Couldn't Escape the Stretch Marks

At 28 weeks I posted a message about when people started to notice stretch marks. At 30 weeks, I thought that if I hadn't gotten them yet, I was in the clear. Well today I think I noticed one as I think I grew overnight. I finally feel safe with my pregnancy and it's getting pretty close. So of course now I'm stressing about life and body image AFTER birth of twins!

The challenge: Is anyone bold enough to post pictures of their post-twin bellies. I keep hearing about this "twinskin". Is it real or just urban myth? I really need to see what to expect and if there is ANYONE out there who has somehow gotten their body back for encouragement. Based on what I've read, the outlook is bleek! So all you brave mamas out there, let's see those post twin belly pics

 

I don't think I can post pics..but honey it wouldn't be a pretty one! I'm only 5'1" and short torsod, and my stretch marks are still horrible after 3.5 months...but I had them way before 30 weeks if it makes you feel any better. I'm pretty much back to my prepreggo weight, but I'm breastfeeding...but it sure ain't the same body! Sad thing is even if I got a tummy tuck, the strech marks would still be there unless it's part of the skin I got cut off. I'm not that desparate yet, my OB said give it nine months...I have yet to do some sit ups, and I think that would help my little bulge go back in..think my muscles got stretched out.

 

It's no urban legend, twin skin is the REAL DEAL! With stretch marks though, I think it depends greatly on heredity. I have major stretch marks, and got them with my first. I am not brave enough to post a pic of my ugly belly! :bad:

 

I actually got lucky. No stretch marks, no twinskin, but I am admittedly a bit flabby/soft around the middle where I wasn't before. I've done very little to no exercise since the girls were born, though, so what do I expect?

I don't think I'll be posting photos, but let's just say I did order a bikini from J.Crew the other day. (whether I feel brave enough to actually wear it is another story!)

So...in my case, not too bad, especially for an older mommy.

 

I would post if I had one. Like you I got stretch marks late in pregnancy, about 2 weeks before I gave birth they showed up. Red streaks right around my belly button...yuck! They have faded but are still noticeable, enough that I don't think bikinis are for me anymore - tankinis are the way to go! I don't think the outlook is bleak for everyone, I think it depends somewhat on genetics and your body. My belly is soft and I do have some loose skin but it isn't has bad as I thought it would be.

 

Nobody wants to see my belly --- but I'll describe it to you.

It's covered in stretch marks. Stretch marks are hereditary (it has to do with what kind of skin genes you have) and I have them all over my tummy and my behind (not fair! so not fair! Only with a twin pregnancy can you get them on your butt!) Anyway, I look like a lilac tiger. The stretch marks will fade from red to pink to lilac or brownish then silver. You can't really see them color-wise but your skin does this bizarre puckering thing where they are. My belly button, hmmm, well... lets just say that the drooping skin around it looks pretty funky but the button itself has miraculously survived unscathed. I have an "apron" of skin that actually hangs there like a deflated balloon. That is the fabled twinskin. It pretty much goes from hip to hip and about halfway down my thighs. It's gross and I hate it with a burning passion.

So, just be prepared for the absolute worst... and hopefully it won't be too bad. (Sorry, I realized I sound like such a downer.) You will have some loose skin and the stretch marks are there to stay (just think of them as your badge of honor!) but you will have 2 beautiful babies to show for all that hard work.

 

I thought I would also breeze through without stretch marks. In fact, the nurses at the hospital when I had my NST's would always comment on how good I looked for twins, no stretch marks, yada, yada......well, when I came home and could see places I could not see before but, everyone else could the stretch marks were there. SO, either they lied to me!!!!! or they just popped up all of a sudden near the end and no one told me!

 

QUOTE(Her Royal Jennyness @ May 11 2007, 03:22 PM) [snapback]252066[/snapback]
Only with a twin pregnancy can you get them on your butt!


Not true! I got them on my butt with DS and no where else and didn't get anymore on my butt with the girls but I got them EVERYWHERE else!!

I will post pictures, if I can find them. I hate it, but I'm brave.

 

I felt like Jenny was talking about my belly, minus the butt streaks! Yep, I am certainly one of those worst case scenarios and would never take a picture, never mind post it! :rotflmbo: Everyone is so very different though so don't get too freaked out yet. I didn't even know about twinskin until joining TS and luckily I found out that I'm not the only one.

 

my stretch marks also came late in my pregnancy. My girls are over 5 months old and the twin skin is real, and gets worse as I lose more weight... i'm SO NOT posting pics. Sorry.

 

I was prepared for my abdomen to be completely destroyed, but here I am 5 months later and my belly is back to where it was before I got pregnant with the exception of the skin being a little looser. The only problem I continue to have is where they did the c-section. Right above the incision line it kind of pooches out a little bit, but not bad.

I also got stretch marks on my butt and down low on my belly. But they are all hidable by a bikini. So don't worry so much, there is hope!!

 

QUOTE(stacyw @ May 12 2007, 02:43 AM) [snapback]252448[/snapback]
I was prepared for my abdomen to be completely destroyed, but here I am 5 months later and my belly is back to where it was before I got pregnant with the exception of the skin being a little looser. The only problem I continue to have is where they did the c-section. Right above the incision line it kind of pooches out a little bit, but not bad.

I also got stretch marks on my butt and down low on my belly. But they are all hidable by a bikini. So don't worry so much, there is hope!!


I hate you Stacy.

 

First, this will be the last thing you will be worrying about for awhile when the little ones come...so, don't start your worrying too early!! I didn't get any stretch marks and like the pp, my stomach is almost back to being "normal" with some extra skin that is going away everyday. I had diastastis, but that is gone as well. I used tons of thick lotion during my whole pregnancy and worked out the entire pregnancy, too. I started working out 2 or 3 weeks after my c-section.
People are right, stretch marks are hereditary. Working out and eating clean will certainly help you get back into shape after the birth. Now, my butt still needs some work!!

DO NOT STRESS...you will be doing plenty of that in a few weeks....

jen

 

I will be brave and post my belly pic...I did not get stretch marks anywhere but... I basically have a hole under my belly button now because I had diastasis recti pretty bad. Keep in mind my boys are now almost 17 months and although I am back weight wise I will never be able to wear a bikini again but needles to say, I am happy witht my body for the most part. I haven't gotten around to renewing my rewards so you will have to goto www.photobucket.com, username: Shadyfeline5 password: pictures5. :blush:

 

I got them at about 16 weeks and they were pretty bad. The good thing is now they are mostly gone, I have a few small ones you can see if you're looking from the side but that's it. I also got lucky I guess bc I have no twin skin. I was so scared but when I had the twins I just starting working out. My tummy is still a little flabby but no hanging skin or anything. Use lots of Palmers and you should be good.

 

I was unable to escape the stretchmarks and I really didn't start getting them until around 35-36 weeks. When they started I swear they multiplied by the minute. My belly is covered as well as some other unmentionable areas since DD's head was engaged in my pelvis for so long. But other than that I am fairly happy with my Post-twin-pregnancy body considering what I have seen some women left with after pregnancy. Will you ever catch me in a bikini ummm no never but I dont have any extra hanging skin or anything like that.

Oh by the way there will also be no picture showing from me. LOL. Sorry

 

You guys are hilarious! I think even the two or three good responses out of 15 were encouragement enough for me! And thank you so much to the one brave soul that actually let me see a picture :clapping: You look awesome! Thanks ladies. I'll be joining you in about five weeks!!!