Do Stretch Marks Get Worse with Each Pregnancy?

Updated on December 03, 2017
A.B. asks from Stockton, CA
22 answers

I was just curious about this. I got horrible stretch marks from my pregnancy with my 9 month old son. I refer to them as "fissures" and "crevasses" in my skin all over my belly, thighs, and hips. My upper stomach looks like rumpled up fabric. I got to wondering, when you have another child do you get stretch marks all over again? Do the ones you have get worse? I don't know if I'll have another child and, if I do, I will space them a few hours apart. So, if you wait a few years between children, will the stretch marks get worse?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Hey there! It's been a while since I posted my question, but I just had to come back and say thanks for all your input!! Thanks for your replies. I saw points of view I hadn't even thought of before and it also made me feel better about my current "stretchy" situation! I don't know when or if I'll have another child, but I won't worry about the stretch marks. In the meantime, I'm going to put a ton of lotion on my stretch marks every day!! Oh yeah, and that was supposed to be "...space them a few YEARS apart." Not hours. That would be a miracle ;-D

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.R.

answers from San Diego on

It all depends how you carry the weight. You may get a few more. But I know of a great Tonic from Clarins, I used it with my pregnancy, and I had one little mark. I didn't actually start using it till I was 3 or 3 1/2 months though. Anyway, I recommend it to my clients and it really works. Madonna used it with both of her pregnancies. You go through about a bottle a month for around $50.00 a bottle.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Mine didn't. I got them with my first and they faded and haven't really changed at all with second or third. My pregnancies were well spaced out. Just don't gain anymore weight then you did with the first. The bad news is the thinner you are the more they will show. Tanning cream helps.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.C.

answers from Las Vegas on

I had six children, and 8 pregnancies, and yes, you can get really huge stretch marks, but over time they shrink. Once they get to the smallest they can, they stay that way unless you find something to minimize them, there are lots of products out there, but I have to tell you that I have found a combination that has really made a difference. I just turned 50 and my baby is 13, and my stretch marks are almost gone, and I wore a bikini on our cruise to Mexico in October. These products help the body's Immune and healing functions and the cream helps restore the collogen that is needed to reshape our skin and define it. My friends think I've had surgery, but I haven't..... go to www.cells2skin.com and register as an associate for biggest discounts, or a member for a 10% discount, order the Firm cream.... get two bottles and use both in a month for several months.... it took me about three months..... and order Ambrotose, I take it in a powder form, 150 grams a month.... I mix it in green tea and take it every morning. I use the Optimal skin care line and my 26 year old daughter who hadn't seen me for a few months thought I'd had a face lift. I just turned fifty and no one believes I'm over my late 30's. I used to weigh 350 lbs, and now I weigh about 135 adn wear a size 6... life is so fun, and I never thought I'd be experiencing it as a skinny person. It is never too late to find your best self...
I'd be happy to talk to you further, just send me a message... and God bless.
C.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I heard that only certain people get stretch marks and that they are inherited, along with their severity. Ask your mother and grandmother how theirs turned out?
I have 5 kids and one 'stretch mark' which appeared on my breast from nursing 8 years total (so far).

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi A.,

Well, here is what my experience was. I had my first daughter 24 years ago. My stretch marks healed to where the skin had smoothed out, but you could still see the white marks. When I had the second child recently, I got a few more marks, but the old ones did not worsen.

Try to keep stretch mark cream or aloe vera on them so they heal.

C.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.W.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi A.:

When I was pregnant with my first child (now 7) I got a ton of stretch marks. They were huge and they were everywhere. I have 3 kids, all 3 years apart. I think because your stomach is already stretched from the first one it won't be so bad, but since you carry each child differently, you'll probably get a few new ones with every pregnancy. And don't worry too much; they will fade away a lot with time. They'll never go away completely, but it won't be so bad. That "rumpled fabric" look will go away after your body completely recovers from having your baby. I did a lot of sit-ups after my last one because I had the same look and it seemed to help move the process along. Hope this helps.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.Z.

answers from Atlanta on

My old stretch marks had gotten worse over the years, as I gained and lost weight. Dermelastic serum has made a very noticeable difference in their appearance. My boyfriend also loves how soft my skin is. Worth every penny.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Bad news... I had my first 2 children 5 years apart - I got different stretch marks with that child. Had the 2nd and 3rd 5 years apart - whole new set of marks - - -mostly on the stomach not too bad on the thighs - had the 3rd and 4th 2 years apart and my stomach looks like a saggy balloon - never got the firmness back in my stomach....

