Baby Bump: Stretched Out by Stretch Marks

November 13, 2007

I was two weeks overdue with my daughter, when I spotted a few shimmery streaks at the base of my swollen belly. Dead set on going into labor, I didn't pay much attention to them until after my little girl was born and my stomach began to deflate. Then, those couple of blemishes became a bit more noticeable.

While stretch lines are a mark of motherhood, there's nothing wrong with willing them away.

After having my son, I invested in a couple of creams. And, I was somewhat surprised when they made a difference.

While the flaws haven't been erased, they are camouflaged — a result of the products helping them fade with time.

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24 Comments

3 years 31 weeks

Luckily there are laser treatments to make them virtually invisible. Creams and serums are a myth, they work some but not enough.

Sun_Sun 4 years 38 weeks

im making mental notes not planning to get preggers soon , but this will be hepful my mother and sister got LOTS :(

Fancy04 5 years 26 weeks

I was fortunate not to get any :) They can be hereditary-but you can prevent them by using good products.

crystalvillage06 5 years 26 weeks

I didn't get stretch marks until my 8th month and they were very faint. I used Avon's Stretch Mark and cellulite cream 2 years after my son was born and it worked really well. They weren't too bad to begin with but I can't see them at all now.

cutecurls 5 years 26 weeks

I'm jotting down all this info.

prestopink 5 years 26 weeks

as an esthetician, dont worry about the stretchmarks, unless they are light which is hypo-pigmentation, which is tougher to get rid of...if they are darker, hyper-pigmentation, you're in luck mostly all products and procedures are only made for these. But for any new mom here is the best advice I can give you and Im upset because I learned this after I was licensed and after I had my daughter: RUB YOUR STOMACH EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it does not have to be with a product, just rub the stretch marks, in fact MULTIPLE times a day!!! The rubbing stimulates the collagen and elastin production in that area you will notice a difference in four days!!!! Since your body is already changing and trying to heal itself and return to normal it is a prime time to take advantage and manipulate your skin so for any advice, evenif you didnt just have a baby: RUB RUB RUB....loofahs are our friends!!!!!!

jennifer76 5 years 26 weeks

I slathered on cocoa butter and still look like a pissed off tiger got the best of me. :( My dermatologist told me nothing in the world will prevent stretch marks - they're contingent on your genes and your starting and ending size. :cry:

mamaseacat 5 years 26 weeks

I slathered on all that stuff and thought I was doing well until they showed up in the last 2 weeks. Then they stayed. I think it just depends on your skin type. Nothing worked on me. :( But I'm still proud to have my "war wounds." :)

macgirl 5 years 26 weeks

The first time around I got them on my boobs right away. My belly stayed clear all the way through my pregnancy even with a weight gain of 80 pounds!! Then after I had the baby and my belly was going down I got two on my stomach. All that and I didn't get them until I was losing the weight! This time around I don't have any new ones and I'm at 31 weeks. I am really stressed about post baby. They say it's genetic and my mom got a butt load after her second pregnancy. I'm using the bio oil every day and keeping my fingers crossed.

kikidawn 5 years 26 weeks

So if I already have them (not from pregnancy) can I do anything to make them less noticeable?

Greggie 5 years 26 weeks

The thing is, stretch marks come from under the skin, where lotions and creams can't reach. You can minimize them in some ways, but if you're going to get them, you're going to either way. And if you're not, you're not.

mmydrnxcuzyoucry 5 years 26 weeks

Palmers didnt do JACK for me, and I used it my the bucket load.

Greggie 5 years 26 weeks

Unless you're just prone to stretch marks. I started with "prevention" immediately upon becoming pregnant with my first and still had them before I started my second trimester. I got less when I did nothing.

Novaraen 5 years 26 weeks

They can be hereditary yes...but seriously...if you start in the beginning of your pregnancy and really massage your belly skin...rubbing in a good belly butter...you can help to prevent them from occurring at all. Regardless of what happened to your mom, your grandma...etc....There is hope! :D

MotoLinz 5 years 26 weeks

I was so fortunate to not get any. My mom loaded me up with this stuff called Mother's Friend. Twice a day, I rubbed it on my belly, my boobs, and my butt and thighs. Both my mom and my grandma had used it with their pregnancies, and neither ever had stretch marks. It sure worked for me, but I heard that the stretch marks are a hereditary thing, rather than related to (or prevented by, rather) any salves, creams, jams, or jellies you can smear on your body.

Novaraen 5 years 26 weeks

Like mbrown said...use the Palmers Cocoa Butter in the little round jar. It's more like a balm. The lotion isnt as effective. Best wishes! :D

Novaraen 5 years 26 weeks

You cant wait till you get them to try something to get rid of them...you have to start at the beginning of your pregnancy!! :D When i found out i was to have twins at 7wks...i went and bought Palmers Cocoa Butter cream and started slathering it on. I knew that i would get huge with twins, so i would massage my skin with the cream constantly. I didnt get any stretch marks at all...even the nurses in the hospital uncovered my belly and was like...WOW, no stretch marks at all...you lucky girl. I swear by the cocoa butter and all the effort i put in my whole pregnancy. Good luck to all the pregnant ladies!! :D

veronicaraye 5 years 26 weeks

I hope I don't get stretch marks!

girlabouttown 5 years 26 weeks

I'm using Bio-Oil for mine and I'm noticing a difference. You can get it at Walgreen's.

t0xxic 5 years 26 weeks

I started getting stretch marks at 7 months and no prouct helped or reduced.

mbrown81 5 years 26 weeks

I didn't get any with my first son, But this time my thighs and butt definantly have a few. I have been using palmers tummy butter and they are starting to fade away. make sure you use the thick paste just the plain lotion doesn't work.

gab6784 5 years 26 weeks

I was kinda bummed when at 8 months I got my first stretch mark (subsequently followed by like 15 others - sob) but they weren't that bad until AFTER, I tried cocoa butter but it didn't work for me :(

Greggie 5 years 26 weeks

Sorry, I meant until two weeks overdue, not two weeks before you gave birth. :) Mine are blue this time. They're pretty.

Greggie 5 years 26 weeks

You didn't get them until 2 weeks before giving birth? Hmph. I'm jealous. Although mine don't bother me. I really couldn't care less about minimizing them.

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