all about..STRETCH MARKS?!?

[StarPatience]

How many of you ladies have stretch marks from your pregnancy? If so, how far along were you when you noticed them?

What do you use to remedy them?

Is there anyone who doesnt have stretch marks on their belly, but in other unexpected areas?

I myself, am 27 weeks, with so far no stretch marks on my belly. Lately however, my tummy has been feeling itchy. I DO have marks in my upper but crack area.. Weirdest thing to me. it started with one and I thought it was a stratch. Now I have a lot of them but just in that area.

[Sarah1013]

I had PUPPS with my first pregnancy. It is very frustrating. It was all over my legs, arms and belly as well. I never got stretchmarks with either of my pregnancies, but be careful about scratching those bumps it can leave scars.

[StarPatience]

Thanks Irish! Turns out, I do have PUPPS! its the worst. she did prescribe me benedryl and a pill to take. But when she warned me that i may get sleepy from the benendryl so take it at night. I was a bit taken back. I dont like taking medication as is, so im still a little weary. She said I can try oatmeal baths and more natural procedures to soothe.. I am going to try that first. Then if it worsens, I will go about the Benendryl. She took my blood so hopefully everything works out.

[Irish741]

Talk to your doc. It sounds like PUPPS. It is something that happens to like 10% of pregnant women during pregnancy. The rash can be very irritating to say the least and generally only gets worse. With your doctor's approval you can probably take benedryl for the itching. The good news is that once you deliver the placenta the rash goes away. I had that very same thing happen to me. You should talk to your doc soon because there is a very small chance the rash could be related to a kidney or liver issue. Generally blood is taken and tested to rule it out.

I hope you feel better soon. By the time I was at my 38th week I was so over the itching I was going to ask my doc to induce me asap but my little guy turned breech at the last minute so I ended up with a c-section and the rest is history. :)

[StarPatience]

So when I thought stretch marks might be forming because of the itching and irratation I was going through. Turns out, I have a wierd rash or something!. Its SUPER red ALL over my belly and the front (or is it back) of my elbows. and on my legs. It itches SOO bad but Im trying not to scratch. Luckily I have a doctors appt later this afternoon. Anyone been through this?

[Irish741]

I didn't get any stretch marks till I was in my 35th week. It started off slow and by my 39th week it looked kind of bad. :( I did everything I could think of to prevent this from the start---used cocoa butter a couple times a day, drank tons of water to keep my skin hydrated, excercised to keep my weight in check and ate as good as possible....it was just in the cards for me I guess. My mom didn't get any stretch marks, so i thought I was in the clear....augh! The only place they appeared was around my belly button, kind of like a star burst. Makes sense since my little guy sat really far forward most of my pregnancy. I now exfoliate the area each day and use oil in the affected area twice a day. They are still a bit purple but they are less intense than in the beginning. I am only 7 months out now. I hear it just takes time for the marks to turn white so it is just a waitng game on the recovery.

Hope you fare well the rest of your pregnancy...best of luck. :)

[Grandmatobe]

If you want to know if stretchmarks are in your cards - - - - - look at your mother's belly.  There is a genetic component to being susceptible to stretch marks and all of the cocoa butter in the world will NOT stop them.  Yes, it will keep your skin moisterized, but it does not help avoid them, if you have skin that is not particular elastic.

[worrieddd612]

i heard if your really itchy not to scratch cause this will give you stretch marks worse does anyone know if thats true?

[KM604]

I didn't get any stretchmarks until the last month of my pregnancy.  They were mainly near by belly button, starting about 2 inches from each side of my belly button.  I have a few on my hips, but there are only like 2 and not even an inch long.  I rubbed cocoa butter all over my stomach everyday of my pregnancy.  My mom didn't get any, so some people say it is genetic and maybe it is but not in my case.  ALso, after I had my daughter, I bought this after pregnancy and weight loss cream (the same brand, you can find it near any cocoa butters in the store) and even though my daughter is 8 months old I still rub it on.  My stretch marks are still there, but definitly not has deep or dark as they were right after I had my daughter.  I also gained 50lbs and have lost all but 10, so between dieting and working out I'm pretty sure they will hardly look bad once I've lsot all the weight.  But from what I read and hear, if you are going to get stretchmarks there isn't much you can do to prevent them.

[JoyRenee]

Didn't have any with firstborn except on my hips.

Second daughter gave me the most and they were everywhere- belly, inner thighs and hips.

This time it isn't so bad. There are stretchmarks but not deep or dark.

Everyone is different. Nothing you can do to prevent them if you're going to get them.

[Megs2girls7]

I tried really hard not to get stretch marks with both of my pregnancies. The first time I just gained too much weight (50 lbs) so no matter how much lotion or oils I put on they just kept showing up. They're pretty embarrassing for me and to this day I barely get in a bathing suit. With my second I put Eucerine Calming Cream on my belly everyday. It really helped with all the itching. I thankfully didn't get any new marks however I only gained 18 lbs. It just depends on your body. Take care of yourself and try to prevent them but don't be too disappointed if you do.

[Whitneylauren]

With my first baby I got stretch marks on my hips, my breasts, thighs, and bum. They have since faded and aren't really that bad. With my second I didn't develop any new marks... thank goodness. For me it was all based on how much weight I gained. With my first I put on a lot of weight rather quickly, but the second time around I gained rather slow (and a total of 25 lbs vs 80 with the first).

[rebekah385]

I have been pregnant 4 times, during my first 2 pregnancy I started using cocoa butter and shea nut butter (they have them together ina bottle sometimes) and rubbed on my belly everynight and sometimes in the morning from 2 or3 months on and got no stretchmarks, with pregnancy 3 i started to do the same thing, but MC at 3 months. with my 4th pregnancy I was'nt as consistant with using the lotion just speratic and started getting a few strechmarks on my lower abdomin and hips during my 7th month by the end of the pregnancy I have quite a few strechmarks, but they are light in color. I also have strechmarks on my breast, bu ti had a some from developing any (I developed quickly), but got more during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

[tobbeyj]

I have been using a variety of creams. I have a friend who swears by BIO OIL. She had many many stretch marks from her daughter and used this and they faded big time. I am using that before bed, cocoa butter, aloe vera gel and Palmers lotion. So Far, I am in my 17th week and have just seen a few pink lines on my butt cheeks. Hopfully the creams will help :)   Would love to think I can avoid them, but reality is that I most likely will not be able to.

[Lance06]

I have SO MANY stretch marks from my daughter. Stomach area is covered. Lower back/upper but, breasts (didnt even get bigger!) and I even have one on my private area!!

Cant make them go away...and nothing seemed to prevent them!

[Lucey12]

Heck I got stretch marks from being fat. lol I used cocoa butter lotion on them and they arent red, jsut skin colored but it doesnt make them go away altogether. A friend of mine started lotioning up her belly as soon as she found out she was pregnant and she got no stretch marks at all.

[BJB2B]

I do not have any stretch marks from my previous pregnancy and none so far with this one (22 weeks). I use cocoa butter and baby oil gel as well. I don't know if it helps but it definitely keeps my skin moisturized.

[dietcola]

This is my first pregnancy and i am almost 30 weeks. Until last weeks i though i was doing good. I saw no stretch marks and my tummy didn't itch at all, so i was kind of happy. But around 28.5-29 weeks i started to notice ( almost invisible) little stretch marks, and my belly itches sometimes especially on the sides. Sometimes i can feel it stretching.... I guess no escape for me from stretch mark:-((. I use Cocoa Shea Butter  and baby oil after shower, hopefully it will help  a little bit. Good luck