I wasn't diligent with any creams - maybe that helps a bit - Mederma lightened some of them a bit - but they are still there...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

I hate to break it to you but...I got pretty horrid stretch marks with my 1st. They grew a few inches longer at the top with each kid and wider near the bottom of the stretch marks too. I got to the point with baby number 4 that I figured one more and the belly stretch marks would join with the ones on my boobs - so I quit having kids! No amount of cream, lotion or potion will stop them either. It is a matter of genetics. My mom has had huge weight fluctuations in her life and at one time (over 100lbs ago) was over 300lbs - she has not one stretch mark. My dads mom has a belly covered in a road map much like mine (or like mine was until my lovely surgeon removed that nasty skin during my tummy tuck!!!). Leave it to me to get my dad's genes on this...oh, my mom has never had a pimple in her whole life but lucky me I got my dad's genes on this one too...but I digress! :) As a side note I never gained more than 15lbs during any of my pregnancies and I had kids from 7 1/2 lbs to over 9 lbs so it wasn't me just "getting too big"

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.T.

answers from Atlanta on

After 15 years of having marks on my belly they are quickly lightening / going away. My regiment consists of using natural exfoliating soap from lush daily and a derma roller twice a week of course on my stretch marks only and then I apply dermelastic serum 3 times a day. I If I use this serum as lotion my skin gets dry so I alternate moisturizers. My skin appears lighter and flawless. Great product!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.I.

answers from Seattle on

i waited 5 years between my boys. with my first i gained way to much weight and got a ton of stretch marks. so with my second i made sure not to over eat, and stay active. this last time i managed to only gain 20 lbs. i did not get any new stretch marks. instead, the really deep ones from the previous pregnancy did stretch a little more. but it has only been 6 months and they have alredy faded to how they were before pregnancy. so it is possable to not get new ones.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.L.

answers from Modesto on

Hi A.. I didn't get any new stretch marks at all with my second pregnancy and the first ones didn't turn color at all. I got them pretty badly with the first, but I didn't gain as much with the second, either. There's probably a few factors, such as how much you gain and how elastic your skin is.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.R.

answers from Fresno on

I don't know how everyone else is, but I got stretch marks inside my old stretch marks. Mine go up and down and sideways and all over the place. It's gross and I hate it but I know there is nothing I can do to get rid of it. I think they will just get lighter. There was 18 months between my two pregnancies, but of course longer until I actually started showing.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.L.

answers from San Francisco on

Well, dont judge the stretch marks you have now - your son is ONLY 9 months old, and it takes alot longer than that for them to fade and smooth out. My daughter is no 17 months old, and while most of my stretch marks have faded to white, I can still feel them and see them. Trust me, they WILL get better over time - one day you will look in the mirror after a shower and see that they are not red anymore, but skin colored. It happens very slowly - my sister has had 3 children, is on #4, and the stretch marks have never gotten any worse. I think your first time around, your skin is tight, your stomach muscles tight - it takes alot out of young skin and muscle to stretch so far - but on children 2/3/4 your skin already knows how to be stretched and your pregnancy should not cause there to be any more or any worsening of the stretch marks.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Dothan on

My old stretch marks had gotten worse over the years, as I gained and lost weight. Dermelastic serum has made a very noticeable difference in their appearance. My boyfriend also loves how soft my skin is. Worth every penny.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.W.

answers from Las Vegas on

I think it depends on the persons body and how much weight you gain. With my first i gaind 50lbs and got a few stretch marks on my hips. With my second I gained 30lbs and got a tiny stretch mark on my tummy. The ones I had previously did not get worse, but i think that's because I watched my weight gain. My kids are almost 2 yrs apart. I don't think the space between them makes a difference. i think it has more to do with how much weight is gained and where (which is different with each pregnancy).

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Unfortunately you may get more or the ones you do have may lengthen... I gained 48 pounds w/my first and only 22 with my second and got MORE with my second than I did my first :( My friend who just had her 3rd said that #3 REALLY did her tummy in... so I guess it is kind of just like a balloon that you keep inflating and deflating - the tissues in your tummy sustain a little more damage each time.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.G.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi - I have had stretch marks since I was a preteen (lucky me). I stressed, worried, was uncomfortable and had low self-esteem all throughout my teen years and early 20s because of them. Interestly, since I have had children (3) I did get some on my stomach which I did not have prior to the pregnancies, but I am not as concerned about them. I use a stretch mark cream as part of my overall body moisturizing and then I don't give it another thought. Some good news - I have found that as I get older, the marks do fade - the cream helps. Self-tanners also help to make them less noticeable. Good luck to you, and take pride in having a wonderful family!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi A.. I have 3 children. The first one did the most damage. First of all I had been underweight all of my life so you could imagine what pregnancy did to me. The second came and I believe I recieved only a couple more. Of course most of the damage had already been done. Thighs, hips, stomach, and the butt. With my third, I don't even remember getting any more. They are all faded into whiteness. The comforting thing is that they are the softest part of my body, lol. Sorry still trying to look on the bright side of child bearing. Your baby is still young, so don't stress. I had started to use the Avon cream, and it seems to work. I don't know if it will work 100% or is just wishfull thinking, but I am still using it. Good luck.

Steph

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.G.

answers from Houston on

When I had my 2nd child my stretch marks extended. They got longer (mostly on my hips). I have a few stretch marks that are specifically from my son becuase he was so much bigger than my daughter. Typically I wouldn't say that you get brand new marks... I think the worst is over.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.A.

answers from Sacramento on

I got horrible stretch marks with my first pregnancy as well. I just had my second child and although I didn't gain as much weight with my first pregnancy I still got additional stretch marks. They weren't in the same place as my first pregnancy (lower tummy) but they were higher on my belly. I have to say that they do get lighter as the years pass. You may be lucky, however, and you may not get anymore stretch marks with a second pregnancy.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Atlanta on

I've tried quite a few stretch mark products during my pregnancy and dermalmd stretch mark serum is by far the best! The consistency is perfect, it smells nice and it's not oily, it dries very quickly. I would highly recommend!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches