If you got stretch marks when you were pregnant, did your mom also get stretch marks when she was pregnant?
And follow up question, do you think there's actually anything that can be done to prevent them, or is it all genetic?
If you got stretch marks when you were pregnant, did your mom also get stretch marks when she was pregnant?
And follow up question, do you think there's actually anything that can be done to prevent them, or is it all genetic?
100 votes
squash / 13208 posts
I do think its genetic!
We didn't get them in my family - mom, sister, me
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
I got them and so did my mom. I didn't see that option
honeydew / 7622 posts
@Mamaof2: Same. all three of us gained 35-45 lbs with each pregnancy so I don't think it's always weight gain related either.
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
You should fix your poll, there's no option for "we both got them!"
My mom got stretch marks (but her first pregnancy was twins...) and so did I, but mine were very small and few and are almost invisible now. I do think genetics has some part to play in it!
eggplant / 11716 posts
I got terrible stretch marks and am on track this pregnancy to get more.
Sadly, I've read a lot about it, and it kind of depends on your definition of "preventable". I spent a ton of $$ on expensive oils and creams and none of them worked, and after researching, the consensus from dermatologists are that topical applications without hard core meds (that wouldn't be safe in pregnancy) will not work on stretch marks, although they made provide a placebo affect.
Basically stretch marks come down to a few things: Skin type, your age (skin elasticity), how much weight you gain, and how you carry.
The only one of those you can control is weight gain. You are less likely to get stretchies if you gain the minimal amounts of weight--although of course, if you carry large or are very fair, you may get them anyway.
People with more melatonin are less likely to get stretch marks; people who are older are less likely to get stretch marks (less elasticity), people who gain less are less likely, people who carry small are less likely.
pear / 1955 posts
@sorrycharlie: @lovehoneybee: Woops, should be fixed! (I always do that, with putting my first option as the name of the poll instead of an option... ugh!)
grapefruit / 4355 posts
I did not get any with pregnancy but did get them on my thighs when I gain a bunch of weight post-college. My mom got them when pregnant.
pear / 1809 posts
I didn't get stretch marks, and I definitely think it's genetic. I never used special lotions or creams on my belly either, so I'm not sure how effective they are.
pomegranate / 3565 posts
I got them as did my mother. Not sure if my sister got them. I totally think it's genetics and luck. I used lotions/creams with my 1st pregnancy. I thought I was in the clear but they showed up post partum. Light, but still there.
Not sure how much age plays a role. I defintely think some in terms of elasticity and just generally bouncing back.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
I don't have any from pregnancy and neither does my mom nor my grandma. But both of my aunts, my mom's sisters got them. They're both very petite though and carried very large. I do have a few from puberty/growth spurt on my upper thighs/hips
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I have no idea about my two grandmothers, but my mom had three pregnancies (two of them close together), I have had one, so I have no stretch marks, but she has them. So it has to be genetics and frequency.
eggplant / 11824 posts
My mom didn’t get any (so she claims, who knows for sure!), but carried pretty small for both pregnancies.
I carried large (and am small), swelled up like a balloon and didn’t get any until late 39 weeks – I thought I was safe at that point!!!
The ones I got were minimal and have faded almost away over time.
persimmon / 1188 posts
I believe it is at least somewhat genetic. My mom and sister had small babies with no stretch marks and I had a big baby, gained a ton of weight and still didn't get stretch marks. I did use the cocoa butter and would use it again because it felt nice and might have helped!
nectarine / 2521 posts
My mom didn't get any with 4 children, my sister with 3 children, and I didn't get any either, so genetics play a big part. I asked my doctor and she told me it's mainly genetics, but o drinking lots of water and exercising helps skin elasticity.
honeydew / 7463 posts
My mom got them badly. I am her mini-me in every way and I didn't get them.
I used bio oil at night and Burts Bees Belly Butter each morning.
honeydew / 7463 posts
@Mamasig: what's interesting is that I actually read if you are older you are less likely to get them. I forget where I read this but it was something about being younger your skin is tighter so more likely to damage. If you're older your skin is "looser" (cant think of what word they used) and less likely to damage.
