Do I *really* need to moisturise the bump daily to prevent stretch marks? 🤰🏼

[Applu]

Forgive me, Style and Beauty, for I am a sinner. Despite the very best of intentions, I don’t take my makeup off at night, preferring to collapse straight into bed. I use dry shampoo. I have tons of hand creams but never seem to use them…

But do I really, really, need to be moisturising my stomach and thighs every day to prevent stretch marks? My DM has been saying from day one I should be applying olive oil or coconut oil (😳) daily, else I will be doomed to stretch marks which I shall rue forever. Is this true?

(See also, kegels I suppose, while not strictly style and beauty! Must I?!)

Unfortunately genetics will have more to do with it that anything else. I used bio oil every single day. My stretch marks are still awful and DS is 16 now 😔. Got them all over my boobs, thighs and hips too.

Does your DM have stretch marks? If not then you probably won't either.

I didn't moisturise once and got no stretch marks whatsoever.

No it's just a gimmick that was disproven. Years ago they used to advertise creams to 'prevent stretch marks' but now all they can say is they 'improve the appearance'.

I got none with my first 2 years ago but I've got loads under my bump now with my second. I used cream as I feel it helps with the itching.

Ditto to this. My mother and GM didn't get stretch marks. Neither did I. No moisturiser was involved.

As pp mentioned, no use for stretch marks, but does help the itch from dry stretches skin!

I was too busy throwing up and in and out of hospital to moisturise anything. The smell would have been enough.
I didn’t get any and my skin was 40 & 42 years old.

I was slapdash with moisturising if I had the energy. 3 dcs later, no stretch marks.
I was slap dash with the pelvic floor exercises…. 3 dcs later, I don’t like to be surprised with a sneeze or a funny joke 😭😭😭🤣 get them pelvic floor exercises done!!! 😍

Did nothing, mahoosive bumps, no stretch marks

Yes to pelvic floor exercises but only after you’ve had the baby! (I think??)

Ok fair enough yes I may not have got them anyway still it was nice to use.

No, she doesn’t! Which she says is because she moisturised with olive oil every day…

Thanks to this thread I am now secure in the knowledge that I don’t need to bother!

But I will do those kegels…

There's nothing wrong but many people would prefer not to get them as they would any other skin blemish.

I didn't moisturise and didn't get stretch marks. If I moisturised I might have assumed it was due to the moisturiser (OK I probably wouldn't because... biology). But you really just got lucky.

Definitely do pelvic floor exercises! I rarely did them and I ended up with no control of my bladder after giving birth. It was awful. Took over 6 weeks to be able to hold it enough to mostly make it to the toilet. I'm now on tablets as it just wasn't improving with pelvic floor exercises. I wish I took them seriously in the first place.

I did no massage of any kind and also have no stretch marks, my mum was the same.

There's no guarantee you will or you won't, but you can be certain there's always someone selling snake oil to prevent/promote something!

I did sometimes but it had no effect. I got a few stretch marks but they vanished within a year or two, approximately.

No, 4DC and not one stretch mark. My mum has none either so assume genetic.

I did moisturise but only sporadically and had no stretch marks at all. I think it's largely genetics

Both of my babies were early too so I do wonder if I would have got any if I'd gone 2 weeks overdue.

This.

It can feel nice if you're itchy but afraid you're doomed if you will get them.

Kegels...yes 100% and continue doing them long after pregnancy too.

Stretch marks...I think they're largely genetic. My mum doesn't have any, nor does my sister and nor do I. And my sister was a size 6-8 getting pregnant and had a big bump (didn't put weight on anywhere else)

Ps i moisturised daily and was ravaged by stretch marks sadly

I've used cocoa butter moisturiser daily (sometimes twice a day) throughout and don't have any stretch marks yet although I've a few weeks still to go so appreciate they could still come.

It certainly hasn't done any harm though, and DH has often massaged it in last thing at night which has been a nice way for him to 'bond' with the bump a little as it's got bigger.

I moisturised so much I gave myself a rash. Still got loads of stretch marks. It was the same during puberty, think it's pretty well proven now that it's down to your skin type and genetics.

You don't know if it worked or not. I have none and never used cream. It is mainly luck and genetics and how big your bump gets!

No, pelvic floor exercises are important always and especially during pregnancy! If you have a vaginal delivery, a strong pelvic floor is important.