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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Why doesn't anyone seem to get stretch marks?

113 replies

inky1991 · 26/01/2023 14:10

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?

OP posts:
lavenderfine · 26/01/2023 21:02

Also didn't gain any weight with my first pregnancy (lost weight actually with sickness) but had a huge bump with both, and swelled majorly with pre-eclampsia towards the end, which probably didn't help!

CheeseDreamsTonight · 26/01/2023 21:04

I had loads from about 28/30 weeks too. They were very dark purple and deep. 12 years later they've faded and softened. My mum got loads too. Neither sister did.

Morvena · 26/01/2023 21:06

I’m covered in them after just one baby. My stomach, thighs, even my upper arms have them!

wibblewobbleball · 26/01/2023 21:06

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 26/01/2023 14:49

My lack of stretch marks with my 5 pregnancies is, apparently, because I have hypermobility. I didn't have particularly big bumps or babies, I'm long of torso so carried them inside, so to speak. I do have a few stretch marks on my thighs though, from my late teens.

That's interesting. I have hypermobility and I am covered in stretch marks!

xogossipgirlxo · 26/01/2023 22:15

My mum has stretch marks on her lower belly and I expect to be the same, as apparently it’s mostly genetics. I have stretch marks on my breasts as they grew to actual size within a year. They are completely faded now, I forget they are there and can’t see them. Don’t worry too much x

Teacakexo · 26/01/2023 22:21

I was told it was genetics and so assumed I would get them pretty badly, my mum and 3 sisters all have them. I only have one DC but didn’t get any on my tummy, I was pretty religious with moisturising and drinking loads of water so not sure if that helped any?! My sisters have all really faded over time and barley noticeable now

Nottodaty · 26/01/2023 22:29

I have stretch marks on my hips from teenager years & my boobs from pregnancy nothing on my stomach. I am 5.9 & was a slim size 8 both pregnancy - far from a size 8 now! I think it’s down to genetics, none of my females in my family have them.

Krakenes · 26/01/2023 22:33

It’s all genetics. Creams can’t penetrate that level so they don’t do anything. Lucky/unlucky dip unfortunately!!

PatientlyWaiting21 · 26/01/2023 22:38

I think it’s down to genetics. My mum didn’t and neither did I. Saying that I’ve always moisturiser daily and I do work out no idea if that helps.

Newlifestartingatlast · 26/01/2023 22:40

They’re caused by collagen and elastin n the skin rupturing . It entirely depends on how your individual skin is. Some of that is genetics. Some can be down
to hormone levels themselves (not just cos you’re pregnant), and there are other conditions that make t more likely

just the same as any scar development - some people scar easily and others don’t. My 2 DS had chicken pox with about same amount of spots. Eldest one (who has eczema btw) still has obvious scars 20 plus years later, youngest ne no trace. That’s possibly due to younger one having to have cortisol steroids applied to his skin for eczema, and people who used those also more prone to stretch marks for instance.

whilst many people swear by treatments, there’s no actual scientific research that proves that any one treatment , or even almost any treatments, are effective. Massaging the skin using any old cream or oil probably helps to reduce appearance somewhat research shows, but has to be done right from start before scars form and breaks up scar tissue. There’s some evidence that hyaralonic acid may help, or a prescription only drug called tretinoin - but you’ll not get a prescription for it in uk for normal stretch marks.

I know women who used make up to cover their stretch marks in bikinis years ago - that’s why they wouldn’t then go into the pool/sea 🤣🤣🤣, and now it’s robably all photoshopped.

It’s just the luck of the draw. We all eventually end up with scars, wrinkles, crinkles, sags, and bags - bodies are not indestructible and nor is skin. It’s like when you notice the first crows feet around your eyes- it’s a shock, a bit sad, but hey, 10 years later you wish all you had were those crow feet again 🤣🤣🙄😉

CombatBarbie · 26/01/2023 22:41

They say its genetics so through your mum. Through 3 generations me, mum, gran.... None of us had them.

I wasn't convinced of the wives tail when I was pregnant and used to rub in baby oil in the shower and let it sink in. Not sure if that did anything.

