Stretch Marks

[MandiNDave]

I am 32.5 wks and looked in the mirror today to find an inch long reddish stretch mark. The first one. I know they are not preventable although I moisturize religiously. My mother had little to no stretching with five kids and I have only gained 14 lbs at this point in my pregnancy. My stomach is not abnormally large or anything.
My question is has this happened to you this early, and if so, did your tummy just explode with marks everywhere or did it stay just a few slight marks. And being as I'm only 23, do I have a good chance of them greatly reducing upon birth? I'm crushed about this :(:(:(

[anxiousmommy2be]

I got my first stretch mark around 30 weeks..it started as a tiny one then they came all over my belly! I moisturized daily but they still came! I'm 39 weeks now and I've just learned to accept them..hopefully they'll fade over time!

[aimeeaiman]

34 weeks no strech marks..If my tummy feels itchy,  I use a cloth to rub my belly and not my nails. I use alot of baby oil.

[AngelaAdams]

I didn't get any either till 32-34 weeks as well. I was happy thinking I wasn't getting any. Then when I did, it started just one reddish line. Then by the time I had her at full term, they were all over my lower belly, above my belly button, my inner and outter thighs, and lower back!! I had my first 7 1/2 years ago, so they faded so much you could barely notice them. Now I'm 37 weeks with #2, and so far I haven't gotten any new ones! And the old ones actually seemed to fade even more. So they're not very noticeable. You're right about them not bring preventable. You either have stretchy more elastic skin, or you have the exact opposite. They're also hereditary. If your mom got em, your chances are pretty high of also getting them. Sadly. My mom got em pretty bad. I do believe you can help them to not get too out of control tho. By using cocoa butter, bio oil, ect. I've been using it religiously as well. I think that's why I haven't gotten any new ones. It also depends on your weight gain. That's just an opinion. But I gained 70 lbs with my first. This time I've only gained 35 lbs. Anyway continue using your lotions! And good luck! Don't worry too much, they do fade! :)

[aubsivy]

With my first she was 9lbs7oz I didn't get any anywhere until I turned 32w ish then I got them everywhere! With this one my belly is 57" and I have 3 tiny half or a half inch stretch marks on my belly and I got them today (I'm now 37w) I thought I was in the clear. This baby will be over 10lbs says my doc, odd because im a tiny girl and I easy healthy and exercise.

[kkeyser]

Well,  when I had my son when I was 18 my dr told me that my tummy looked like a road map.  Then I had my daughter and the stretch marks didn't even get red,  and I didn't get any new ones. With this pregnancy,  I'm 32 weeks along,  don't have any new ones and my old ones aren't changing colors either.  Between my second pregnancy and this one was 11 years.  My marks faded greatly,  and were hardly noticeable.  Everybody is different tho.  You could only get 3 or you may end up with what looks like 300. They do fade tho.  Just keep moisturizing and hope for the best.