I've done a lot of research on stretch marks and I was curious what other moms are using to repair their skin and what they use to prevent stretch marks.
a little history....I've always had an "athletic" build. Not overweight but not skinny either. Gained 60lbs with my pregnancy and lost 75. Gained 15 back and now lost 7 of that. I have stretch marks on lower abs, hips, and thighs. I haven't used anything yet. I know from the research that I did that it's basically up to luck to prevent them...but it sure seems like I got "lucky" by using bath and body lotion.
I'm going to stop preventing pregnancy (no more BC) in a couple of months and it was recommended that I use organic coconut oil to treat exsisting and prevent future stretch marks. It made me curious what other moms are using.
Stretch marks never go away, but they lighten, and if you're prone to them, no amount of any 'secret formula' is going to make them go away. Trust me, I know ;)
I gained 50 lbs with my son...and I don't have one stretch mark...my average weight is 130 lbs, height 5' 6", athletic build...my secret is the body oil from www.kneipp.com works like a charm! use it EVERY time you get out of the shower....I went through 2 bottles with my pregnancy. Good Luck!
I always heard either you will be prone to get them or not, that there isn't a snake oil out there that actually gets rid of them or even prevents them. Saying that, I don't have them - the big ones from childbirth or major weight loss - I do have the small tiny ones you get from basic weight fluctuation. Once you have them, you cannot get rid of them. For those that didn't get them and say they used something - they wouldn't have gotten them anyway. I didn't do anything to prevent them. Also, oddly enough, my mom has huge, deep stretch marks from her pregnancy w/ me. I gained 50 lbs. with my 1st and 35 lbs. w/ my 2nd - I was 100 lbs. when I got pregnant both times.
its the elasticity of your skin, not cream or lotion. i gained 60 with my daughter and was athleticy like you. didn't get a stretch mark. with my son i gained 60 (but hadn't yet lost all the weight from 1st pregnancy), i got a few stretch marks on my lower belly at the time. the aren't super noticable. you will probably be fine as long as you gain the same amount of weight and lost what you did.
I don't know about getting rid of them, but a friend swore by olive oil. I've gotten stretch marks before from gaining and losing weight, so I tried it. No stretch marks from the pregnacy. It is greasy though.
Genetics, diet, and speed of significant weight gain all play a part in stretch marks. High protein diet and slow weight gain is associated with absence of stretch marks. High carb diet and rapid weight gain contributes to stretch mark formation. Pregnancy weight gain should be slow (about 1 lb per week or less) and no more than 25-35 lbs unless carrying twins. Creams and lotions may improve the look of your skin and time will help stretch marks fade, but never "cure" them. Best wishes as you plan for your next pregnancy. Best advice I ever received is "Get in the best shape and health of you life, then try to conceive." Nurse Midwife Mom
BIO-OIL was and still is my best friend.... The advice I got 7 years ago when I had my first daughter was cocoa butter.... Lets just say by the time she was born my tummy looked like a map of new york!! I found bio-oil before I got pregnant with my second now 21mos it started making my old ones fade, AND no new ones with her!! I am now using it faithfully with my third as well 6mos preggo :) I haven't noticed any new ones!! Use it before during and after your pregnancy, and it also helps any weird scars you may have!! Hope this helps!!
If you are going to get them, you are going to get them. No cream in the world is going to prevent them. I used regular burts bees lotion on my skin through 3 pregnancies, and not a mark. Same with my mom. Most of it is hereditary. I wouldn't waste your money on creams. Creams will help your skin look less dry and feel less itchy, and it *may* reduce the appearance of stretch marks temporarily should you get them, but it won't prevent them from coming. I would buy a reasonably priced one. Mama Mio Stretch Mark Cream is reasonably priced and smells yummy! I got a sample in something that was mailed to me.
Drink water, be healthy, and try not to worry about it.
Good luck to you!
Hi--
I gained 41 pounds and 38 pounds respectively with my tow--my waist grew 12 inches---no stretch marks (even though I know from puberty that I'm prone to them). I took a ton of omega 3 fatty acids and drank a ton of water, and I used Earth Mama stretch oil on the outside. Really, my understand is that it is about nutrition.
Good luck getting pregnant!
J.
Where are you researching? Any research I've seen, has said there is no way to get rid of, or treating existing stretch marks. 9That is proven effective, anyway.) Also, there is no real effective way to truly prevent them. (Yes, I believe not getting them, is luck.) The skin stretches, there is a huge chance for stretch marks. You can prevent stretching in pregnancy. That would be the only real way to prevent stretch marks...which obviously, isn't possible. I guess if you kept your skin soft and supple, it might have more elasticity. Perhaps, that could prevent them from getting really bad...possibly.
Sorry I couldn't help more :(
