Stretch Marks On Their Way?

:unsure: [SIZE=12pt]I know this sounds like a very vain question but I have to ask...when did you all start to notice stretch marks? So far I have none (26 weeks) but I can't help but thinking they're going to gey me before this is over. Do any creams actually work? I've been using cocoa butter and vitamin E (alternating am/pm)[/SIZE].

 

I don't think your question is vain at all...merely curious!

You know, some people NEVER get any (myself amongst them ) despite the incredible "stretching"!
Think we are all genetically predisposed to certain traits/attributes/by-products of pregnancy...
When I asked my mom if she ever got any stretchmarks, she said "Not a one, but I did get hemmorhoids."

At the risk of too much information, while I dodged the stretchmark bullet, genetics held true

Best of luck to you, and it seems as though you are doing the right thing by "creaming up"!

Congrats on your twins on the way!

 

I am 32 weeks and I was tiny when when I got pregnant (size 2). I still do not have any stretch marks on my belly. I have however over the last 2 weeks noticed just a few on my hips and butt, they aren't dark and I think they will go away. I also asked my mother if she got any and she said "Just a few on my hips and butt" so I think a lot of it is genetics. I have also been using coco butter the whole time.

 

I was 5"3 and 115lbs when I got pregnant. I gained 60 lbs with the twins, delivered at 173lbs @ 30weeks!! Anyways, I used the Palmer's cocoa butter for stretch marks everyday when I got out of the shower. I used it on my breasts, arms, stomach, hips, butt, and thighs. I ended up with very few, very light stretch marks on my lower stomach but no where else. You cant even see them now. I definately think it was the cream that helped b/c I got HUGE in a short amount of time.

 

I just started getting some on my lower belly (or so my husband says, I can't see!) in the last couple weeks, so from about 30-31 weeks onward. My sister and mother never got stretch marks with their pregnancies (but they only had one). I had stretch marks on my hips from gaining weight when I was a teenager/college student, so I fully expected them to be coming. I've been using creams too, but everything I read says the creams just make your skin feel better and don't really prevent stretch marks.

Good luck - maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones who doesn't get any!

Erica.

 

Honestly its genetics... as long as you keep your skin hydrated (drink lots of water & any kind of lotion) you will either get them or you won't. My mom only got a few.... but my aunt & grandma on my dads side had TONS! When I got prego with DS I started to get stretch marks around 22 weeks... & I was RELIGOUS about cocoa butter 3 times a day on my belly! None the less by the time I had him I had worse stretch marks then a lot of moms of multiples! I only gained 23lbs with my son.

With the genetics... remember to look at your fathers side too! You never know! Thats why one sister might get none & another get tons! This time around I just started itching.... I think I have a few new ones popping up, but so far not too much. I am 28 weeks.

A side not about the vitamin E... I would talk to your OB about that... mine actually told me to be VERY careful. Alot of lotions have vitamin E in them & if you apply them too often you can actually absorb to MUCH of it through your skin, which can be worse then using it.

I have found the best thing to be by palmers.... Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula For Dry, Itchy Skin Soothing Oil. http://www.etbrowne.com/products/Collectio...CollectionID=27 Since it is oil you don't have to apply it NEARLY as often. They sell it at walmart & babies 'r' us. It has just the right amount of vitamin E in it so I don't bother using anything else. I found AFTER I had DS that the mustela lotion helped them fade faster... http://www.mustelausa.com/about_m9.html you can also find their stuff at BRU. I, along with others I know, did not find it to help prevent them though.

Anyways long story short... if you don't let your skin dry out you will either get them or you won't its genetics BUT if you let your skin dry out cause you don't want to deal with it you will be way itchy & uncomfy & you are WAY more likely to get them.

HTH!

 

Never got any....I gained about 40lbs - delievered at 29 weeks, measuring 40 wks. My mom never got any either.

 

I, too, never got any stretch marks with the twins. My first pregnancy, which was singleton, I did get stretch marks on my lower back. I was so concerned with the twins that I also used the Palmer's Lotion twice a day, every single day. Don't know if that is what helped, but I praise the lotion!!

 

[SIZE=10pt]I never did too much (other than regular lotion) but I also got quite a few. I do think that it is mainly genetic though also.[/SIZE]

 

I'm sorry to be the downer here.... but it does not matter what you use, if you are genetically predisposed to stretch marks, you will get them.
I used Palmers, straight vitamin E, olive oil...... everything that people say keeps you from having stretch marks...... but I have some beauties. My Mom has none, but my dad has them from lifting weights etc in high school. (Oh, and the worst stretch marks were from my 1st pregnancy... I got a few new ones with the twins, but not bad, the damage was already done)

 

QUOTE(theserranoboys @ Apr 7 2007, 04:26 PM) [snapback]209782[/snapback]
:unsure: [SIZE=12pt]I know this sounds like a very vain question but I have to ask...when did you all start to notice stretch marks? So far I have none (26 weeks) but I can't help but thinking they're going to gey me before this is over. Do any creams actually work? I've been using cocoa butter and vitamin E (alternating am/pm)[/SIZE].


I'm right there with you at almost 27 weeks...and don't have any yet either but I think you and I are right on the verge of our biggest growth time-with nowhere to grow but out! My Mom did get a few with me so I expect that they'll show up here eventually. Plus I'm a little older so my skin likely isn't as elastic as it used to be. So agree w/ all the PP's...if you're genetically destined to get them, you will. I have been using Palmer's tummy butter along with Bath & Body works body butter (Moonlight Path is my fave) ...so even if it helps a little bit I'll be happy!

 

I grew a lot between 27 and 29 weeks! I still don't have any stretch marks but I think I see some appearing around my belly button - I can't be sure. I use cocoa butter every day despite the fact that most people say it doesn't work - I'd rather try it than not. I'm pretty pessimistic that I could actually go the whole pregnancy without them but we'll see.

 

I'm 27 weeks, and so far so good. I've been using Vitamin E oil and Palmers since I was about 8 weeks preggo. My doc says the combination is fine, she actually recommended it...
Right now I have NO stretchmarks, while I've only gained 17 pounds, it's all belly and breasts. My breasts have grown a few sizes and my belly has ballooned quite a bit to 44 inches!!!! I believe I look at least 8 months preggo!!! :0
And up to 17 weeks I wasn't showing at all, so all of my belly grew very fast in the past 10 weeks only.
I expect I might have some by the time I finish growing, but I think the Vit. E and Palmers have helped to at least keep my skin soft, firm and elastic. My skin looks great!! B/C of keeping it moisturized I don't itch so much, so I'm never scratching. I think if anything we can't fully prevent them, but we CAN keep our skin conditioned enough to lessen the effects of them, and the severity.

Good luck, cross your fingers, I suspect our biggest growth spurt is about to happen!!!!!

PS - I do drink LOTS of water too...

 

Hey! I hate to be the bearer of bad news but to be completely honest it is genetics. I'm a nurse and actually looked into this alot when I was pregnant with my son. I talked to many OBs about it as well. If you have a tendancy to scar easily, or already have stretch marks, you will get them. The lotions and creams DO NOT prevent them. They do help them to itch less but nothing will prevent them all together. Drinking lots of water will reduce the number and severity of your marks. Funny thing, when I was pregnant with my son I thought I only had one stretch mark. Then I gave birth and took my first shower. I called DH in there and showed him the lower part of my belly. I said I must have been doing alot of pushing because look at all these new stretchmarks. He said, Honey you've had them. He just couldn't tell me. Oh well. My mom had them really bad and most of the women in my family have them either from being pregnancy or gaining weight.