When did you start to get stretch marks?

[jamie980]

Just curious to know when they started to appear for people. In third trimester and managed to escape them so far but sure they’re only a matter of time away as I’ve been getting itching as the skin stretches. Know there’s no way of avoiding them if I’m predisposed to them and they’re just battle scars I’ll have to accept but just wondered what other people’s experiences were?

After the birth During labour midwife was asking me what's my secret for no stretch marks. I really thought I escaped them, but so so many appeared in the first weeks after birth

Only one patch about two inches square at 39 weeks with my third. Thought I’d then get more but I didn’t.

At about 36 weeks, they came over night cx

Didn't get any with my first. With my second I thought I'd got away with it too but they appeared at 42 weeks!

33 weeks today and for the past week it feels like my skin is burning on the inside in the love handle area and I can see them starting to form

It's not just genetic, it's hormonal hence why lots of teenagers get them.

Nothing until 38 weeks. Then a few under the bump (I'd oiled twice a day the whole pregnancy). By 42 weeks when I gave birth, they were all the way up to above belly button. I had some from puberty but they were more superficial. The pregnancy ones are like deep chasms.

I was gutted. And it is less of a problem when I had the bump..afterwards it's like a crumpled sack.

But then in my second pregnancy I had complications. Then I felt bad for being so upset about the stretch marks in the first pregnancy - stretch marks are FAR better than the stress of not knowing whether your baby is going to die inside you or not, or be born very prematurely.

So now I don't care about the crumpled sack with trenches across it.

Didn't get any in either of my pregnancies - but I have loads of them already pretty much everywhere (hips, boobs, belly, even the back of my bloody knees!) from puberty that are all faded/colorless and barely noticeable now. So I fully expected to get them - i used bio oil s a teen agers to help reduce the marks and again preemptively each time during pregancy so either that really helped or I was just completely pre-stretched out already! I honesty think it is genetics+luck.
Bio oil or similar can't hurt if you want to at least feel like you are doing something to help your chances!

@HotelliFinlandia that sounds like an ordeal, I’m sorry you went through that and I hope everything turned out okay. Thank you for the perspective xx

Another person here who got a few AFTER baby was born! About a week after noticed them on my tummy and hips. Apparently it can happen as your skin stretches backwards. How delightful. Wearing the right support on tummy and bras definitely eased them In my opinion. But if they want to show up.. they will :) totally worth it!!

None. 2 babies and didn't get any. Did moisturise and use bio oil but really think it's genetics.

I didnt get a single one with either of my pregnancies and my bump was so itchy, doesn't always mean they're coming.

17 weeks, huge bump - big baby and polyhydramnios.

3 babies and don’t have any. Gained a fair amount of weight during my pregnancies - I don’t weight myself but I always eat loads during 1st tri. Now pregnant with my last baby and hoping a get away with it this time too.

Reassuring that teenager ones don't necessarily mean you'll get pregnancy ones, I was covered during puberty! Trying to remind myself that they fade and I'm milk bottle white so you really don't see them in time

I was so happy that I "got away with it" because I was absolutely enormous and very overdue with no stretch marks. But then at over 41 weeks they just appeared out of nowhere and were very severe.

I wouldn't worry about it. It's largely genetic and worrying won't stop them.

During labour at 41+ 10!! Mum never had them so I thought I'd escaped them. Transverse baby and several days of labour did it for me I think. However now they're here I really don't mind them, actually quite like them weirdly

I had them as a teenager. In fact I had so many - on my thighs and calves - they caused me a lot of distress at an age when you're so self conscious. I fully expected to add to my collection when pregnant, but not one appeared. As an adult, I wouldn't even have cared. I was just assuming I'd get them!

37/ 38 weeks I think