ELL2478 · 26/01/2023 22:45

Iv had two kids, didn't get any stretch marks. Currently pregnant with 3rd baby so may still get them yet. I have never had big bumps though and am a size 8, duno if that's anything to do with it. Mum and sisters all got stretch marks so I guess iv just been lucky so far. Never used any oil either. I did get stretch marks aged 12 all over my bum though and to this day they look horrible!

junebirthdaygirl · 26/01/2023 22:52

I had 4 pregnancies. 9lbs babies . But no stretch marks anywhere. I tan very easily and have that kind of skin so presumed it had something to do with that..not that l gave it much thought.
Wondered if women with fairer skin got them more.

DillDanding · 26/01/2023 22:57

I think most people actually do get stretch marks and it’s just bad luck. Those people are pretty unlikely to post bare bump pics though.

I slathered my bumps daily with oil and got none. Was it the oil? No. Just luck.

My friend was thrilled to get to 9 months without a single stretch mark. Then she used a hand mirror to look at the underside of her bump and it was covered in them 😂

USaYwHatNow · 26/01/2023 22:59

I had zero stretch marks the whole of my pregnancy, then got them all once he was out 😂 stretch marks can be caused by rapid weight gain and rapid weight LOSS. A 'perfect' blemish free bump doesn't mean their skin will stay that way!

Outingmyselfyetagain · 26/01/2023 23:02

Morvena · 26/01/2023 21:06

I’m covered in them after just one baby. My stomach, thighs, even my upper arms have them!

I'm the same. I have a petite frame and my husband is nearly 6ft. Our first baby was at right at the top end on the height chart at birth. My bump was freakishly HUGE. I'm at a nice weight but the stripes are deep and silver, very tiger like. I call them my battle scars (everything I do has to have warrior connotations).

HallieHufflepuff · 26/01/2023 23:04

I've been using bio oil and palmers stretch mark moisturiser
I've still ended up with stretch marks on the underside of my boobs

But maybe a preventative cream or oil might help?

LostCountAnotherName · 26/01/2023 23:06

Mum has loads, 2 babies. I have them on belly and breasts. My Nan who had 7 kids has the smoothest clear skin in the world not a single stretch mark!

safeplanet · 26/01/2023 23:08

Genetics, hormonal, & I think age makes a difference, older mothers/skin are less likely to get them, something to do with oestrogen levels.

BubziOwl · 26/01/2023 23:11

My mum got none at all, but I got a fair few. I honestly could not care less - I am generally relatively looks-conscious, but I can honestly say I've never worried about them once. They're just tiny marks. Who cares? 🤷‍♀️

As for social media, I'd assume it's a fair bit of Facetune at work OP

minipie · 26/01/2023 23:17

I have none. I’m 5’3, petite and my bumps stuck out so far I looked like I had a space hopper up my top. Never used any oil, lotion or anything. Still no stretch marks.

I do have oily, tough skin and have had acne my whole adult life. Guess having this kind of skin may have helped against stretch marks? Swings and roundabouts eh.

Mammyloveswine · 26/01/2023 23:54

I got TONS with my first and I was so tiny, size 8 and lost the weight again straight away, flat stomach within days...

With number 2 I never got a single new one!

They are hardly noticeable now and so what if they are?! My body literally grew two while humans!!!

hellosunshineagainxxx · 27/01/2023 00:13

Most people don't get them until the last weeks and some even appear after giving birth. Most women I know have them. Filters and lighting hide a lot on photos

ppure · 27/01/2023 00:41

I’m small size 6 or less and had a baby over 9lbs
got them all over my boobs during pregnancy - I was disturbed by it.
had none on stomach then AFTER birth I had one appear going upwards from my c section scar about 3 inches - I believe from the skin stretching from pulling him out.

Lavender14 · 27/01/2023 00:42

I think a lot of it is down to your genetics and the type of pregnancy that you have. My mum and sister have very noticeable stretch marks and I also have some although not as many. They appeared very early for me like end of first trimester then i only got another couple at the very end. Mine actually became more noticeable after baby arrived. I think I escaped lightly because I had really bad morning sickness and gd so Id lost a stone and a half by the time baby arrived. My mum and sister were religious in using bio oil and cocoa butter, I just used it the odd time. They aren't proven to help prevent you getting stretch marks but they help with itching and I think it helps them fade a little quicker. Totally normal part of pregnancy though, mine don't bother me in the slightest. Would be nice to see them normalised in ads etc though.

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