What did you rub on your bump?

[Wonderstuff]

I've got an ever expanding and quite itchy bump. Looking for ideas on a nice cream to rub on it to relieve the itch?

When I had an itchy bump 12 years ago the gp gave me a prescription for aqueous cream with menthol in it. It was wonderful. A chemist would probably still make it up.

I used almond oil, or the Botanics plain oil blend (no additives) from Boots. I made up my own blend of essential oils to add - check as some you shouldn't use in pregnancy, but others are excellent - in particular mandarin, jasmine & neroli from memory.

I smelt constantly delicious & no stretch marks at all.

Palmers and bio oil, 21 weeks and already got the dreaded stretch marks despite daily application .

Bio Oil and Palmers cocoa butter from 12 weeks. Didn't get itchy but did sod all to stop/'help prevent' stretchmarks and was very expensive.

I think you can rub as many creams and oils on your bump as you like but if you are going to get stretch marks you are going to get stretch marks! It depends on how elastic your skin is and how much collagen it contains. I have read that a good indicator is to look at your mum's belly, as collagen content is hereditary. Still it's nice to use all these pampery things just to feel and smell good.

I think it's true that you probably can't do much about them, but having nice bump cream is one of the nice bits about being pg isn't it. (One of the few in my case.) And even if you get them, cream can help soothe and mend them. I got a sudden set of stretch marks last time at 20 weeks, but I kept using the cream and they actually faded while I was still pg.

Have been using Clarins too but have one tiny stretch mark appearing in this final week ( 3rd pregnancy)seems a bit unfair as have put on less weight this time but tummy is protuding more.No muscles left !

Clarins oil is the best! I used it from day one and one teensy strechmark through and old scar, kind of X marks the spot on my belly now! But the Clarins oil was really good, rubbed it on my tum and upper arms after bath, no marks, no itches x

My favourite thing to rub on my burgeoning bump is goosefat. Smells good, too, it's kind of comforting. If the supermarkets are out (and let's face it, post-Xmas it's a bugger to find the stuff) I'll usually settle for a nice packet of dripping or lard, which is infinitely cheaper, leaving me with just enough change for a yummy Fray Bentos pie. Then I cook the pie, stand in front of the oven (belly exposed, naturellement) and inhale as the aroma of warming belly grease wafts up - ir-re-sistible!

Thanks for that, Speedy - I really would try Clarins instead, but each to their own. As for stretch marks, I'm pretty sure they are genetic. So you can rub pure kryptonite or essence of Tahitian mermaids' tears on your bump and it still wouldn't make any difference. But the OP asked about itchy bumps, and for that a nice rich fragrant oil is pure mummy magic.

What??? You saying my goose fat isn't a 'nice, rich fragrant oil'? Just try it girly - you'll be a convert once you realise how many Fray Bentos you can buy with the change from your Clarins budget.

Btw did you know that all Clarins products are made from a base of grasse d'oie?

Also raining on the stretchmark cream parade here.
I've had 3 great big pregnant bellies and put nothing on them at all, but I have no stretchmarks whatsoever.

My sister however, has only had one pregnancy and has quite bad stretchmarks.
There seems no rhyme nor reason to it!

I used Clarins body oil - worked a treat, didn't get any stretch marks with baby 1. Would suggest a camomile cream for the itchiness - don't know the brand name but yellow tube in most pharmacists with natural ingredients.

Another vote for Palmers, and I also liked the Avent one. I only remembered to put it in when my bump actually itched and was pretty rubbish about it the rest of the time, and I still didn't have a single stretchmark

Bio oil / Lush massage bars and Clarins body lotion. No stretch marks either time despite putting on nearly 3 stone each time.

But mum never got any and apparently neither did her mum, so it's probably in the genes.

Olive oil! Brilliant stuff. No I'm not joking!

I used it for both my babes and no-one ever tried to shake me onto a salad

Didn't use virgin olive oil though - it just seemed wrong!

Organic Coconut Oil absorbs really well and is very softening, you can use it for loads of things, your feet, your cuticles, your hair just as a general all over moisturiser and its good for your face at night time too.

I tried the massage bar from Lush on the high street, too. Very soothing and smells heavenly. My other favourite from there, even easier to use and nice and light on the skin, has been Coco Lotion - an absolutely fabulous moisturiser. Not a stretch mark on me so far I have to say - and I'm now 38+2 (eek!)

On a side note (and I don't work for them I promise!), I switched to Lush shampoo bars and also their vegan conditioner. As a lady with psoriasis before I pregnancy I was worried about my mum/aunties horror stories of it flaring up with all the hormones during their pregnancies. Since I started using the Lush stuff regularly, I've had no skin or hair problems. The staff are really good at helping you find the right one from the range for you as well, and will even give you testers to try a few before you buy.

I got no stretch marks but good lord the ITCHING!!!!

My sister gave me a big pot of Neal's Yard Mothers Balm, it was blissfully soothing. I found a lot of other creams etc just made it worse. Although olive oil was okay. Didn't seem to last as long though.

I miss my bump a bit now. Off to do a night feed. Much less convenient when they're on the outside.

6 children biggest 9lb used palmers cocoa butter with all pregnancies & not 1 single stretchmark & did i forget to mention 1 was a twin pregnacy

hello

I use neals yard mothers balm - it is expensive (think about £15) but it lasts ages and is absolutely amazing -

Just wanted to add my support for Palmer's Cocoa Butter. 39+3wks today, I can hardly walk with my big fat belly, but touch wood, no stretch marks so far!

clarins hydra-lotion
almond oil