It was really surprising to me but it sorta makes sense. I'll have to look around.
apricot / 443 posts
My mother did not and she swears it's because she rubbed her belly with shea butter for all four pregnancies.
I was actually very relieved when I found out it's mostly genetic because I already have stretch marks from puberty, so I knew I'd get them with pregnancy, and I didn't have to constantly be covered in various goops!
honeydew / 7917 posts
My mom had 5 kids and no stretch marks. Both of my sisters didn't get it either. I wasn't so lucky. I only gained about 15 lbs each time, and I'm petite. I was 24 and 27 while pregnant.
grapefruit / 4441 posts
I didn't get them and I don't think my mother did...though I don't know for sure. My sister did get them though.
nectarine / 2765 posts
No stretch marks here and neither did mom with her five pregnancies. I was *huge* (I carried like two basketballs in front) with twins and gained 50 or so lbs. I did use oil (think it was mama mio) twice a day but I think it mostly comes down to genetics.
pomelo / 5258 posts
I don't know if my mom got them. I got 2 with LO1 both after my due date. I have a lot more this time and I haven't hit my due date yet (5 days to go). I gained about 25lbs and carried small with both.
My brother and I had stretch marks from puberty (my thighs, his back pretty bad) so I figured I would get them.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
My mom doesn't really remember but she said probably.
I ended up getting them on my butt/hips, none on my stomach.
cantaloupe / 6869 posts
I don't think there is a thing that can be done to prevent them. Either you get them or you don't. I used all the oils and creams possible and thought I avoided them until I got my first around 39 weeks (only a couple days before I went into labor).
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
I said neither my mom nor I did, but technically I think my mom had a few minor ones by her fifth baby- but I think having 5 babies in ten years and only have minimal ones counts as a genetic low risk of stretch marks! I did not get any while pregnant with c, got a few very small light ones on my breasts when my milk came in but they faded completely.
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
I didn't, but I think my mom did. I did get some when I went through a growth spurt as a kid.
pomelo / 5678 posts
I actually have humongous tiger stripes and so does my mum. I think they are cool! It's like I earned them.
And I had a 6 pound baby and only gained 15 pounds.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
I had very light ones that have since gone away with both pregnancies, my mom still has hers from us. My younger sister has very pronounced ones and my older sister has light ones similar to mine. We are kind of all over the board.
cantaloupe / 6634 posts
I have them on my belly and my mom doesn't. She swears it's because she rubbed olive oil on herself but I know it's genetic (probably on my dad's side.) My sister got them too.
I am 37 weeks and noticed them a few weeks ago. Probably just going to get "worse" but it is what it is.
pomegranate / 3565 posts
@Greentea: I wish I could think like that. I need some of your self esteem Mine are very light and I still hate them.
clementine / 770 posts
My mom and sister both have stretch marks. I didn't get any. Used palmers belly butter and bio oil. Slathered it on. I figured it couldn't hurt to try.
GOLD / papaya / 10166 posts
I didn't get them on my belly, but I got them on my boobs.... I don't believe my mom got them either.
persimmon / 1461 posts
My mum has zero stretchmarks, she has a soft pudgy white mum tum though. I have stretchies all over the front of my belly down into my pubic area. At 15 weeks I can already see some of them getting pink again, so I'm in for round 2. Its just my skin type vs mum's I think, I have less elasticity? my skin is also much drier all over.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
My mom had none, and says she gained 90 pounds with me. I have plenty! There are so many factors-how you carry, how consistently you gain weight (all at once versus spread out, how elastic your skin is....those creams are all woo. I also got a bunch from puberty but they're basically nonexistent
grapefruit / 4770 posts
Mother got horrible stretch marks, and hers went away. I got horrible stretch marks, and am hoping they go away. But, she also had no morning sickness, and I had hyperemesis. Her milk also never came in, and I have an oversupply. So, I don't put too much stock into what happened with my mom!
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