Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

That they are genetic and that if you are predisposed to getting them there is really nothing you can do?

I also heard that if you don't have any on you from growth spurts, previous weight gain etc, you probably wont' get them during pregnancy.

I was wondering how true that was..

I asked my mom and she said she never got any in both pregnancies and I never had one on my body from anything in the past.

Hoping I'll be in the clear...

Just curious about other's experiences...

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

my mom never got any and I didnt have any pre pregnancy and right now I am almost 36 weeks and NONE! BUT I heard they can come in the last weeks of pregnancy. I hope not! I did hear its genetic...

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

They are genetic, if you are going to get them, you'll get them.

My mom never had them, nor did any of my aunts on my mom's side.

Me, on the other hand, have them. They must be from my dad's side. Oh well.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

I think its true.

My mom never had strectch marks with 3 PG's of over 9 lb babies (and she is 5'2).

I cocoa butter myself up but I really think it is genes because I never got one either.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

I heard its genetic also but my mom got them and I didnt get any.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

my mom never got them but i already have them from normal growth spurts. boo.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

So far so good..my mom got them the last 2 weeks but they all went away after PG

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

NO

my mother carried my sister and I (identical twins and we weighed almost 16 lbs together) and she had NO stetch marks on her belly.

my sister didnt get any on her belly with my niece

at 20 weeks, I am already getting a few


ETA - about the weight gain and stretch marks ... until 20 weeks, I was DOWN lbs. and I still got them

Message edited 12/16/2009 8:58:18 PM.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

I am not so sure if its genetic. I think it may have to do how quickly or slowly you put on weight. With my first pregnancy, I gained 38 lbs total but it came on gradual and I did not get one stetchmark. This time around, I gained weight suddenly (thanks to prednisone) and I am now 29 weeks and full of them. (eventhough I've only gained less than 20 lbs so far) My Mom (who had three kids) never got any stretchmarks.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

I'm really not to sure lol.

I had gotten some from a growth spurt growing up, and I only got 1 on my side with DS. I'm not far enough with this baby to know if I will be lucky again. BUt my mom had a ton of stretch marks from my brothers and myself.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

My mother didn't get any. I never had any from growth spurts. I didn't have any throughout my first pregnancy, they showed up on my hips and thighs after I gave birth. Now with the second, I'm trying not to look! They are what they are I guess

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

All the women on my mother's side got them, I got them as well with my DD.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

My mom has tons, but she has been overweight for a really long time, my dad who is also overweight has none. I got a few this pregnancy, but nothing major.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

I've heard they are genetic. I never asked my mom if she got any. With DS I had three on each hip and they faded quickly. I don't have any with this pregnancy so far.

I've never had them before, and I don't use any creams or anything, so it might be true.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

Hmmmm not sure about either. My mom had some but, not alot but she had a lot of kids. I did have a few on my outer thigh and chest from when I was younger and lost weight but they have faded ALOT through the years and you really only notice them now if I am very tan.

I didn't get any my first pregnancy but I did slather on the cocoa butter. This time around no time for the cocoa butter - maybe once or twice a week - and at 36 wks none yet either - keeping my fingers crossed for the next 4 wks!

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

I have stretch marks on my breasts and no where else, and I haven't gotten any yet anywhere else. I'm only 28 weeks though. But I've lost and gained weight so much that I feel my tummy skin is so stretchy that I wont get marks.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

my mom had them really bad. I had some on my but and hips from puberty, and I got Zero stretch marks from my first pregnancy.

I'm doubting that they are heriditary

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

My mom had them pretty bad. With my first pregnancy- I gained more weight than she did- but no stretch marks.

We'll see what happens this pregnancy. She and I are built differently- she said I take after my Dad's side of the family more.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

my whole stomach is covered with them. my sister has none what so ever after 2 kids.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

I actually asked a family friend who is a plastic surgeon about stretch marks and he said there's nothing you can do but he did recommend using vitamin E oil on areas prone to stretch marks everyday. He said to be careful using anything else because it does enter your blood stream and obviously goes to the baby.

I've also read that just the massage while applying lotion may help to prevent the skin from stretching so rapidly.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

I'm really not sure, though I've heard they are genetic.

My mom got them, but I don't think she had them bad.

When I was a teenager, I got them on my boobs pretty bad. I went from a 32A-34D in less than 1 year.

With my first pregnancy, I didn't get any. And,my stomach did not grow gradually---i didn't start showing until after 20 weeks, and then started growing very very quickly.

So far this pregnancy has been the same. My stomach was flat until 22 weeks, and then got huge very quickly. No stretch marks yet, and I will be 36 weeks on Saturday.


ETA--with my first pregnancy, I used cocoa butter regularly. With this pregnancy, I did use some lotion (tummy honey butter i think...couldnt take the smell of cocoa butter a second time), but recently havent been using it all that much.

Message edited 12/17/2009 9:39:44 AM.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

I never had any growing up, but I still managed to get a few on my butt and my boobs when I was preggo with DS. My butt I was surprised about, I honestly didn't think it was possible for it to get any bigger then it started out. My boobs weren't too big of a surprise, they went from 34B pre-preggo to 36E when I was nursing. I am 30 weeks around this time and haven't seen any new ones yet.

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

My mom has bad ones and yup, I got 'em too

Re: Is it true what they say about stretch marks?

My mom didnt get 1 with me and I have a map of the world on my tummy so I dunno how turn it is.