Stretch mark prevention...?

[GingerBaby89]

Hi ladies,

I'm currently about 11wks and have started reading up on stretch mark prevention.

My mum had VERY severe stretch marks with both me and my sister and I think I'm prone to them too (got them with growth spurts as a teenager across my bottom and boobs that have faded now to virtually invisible silver lines).

I've come across something called Secret Saviours. Has anyone heard of it? Better still, got a fail safe method of preventing/reducing the dreaded tiger stripes?

XXx

Nothing can prevent them, they're down to genetics and how much collagen your skin has. There are products that can help then fade afterwards, like Bio Oil.

Purely anecdotal but I've used Bio Oil religiously twice a day since about 12 weeks... now 38 weeks and don't have a single stretch mark. My mum is absolutely covered from her pregnancies. Who knows if the Bio Oil has worked or whether I wouldn't have got them anyway? People say there's nothing you can do about it, but IMO if it's not costing the earth then you might as well try. I've only spent about £30 total on two bottles 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Foggymist just trying to do anything and everything possible as I'm super pale... but am fully aware that, broadly, science is against me 😂

@bluemoon2468 yep, I'm on the bio oil currently- fantastic that you've had such a lucky ride thus far!!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

I used vitamin e oil and didn't get any

Sadly I do think its genetic/pot luck.

I've used a mixture of burts bees cream, weleda pregnancy oil and a basic m&s tub of moisturiser - honey and something. Have none on my bump and just a couple each side on my back low down, which seems so odd to me because I haven't really got any bigger there. I dont even look pregnant from the back. I'm week 36 now. Also got them under my boobs but didnt notice until I expect they had been there a while as my boobs grew quite a bit when I was first pregnant.

I would say as long as you keep everything moisturised you are doing your best.

I think keeping your skin moisturizer would probably help, probably drinking lots of water and staying hydrated would help too. Good luck!

I am currently using Secret Saviours. It's basically a daytime gel that feels a bit tacky, a belly band with rubbery type thingies that sit against the skin and supposedly help equalise stretching forces across the skin, and a night time cream. Everything smells nice, and a band is very comfortable to wear. I am almost 34 weeks and ok so far. I know it's all genetic and stuff, but I still wanted to try everything on an off chance it will minimise/prevent them!

I agree a lot of it is luck and genetics!

I have stretch marks from previous weight gain, didn't do anything to try and prevent them at the time because I was in denial about said weight gain but after losing the weight I used Bio Oil twice a day for months to try to reduce them, and it made no difference whatsoever. I'm fully expecting to get more during this pregnancy.

They used to really bother me but I've come to accept them now - they're only really visible when I'm naked or in swimwear, and the only person looking closely in those situations is DH, who couldn't care less (in a nice way)!

its basically genetics that will determine if you get them or not. Bio oil etc. May help. Im very pale too and it wasn't long until they faded to white lines. Currently pregnant with my 2nd and the only changes I've noticed is ive had a few little extensions at the top of the stretch marks I already had, using bio oil on them but I'm not bothered cos I've already got used to having the stretch marks x

I didn't use anything. I have no stretch marks on my belly but I did get them on my upper thighs but they've faded now. I don't think they can be prevented with creams

I'm using a Secret Saviours band and Bio Oil. I'm currently 34 weeks, so there is still time for stretch marks to make an appearance but I've had none so far. My mum was covered but they have faded, her skin is still quite loose though. The reason I bought a Secret Saviours band is because it has actual clinical trials that show it does reduce the chances of getting stretch marks.

Bio oil followed by Palmers stretch mark cream, morning and night. The Palmers makes the oil less greasy and rub in sooner. No marks yet and I'm 40 weeks 🤞. Cheap and cheerful 👍. Just hope baby pops out soon before they appear 🙈

I’ve been using Bio oil twice daily since about 16 weeks - currently almost 37 weeks without a stretch mark yet! However like others have said I do think it’s down to genetics - my mum hasn’t got a single stretch mark so hoping I follow the same
Way!

Agree that there's not much you can do. I used Palmers through both pregnancies. Smells lovely and it's nice to massage the bump. No stretchmarks first time but my second baby was 11lb and during the last week they appeared as if my skin just gave up 3 years later and they are virtually invisible now.

I have stretch marks from a teenage growth spurt all inside my thighs so thought I'd be covered in pregnancy. I luckily didn't get one. I moisturised day and night and drank loads of water. Don't know if it helped or if it was just luck but just because you have some doesn't mean you'll get them in pregnancy. :)

I worked in Dermatology and asked a consultant this when I was pregnant - it's pot luck and genetics unfortunately, so I wouldn't waste too much money on any magic formula. I used whatever moisturiser I had on hand, but more to soothe the itching than anything else!

I didn't get any with ds1 until 35 weeks or so and then I got loads. With ds2 I developed new ones so bad they were like swollen ropes, you could see the shape through clothes, and by the end I had steroid cream prescribed to try and help me not scratch them until they bled. My old belly button piercing is a giant stretch mark and started to tear close to term, which is nice. I covered myself in oils and lotions throughout. Made no difference! I don't think I got a single new one with ds3, tbh, but by that point I'm not sure there was an unmarked inch of abdominal skin left .

I used the Palmers stretch mark cream from about 6 weeks pregnant, and didn't get any stretch marks.

As everyone said, it's pot luck and genetics. I didn't have any during pregnancy but got them afterwards. Hey ho, as is life.

My DD is now convinced she was swopped at birth, I have never had stretch marks, neither has my mum or gran. DD is covered at 13 😢 trying bio oil but made her aware she's still growing so not to expect a miracle.

All the above advice is good and also eating pumpkin seeds. They aid in making skin stretchy and they are nice to nibble on too. I have just bought a very big bag from amazon.

My mum did nothing and has no stretch marks. I slathered myself and have a stomach like an underground map that appeared overnight at 38 weeks. Not much you can do alas.