Why doesn't anyone seem to get stretch marks?

[inky1991]

Hi there

I'm 28 weeks pregnant and noticed a stretch mark on my belly for the first time this morning. This obviously doesn't bode well for me, starting to get them this early on. I imagine they will only be getting more frequent and larger from now on 🙁.

I'll try not to moan about it too much, as I know it's a mark of motherhood and not the end of the world. The thing that bothers me is that I feel like hardly anyone else seems to get these? Social media is flooded with all these massive bare baby bumps, on tiny petite women without a single stretch mark? My friends who have had babies before me didn't get stretch marks either. They all share their lovely 8/9 month bump photos with me, showing their lovely smooth but stretched skin

Anyway I was just wondering if anyone else has noticed this? I read online that 90% of women get stretch marks during pregnancy, but this doesn't seem to be the case from my experience

If I'm starting to get stretch marks at 28 weeks, do I basically need to prepare myself for a tiger striped tummy?

I was ravaged with them, but they only appeared in the last couple of weeks of pregnant. I’m tall and was very slim pre-pregnancy with 34B boobs that grew to an F cup! Got stretch marks on my belly, breasts, hips, thighs. Looked like someone had got a knife out and slashed me! My first baby was a 10 lber though so I suppose not surprising.

I wouldn’t hold any store in social media photos. Isn’t everyone blemish free and gorgeous on Instagram? .

I've not got even one. I've got oily skin so assumed it was due to that but no idea if it is or not.

I think what you're seeing there is a self selecting sample who show their bare bellys. If it's all smooth and nice looking people are more likely to share a pic of it. If it looks like a road map of London, less likely! See also, photos of people with a double chin etc...
Fwiw I have loads of stretch marks from pregnancy and they are all a nice silver colour now.

If you’re going off a sample based purely on women who share bare bump photos on social media then I’m not surprised you’re seeing less stretch marks than average. I didn’t get any but based on another totally non scientific sample group of my closest friends, I’d say more did than didn’t.

I actually know what you mean - I don't think they are very very common. I'd say 50-50

Visually I don't find them a problem but I don't like the way they change the yexyure of the skin.

Didn't get any in pregnancy but lots on legs, bum and thighs from puberty.

texture!

I got stretch marks in my pregnancy. But I also got stretch marks during puberty.

I think some people are more prone to them. For me and my family they are normal.

I'm only 15+4 and stretch marks have already started coming through about 5 weeks ago! I've had stretch marks since I was around 15 years old so knew it would happen

I got a lot of stretch marks from growing really quick as a teenager (i stopped growing at 14 and was 5'9"). I didn't moisturise and got stretch marks on my boobs, bum, upper thigh and knees! When i got pregnant i oiled my stomach 3 times a day with bio oil and didn't get any stretch marks on my stomach. Moisturising is key especially if you already suffer from dry skin like i do. Also try not to scratch

I have many stretch marks from puberty on my hips, calves and breasts but didn't get a single one during my pregnancies. Go figure. I was very poorly with HG and didn't moisturise at all so I firmly believe that whether you get stretch marks or not is out of your control.

OP I would avoid social media pictures - they could have been edited and after all what good do they bring to your life? Enjoy your pregnancy.

I was so worried about stretch marks before I had children. I didn’t get any with my first but I looked like I had been scratched by a wild cat after my second! They fade massively and I don’t think about them anymore. :)

I have no stretch marks on my belly from pregnancy, but loads on backs of my knees, hips and boobs from growing during puberty 🤷‍♀️ Just (un)lucky I guess.

I don't have any but neither did my mother. I think it's genetic.

My three closest friends all have loads. It really bothers one of them, the other two don't seem to care.

I got none with my first (biggest bump but smallest baby) but then did get them with my second and third 🤷‍♀️

I think they they run in families. I lack oil and water in my skin so I get them.

I've always assumed it was due to how oily your skin is - that's why oils can help. My friend skipped through puberty with a single pimple and got stretchmarks, whereas I'm still spotty unless I have a strict skin regime and didn't get any.

I expected to get them, I was very slim and very fit when I was pregnant but I escaped them through both pregnancies.

I think you said you see people on social media who don't have stretch marks, which is probably where the issue is. An awful lot of posts (the majority probably) are doctored with photoshop or equivalent or taken as flatteringly as possible. Like others have said, I've never met a real mum who didn't have stretch marks. It sounds like some people don't get them in "real life" judging from this thread, but I'd take photos on Facebook and the like with a pinch of salt.

I didn't get any stretch marks until literally a week before he was born 😄 thought I'd got away Scot free haha x

I think when Iv watched maternity programs on tv most people seem to have them? Iv had 2 kids and have none on my belly but got them on my thighs from being a teen.

I had stretch marks from puberty but none in pregnancy. I thought I'd be covered but didn't put on much weigh pregnant or get that big.

It's genetic. I know you get lots of women saying I used X oil or cream and therefore I didn't get them but there are no studies to support it. If there was they'd recommend it.

And obviously, social media is self-selecting. Just like everyone looks nice in their pictures - they're less likely to upload photos that don't make them look attractive.

Weirdly I got lots of stretch marks about 10 weeks in on my thighs and not a single one on my stomach. I don't think my thighs changed much, certainly not as much as my stomach expanded but that's bodies for you.

I think people tend to only consider stretch marks in pregnancy as worth mentioning when they're on your stomach. With my first baby I got some under my boobs and inside my bum crack but because you couldn't see them I didn't really consider myself to have any, this time around I'm 36 weeks pregnant was a stone heavier when I fell pregnant and have got some on both hips. Again, none on my belly yet but won't be surprised if they arrive next.

I didn't get any until my baby was born and then my stomach was covered in them, and they all got itchy little blisters all down them, the bastards.

I had a baby at 38 and don't have any. Didn't really do anything to prevent them. My face on the other hand looks like a melting candle so I'd prefer stretch marks! My husband has them on his hips, assume from being a teenager and having a growth spurt.