stretch Marks

I like using natural products and with this pregnancy have started using Trilogy's organic rose hip oil and have noticed some of my previous stretchmarks have faded a bit.

I saw a documentary type programme about stretch mark creams a while back - basically they are a have, and don't do any better than normal moisturisers. The severity of stretch marks, and whether/how well they disappear after pregnancy, is basically a matter of luck/genetics.

In my first pregnancy I applied the best stretch mark cream money could buy, the whole way through, and didn't get any stretch marks until the last month or so. They were pretty bad but went away quite quickly after pregnancy (I didn't have time to apply any creams after the birth, lol).

This time I have literally used nothing at all and am now 40 weeks. Again the marks didn't come up until a few weeks ago and are if anything less obvious than last time. So I think I wasted a lot of money on cream last time!

I agree with the above - rather than getting a "stretch mark cream" I would get a really nice moisturiser that you can use all over to feel and smell nice.

My midwife recommended almond oil and I found it good. Relatively cheap and half a small bottle lasted me the whole pregnancy. First pregnancy I used nothing, got minor marks that disappeared with the baby weight. Second time, used the almond oil, much bigger baby and no marks.but maybe stretching the first time helped, who knows...

Yeah, unfortunately I don't think there is an awful lot you can do about them.
I used both bio-oil & cocoa butter religiously through my first pregnancy, and thought I had got away with it, only to find them all over the bottom of my tummy after my baby was born. lol
I also got them on my thighs as a teenager, so am obviously genetically susceptible.

Eating lots of good fats (olive oil, nuts & fish) for the skin helps as a good preventative measure also.

But to me stretchmarks are just one of those things that come with mummyhood

Hey,
Agreed I think its genetics...I was kind of lucky not to have anything until 37 weeks and I thought the bio oil and coca butter combo I was using was working ....im now 39+2 and look like a zebra....ive been told by a friends mum that the only thing that helps fade them is sun.....good thing is nearly winter right!

Your skin needs nutrients to make it stretchy, vitamin c and zinc are used to make the protein collagen which is important for avoiding stretch marks..
Oils alone wont help, but if you make sure you get the nutrients, move lots (yoga, walking) and massage your body with almond oil you might find they dont appear/or are not as severe.
Also I;ve been told their appearance depends how much weight you put on and how quickly.