What's the best way to prevent stretchmarks?

[Sarahlou8]

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

If using Bio-Oil check out Amazon for prices - big bottle (200ml) is about £14 compared to Boots £20 for same size.

I was feeling very smug - not one stetch mark, every scan I went for they always commented, even right up to me going in for emcs, know I didn't have any then -a week later, lovely baby girl and strtch marks all over my tum? now wtf is that all about?

I used bio oil and body shop coco or shea butter twice a day. When I woke up and when I went to bed I put it on from week 12. I didn't get stretch marks, I got a tiny one where my belly button is, but it just looks like I used to have it pierced.

My mum didn't really get them, so it could be genetic. But she's always looked after her skin with oil of olay, so I'm pretty sure she moisturised too.

I hate to make people who got stretch marks feel sad, so I'm just going to add that I had shingles during my twelf week, but because I had sickness and had to be put on a drip, the hospital kind of ignored my shingles, I was in agony and got scarring from that.

I also had a nine pound baby, which has its own physical probs. I reccomend bio oil and body shop butter to my pregnant friends as if you can't be sure, it's worth a try.

A lot of people I know say bio oil also helps old scars, and in some cases tatoos can help cover them.

Sorry! You said you already have them and that your main concern is the itching and soreness.

I also heard that itching is when the skin is stretching, so as soon as it itched I'd run to the bathroom with the bio oil and moisturise. It helped the itching to stop for me.

I hope you have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Holytoast - I felt very similar with DC1. Then found out they had been hiding UNDER the bump, the little buggers...

After two more DCs, I looked like I had suffered burns at one point, but agree about exfoliating.

Good luck everyone.

Best way to prevent them is to have your babies early... . Had both mine at 39 weeks and not a stretch mark in sight. Mind you, my mum and sister never had any so I guess it's genetic.

I got them as a teenager,but hardly any during pregnancy,and I am very fair and fragile skinned-I am old/er though so maybe that's true that the older you are the less likely it is that you will get them? I used Spiezia organics restorative body balm all through,and the marks I got came after I gave birth,when I wasn't using the balm,I got a few on my hips.Only with the first preg though,none at all with the second.(when I was,obviously,even older..)

Me 38 and 41 when I had my dc, never used any potions, nit a single stretchmark. My Mum and sisters all in their 30's, no potions, no stretchmarks.

It's genetic, don't waste your money on creams and lotions.

I have had 3 kids and my best advice for preventing stretch marks is to avoid gaining excessive weight during your pregnancy. I found it really hard to avoid because (esp with last pregnancy) I craved chocolate nearly all the time! The one thing positive I can say is that once you've had them with one pregnancy, you'll probably not be too worried about them the second time round, as they do fade to a faint silvery colour once you've lost the weight, and running around after a kid all day will keep you pretty busy!! I always thought they would really bother me before i had my first, but another 2 kids later, I've come to accept they're just a small part of who I am. They're the proof you're a mum and you've given birth to the most precious thing in your life.

Well, I have three kids and not a single stretch mark on my tum (sorry.....), but I did get them on my thighs when I grew fast as a teenager. How odd is that? I can assure you my thighs were nowhere near the gargantuan proportions of my midriff after 41 weeks. Guess I have genetically different skin on my thighs!!

I've had to dc and no marks either! Sorry!

I've got oily skin so that could be it, but I rubbed on Bio Oil first thing in the morning, last thing at night most of the way through each pregnancy, also drank tons of water, have to do thighs and boobs too or you'll get stretch marks there.

Bio oil!!!! (you can get it from boots)

I put on 4 stone with ds2 and didnt get stretchmarks!!! (and am also very fair skinned)

Retin A

Definitely Bio Oil is the best.

The only way I know to prevent them is to pick your mum carefully as it's largely genetic.
Also don't brag to everyone that you don't have any.... as they can appear as late as week 39 - examines tum mournfully - mind at least they distract from the scar on the sunroof.