Stretch Marks

[Anonymous]

I just want to cry. I'm already curvy (!) OK, I'm chubby, darn it. All my pregnancy stretchmarks have been below the belly-button area. I'm staring in horror as two faint, but distinct, stretch marks are developing well above the belly button on either side. I'm 33 weeks. Please stop stretching!!!!

[Anonymous]

Don't be sad, it's all worth it in the end!

[Anonymous]

Oh mama. I feel you.

I have stretchmarks that would kill a normal human, all the way up to my ribcage.

But please take heart. There are people out there that find me attractive and sexy and know that women's bodies change when they have babies. Our bodies are always changing.

[Anonymous]

They fade some, right? I (knock wood) don't have any YET, but my mom does so I assume they are coming. I got stretch marks on my legs when I was in high school from a growth spurt -- very faint silvery lines -- they're completely gone now. So I'm going with the assumption that whatever I get during pregnancy will fade away, too. At least, by the time i'm 70! Sorry OP -- don't feel so bad. Most women have them I think.

[Anonymous]

My friend and I disagreed about stretch marks.

I lotioned my belly every night before bed, at my doctor's suggestion. I called it my "belly time" because it would stimulate my baby into moving around in response to my touch, and it was like prenatal bonding time.

My friend disagreed and said stretch marks are totally hereditary and the lotion wouldn't help. She didn't lotion her belly.

She now has stretch marks on her belly. I do not. I do have them on my butt, which I did not rub with lotion, so I think maybe the lotion did actually help keep me from developing belly stretch marks, since I'm clearly prone to them.

Try lotioning your belly - maybe it will help! Worst case, the skin will feel nice and supple and you might stimulate your baby into moving around at your touch.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the exact same situation. My stretch marks were staying below the belly button, almost like there was an invisible barrier there protecting me...and almost at 36 weeks on the dot, a few faint ones started appearing higher up (but only on the right side, which is where she likes to shove her little butt out)

[Anonymous]

I lotion every day and I have stretch marks.

[Anonymous]

I could not put anymore lotion on myself than I have -- good lotion too, cocoa and pure shea butter -- or drink anymore water, etc. and I am still getting them on my stomach (at 36 weeks). I expect it is a combination of factors, including heredity and your prepregnancy size (I am very petite and my doctor has said there really is just nowhere for baby to go). They are our battle wounds I guess. Hang in there!

[Anonymous]

I lotioned 3x's / day (felt good in addition to trying to prevent stretch marks), drank tons of water and gained my weight very slowly. My mom has LOTS of stretch marks from carrying me and my sibling. I thought I was going to get them and did not.

I have no idea if my attempts helped that or not. But, I can say the belly lotioning felt good and stimulated the baby to move. So, regardless if I got them, I enjoyed that.

[Anonymous]

I lotioned soooo much and got them from my belly button to my knees. Men go to war and get battle wounds, and do other things that scar them, we carry babies-stretch marks are our "battle wounds". Be proud!

[Anonymous]

There's nothing that's been demonstrated to actually prevent stretch marks - but lotions and oils do feel so good on itchy, stretchy skin. They're worth it if only for that.

[Anonymous]

I do not use lotion specifically on my belly, and I did not get any with pregnancy #1, and so far none in pregnancy #2 (I'm due next week). I've been exercising daily for 20 years and drink a TON of water, and guessing I got lucky with the DNA.

Then again, I could sprout a bunch in the next week or post-partum this time!

[Anonymous]

I did not get them with my first or second and got them LITERALLY during labor with my third around my belly botton...
5 years later they have faded a bit, but they are still there and they do not look like a fine silvery lines, they look like my skin torn.
I used lotion every night. My mom has them, but my grandmother did not get any (4 kids).

[Anonymous]

I firmly believe it is genetics, not lotion.

I never used lotion and did not get stretch marks. My mother had twins and carried them to full term and does not have a single stretch mark.

I have heard of MANY women who do not get single stretch mark with #1, but then get a ton with #2.


Good news is most all strech marks fade and often blend in with your skin. I might not have stretch marks, but my boobs look like two grapefruits hanging in a pair of athletic socks.

[Anonymous]

I think stretch marks are definitely genetic.

I'm 5'6", small frame, 125 pre-pregnant and birthed 13 pounds of babies (twins), never used lotion for a day and didn't get a single stretchmark. (Don't worry, my body was ravaged in other ways and is nothing like it was pre-babies). I've also heard of women getting stretch marks for the first time during pregnancy #2. I'm currently pregnant and fully expect to pay my dies this time around!