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...

[BlusteryShowers]

I got them but my mum and sister didn't 😩

[PrincessHoneysuckle]

I did everything I could but got them at around 34 weeks

[PrincessHoneysuckle]

And weirdly my scar tissue tans so they arent noticable on holiday etc

[userabcname]

It's skin type. I think the only way to actually get rid of them is by having them lasered (? Might be the wrong term) off when you've already got them. I used millions of lotions and potions with ds1 and am absolutely covered in them. Thought there physically wasn't room for any more with ds2 yet still managed to acquire 3 new ones. They do fade although mine are still visible 3 years later after ds1.

[Scruffbob]

I have them all over from being a teenager, hips, boobs, thighs, calves, literally all over. I applied body butter twice a day from about 17 weeks when I started to get a bump. Only got like two very small marks. I like to think it helped!

[novacaneforthepain]

I have them all over my body. But have been through 2 pregnancies, gaining 6 stone each time (and loosing majority of it after) and only have 1 little tiny stretch mark. I didn't use anything, so there is actually hope it might not hope to you.

[carlablack]

Reading messages so far made me think...maybe belly skin is more tolerant to stretching than rest of the body? So many people report having marks everywhere but not belly

[DontStandSoClose]

I don’t have a single mark and had 2 children within 18 months of one another. My mum has 3 children and looks like a roadmap without sounding mean! So having read they are possibly genetic I thought I’d do my best to prevent them. Years ago in my 20s I met a girl travelling and she randomly told me her mum avoided them by religiously rubbing baby oil into her bump, thighs etc. So when I found out I was pregnant I bought the cheap £1 johnsons stuff and religiously every single night did my belly, my thighs and my bum. I did the same with the second child too. The end result is not a single mark. Pretty sure I should have had a lot looking at my mum and the fact I was size 8 pre pregnancy so there was a lot of expanding. I would mention I was very fit before I got pregnant (ran marathons) so I did have good abs so that may have slowed the stretching quickly somewhat. I’ve just found out today I’m having a third and my first thought was “need to dig the baby oil out!”.

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

It's so genetic. I got stretch marks on my thighs and boobs during teenage years, but none through 5 pregnancies (one of which I gained a lot of weight as had bad morning sickness then was on bedrest, so basically eating was my hobby 😬). Used bio oil and stuff sporadically but mostly forgot. 2 of my sisters had none in teenage years, used it religiously in pregnancy and both got them... There's no research evidence to show that anything prevents them, it's really down to hormones and DNA.

[totallyyesno]

I had stretch marks on my thighs as a teenager. No stretch marks from pregnancy- and I had a big twin bump. I did moisturise but not regularly so not sure if I made the difference or was just lucky.

[SpringSpringTime]

I got stretch marks during puberty but none from pregnancy (and I was huge). Think it’s just luck really.

[RandomMess]

1st pregnancy I had zero, 2nd - my stomach is wrecked!!

[Namechangex10000]

I’d say they’re genetic. I’ve never used creams, have had 3 kids and not a single stretch mark. My weight has always fluctuated so I assume I just have stretchy skin 🤦🏻‍♀️

[DramaAlpaca]

It's genetic. In three pregnancies I didn't get a single stretch mark.

[DippyAvocado]

You won't necessarily get them. I had lots of stretch marks from my hips growing at puberty. I didn't get a single one when I was pregnant.

[AnneLovesGilbert]

I have some old ones on my hips from puberty but didn’t get a single one in pregnancy despite a decent sized bump and going overdue. Mum has none from 4 pregnancies. It’s luck.

[Bridgeofpies]

I think it’s totally luck of the draw! I don’t have a single stretch mark anywhere on me. But I am tall so must have grown a lot in teen years.

I have had 3 kids, I used oil in my first pregnancy but didn’t remember to the next 2 times. Even though my third baby was enormous (10lb6oz) still not a stretch mark in sight.

I think oil probably doesn’t hurt and can maybe make them less visible but otherwise I reckon it’s genetic!

[Anaesthetist83]

I had IVF and got really severe hyperstimulation which left me in high dependency for a week. I was extremely oedematous and went from a 28 to 29 inch waist to over 44 inches in a couple of days. As the oedema resolved, stretch marks appeared around my hips. I used bio oil religiously and they have settled to hardly noticeable lines.

I’m now 30 weeks, and have continued to use bio oil. So far, no new stretch marks but I suspect they again may show post delivery. I am still only measuring 36 inches around the waist compared to the 44 with OHSS so hopeful it won’t be too bad!

[PippinStar]

Never got one during my first pregnancy. Now I'm 28 weeks with number 2 and I already have loads on my hips didn't use any creams or oils either time as I've read they don't work - it's all genetic. My mother never got any. Not sure why I've got them this time but I'm not happy about it!

[dancingonmycervix]

I'm on my 5th pregnancy. I haven't got any. But I do have silver lines on my boobs from teenage growth spurt and same around my thighs. But nothing from pregnancy. I used the clarins oil with my first pregnancies but this time have just rubbed any old cream in.

[flowertoday]

I don't have any but I think it is luck / genetics. I have been through five pregnancies, put on variable amounts of weight in each one.
I do however have some varicose / spider veins on my left leg now which were caused by my youngest . I think it is unlikely that anyone gets through pregnancy completely unscathed

[WhatWouldDominicDo]

I didn't get any stretch marks. I don't have any anywhere despite gaining and losing lots of weight several times over the years, and being pregnant twice.

[Baaaahhhhh]

Well, this is the strange thing. I got stretch marks on my boobs, bum and thighs as a teenager, so hormone related, wasn't a growth thing, as I am quite small, and slim.

When pregnant I was so paranoid about getting new ones (the old ones having faded to nothing), that I slapped on loads of Palmers Cocoa Butter. Not one stretch mark, anywhere.

So, the answer is no idea really. I was prone to stretch marks, having had them before, but despite hormonal changes, and stretching tummy, didn't get them in either pregnancy. Was it the Cocoa butter? Possibly, maybe.

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

@Baaaahhhhh I was the same and my mum too - teenage stretch marks (despite being slim) but nothing in pregnancy despite 5 pregnancies each, and no to minimal oils and creams.

There is research on this, it's highly genetic and hormonal. You are slightly more likely to get them if you gain a lot of weight or go overdue,but lots get them early on.

[moostermum]

Bio oil every day