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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

What's the best way to prevent stretchmarks?

65 replies

Sarahlou8 · 16/05/2010 14:26

Hi,

I'm 17 weeks pregnant and I've also got two older children.

I'm one of those very unlucky fair skinned people who is absolutely covered in stretchmarks already so I'm not after anything to minimise their appearance, I just can't see how my skin is going to stretch for a third time!
Some of the marks are a centimentre wide.

My main concern is the itching and soreness. I'm already itching and it's still so early. Have any of you got a miracle cream that works?

Thanks x

OP posts:
neenz · 20/05/2010 16:49

I had twins and got no stretchmarks - I didn't use any cream, just lots of essential fatty acids in my diet (pumpkin seeds, linseeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds - you can get them all from supermarkets - and oily fish) and rubbing pure Vitamin E onto the skin now and again if it felt a bit itchy.

Bio oil is supposed to be good - I think that contains lots of vitamin E.

I think diet is the most important aspect of it tho and nutritionists say that too.

Original poster
Sarahlou8 · 20/05/2010 17:20

Thanks everyone, judging by the responses bio oil seems to be rated highly so I'll give that a go.
I'm not too worried about actually getting more, or minimising the ones I have - I know it's mainly genetic, and as someone has already said, it's just marks that I've carried a baby. I just look at the huge marks I already have where there is no 'normal' skin in between and wonder how the devil it's going to stretch again without ripping!!

Trying to gain weight steadily, it's going on at about a pound a week now, hope that's okay

OP posts:
lotster · 20/05/2010 18:11

Well I would swear by Bio Oil, I used to have livid stretch marks on my boobs in my 20's and starting rubbing it on the boob and chest area after my shower. They gradually faded and have now been almost invisible for years.

Good luck with your PG

edwardcullensotherwoman · 20/05/2010 18:12

I can see you have loads of answers already, just wanted to recommend a delicious smelling cream from the Body Shop - Satsuma Body Butter. I used it and so did my cousin, I had stretch marks and she didn't so doesn't help those, but it did help immensely with itching and smelled absolutely lovely, I still use it now

Best of luck with it all!

baiyu · 20/05/2010 19:03

I wish there were miracles! Had my first at 22, used lots of palmers and bio-oil, had a lovely shiny bump then BAM! covered in stretch marks from anbout 30 weeks. Still have them (but paler) and PG again. Calomine was good when they were super itchy.

sungirltan · 20/05/2010 19:06

got stretch marsk at 36 weeks, little fuckers. also used palmers and bio oil and do still. i am 30 and dd is 7.5 months so knivkers to it not happening to older mums.

thumbwitch!! what was the supplement you took i reckon i might try that now

Debs75 · 20/05/2010 19:28

I got really huge dark stretch marks with DC1 even though I used palmers Cocoa Butter.
With DC3 I didn't get one stretch mark it could be as I was a few stone heavier by then and actually lost some weight whilst pregnant, therefore my skin didn't have to stretch. Or haviong suffer3ed from excema for so long all the emollient I have used in the last 15 years has actually done some good

SoLongAsItsHealthy · 20/05/2010 19:55

Best thing you can do when it comes to stretch marks is FORGET ABOUT THEM!! They are absolutely genetic and there is not a single thing you can do to prevent them. Exercise, diet, creams blah blah none of it makes a scrap of difference. The people who swear by bathing in ostrich-milk or whatever are just among the lucky ones who were never destined to get them in the first place.

Like me

lotster · 20/05/2010 20:48

Agreed it's genetic, but you can do something to fade their appearance afterwards.

ohemgee · 20/05/2010 20:52

Another vote for bio-oil, haven't used them for stretch marks, didn't get any with either pregnancy but did use it on a scar on my nose where I got bitten by a tiny puppy giant rabid dog years ago and it worked a treat.

Hermya321 · 20/05/2010 20:53

I came on this thread for some hope, but I suppose if you're going to get them you're going to get them.

Well I'm going to keep covering myself in moisturiser and hope for the best.

Shaz10 · 20/05/2010 20:54

I only had one.
But then I had a section at 38 weeks. Maybe that's the answer?

ohemgee · 20/05/2010 21:00

Meant to add that I'm actually a bit that I don't have any. See them as beautiful battle scars of creating another human being.

Hmmmm...I wonder if I can get some tattooed...

Ronaldinhio · 20/05/2010 21:03

grow the baby in a gro bag

NonnoMum · 20/05/2010 21:37

Bio oil - afterwards.

