Strech Marks

Updated on August 10, 2007
M.F. asks from Humble, TX
17 answers

hello ladies,

I made it through my first pregnancy with a few
strech marks and do not want to add to them
we are trying to have baby #2 so I was wanting
any strech mark advice out there... The good, the bad,
and of course the ugly!!!

Thanks

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P.A.

answers from Houston on

I used the stretch cream from the Motherhood Maternity shop. It is their own brand. I gained almost 50 lbs and O stretch marks. A friend of mine gained 70 and used that cream. No stretch marks!!! So give it a try. Good luck

1 mom found this helpful

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S.

answers from Houston on

I have two kids 4yrs and 9mths The first time Used Olive oil sounds weird but it work i put it on thick at night after I showered and used a little plastic wrap on my tummy it keeps it moist and sleep that way i guess its more like a treatment you can try i didn't do it all the time but enough times at night. Use cooco butter the thick kind instead of regular lotion during the day all over your body for strech marks in other areas. I only have a noticable strech mark on the belly button but it is small my belly button was little and that was only from my first.
I guess it the size of the baby too my first was 6lbs 6oz and was kinda small and my second was 7lbs 14oz and I am a small size.
so just try it out it could'nt hurt I have seen women with realy bad strech marks and I am thankful i tried something. So Good Luck and let me know how it goes. I also heard milk bathes help and don't take hot hot showers it drys the skin out.

GOOD LUCK!

10 moms found this helpful
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J.E.

answers from Tyler on

Hi, M.. All the evidence that I've seen and read points to genetics. Some of us will inherently get stretch marks and some of us won't. Doesn't seem quite fair, does it? :) My own mother bore two children and doesn't have one stretch mark. I was pretty lucky with only a few stretch marks on my breasts, which have disappeared. I know other girls who weren't so fortunate, and guess what? Their moms also had stretch marks.

I would predict that if you made it through one pregnancy without stretch marks, then you should be just as lucky in your later pregnancies. Also, think back to what you did the first time and try to do the same thing.

Even though I'm pretty sure that heredity is the strongest factor, I would still moisturize like a fiend! If nothing else, it will keep your growing belly from itching.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.L.

answers from Houston on

I have been told that no matter what you put on durring your pregnancy if you are going to get them you will. I got very mild ones 6 days before my son was born.

If you do get more with your second or even if you dont, after your baby is born you can use this treatment called Strivectin SD. The sell it at Dillards and stuff, and while it is VERY pricey, it really does work. Almost as if it just tightens your skin up. I have just used it mildly and mine have faded into almost nothing now!!

Good luck with trying to conceive and also with getting rid of your mommy marks (as I like to call them!!)

1 mom found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Houston on

I think alot of it depends on age and skin. I've always heard that skins elasticy is easier to bounce back when you are younger. I was 27 when I had my son (He's now 4) I gained a whopping 60 lbs (he was a big baby!!) I didn't get any stretch marks from him, amazingly. You can't really chalk that one up to youth. I did rub cocoa butter w/ vitamin E on my tummy about once every other week, but I don't really think that did it either. I do however have a horrible addiction to iced tea, can't function without it! Tea has alot of faults; it is bad for your kidneys, it has the dreaded caffiene, etc. But it is supposed to be good in a lot of ways too. It is a natural anti-oxidant, a cancer fighter, a skin replenisher. I guess I'd have to swear up and down that that's what keeps mine healthy. Try out green tea or caffiene free tea & see how that works for you.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.P.

answers from Houston on

Hi M.

Not to worry! You should not get anymore than you already have. Your body has already stretched out once. Second time around is better. I actually got quite a few stretch marks due to genetics. My mother had them so I did to that's the way it goes. My second pregnancy did not gain anymore than I already had. By the time I was pregnant with my second daughter three years later they had already disapeared. They were very light grey. What I did was sun tan and that helped tremendously.

If you are going to breast feed that also makes a difference. Some women are genetically gifted and can breast feed and gain not one stretch mark. I did due to the overly engourging of the tissue. I breast fed with both of my daughters a year each. Ofcourse I since then had breast implants for cosmetic reasons such as the breast feeding. They were left like flat pancakes with wrinkles after breastfeeding. The implants filled them completely and you can not see a single stretch mark being that the doctor recommended a larger size to fill up and later tan them.

Really all products are not worth spending on they dont work it all has to do with genetics.

I only recommend to put a heavy thick cream on several times a day to help. You can also in the shower put on an oil all over like aveeno bath oil put it on all over after showering and then put on the thick cream. It works wonderful.

I used to throughout the day use Vitamin E capsules all over my belly and bottom area. I would buy them at GNC and pop them with a needle and put 100% heavy duty Vitamin E oil.

But not to worry you will do so fine. Good luck to you and your new baby. They fade within time.

