What have you found best for prevent/reduce stretch marks?

[Shayne1989]

I'm not 13w1d and just today i noticed in the mirror the little tiny stretch marks i have had on my hips since about 16 and now they are getting way bigger and wider. What have you guys tried thats helped prevent new ones and help the old ones not get alot worse?

[Shayne1989]

Thanks ladies...yeah I'm probably so screwed then LOL. I dont have any sisters to compare to (atleast any older then 2 lol) but my mother did get pretty bad stretch marks. Luckily I'm not carrying twins. And on my fathers side i have no clue. thanks for the advice ladies, Ill keep moisturizing. I havent been gaining weight all that fast, i've only gained about 3 lbs since i got pregnant, but my tummy is def starting to stick out and thats probably whats already making mine worse

[FreshLove]

Yeah, I lotion up everyday and I still have stretch marks, ever since about 12 weeks or so. There are a lot of lotions out there that claim to get rid of stretch marks or prevent them but they are all full of crap. Trust me, I've tried many of them before (I have larger breast and developed quickly compared to many girls and thus have dealt with stretch marks since I was 12 years old) and they don't work.

But it is still good to lotion everyday because it helps your skin stretch without being as itchy and it is good for your skin. Nivea is what I use but I'm sure Suave or most other non-scented lotions will work too.

[jschoch8]

i dont use anything but i know my mother doesnt have any. So i'm hoping it really is genetic! almost 32 weeks nothing yet but i know there is much more time for me to get them

[JoyRenee]

It's all about genetics, sweetie. Sorry!

You can use lotions that help with elasticity but in the long run you will get them. I have stretchmarks on my hips from my first pregnancy and then I got tons on my belly with my second daughter. They're faded and hardly noticeable. I actually quite like them. It reminds me of the amazing and sacred time I spent pregnant with each of them.

[HeatherLF16]

I use Palmer's Oil, stretch mark lotion and St. Ives collegen and elastin.  I have been using all since I found out twice a day.  Like you I had a few on my hips that were white and very light prior to pregnancy.  I too drink a huge amount of water all day long.  

The ladies above are right... it doesn't matter what you do if you are going to get them you will.  Most say to look at your mother/sisters if they got them so will you... along with 90% of the rest of the female population.  Not getting them is rare =)

Bad thing is they sneak up on you at the end when the baby grows the most.  I thought I got lucky then at 33 weeks they decided to appear.  I am now 36 weeks and I got about 7 of them on one side under my belly.  Good news is they are very light and not those dark purple ones, so I am sure I can fade them more and I think the creams and oils helped with that.  

[purplepeaches12]

I've asked 2 doctors and my midwife who all told me the same thing as PrettyKitty1's did. You can use any and all creams, lotions, whatever, but if its in your genes that your going to get them, there is nothing you can do about it. It *****, I know! I've got them all over my upper thighs, butt and just starting on my boobs. I started getting them in my first trimester when I hadn't even gained any weight (I actaully lost weight from morning sickness haha).

[WifeofAnt]

I use plain cocoa butter.  It has less chemicals than the brand name stuff, leaves my skin really soft, was super cheap, and smells great.

Really though if you're destined to get them not much is going to prevent it.  Moisturize, keep well hydrated, and make sure you don't gain more than recommended amount.

[PrettyKitty1]

It mostly depends on your genes. But since I found out I was pregnant I've been putting on Nivea. It's got Vitamin E and Shea Butter and it has a very mild scent to it. I love it because it isn't sticky and it dries off pretty quickly. Also, drinking close to a gallon of water helps to keep the skin hydrated and so it'd be easier for it to stretch.  Controlling your weight is very important. If you gain too much weight or if you are carrying twins then you will get stretch marks.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter has helped other people but it just burns my skin. So I will keep myself from recommending it to you although I know for a fact that there are women out there who use it with good results.

Here is what my OB told me: 'Getting stretch marks during pregnancy depends on genetics and no matter what lotion you use, if you're going to get them.....you ARE going to get them and there is nothing you can do about it'
Hehehe very positive she is .....