Lozza70 · 20/05/2010 21:38

No advice for stretchmarks apart from keep slapping on the lotion, Avenno is good. As for the itching try having oatmeal baths. Run the bathwater through oatmeal in the toe of an old pair of tights or it's very uncomfortable to sit on in the bath! If the itching is getting really uncomfortable go to the doctor. They can give you stuff to help.

KickArseQueen · 20/05/2010 21:51

One of my kids favourite books is rumble in the jungle, they have picked an animal for each of us and this one is mine

The ravenous rhino is big strong and tough but its skin is all baggy and flappy, which means that theres plenty of room for its lunch and that makes it terribly happy.

the kids may have noticed my stretch marks then and my baggy tum!! Funny tho because they don't bother me any more, they are a permanent mummy badge to me.

sorry you are itchy, its the pits! I think almost any moisturiser will do, just keep slapping it on!

MiniMousse · 20/05/2010 21:52

In my experience, if you are going to get stretchmarks, not a single thing you do or don't do will make any difference.
I used bio oil from 6 weeks pg twice a day. I was not super skinny to start with.
I only gained 10lb during the pregnancy.
I was 36 when I gave birth.
I took pregnacare multivits and mumomega omega 6 and 3 fish oil capsules daily from before I actually got pg, and all the way through.
I ate really healthily, fresh fruit and veg, organic food, oily fish, blah blah.
Nothing stopped my abdomen from resembling a seriously laddered pair of tights by the end of the pregnancy. I looked like I'd been attacked by a rabid cat. They have faded though, but the corrugated feeling remains! Sorry!

strawberrycake · 20/05/2010 22:40

MiniMousse- similar story.

To elabourate I have:

Used bio oil twice daily from start
Eaten a good diet plus vitamins throughout
In third trimester alo used cocoa butter in middle of day
Gained NO inches at all on hips/ thighs
Gained just under two stone in total, which I gained slowly
Am slim and active.
I'm 26.
I don't scar or have any previous stretch marks.

Take my advice, eat cake and stick your head in the sand.

all4u · 20/05/2010 22:45

There is simply nothing you can do about stretch marks on the outside - my whole tummy hangs now away they are so bad (two large babies). What no one told me about was the similar damage done on the inside! It is as though my body just 'gave way' to the baby. I did finally get a vaginal repair - going private though I was belatedly offered one on the NHS by an unpleasant consultant who said it was just something I ought to accept as inevitable. When my Mum criticised a relative for opting for a Caesarian I cracked and said that would strongly advise anyone with bad stretchmarks to avoid vaginal birth if they want a love life afterwards. If my husband left me I would not have the confidence to embark on a new relationship. But no one talks about this; we all suffer in silence - perhaps Mumsnet can break this vicious circle - if only I had known... NB I am talking v bad stretch marks her girls - you wouldn't believe it...

alysonpeaches · 21/05/2010 09:37

I got bad stretch marks when I had my two as I was so slim before pregnancy and had two big babies. I slathered cream and baby oil on to no effect.I woke up one morning when I was about 8 months and there they were! I thought someone had painted them on overnight. Cool cotton non clingy dresses helped the ichy tummy, but recently I have discovered Aveeno cream and bath oil. Its available from Boots, my daughter uses it for her eczema and it stops itching at night.

alysonpeaches · 21/05/2010 10:01

Just remembered ... my grandmother was fair skinned too just like all the women in our family and she claimed the secret to avoiding them is to continue to wear a corset!!! All her generation wore corsets and even during pregnancy they borrowed or bought a larger one! I dont recommend this though as your baby might come out with a flat head! But Ive often pondered if my belly would be less pendulous if I wore corsets all the time!

Meglet · 21/05/2010 10:10

I was a size 10 at the start of both pregnancies in my early 30's and gained between 2 1/2 - 3 stone each time. Went to the gym, ate well, took my vitamins, used bio oil and clarins and even sunbathed and didn't get any stretchmarks. I've always been healthy though so maybe my skin was in good condition.

However my 2 were a em cs at 37 weeks and a planned cs at 39 weeks and my mum never got them either which I think made the difference.

makeupmummy · 21/05/2010 11:27

hello, am fair skinned and had giant baby (11lbs 4 ) when 38, no stretch marks, used mamma mio products, smell nice too, nothing horrid, tho expensive: maybe just luck, but boy, did they make me feel better

PoppetOne · 21/05/2010 12:20

I don't have any stretchmarks from having my DD at 39 but have faded ones on my legs from growth spurts in teens.

I used Bio Oil but one of the most important things you can do is exfoliate! My friend is a beauty therapist and she highly recommends it as it encourages the renewal of collagen in your skin