Any luck preventing stretch marks?

KellyJellyfish · 2023-09-02T23:20:47+00:00

I see all sorts of miracle creams and oils advertised, but the nhs and most official dermatology websites say nothing can really stop stretch marks and the oils etc don’t actually work. I keep seeing secret saviours preventionwear on my insta (a combo of a cream and a tight band you wear that has a texture like ostrich skin) anyone tried any of this stuff? Did it work/not work?

BirdiePlantaganet · 03/09/2023 00:26

I think it's pure luck.

I slathered on Clarins oil daily and got none, but I don't think the oil had anything to do with it.

Alloveragain3 · 03/09/2023 00:36

I think it's just luck/genetics.

I got a huge belly, gained 20kg, no stretch marks at all.
Didn't put any cream on ever.

KnickerlessParsons · 03/09/2023 00:44

I used baby oil every day for both pregnancies and haven't got any stretch marks at all.
I think it's just down to the type of skin you have though, and genetics.

Anonnewbie · 03/09/2023 04:30

I used (1-2 daily) a well reviewed oil (forgot what) followed by a random cream when that ran out. Stretchmarks just appeared suddenly at about 37 weeks. Which was when I was onto the second cream but I think thats coincidence.
If you do get them, I found them unbearably.itchy after the birth for a while and cream really helped with that, although E45 was better than stretchmarks cream.

sotiredholidayplease · 03/09/2023 05:38

I don't think so.
I have terrible stretch marks from 2 pregnancies. My skin doesn't seem to be very stretchy and scars easily.
My SIL had 6 pregnancies and not one stretch mark. She's tiny too and had big babies so it's not that she had small bumps either.

Izzabellasasperella · 03/09/2023 06:44

I used olive oil morning and night from quite early on with dd and ds and don't have any stretch marks. Not sure if it was the oil, genetics' or luck😀

PostOpOp · 03/09/2023 06:54

Put oil on at least once a day (morning and/or evening) the entire pregnancy. I was determined to not get any (more - got some as a teen). It appeared to be working. Then at 38-39 weeks it literally felt like my skin was ripping apart - was kind of burning inside the skin. Didn't think anything of it (had SPD and had trouble walking, that pain was waaaay worse!). Few days later looked in mirror and low belly was covered in the fuckers. Baby born at 42 weeks.

I think it's genetics/skin type but also in my case related to length of the pregnancy. I'd definitely have had none/far less if I'd given birth at 38 weeks.

Mummy08m · 03/09/2023 06:57

I think it's just luck and skin type tbh. In my last pg I put on so so much weight (40% of body weight) and my bump skin got dry from being stretched so much. Never really bothered putting on any cream, at least not regularly (maybe once a week when I remembered). Still didn't get stretch marks - even though I have some on my bum since I was a teen.

Fwiw the cream I did occasionally use smells gorgeous (still have it and occasionally using it now while pg2) it's by "cocoa butter formula". I don't think anything can prevent stretch marks personally but it smells lovely

CharlotteSometimes1 · 03/09/2023 07:00

I also slathered myself in the Clarins oil, had three very close pregnancies and no stretch marks.

justmyluck1234 · 03/09/2023 07:05

Another one to say luck/genetics... my belly got lots and lots of stretch marks... I'm generally quiet small and got so big during pregnancy don't think that helped. (I did use bio oil)

My mum on the other hand not one and never used any creams.

YouHoooo · 03/09/2023 07:07

I had none… but I had tiny, early babies. Don’t recommend that approach!

ScarlettBeauregarde · 03/09/2023 07:08

Nothing you can do IMO. I used lots of very expensive creams and oils, 2-3 times a day, and also took collagen supplements. Still ended up with dreadful stretch marks all over my stomach and hips. If you’re going to get them, no miracle cure will stop it.

Hiddenvoice · 03/09/2023 07:11

I’m small and had terrible stretch marks at the bottom of my stomach. I slathered myself in oil in the morning and a cream at night.

I continued to use the oils and creams after my baby was born and when my body was returning to some sort of normal. I did find the stretch marks ease in colour and weren’t that noticeable. Now I’m pregnant with baby number 2 and the stretch marks appeareds really dark in the first trimester.

tiggergoesbounce · 03/09/2023 07:12

I used a boots butter cream that was lovely. I used it for 3 months + (that's when i found out i was pregnant). I used it every morning and night and i don't have one stretch mark and i am very petite.
But i do think it can be down to luck.
I would still try using a cream just incase it does help.

ASGIRC · 03/09/2023 07:29

Stretch marks are basically a genetic trait. You are either prone to them or you arent.
There is not any amount of cream or oil that will prevent you from getting them, if you are, though the hydration can help settle them faster.

