stretch marks

[ammanda]

I really dont want them!!!! What are some things or suggestions I can do to prevent them?

[worrieddd612]

OH and i forgot to mention something i found out...its just as important to continue to lotion up after you have the baby everyday until your back to your prepregnancy weight. a lot of stretch marks appear when you're shrinking.

[sprarah]

My mother had 6 kids and does not have 1 stretch mark.....I was full of them after only having one child. During that pregnancy I took extremely good care of my skin (used vitamin E, C, K and cocoa butter creams 3 times a day), and took my vitamins religiously. When they started to show up I went to the doctor very upset and told her I thought I was doing everything right. She told me that it is a myth that you can prevent them.....if your going to get them no matter what you do or take is not going to stop you from getting them. But that there were products that would make the ones you did get not look as bad and help to fade them. This was 7 and a half years ago and I have tried everything next to laser treatment and they still dont look all that great. Sorry I dont have a better answer for you but no matter how well you take care of your skin you may still get them.

[Lucey12]

Ill have to look for that!! thanks!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Like the others said there's no real way to prevent them. It has to do with genetics and how well you took care of your skin prepregnancy.  But I tell you what, if you DO get stretch marks, I'll just send you a picture of my belly (im on pregnancy #8) and whenever you start to feel bad about your stretch marks, look at the picture :) LOL Trust me it will make you feel TONS better.  

[msniki412]

You can't really prevent them. It will happen because your skin is being forced to expand. I heard on the radio, that cocoa butter does not make them go away, however to continue using it because it makes them appear less noticable.

[worrieddd612]

oh lucey12 so i have a few on the side of my butt..kinda a lucky spot because you dont notice them at all. i have no idea what they're from because ive pretty much been about the same weight for years..but i used this lotion called mustella..i got it in a high end maternity store where i live but you can also order it online..its kinda pricey...$40 a bottle BUT it made the ones i did have literally like almost completely disappear and they were already skin color.

[Irish741]

I would say it is luck of the draw....genetics, age, etc. My mom didn't have any but I got them. However, I lasted till about 36 weeks before they appeared. :( Throughout my pregnancy I used good lotions religously and drank tons of water. Oh well! After my pregnancy I exfoliated my stomach (the area of my stretch marks) daily and used Palmers Oil (not the lotion) on my stomach. I did that for about 8 months straight. I am not sure if it really did any good. I can still see them. The only way they start to become "invisible" or "fade away" is the healing over time. I think they become a white-ish color. I really wish there was a miracle remedy....I'm staying hopeful. :) Good luck!

[Lucey12]

Im your lady! Im only 12 weeks pregnant but I WAS 200lbs and went down to 100. (I gained 50 of it back but Im hoping on staying his weight the whole pregnancy.. anyways) Mine were RED and wiiiiiiide. I started using cocoa butter lotion and it makes them skin colored. Im not sure how to make them invisible or if this is even possible. I had a friend who used Bio-oil (orange package) and hers faded too. Im buttering up (cocoa butter) daily and hoping new ones dont form. All the best!!

[thickm]

i hear they are genetic, i got like 3 tiny ones and that was it! never used lotions or anything and scratched my tummy 24/7

[Estee_Marie]

It's mostly genetics.  BUT helping your skin wont hurt either.  Keep putting lotion on and drink lots and lots of water!  Skin intergrity is very important!

[Ashelen]

my mom never got them... I never got them with DD and so far no with this one, and with DD I got HUGE....and I never used any cream. I really do believe it's mostly genetics, but not necessarily like if your mom got them you will...I think it's genetics in the sense that your body is either pre-programmed to get them or not, lol.

[worrieddd612]

probably not! i would try it it can't hurt esp if you haven't gotten any yet...ill have to ask my doctor about that it sounds good! i need to be doing something other than lotion.

[ammanda]

Thank u!!! and I know they say its genetics. but my older sister didn't get them and my mom and my middle sister did. So I don't know where to go from there

I use cocoa butter right now.  

And I am almost in the third trimester.. is it too late. to try these things?

[30something13]

It has alot to do with genetics. but I do know one thing that can help. Ester C is easier on the stomach then regular vitamin C. It helps the cologen production which helps the elastisity in your skin. I know it helps with stretch marks and also the stregth of the cervix during pregnancy.

Creams and lotions do not help but will help with the itching you can also get. I know that Bio Oil is the one thing people swear by but I know plenty that have used it and still got them.


I started using the Ester C for the strength of my cervix suggested by my OB. I had started getting pink strech marks already. After a couple weeks of using it I never noticed until my DH said they were gone!?? I was bum fusseled till I remembered the vitamins and the are all but faded and I ahve no more. I am taking a high dose! I believe it to wrok. THis is my 7th pregnancy and I have never gotten any moarks before but this time was different. You can see them as they are very silverish but only in certian lights. Maybe this will help you! It is wirth a try but I will tell you that if you are already throwing up from morning sickness it might be worth it to not start them till the second trimester. I did nto start till then also.

[newuser82]

i dont really know i know a lot of people will tell you if your meant to get them you will et them depending on your skin.I used plamers cocoa butter with my first daughter and i thought it was brill i never got 1.im using it this tme also with my second pregnancy(20 wks)so far so good.a lot of my friends also tried vitamin e oil,Good luck