Did you get stretch marks? Because I have a theory

[EffiePerine]

that it's partly dependent on your skin type

me: no stretch marks with DS (put on nearly 3 stone)
my MIL (no relation): no stretch marks with 3 big babies ( 9/10lb +) and she's pretty small

we do have similar skin tone/type, so could it be related? If you didn't get any stretch marks, what type of skin do you have (will reveal mine after survey in true scientific fashion)

[lou031205]

2 pregnancies, no stretch marks.

Very pale skin, quite dry on arms/legs, normal on abdo/back, greasy on face.

[sweetkitty]

3 babies heaviest 9lbs 3ozs no stretchmarks

Have typical Scottish skin pale and nearly blue

[halogen]

One baby (nearly 7lb), olive skin, greasy face but bizarrely dry rest of me, baby was small but I was VAST, no stretchmarks. I am obsessive about body lotion, though, and use cocoa butter or similar all over twice a day.

[Haylstones]

I've had 2 babies, one at 7lb2 and one at 9lb8 and only got a couple of stretch marks around some small scars I had on my tummy (did get slightly bigger with the bigger baby). I have pretty average skin but am extremely pale and freckly (mmm, attractive!). My mum has the same skin except the freckles and has had 4 dc with no stretch marks.
Actually, I do have a few stretch marks on my boobs but I suppose this is inevitable with the size they balloon to while I'm bfing

[Haylstones]

lol, sweetkitty just pretty much described me as well!

[thumbwitch]

GBR - lol - guess it could have been the chocolate for me too then!

[snorris]

I got loads of stretchmarks with my first pregnancy,7lb 9oz baby.No new ones from my 2nd,twins 6lb 8oz & 7lb 3oz and with dd4 none until about a week before I gave birth and then it was only 2 or 3.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Olive skin and no stretchmarks. I put it down to a fatty diet in pregnancy.

[halogen]

I also had a fatty diet in pregnancy. In fact, I always have one. Ahem.

[sophiebbb]

I think there is something genetic about it

[Thomcat]

IMO if your mother didn't get stretch marks in pregnancy you are unlikely to.

My mother didn't and I didn't.

[theyoungvisiter]

agree with Thomcat - I have v similar skin to my mother - and v similar stretch marks!

[thisisyesterday]

I had awful stretchmarks with both of mine.
I am dark haired, but very pale skin, burn rather than tan.

my mum has stretchmarks too.

[meglet]

my mum didn't get stretch marks (she is quite pale), neither did either of my grandmothers (both pale). I didn't with DS and so far , at 34 weeks, am ok with this one. I eat loads of olive oil in my diet, moisturise, was skinny before getting pregnant and skin tans easily. Fingers crossed I'll get through unscathed this time too.

[Miaou]

Horrendous stretchmarks. I got them in puberty too so I knew I would get them in pregnancy. I have pale skin. My mum is not as pale-skinned but tbh I don't know if she got stretchmarks or not (don't think she did) - and I'm not about to ring her and ask her

[ButterflyMcQueen]

i have been really lucky - i do have them on boobs and the odd one on thigh tops but just one on tummy

its the crepe paper tummy that intrigues me...again been lucky in that respect but what causes it?

my skin dry but do rub clarins in - with last three pgs...

been pg young and old here!

[pudding25]

I didnt get stretch marks - until 38 wks! How annoyed was I. Then went 2 wks overdue and they got worse. Only on lower tum though. I am pale skinned (though do tan) and have dry skin.

[mslucy]

loads of them. most appeared in week 39 of pregnancy!
pale skin, short - huge baby (9lb 7; I am 5'3).
Neither thin nor fat - normal clothes size 10/12.
Mother has none, but she had tiny babies - me 4lb 7; my brother 6lb.
She is also very thin.

[artichokes]

Sorry Effie but I got terrible stretch marks and I was 28 when i had DD and have oily skin that is pale but tans easily.

[thumbwitch]

Effie, I hope you have been logging all these responses into some kind of spreadsheet/graph/venn diagram and plan to come back with a scientific response!