https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:09:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026978 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 22:19:45 +0000 MrsSCB 1026978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a few light ones on my inner thighs from puberty. I don't think my mom got any from pregnancy, not that I've seen at least, and who knows what I'll look like! I do think its unfortunate that a lot of what women see about "real" bodies post-pregnancy is from photos of celebrities on the beach, which I think just sets up unfair/unrealistic expectations. I recently saw a young mom on the beach in a bikini, stretch marks, loose skin and all, and it made me so happy to see her loving her body after baby :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026943 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 21:57:41 +0000 coastmama 1026943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I saw my mom's when I was little and growing up so I just thought it was the norm after having a baby. Then, when I hit puberty I had them on my chest. Sensitive skin runs in the family, so I knew what to expect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026921 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 21:37:39 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1026921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom's and my stomachs looks like yours. Lots of stretchies and lots of lose skin. I look at them like they are tattoos that say I love my baby. I got a bunch during puberty so I was surprised when their friends came over during pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026913 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 21:33:20 +0000 immabeetoo 1026913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumnlove: my mom has zero after 3 kids and when I showed her my stomach recently, she said "oh dear" and then started searching "how to cure loose skin" on pinterest LOL </p> <p>@Grace: it's a good point - I didn't wear crop tops before so I certainly wouldn't now. I was thinking more of at the beach :) It just bugs me that I know so many women have them but walking around in the world you only see them in ads for stretch cream removal/prevention creams and nasty tabloids ya know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026675 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 18:15:26 +0000 DillonLion 1026675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom had em, I've had em, they don't really bother me. They do bother my DH though :'( I told him they aren't a subject of discussion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026672 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 18:12:55 +0000 MrsKoala 1026672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I have them on the sides of my boobs and on my outer thighs from a weight gain that I had in my 20s so I have seen them but not specifically, stretch marks from giving birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026669 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 18:10:58 +0000 Sapphiresun 1026669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, I gained 50 lbs while TTC due to PCOS/fertility stuff, so I had some mad marks on my hips/boobs prior to getting pregnant. I can't specifically think of anybody else's that I've seen though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026642 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 17:42:15 +0000 yin 1026642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I saw stretch marks for the first time on DH. My mom didn't get any with 5 kids. I got my first stretch marks at the end of my pregnancy with my first. At certain angles you can't tell they're there. I don't like seeing them now that I'm pregnant again. I'm very self conscious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026640 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 17:41:57 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1026640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got quite a few on my hips, thighs and breasts as a teen. But definitely not all over my stomach like I did with pregnancy.</p> <p>I had never seen an entire stomach covered with them before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026632 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 17:38:32 +0000 artsyfartsy 1026632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Grace: the ones I got as a teen were just silver and indented...like an old scar. Never red.</p> <p>Now the ones I got are scary red!! What's the difference? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026630 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 17:37:27 +0000 artsyfartsy 1026630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never seen any til I got them on my thighs in my teens from a growth spurt. I had no clue what they were.</p> <p>Now I went through a weight gain, then a weight loss and I have them on my hips, butt, and thighs. I hadn't seen anyone else's in person until about last year when my cousins and I had a stretch mark show off. I was the only one who hadn't had a baby. Lol</p> <p>Now that I'm pregnant I'm sure I will get them like mad because I'm super prone to them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026619 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 17:30:09 +0000 GrapeCrush 1026619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know I had seen them, but not sure who. My mom didn't get stretch marks when she was pregnant, so she didn't have any to hide. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026586 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 16:56:11 +0000 SweetMamaM 1026586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew three cup sizes in four months at 15, so I'd seen my own before I saw anyone else's (tiger boobs for the win). I've also seen what they fade to look like, so although I'm trying to prevent, I'm not too worried. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026523 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 15:52:52 +0000 Grace 1026523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had stretch marks when I was younger. Certainly not the scary red ones I have now though. I don't know. I never roam around with my belly exposed anyways, so I don't really feel the need to "make them normal". As for men who get horrified by them and make hurtful comments... I'm going to do my best to raise any sons of mine to have more respect for women than that (especially a woman they claim to love). Even of they do think ewwww ('cause geez, I don't think stretch marks are very pretty either). DH would never in a million years ever say something to me about my body to make me feel like crap. And it's not like he was raised to see a lot of stretch marks, either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026512 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 15:40:41 +0000 Lindsay05 1026512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got stretch marks from puberty on my thighs so that was when I first seen them. I haven't noticed them on mom's before until now and think its wonderful when women can show them without a care in the world. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026510 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 15:40:00 +0000 lovehoneybee 1026510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never saw my mom's, but I did see my SIL's when she was pregnant with her first (she was 19, I was 16). She had them all over her belly, legs and breasts, thick and dark purple. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026492 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 15:30:42 +0000 pastemoo 1026492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: You, I really hadn't and I wish I had. What a nice post. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026480 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 15:22:41 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1026480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got stretch marks throughout puberty, so I *thought* I knew what I was in for during pregnancy.<br /> It will be interesting to see what they look like in a few months once they fade from angry red. But honestly, because they've always been 'normal' to me, its not even something I notice on other women/people. DH has never had a problem with them. They're SO common - I think people forget that and are desperate to try and erase them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026474 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 15:18:11 +0000 MamaJ 1026474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had seen my mom's. She had some pretty bad stretch marks (so I wasn't surprised that I got them, I was hoping I wouldn't though). </p> <p>I am pretty self conscious of mine but I won't hide them from DS. I have asked my DH if he is bothered by them and he says absolutely not. I have also asked him what if I wore a bikini and he says go for it.</p> <p>But I agree if we all keep hiding it, it won't really help anything and certainly won't help women who have them feel any better about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026462 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 15:11:04 +0000 autumnlove 1026462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I saw my Mom's stretchmarks a few times when I was really young and I think I said eww. I think she told me "just you wait" type remarks...haha. :-( I feel bad now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/had-you-seem-stretch-marks-before#post-1026459 Sat, 17 Aug 2013 15:09:25 +0000 immabeetoo 1026459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I realized I'd never really seen any stretch marks in real life before my own - every other mom I know either didn't have them or hides them.</p> <p>I've been thinking a lot lately about how to raise my son so he sees my stomach and thinks Wow instead of Ew. If everyone hides their stretchmarks doesnt that further the harmful illusion that every woman can and should want to look like her prebaby self? </p> <p>DH does think and say Wow not Ew, and after reading other spouses hurtful comments on HB I am thankful! </p>