Do/did you do anything to avoid stretchmarks?

[HorseCrow]

The fact is that there is no wonder lotion or other stuff that can get you through pregnancy stretchmark-free, as it is very much a result of lifestyle and genes.

But I do believe that you can at least lessen them, especially if you start off early in pregnancy- eating healthy (plenty of fresh friuts and greens, plenty of water and a good, E.vit rich oil).

Did you do anything during your pregnancy to avoid stretchmarks? Do you think it worked?

What I do to try and avoid stretchmarks, is every evening I scrub my belly, hips, thighs and boobs with a hempglove (don't know if that is what you call it in english, but it is a very coarse glove used when you are in the bath/shower). I only moisten it slightly or even use it dry, and then I scrub till my belly is all pink, which means the bloodflow is going right to the outer layers of skin. Then I massage in a mixture of olive oil, peanut oil, rosewater and E-vit oil.
And every morning I rub E.vit balm on my belly as well (and boobs).

[Kalika]

Since I live where it is so horrendously dry...

I use a body wash that is for dry, sensitive skin and a pouf thinger.

Then, I lather up my belly, back, and hips with cocoa butter. :p

I don't know if its working or not, but it keeps everything from itching, which is a bonus! :lol:

[DixieWitch]

I've been using cocoa butter through this pregnancy. The one for stretch marks. I used it when I was preggers with Tera. The only places I really got stretch marks was on my boobs and hips...where I didn't use the cocoa butter. After I had her, I got something from Avon that helped to reduce the appearance of them in a few weeks. I've been using cocoa butter again this time around too and I haven't gotten any this time around, even with my sudden weight gain the past 2 months. I agree--nothing can prevent them from happening, but you can try to minimize them as much as possible!!

Speaking of pregnancy..look at our tickers!! OMG it's so close!!

[DreamSpell333]

I used cocoa butter with my first pregnancy, and didnt really use anything the last time...

[HorseCrow]

Speaking of pregnancy..look at our tickers!! OMG it's so close!!

I know! There are quite a few of us that are really close together- it will be fun to see in which order all the littluns will arrive :bouncybob

[Morr]

I'm going to need to remember this thread......

[Athena-Nadine]

The best adice I can give is to exercise, eat right, don't gain more weight than is healthy, and moisturize at least twice a day, preferably when your skin is damp. I gained too much weight and got stretch marks on my hips, over my butt, on my thighs and on the inside of my legs by my knees and calves. I don't have a single stretch mark on my belly or breasts and Robert weighed over 9 pounds!

Be careful with what you use, though. Pregnancy does funny things to people, and cocoa butter and other moisturizers have been known to irritate some people. Whatever you do use, make sure it's a cream and not a lotion. They trap moisture better and work longer.

Also, keep in mind that if you do end up with stretch marks, they will begin to fade and become less noticeable in time.

[Morr]

Thankies! I have subscribed to this thread. While theres still time till I'll have a big belly to take care of, I like to do this research so I know exactly what to expect and whats the best way to handle it all!

[Kalika]

The best adice I can give is to exercise, eat right, don't gain more weight than is healthy, and moisturize at least twice a day, preferably when your skin is damp. I gained too much weight and got stretch marks on my hips, over my butt, on my thighs and on the inside of my legs by my knees and calves. I don't have a single stretch mark on my belly or breasts and Robert weighed over 9 pounds!

Be careful with what you use, though. Pregnancy does funny things to people, and cocoa butter and other moisturizers have been known to irritate some people. Whatever you do use, make sure it's a cream and not a lotion. They trap moisture better and work longer.

Also, keep in mind that if you do end up with stretch marks, they will begin to fade and become less noticeable in time.

And drink lots of water! :D

(I always forget this one.)

[HorseCrow]

Also, keep in mind that if you do end up with stretch marks, they will begin to fade and become less noticeable in time.

And that they are proof of the beautiful children you have born :)

[Athena-Nadine]

And drink lots of water! :D

(I always forget this one.)

:lol: Me too! I think it's because I had to drink so much water anyway that I no longer even thought about it.

[Athena-Nadine]

And that they are proof of the beautiful children you have born :)

Well of course! I still can't get over it to look at him. He's the most perfect little thing I've ever seen. Sometimes it still baffles me to comprehend that we created something so wonderful. :D

[KaidaMidnight]

Nothing I used worked.. :lol:, I just got a little bit of stretch marks on my breasts when my first was born, but after I had IC I had stretch marks on my belly. I was soooo self concious, but finally my husband said that I should really be proud of them... they meant that I had carried LIFE in me, and that I had made a perfect lil being that was his and mine. :) I haven't looked bad at my stretch marks since then. (they have faded quite a bit over the last year :) )