stretch marks

[kitty1981]

What is the best product to use to help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy???

[mycats]

Bio oil massaged into skin everyday is very good

[ratbag66]

Nothing will prevent you getting stretchmarks, it is down to genetics whether you will get them or not. Stretchmarks originate in the very deep layers of the skin so anything that is rubbed into the skin's surface will have no effect whatsoever (apart from giving you nice, soft skin!).

Some people will be lucky and escape with none, others will be covered - it's the luck of the draw I'm afraid.

[moominmonsta]

iv used Bio oil and its worked for me n i use baby oil when i get out of the shower n stuff. All this stuff bout stretch marks bein genetic is rubbisjh if u ask me neway.

[curlyperm]

i used normal olive oil? as advised by a friend, and dont have a single one? i dont believe its genetic either : )

[Cheekyteddy]

Well I rubbed oil into my skin when pregnant and got loads of bright purple stretch marks!!! They got worse with each pregnancy and bio oil has not reduced them.

The thing is we won't know if it is genetic or not. But if you have tried to prevent them then you will have nothing to reproach yourself with!

Louise

[redcrx]

i reckon pregnant women should test to see if its genetics or creams that do it.
So who wants to volunteer to rub one side of their tum with cream and leave the other alone? I certainly wouldnt!
I would say though that I reckon its genetic and also to do with how fast you grow though, I tried the creams and I still got stretch marks. Im happy to say though that they have faded off over time (19 months now) and i havnt used any cream on them since the birth.
Regardless of what causes or prevents them I think we should all be proud of our little strech marks, they are just another small reminder of the magic that our bodies performed to create our children.

[Pippa68]

I agree with red!

I used creams and oils and got away with no stretchmarks until I hit the 8 month mark..woke up covered!

My sister used nothing and has no marks at all, despite having a 10 lb baby.

You either get them or you don't ~ oil or no oil.

[kitty1981]

thanks everyone. I dont think i will bother splashing out on any expensive creams. I will just use my regular lotion, cocoa butter.

xx

[yummymum]

I dont see how it can be genetics cos thats like saying if you mum was fat then your gonna be fat etc... My mum had no stretch marks from 2 children and my nan had none from 5 children, I have 1 child and one on the way and have no stretch marks. However my Aunt had 2 kids and as streatch marks all over so it really must be luck of the draw, I did use bio oil with the first but i wasnt religous with it and only started to use it towards the end, my Mum and Nan said they used nothing.
First time round i was worried about stretch marks this time im not bothering cos the end product is worth it anyway!

[redcrx]

yummymum, you do get your genes from your dad as well you know :)

[FlowerPetal]

Cocoa butter is brilliant...........cant say if it will effect the stretch marks, but will certainly leave the skin smoother which does help. AND, you have to remember that massaging the cream into the skin stimulates skin growth -I was told to make sure that you rubbed the cream towards the heart, to help move deposites around the body.

Im no expert - just passing on what was told to me by some beauty expert.........good luck

Flower xx

[yummymum]

I do know this Redcrx, but surely if it was purely genetics then incases like my Mum and Aunt who have same Mum and Dad they would either both get Stretch marks or they both wouldnt. Also my Grandad put on a lot of weight at one point and then lost it..he as no Stretch marks. So you have my Mum and Aunt who have a mother and father who both could have got stretch marks but didnt, yet my Aunt got stretch marks and my Mum didnt. The genetics theory just doesnt make sense in all cases

[lizzysparkle]

I used Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Butter and I didn't get any stretch marks and it smells really nice too.

[chimpanzee]

Cocoa Oil Body Lotion or Bio Oil.

Still though, I doubt they'd prevent the inevitable of stretchmarks during pregnancy :( Just think of them as 'war' marks of doing the most amazing thing in the world - bringing another life into the world!

[spanner7853]

Nothing. If your going to get stretchmarks you will get them. all in the genes unfortunately.

[porfavour]

I used cocoa butter too, it smelt lovely and I religiously slathered it on ever evening.

Didn't see a single stretch mark right up til the day my daughter was born - so would have sworn by it.

The day after she was born, I discovered my stomach was a blamange and at sometime during the night before, some evil old farmer had driven his plough truck over the whole of the underside of my belly I was fractured to bits!

Moral of the story, don't let farmers in maternity wards.
AND check underside of tum, that's where most of the weight is carried so most likely to stretch.

I even got stretch marks when I was a teenager when my hip bones grew, so really it's probably the luck of the type of skin you have.
Sorry I have no secret remedy or solution.
If you have ever watched Shirley Valentine, there's always some greek guy happy to kiss them. lol

[Pippa68]

Very good point, porfavour!

My 17 year old daughter has stretchmarks, and as far as I know isn't pregnant ;o) she got them when she 'filled out' around the hips. She also has a few around her breasts from when they grew. I have assured her that they will fade in time.

[ethandron]

if someone had the cure/prevention for stretchmarks, they would be very rich and we would all know about it. unfortunately, no-one does have the answer and it is just down to the individual. i had two 9lb babies, didn't use any creams or potions and have never had a stretchmark in my life. my youngest baby, at 17 years old, put on weight and developed lots of them. fortunately for him they've now faded a lot. don't waste your money on buying a 'miracle' cream, there is no such thing. disappointing, but nevertheless true.

[LeMarchand]

Durex.

Sorry! Couldn't resist!

[BabbitCymru]

There's no hard and fast guaranteed method of preventing stretch marks but I'd always recommend using cocoa butter - generously applied in small, circular motions.

Not only does it help condition your skin but, in later pregnancy, you may find Baby reponding to the massage if you find a hand or foot - it's quite an odd sensation but it can be a little game with your bump!

I'd also recommend using cocoa butter to massage Baby when he/she arrives - baby massage is a wonderful, calm, post-bathtime activity for you both...

Very best of luck!