Stretch Marks!!!

I'm 35 weeks pregnant, and the other night I leaned over to turn off the light for bed and noticed grooves in my belly from the shadows of light. I promptly freaked out, jumped up, and examined my belly. Sure enough, clusters of small slightly pink stretch marks are spreading across my belly. I cried.

my mom claims to have none from us 3 kids, and my skin has always been very moisture-rich and very resilient. I felt emotionally prepared in case it happened (obviously not), but was honestly not at all worried about it. Since I'm 35 weeks, I guess I figured I made it out. I, of course still applied my belly butter and palmers cocoa butter the entire time alllll over anywhere i even could get a stretch mark, but I admit it wasn't every day. I'm so upset. I'm worried about what I'll look like after. I know I shouldn't be, but I'm so shocked--I need some emotional support from you awesome strong mamas. No women want to talk about it here in person and obviously my family is not a resource!

Meh mine started popping up at 34 weeks, it sucked. I was so depressed about never wearing a bikini again, or how my SO would feel about them. After my baby was born I started caring less and less, now I'm just like whatever. My body will never be the same as it was pre baby, so its just something I need to live with.



Just a warning though, once a few popped up mine spread like wild fire! By the time I had LO at 39 weeks my belly was covered.

<blockquote><b>Quoting chicnhed:</b>" I'm 35 weeks pregnant, and the other night I leaned over to turn off the light for bed and noticed grooves ... [snip!] ... from you awesome strong mamas. No women want to talk about it here in person and obviously my family is not a resource! "</blockquote>


I had hoped for none but got them with my first at exactly 40 weeks. Its a little sad when u notice them but honestly most of the time they aren't nearly as bad after u have ur baby and start to tone up. Ur welcome to look thru my albums if it makes u feel better. I got them across my under belly.

Its not that big of a deal..I look like a sexy tiger.



Cocoa butter doesn't do anything anyway.

I didn't have stretch marks until three days after I had my daughter, so obviously I thought I was in the clear..

Don't upset yourself over silly stretch marks. They're natural and just a sign that you brought another life into this world. I made it all the way till a few days before I had my son and BAM there they were. Came out of nowhere. None of the lotions work anyways. If you're meant to have them then you're meant to have them. Don't worry so much about your looks. They're like a trophy of being a mother.

I did the same thing with my first and it sucks but if you already had them somewhere else then there was no preventing them which I found out the hard way because I even went as far as putting olive oil on my stomach and sleeping on a towel. But the best thing you can do is keep putting lotion or something on your stomach so they wont be as dark and dont scratch your stomach cause they will get worse.

I did/do all the preventive steps too for all 6 of my pregnancies and I have minimal stretch marks. However, the few I do have, I treat by tan and working out to tighten that wrinkled skin back. So yeah, I have them but they don't look bad at all. Also I wear clothes that compliment my figure and cover anything not hot..lol
people are usually shocked when I tell them all the kids with me are mine and I birthed them  
Don't feel bad about your marks, I don't. My children was worth the trade.

I used bio oil every morning & night! I'm covered in them. Unfortunately, there really is NOTHING you can do to prevent them. You can only do things to reduce the appearance. Embrace them. They are your warrior stripes & you bloody well earned them!

With my first I got them on my inner thighs and butt. They went away by 3 months PP.

With my second I got them on my lower stomach (and you can tell how he was positioned because there are more on one side than the other   ) as well as the marks on my inner thighs came back with a vengeance, they have not really faded in the least this time around.

I hate it and miss my perfect pre-baby body but two kids and nearly 3 years after conceiving my first.... Well I know I will never look the same and have come to accept it 

Yep, unfortunately stretch marks are genetic so there's really nothing you can do to prevent them :/ Hell, my SIP has them and doesn't even have kids yet!!

Quoting Sami&Baby Silas:" Don't upset yourself over silly stretch marks. They're natural and just a sign that you brought another ... [snip!] ... to have them then you're meant to have them. Don't worry so much about your looks. They're like a trophy of being a mother."

I'm trying so hard to get into that mentality. I guess I just need to adjust to the idea. That, and I feel a bit panicky to think of how much worse they COULD get in the coming 3-7 weeks. This baby will be big, I'm sure of it, and my frame is on the smaller end. I should have known, every time he has a growth spurt it's painfully obvious on me--or my belly, really. Its terrible, I think its going to only get worse because my skin feels so hot and itchy and sore.

Quoting chicnhed:" I'm trying so hard to get into that mentality. I guess I just need to adjust to the idea. That, and I ... [snip!] ... on me--or my belly, really. Its terrible, I think its going to only get worse because my skin feels so hot and itchy and sore."

Dude, they're stretch marks. And more and more people are realizing they're more genetic, and there's almost nothing you can do. If you're that worried about it go get some Vitamin-E oil. Or something. But you should be prepared for a bunch of gross-ness to happen to your body. I was tee-tiny with a ridiculous hour glass, and a flat belly, and I know that I can come close. But will NEVER get that back. And I'm only 19 years old. Each day you'll get over it. Also if you do the right routines, and such. You'll be able to get a firm belly again. If your skin resilient. My mom had massive stretch marks, and had me at 35 (God only knows why) and he tummy always went right back to normal stretch marks and all. Be proud of them. You'll get a beautiful life, and that's part of the price.

*just to add in she had 2 children before me as well  *

Quoting Chelsea.J:" Dude, they're stretch marks. And more and more people are realizing they're more genetic, and there's ... [snip!] ... of them. You'll get a beautiful life, and that's part of the price. *just to add in she had 2 children before me as well  *"

The rest of the body changes aren't whats getting to me, let me be clear. Just stretch marks. I assure you I am fully aware and okay with the inevitable "gross-ness"--contrary to how I may sound with this post's subject, I have no shame when it comes to my body functions especially haha. But, I think every woman has their kryptonite, so to speak, and what I'm getting to is that stretch marks seem to be mine--or so I'm discovering. And I think that's okay! I am just having a hard time letting my skin go, I think. We live at the beach, so I keep wondering if I'll feel negatively about my stomach from now on. How do you let that go? I'm a runner, so I'm confident that I'll get back into whatever shape my body will be capable of being in after this--and thats great. I've stayed in shape through this pregnancy by exercise and strict diet. I like doing everything I can for my body and my body responding to the best of its capacity. I think my issue is that stretch marks are something I cant control--especially at this point. They are scars i can feel and see right now that I know won't go away. That's what I can't take. Not to mention how sore and itchy they are right now! It feels like sunburn!

<blockquote><b>Quoting chicnhed:</b>" The rest of the body changes aren't whats getting to me, let me be clear. Just stretch marks. I assure ... [snip!] ... I know won't go away. That's what I can't take. Not to mention how sore and itchy they are right now! It feels like sunburn!"</blockquote>



Every woman dreads stretch marks and they are full of it if they say they don't care. After the fact yes u learn to deal with it but its an adjustment for all woman period. Good luck. They wont be as bad as u fear if u are the type to care for ur body.