Strecth Mark creams?

[SS77]

Does anyone what is really good for strecth marks? And does anybody know how to make sure you don't have extra tummy flab after you deliver? This will be my fourth and I can't never seem to tighten up the belly area. Just wondering if I was missing something that I couled be doing right to begin with? Thank you ladies.

[Lissyloo]

palmers has a range of oils butters etc but bio oil is proven to be the most affective
i dont care about stretch marks to be honest i use to be so fussy about my body but i dont go showing off my belly anyway so im fine with what i get lol

[angela418]

A friend of mine who had twins used the Palmers' cocoa butter for stretch marks and the palmer's moisturizing body oil all throughout her pregnancy and didn't get any stretch marks.  I have no idea if it was hereditary for her, but she gave me her extra lotion and oil and I'm using it, too, in hopes that I don't get any more stretch marks than I started with w/ my pregnancy :-)

[SS77]

Thank you ladies so much for all your wonderful comments. I am trying two creams. The Cocoa butter and some oil I ordered from Due Maternity. Hopefully it helps. I was also wondering if drinking lots of water would help too? But you all are probably right, it is probably more genetics than anything else. I'm not a big fan of surgery if I don't need it.

[jessbbg]

I didn't start getting them with my son until about 36 weeks (2 weeks before i delivered).  I thought I was sooo lucky and home free.  Imagine my surprise when POOF!  I reached up for a glass on the top shelf in the cabinet one afternoon and felt a funny pulling sensation... looked in the mirror and i had given myself two.  Every time i lifted my arm I felt myself getting more, it was awful.  For the last few days I hardly moved!!

[gkushwa]

they are hereditary. Sorry sweetie. Just look at them as battle scars from the most wonderful experience you will ever experiience...even though at times it might not seem so wonderful

[Maria2707]

I agree with JoyRenee, stretch marks is genetic. My mom doesn't have stretch marks even after having 5 kids.  When do you start noticing stretch marks in pregnancy?  Also see that you don't scratch when it itches. Keep your tummy moist applying lots of moisturizer.

[JoyRenee]

Stretch marks are also mostly genetic. So those who don't get them (whether they use creams or not) usually don't because of their genes (lucky them!).

Thankfully they do fade. As for tummy flab--- you can't just do crunches. You have to do cardio and weight training AND crunches in order to smooth that tummy out. It'll take time but it can be done. I love the Biggest Loser workouts.

[LATRICE123]

I have been useing the cocoa butter cream by palmers for streach marks, since i found out i was pregnant and havent had ANY.. Im 7mths now and my stomach is clear of marks, i think that cream really works. You can also make sure you dont scratch your tummy if its itchy because that causes marks too but try that lotion because that really works for me. GOOD LUCK!!!

[pookie1121]

I have read conflicting reports as to the cause of stretchmarks.

I personally believe that they are a combination of genetics (the natural elasticity of your skin) and creaming/stretching of the skin as preventing.

I didnt get stretchmarks with my DD.  My mother never got them either when she was pregnant with her three kids.  Both of us though regularly used a 100% cocoa butter cream stick and rubbed in the cocoabutter and tried to pre-strech the skin by massaging/pulling.  Was it genetics or the cocoa butter or a combination of both?  Who knows....

All I know is that I am preggo with twins now and I am using the same method and cocoa butter cream plus an additional oil to try to better my chances of not having stretch marks.  But what scares me even more than the idea of getting stretchmarks is the photos of "twin skin" that I have seen on the internet!  Still have several months to go....so I guess we'll see.

[jessbbg]

if it helps at all, SS, i wear a bikini too.  My stretch marks cover my whole stomach from my belly button down, pretty much, but they are the "silver" color, not dark at all.  But they are definitely there.  I just decided i wasn't going to be self-conscious anymore.  I worked hard to get my body back in shape and i wasn't going to let stupid stretch marks stop me from enjoying it and being comfortable (i HATE one-piece suits and am always uncomfortable in them, lol).  so i just said forget it, i'm putting on a bikini.

And i've gotten nothing but compliments and encouragement.  :-)

I get three reactions really:
1. they don't notice at all
2. they tell me how great i look
3. other mothers tell me it's an inspiration to them to stop worrying so much and start enjoying themselves and stop hiding

just be comfortable with yourself---it gives others permission to be comfortable with themselves too, and then all the pressure is gone.  i know it's hard to shake what hollywood has crammed down our throats, but there are ways to combat that too (like googling what they look like without their makeup!! lol)

Hope that helps you a little.  Honestly, i never got so many compliments in my life like i have since the minute i accepted my body and concerned myself with being MY best, not someone else's idea of best. ;-)

[SS77]

Well, that bites! KInd of expected that. I have done the excercise thing and that doesn't work. Some people must be lucky. I have a neighbor that had two kids and she can still wear a bikini and I can't. Unless I really want to show off my strecth marks I guess I can too. I can't ask her what her secret is because she is not a very sharing person with anything that works for her or things she likes. She is one of those people that you can't copy her even if the store sold millions of products for other people to buy them. Oh well, I guess if it really bothers me in a couple of years maybe surgery is the way. Hollywood makes it seem like you got to look perfect after you have a baby. So hard to do. Thanks again.

[spade22]

Stretch mark creams dont work - stretch marks are formed below the skin and creams are topical (applied to the top surface of the cream).  Sorry!

[jessbbg]

To my knowledge, there is really nothing I've heard of that has ever worked for stretch marks, though there are tons of products that claim to.  You can have a tummy tuck and laser resurfacing to help if you have a few thousand dollars lying around, but that's about it, lol.  Sorry...

As far as not having extra tummy flab, unless your stomach doesn't stretch at all to the point where your stomach is flat at nine months pregnant, there's going to be extra tummy.  it's just science/nature.  Theoretically if you can somehow minimize any fat from building up, it would make it somewhat less noticeable as you would only have skin there, but our bodies need the extra fat stores for developing our baby during pregnancy, and for feeding afterwards, so no matter what you do you will likely put on *some* fat.  

I know that being fit leading into your pregnancy and maintaining a modified exercise regimen during pregnancy can help you bounce back to your old self faster, and take off the weight and tighten up quicker, but that's just good old hard work and determination and commitment, so there's no trick really... so i guess of anything out there, exercise leading up to having the baby will give you the best "leg up" so to speak, or head start, in getting to be in the shape you want to be in sooner.

sorry, i know it stinks.  i'm dealing with the same concerns!!  we just have to accept it and not be so hard on ourselves, but work hard and take care of ourselves too. hang in there!  we're hoping to start a getting-back-in-shape-after-baby forum later this summer after a bunch of us delivery in July.  Hopefully when we all put our heads together we can reap some extra reward and encouragement :-)

[hkenny]

I have tried soooo many creams and I know i hated when people told me this but nothing works. I have tried bio oil,burts bee tummy butter,palmers coco butter, and 2 really expensive creams that i cant remember the name off. I like the oil ones b.c it makes your skin soft and I believe my stretch marks are not as red from using cream./oil but unfortunetly if you are going to get them you just will and trust me I know how much that S-ucks!!  the tummy flab i would like an answer to as wel!!