy and don't have any. I had a small growing bump though. I do wonder if they are more likely to occur if there is a sudden growth spurt and the skin stretches quickly.

[allfalldown47]

I had the most enormous bumps but never got a single stretch mark, my sil used special creams, had smaller bumps and was absolutely covered in them.
I honestly think it's genetic?

[BluePheasant]

It's definitely genetics. I did nothing in both pregnancies (too ill/tired to bother) and I didn't get any. My bump was huge for my stature both times.

My understanding is that products like bio oil may help reduce the appearance of stretch marks once you have them but it's never going to prevent them occurring. I hate that women get duped into spending so much money for things like this.

[Sasaz]

I think if your going to get then you will. Growing up I got them on my thighs (always had skinny legs) boobs and some other places, but I didn’t get any on belly when I was pregnant. It was a nice surprise