[Kiwi]

Did any of you BTDT Mummies try anything to prevent stretch marks?

I'm coating myself in Bio Oil and Palmers Coco Butter, but obviously genetics and skin type will play a huge part in whether I get stretch marks or not... Just wondering what others did to try and prevent/minimise them?

[**jessie**]

I used some regular lotion or body oil. More because my skin got dry and itchy because of all the growing. It won't help a single bit with stretch marks because that is the subcutaneous tissue ripping, and has nothing to do with the skin. I still got stretch mark, but not too bad at all. A couple on my very lower belly and then on my butt and sides (which I find weird!). My PP pics are up in the private forum.

[Frozendesire]

I occasionally used lotion because my stomach got itchy, but nothing regular. I got TONS of stretch marks. My stomach looks exactly like my moms So I'm thinking it's all about genetics!

I also didn't get the majority of them until I was umm.. around 38 or so weeks. After 40 weeks I got ALL of them... ugh. I just got worse and worse 40 - 42 weeks.

[Babybear4]

I put lotion on everyday, but for the itching and dryness that came with pregnancy. I've heard that nothing you do will prevent stretch marks, as they are from the inside out and the lotion only pentrates the top layers of skin.

[SandKmommy]

From what my mom told me when she was getting some schooling done to go to nursing school, if its in your genes to get stretch marks you'll get them no matter how much cream or lotions you use. The creams and lotions could make them not as visible but if your genes say stretch skin stretch its gonna.

[~*sierra*~]

i was planning on using the bio oil too!

[~Caroline~]

I was hoping I'd read there was a magic cream that would prevent them

I already have faded stretch marks on my hips (thanks to puberty) so I'm guessing I'll get more during pregnancy.

[*krista*]

I used cocoa butter. I don't know that it helped, but it did keep me from getting itchy! I asked mt doctor and she said it couldn't hurt to stay moisturized, which is the reason why I started using it.

I also have faded marks on my hips from puberty but I barely got any on my stomach at all, much to my surprise. Just an X over my belly button piercing and I think it is only because of the piercing. So just because you have gotten them elsewhere in the past doesn't mean you will get them on your belly now.

[midnight_starr]

I haven't used anything... So far I only have some on my boobs!

[~Caroline~]

Originally Posted by *krista*

I also have faded marks on my hips from puberty but I barely got any on my stomach at all, much to my surprise. Just an X over my belly button piercing and I think it is only because of the piercing. So just because you have gotten them elsewhere in the past doesn't mean you will get them on your belly now.

That's good to know!!!

[**Jenn**]

I used lotion religiously (tried several kinds that were supposed to help prevent stretch marks) with Liam and was stretch mark free until I hit 32 weeks--then literally overnight I exploded in them! Ian called me "fire belly" because they looked like flames. I got a few more with Lochy because I carried him higher and a few more with Lila because I got much bigger with her and then they started to rip open--that sucked.

It's always good to keep lotioned up if just to ease the itchyness but also keep hydrated by drinking a lot of water.

I have this lotion/cream that's supposed to help fade stretch marks but I don't know if its the cream that helped or just time because they're not super noticeable, at least not as much as I thought they'd be.

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

I used bio oil. I have stretch marks from my arm pits down to my feet.

[Resi]

I didn't bother because I knew nothing would prevent them if I was going to get them. I just used lotion on occasion for dry skin. My mom has no stretch marks and I'm a road map. I had them on my hips from puberty also and figured I'd get them with pregnancy.

[Oriyan]

I used creme and oil. I thought it worked but at week 37, my butt and thighs exploded with stretch marks. I was in the clear till then. My stomach has none though, thankfully. My mom did not get any on her stomach, either. Neither did my aunts.

[Mars]

Before pregnancy I had this great plan of how I would use VitE oil or Cocoa Butter to rub on my belly but during pregnancy I would rarely remember to put anything on. thankfully, I didn't get stretch marks.

[Kiwi]

Thanks for all the replies girls! Yeah, I kinda figured nothing would prevent them, but I'm going to do my best to try - even if it's a waste of time!!

[Miracle]

I didn't get a single stretch mark with my first pregnancy but I got a bunch with my second pregnancy. I religiously put thick body cream on both times.

The differences between pregnancies were

1) My first pregnancy I prayed every night I wouldn't get any stretch marks, with my second one I prayed a few times about it but not as much
2) I gained weight quicker with my second pregnancy, also gained ten more pounds total
3) My second baby was almost a pound bigger than my first

[amazing_love]

I put Palmer's cocoa butter (organic) on everyday during pregnancy and only got a couple very small stretchmarks on my hip. Not sure if that's what helped it but i'll definitely do the same with my next pregnancy!

LOL Melissa! I'm sorry but your praying comment cracked me up

[*krista*]

Melissa!

[Mjp121212]

I used palmer's 2 or 3 times.....lol does that count? I always forgot to use it and I didn't get any stretch marks at all.