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?

Im 9 months pregnant and not got any anywhere yet but i wonder if that 90% means on their bump or anywhere. For example my friend got some on her inner thighs and nowhere else and another friend had some on her boobs and nowhere else so a lot of people might just have them in hidden places

I got loads in puberty (on boobs, back and thighs) so expected them in pregnancy. Got to 41 weeks with my first without one appearing and then got loads overnight! I didn’t get any more in my second pregnancy (was similar size both times). They’ve totally faded now though my belly button is a bit wrinkly as there were lots concentrated around there. I’m a size 10 and had my kids in early 30s if relevant in any way!

It’s solely down to your genetics, a larger number of woman get stretch marks but you’ll see more photos from women who don’t have them as they can be a difficult thing for some to accept and a large % of pictures on social media are edited.

People with lots of stretch marks private take fewer photos of their belly. Or show the photos to fewer people.

I'm short at 5'2'' and have had two children. No stretch marks on my belly. Think I've got some on my breasts and inner thighs though. I've always thought it was because I had thicker skin on my belly with more collagen.

I've always thought it was genetics - I'm 5ft 3ins and have had two children and have no stretch marks. My Mum didn't have any either. I didn't do anything to avoid them!

When I did work experience in an OB/GYN ward , I was told it was genetically carried on the x chromosome... if your mum had them, you will too.

As to what genetically allows them or causes them... no idea :)

But you only get 1 X chromosome from your mum. The other comes from your dad. So if it is carried on the X chromosome then it absolutely would not be a given that you’d get stretchmarks just because your mum did.
I suspect it’s more complicated that 1 gene on 1 chromosome.

My mother had none with two pregnancies. I got them in week 41 of a 42 week pregnancy. My belly almost literally ripped apart. They actually hurt. I wonder if I'd not have had any if I'd given birth at 39 or 40 weeks!

I also used oil every day - twice - morning and evening. I rubbed it in/massaged the skin to work it in as much as possible. My skin was looking great by 8 months of that! 😂 The last 7-8 days if the pregnancy it was like a different belly.

I was really quite sad.

Then in my second pregnancy I was in extended bed rest due to potentially serious problems. Then I was laughing at myself for being so upset about stretch marks when my baby had been very happily and safely throwing inside.

Stop looking at social media as an example of real life!!!! To be fair I would say that regarding any topic 😂
Anyway, I have loads, stomach, hips, boobs…
No one ever sees them except me, well and dh I suppose!

I’m 5ft11 and covered in them. I was young and slim when I got pregnant and had big babies.I didn’t put on much extra non pregnancy weight.
I have them on the backs of my knees and my boobs as well as stomach, thighs and bum.
I used oils and moisturisers.

I think it’s people who are prone to dry skin who have more problems. Oilier skin seems to have more stretch.

I think it really depends on the elasticity of your skin and size of bump,my one sister size 10 humongous bump,has the worst stretch marks I've ever seen in real Ife,my size 10 other sister only has light ones under busy.i was a size 14 on dd1,got o ne noticeable stretch mark on stomach,already have loads from being a yo yo dieter ranging from 22-14,was a size 18 on dd2 and no extra stretch marks.

I got none on my stomach and was very smug.
Then I caught sight of my bum in the mirror - it was covered in stretch marks!! Have mostly gone now (DC is 4)

Never got any stretch marks on my belly (wish I could say the same for my thighs lol) BUT I did get a horrible outie belly button 🤷‍♀️

Had no pregnancy stretch marks with twins. Had hideous thigh stretch marks as a tween. No idea why.

Wow thanks for all your responses.

I definitely agree with what a lot of you have mentioned, in that the people posting their bare bump on social media are more likely to be the ones who don't have stretch marks. The ones that do would mostly not show it I guess.

Obviously I know not to believe everything you see on socials, but since being pregnant it just feels likes I've been seeing a disproportionate amount of women who are stretch mark free. They are incredibly lucky, and clearly a lot of my friends are too

I asked my mum earlier if she got any stretch marks and she relied "yes I was riddled with them!" So that's something for me to look forward to

Ahhh to have good genes!

Look up Secret Saviours

It worked for me

Me, my DM and DGM don't have stretch mark between us (total of 10 babies between all above 8lbs). Dd got them at puberty, it's genetic.

I didn't get any stretch marks in either pregnancy, but I do have them on my inner thighs from when I was younger and I put on a lot of weight very quickly.

Social media shows you what you want to see... search for things like "stretch marks" on Instagram and I'm sure you'll see a whole different lot of posts

If someone laid underneath the pregnant person and looked up - that's where they will find the stretch marks!

Pregnant WOMAN. Sorry.

I'm 37 weeks with my second and so far haven't noticed any this pregnancy and only have a couple on my boob from my first pregnancy, which have now faded and not noticable. I'm only short but am also carrying small so not sure if that makes a difference. I've not made any attempt to avoid them with creams etc. My mum has 4 children and either doesn't have any stretch marks or very minimal ones, so I've always assumed it's genetics.

I didn't have any..... but 14 months postpartum and I look like I'm pregnant due stretched belly skin! 🙈 and I'm the lightest I've ever been! Swings and round abouts 🤣

I didn't get any or put any cream on or anything, I also put on about 4 stones so wasn't a small bump, I think some are just more prone to them and whatever you do will probably get them if you are

I have loads after my 2 pregnancy's. Moisturised loads too with all the special creams because my bump was very itchy, but my mum has loads too and my little sister has them on her arms and she's never had a baby. I think it's mostly genetic tbh, I don't know if any of my friends have them though, never talked it about it I don't think 🤷‍♀️