So no, there isnt any miracle cure. Use whatever you want, good hydration never goes amiss, but thats not what will prevent you from getting stretch marks!

Junebug22 · 03/09/2023 07:30

I think it’s genetics. I did nothing and didn’t get a single stretch mark. My mum had three pregnancies and didn’t get any either. Meanwhile my friend was religious about putting bio oil on every night and she still ended up with them.

sawnotseen · 03/09/2023 07:36

I used clarins oil daily and didn't get any stretch marks with either of my two pregnancies but no idea if the oil helped. I'm tiny too and got a ridiculously huge tummy with my son (second pregnancy) so big that I had to wear a support thing and see a physio. My mum and my sister didn't get any either so maybe it's genetic.

Branster · 03/09/2023 07:48

Pure luck.
I used products daily, religiously, without a fail (including Clarins oil). I did not want any stretchmarks.
My mother has no stretchmarks and didn't use anything to prevent them during her pregnancies but I did not want to risk it.

I got my stretchmarks over the last two weeks of pregnancy with my first (who was late by nearly a week, no idea if that made a difference).
I did not put on weight overall during pregnancy and had a neat bump. Everything was going great until last two weeks. I really did do everything I could but it made no difference.

I used everything going afterwards and they did, eventually, after a very long time, reduce in number and they are not as noticeable anymore. I did wear bikinis nearly 2 years after first birth and I am vain so it wasn't that bad.
Second pregnancy, I didn't get any new ones.

I wish you that you won't get any - the majority of mothers I know didn't get them so you will very likely be OK. Just use as many oils, butters and lotions you can.

Enjoy your pregnancy- it's an amazing time of your life!

cocksstrideintheevening · 03/09/2023 07:52

I think genetics. I didn't have any with DTs and was huge. Didn't buy any oils or creams.

Hibiscrubbed · 03/09/2023 08:18

I didn’t gain much weight, exercised a lot so my abdomen sort of held the pregnancies in a bit, had little babies and used Weleda Mother oil every day. I don’t think the oil did much, may have helped with itching though, I think it was the lack of weight gain that helped.

I say this as I have skin that scars quite badly and easily. I think age and genetics play a part too. My sister got extreme stretch marks so I feel quite lucky.

Mummy08m · 03/09/2023 08:32

PostOpOp · 03/09/2023 06:54

Put oil on at least once a day (morning and/or evening) the entire pregnancy. I was determined to not get any (more - got some as a teen). It appeared to be working. Then at 38-39 weeks it literally felt like my skin was ripping apart - was kind of burning inside the skin. Didn't think anything of it (had SPD and had trouble walking, that pain was waaaay worse!). Few days later looked in mirror and low belly was covered in the fuckers. Baby born at 42 weeks.

I think it's genetics/skin type but also in my case related to length of the pregnancy. I'd definitely have had none/far less if I'd given birth at 38 weeks.

Solidarity - I also had SPD and by that point just couldn't care about anything aesthetic, just wanted to be able to walk without pain again!

This is probably going to sound patronising to op but depending how things go with the birth/breastfeeding etc you might find you just don't care about something like stretch marks any more, you'll just be glad to have two healthy bodies (yours and baby's).

I didn't get stretch marks but I did get an explosion of new moles and skin tags that have all remained - I even got referred to dermatology who removed one as a precaution but it was all fine - and I was briefly sad about that because they don't look great but tbh I'm just so glad to have a healthy body and dd

TheBarbieEffect · 03/09/2023 08:33

It’s just luck.

I never used anything with either of my babies and had no stretch marks.

Bookish88 · 03/09/2023 08:38

There may be an element of luck/genetics to it, but that doesn't mean there's nothing you can do to influence it in a positive direction.

Keeping yourself properly hydrated is one of the best things you can do for skin elasticity. I religiously drank 2-3 litres of water throughout my pregnancy with DS, and used Clarins oil to keep my skin feeling more comfortable due to having quite a big bump.

DS was born at 41+2 and was a big baby at 9lbs13, but I didn't have any stretch marks. Conversely, I was born at 38 weeks and was a tiny baby and my mum was covered in them 🤷‍♀️

ChestyLaRue21 · 03/09/2023 08:43

I used secret saviours and I believe it worked for me. Definitely more worthwhile than creams and oils.

Hibiscrubbed · 03/09/2023 08:51

ChestyLaRue21 · 03/09/2023 08:43

I used secret saviours and I believe it worked for me. Definitely more worthwhile than creams and oils.

Oh I’d not heard of that! Looks good. I wear a Belly Bandit postnatally which certainly helps support my core and I believe, assisted in my and coming back together.