1 mom found this helpful

R.H.

answers from Houston on

I used the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion for my stretch marks and I have 3 beautiful children.I never scratched my stomach either and I used the cocoa butter everyday after a shower.When I tell you that I don't have any strech marks at all that's for real.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.L.

answers from Houston on

I have had 3 children and I managed to make it with minimal stretch marks by using a no-name body cream (not lotion) and applying it a couple times a day. The moisturized skin handled stretching better and didn't leave "rips" or stretch marks. I was so large with my 3rd child that I literally looked like I was delivering twins, so I can say that it definately helps!
R.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.J.

answers from Houston on

Hi M.-
Yes, heredity and yes to try anything, is what I've found. I have two kids and my first baby was bigger and I gained twice as much with my first than with my second. My first pregnancy also only came with only a tiny bit of stretch marks, because I SLATHERED on the baby oil GEL everyday, and possibly a little bit of hereditary. (My mom does have stretch marks, with five kids, but I bet she didn't use anything either!) I just would wear a men's undershirt under my bra and clothes. However, I got a little laxed with the skin lubricants due to confidence and there not being a winter during that pregnancy. I did get more stretch marks in different places. Not a terrible amount, but any stretch mark is still unwanted.
I just say, how do we know if it unavoidable due to hereditary issues, if our mothers didn't TRY to avoid it?

Good luck and happy pregnancy!
L.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.

answers from Houston on

I used Clarins Huile Tonic Body Treatment Oil during my first pregnancy and my second (I'll have my 2nd baby in about a month). I haven't gotten any stretch marks. I put the oil on my belly and legs after bathing when I'm still wet.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.L.

answers from Houston on

Hi M.. I do not agree with all that say that you cannot do anything to prevent stretch marks because it is due to genetics. My mom has a ton of stretch marks from having us and so did her mom. I started using a lotion (from Mimi Maternity) during my second trimester and I did not get a single stretch mark in the places I used it. I would apply it once a day in the morning after my shower. I applied it to my stomach area, breasts and lower back and I did not get any marks on those areas. I did not apply it to my lower hips and I ended up getting a couple there. So I really believe that lotions help and while genetics may play a part, there is something you can do about it.

My sister in law used the same lotion (her sister and mom both had heavy stretch marks) and she did not have a single stretch mark on her body. We like the one from Mimi Maternity because it was very light and absorbed quickly. I tried the Palmer's cocoa butter one but it was very heavy and thick. The one I used is a little pricey ($18 tube) but I think it was worth it. I used about 4 to 5 tubes during my entire pregnancy and the next time I will use the same stuff. Of course, next time I will also apply it to my hips.

I do know some people that used some cheaper creams and they worked for them. I think the main idea is to keep the skin hydrated and not let it dry out. Something with collagen would work great. Just make sure to use it everyday and start the routine as soon as possible.

Good Luck!

-M.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.G.

answers from Houston on

My kiddos were really close (17months) so I didn't get to many new stretch marks. I watched my weight really closely with #2. I also made sure to used tons of lotion....any kind. The "stretch mark" creams had a weird odor and made me a little nauseous the first few months, so I just got one I loved. I also found a lotion by AVEDA for hands. It is super moisturizing. I think it has green tea extract and a bunch of other botanicals. It is pricy but definately worth it...I think it was $18 but lasted a few months. I put it everywhere that I thought I would stretch...belly, thighs, etc....

Good luck with the pregnancy!

1 mom found this helpful
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B.S.

answers from Sherman on

Hi M. F. I sell Arbonne Skin Care and am also a Licensed Esthetician, we have a awesome product that is called Arbonne Rejuventing Cream and also a Serum. Serums go deep into your skin to rejuvinate the lower layers. Call me at ###-###-#### if you are interested or look up the products at www.arbonne.com. Good luck B.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.W.

answers from Houston on

Hi M.,
From what I know, stretch marks are hereditary...but definitely keep moisturized and watch your weight gain. Good luck!!!
-M.

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L.U.

answers from Sherman on

I ordered a baby line and got a rejuvinating cream in with it and probablly wouldnt have believed that it worked so well if I hadnt received it FREE with the awesome baby line... IT WORKS and worked for me. email me and i have a before and after picture.. not of me but of a friend from Oklahoma....I dont think there are samples of it but i would be glad to share more about it just email me ____@____.com I have six kids and NEEDED IT....

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A.H.

answers from Houston on

Well I am sad to say that there is no way to prevent stretch marks it is something that just happens. Just watch what you eat and your weight gain and they will eventually over time go away. They are heretitary!

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R.G.

answers from Houston on

No kidding, scratching was the hardest thing for me not to do! Which of course I couldn't stop doing. But my step-mom bought me a coco-butter cream that smells, well not the best smell in the world. And your hands will smell all day, even after washing them. But it seemed to help lots for me. After 15 months I still have some strech marks, but not as much as I probably would've had. And as everyone keeps repeating here, yes it was hereditary for me as well. My mom got them and some of hers never disappeared.

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