I went to A Pea in the Pod tonight and the lady asked what I'm using for stretch marks. I said already? And she was like "Oh yea, you have to start early!"
Is this just the sales pitch or is it really important to start now? (I'm 12 weeks.)
What products does everyone like best?
kiwi / 506 posts
When I was doing research on this, I found that there's not much you can do to prevent stretch marks. Since they start from the inner most layer of skin, topical ointments can't completely prevent them. I also read thatits somewhat genetic, so if your mom got them you likely will too. That said - I did buy Palmer's cocoa butter lotion ... It smells good, was way cheaper than Bio oil and its supposed to atleast help with itching, if not stretch marks 
grapefruit / 4056 posts
It is just pitch! Thee is no evidence that any oils/balms/creams will minimize or prevent stretch marks. I just applied lotion when I was itchy/dry like I normally would (I used my normal body lotion).
pineapple / 12526 posts
Stretch marks are genetic, sorry to say. I used lotions but I still look like a road map.
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
I'm 20 weeks and not using anything yet. I only plan to start if I am feeling itchy. I don't have any hopes that there are any magical products out there and plan on taking whatever stretch marks are headed my way with some ounce of pride. At least there is a legitimate cause for them this time besides just random weight gain.
honeydew / 7235 posts
I know it's supposed to be a genes thing, but as soon as the belly started protruding I started using the cocoa butter on it - I also put some on my boobs....I put it on every day after my shower.
I figure - I may as well try! My mom got some, so we will see - 25 weeks and none yet.
I was going to get the fancy stuff, but just went with the palmers cocoa butter since its at my grocery store.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
I'm 21 weeks and haven't used anything yet, going to get some bio-oil (have a coupon) and asked my mom to bring some cocoa butter from her beauty supply store~
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts
I'm 20 weeks and haven't used anything made for this purpose and have no stretch marks yet. I just put regular lotion on my belly and boobs if I feel dry or itchy.
papaya / 10560 posts
I use Palmer's too...cheap and smells good. The first two things I bought when I found out I was pregnant were prenatal vitamins and stretch mark cream! Who knows if it helps or not, but I was all over it, and no stretch marks here.
cantaloupe / 6610 posts
I only just started using Mama Mio stretch cream that I got from Pea in the Pod....It's the one I've read the most about. So I was just over 17 weeks at that point and just started using it. It was $35 I think? Other Mama Mio products, like the ones if you already have stretch marks, are way more expensive, so I didn't think it was that bad. And it smells good, not like cocoa butter which I personally hate the smell of because it's so cloying.
I don't want to steal @FutureMrsMcK's thunder, but her belly is BEAUTIFUL and totally stretch mark-free, and she said she uses Renew Intensive Skin Therapy by Melaleuca....I don't know where to get it from though, so I lazily bought the Mama Mio when I was at PITP.
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
Yeah.... you can't prevent them, don't even worry about it.
Mine showed up at 38 weeks. They're still hanging on, getting more obvious (but not bigger) as my belly tries to shrink (6w pp).
kiwi / 553 posts
It's a sales pitch! Stretch marks are mostly genetic... I just apply regular lotion as I get itchy or feel particularly stretched. So far, 32 weeks without belly stretch marks (but my hips and butt beg to differ) but I know they can come at any time!
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
No evidence that anything prevents stretch marks. It's all about your genetic potential!
pomelo / 5628 posts
Thank you! My sister didn't get any until 1 weeks before her due date. Maybe I'll make it just one week longer? ; ) Glad I didn't buy anything yet!
GOLD / pomelo / 5737 posts
I'm at 29w4d and not doing much about them. I made a post on here about them and got a lot of answers similar to your sister's situation where they didn't appear til the very end! I should probably be rubbing more lotion/cocoa butter but I forget often! I read that they are genetic anyway...
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
Totally a sales pitch, nothing helped my stretch marks and like others said it's also hereditary.
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
@jholler25: You're like the sweetest thing ever.
My MIL actually buys the Renew for me...she has a friend that sells the line, and since I'm pretty badly allergic to most lotions, when I tried this one at her house and had no reaction she ordered me a huge bottle. I know you can get it on Amazon, but it's not cheap.
I can't say whether or not the lotion did/does anything except help the itchiness, and you really don't need a special lotion for that. I've read that there's pretty much nothing you can do to stop them, but staying super hydrated won't hurt anything--I imagine it helps improve the elasticity of your skin.
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
I know it probably doesn't help but I started using oil right away cuz I already have stretch marks from my first pregnancy and ugh, just want to try and not get any more if I can help it!
cantaloupe / 6751 posts
I started using cocoa butter & various creams right away, & was religious about keeping my skin moisturized, but still ended up with a ton of stretch marks in the 8th month 
pomegranate / 3643 posts
I want to use something anyway, at least to make myself feel like I'm doing something, logic aside.
Anyone use the burts bees stuff? I hear it's good for itchiness.
honeydew / 7295 posts
It's genetic. creams are not supposed to prevent but some studies suggest that vitamin e oil MAY minimize them. You can get them not only up to the last week of your pregnancy but even just after giving birth so none of us are out of the woods till then. I use Bella Mama cream and oil because it sooths and i figure it can;t hurt but truth be told my mom got em so i am not gonna count myself out. So far i have none and I am 32 weeks tomorrow. I guess I should find out soon enough. In the end i would love to not get them but i still think they are worth baby. Having a baby changes your body. stretchy skin and breasts and so much more in post partum. it is part of the process and i think we all have to accept it even if we don;t like it.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
I knew it probably wouldn't help but also it wouldn't hurt so I used the palmers cream from week 20 to the end!
eggplant / 11824 posts
I used an organic oil to try to prevent stretch marks, and had ZERO.......until week 39, when they showed up overnight! bah!
My mom had no stretch marks through two pregnancies so I was hoping I'd have the same experience. No such luck.
GOLD / pomegranate / 3688 posts
Sorry, MGG, but there is *nothing* you can do about them. If your mom got them or if you have them from something else, you are likely to get them again. The good news is that they usually fade to almost nothing within a few months. I have TONS of stretch marks on my chest from my puberty growth spurt, and tried EVERYTHING during and after (my mom was obsessed with me getting rid of them... weird?) - nothing works. The stretch marks faded to almost nothing once I stopped growing, but have definitely started showing up again with pregnancy. I am just resigned to the fact that I will get them on my stomach too. Ugh.
kiwi / 614 posts
I didn't start using creams until about 20 weeks or so, once I had a real bump. I am now 35 weeks and stretch mark free (let's hope it stays that way!), so I definitely think it's just a sales pitch. You don't need to start until you've got a bump.
persimmon / 1087 posts
It's a sales pitch! A Pea in the Pod and Motherhood Maternity salespeople are annoying like that ;). I didn't apply a thing all pregnancy, and I don't have any stretch marks.
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