| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
Berg19 
Senior Member
Joined: 13 August 2009
Location: Kapiti Coast
Points: 332
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Good old stretch marks!
Posted: 21 August 2009 at 9:11pm |
|
I was just wondering about oils and other ways to help prevent and control stretch marks. Some places ive read that bio oil is really good, and others that its not safe because so many chemicals. Does any body use bio oil and did it prevent them and help them fade??
It just seems really expensive when i could be using something alot cheaper that does the same thing.
|
 |
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
angel4
Senior Member
Joined: 06 May 2008
Points: 1101
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 August 2009 at 9:45pm |
|
its my understanding that its actually your skin type that causes you to get stretchmarks. I figured i would get them or not get them but most likely get them since i got them during puberty too. I just kept my skin well moisturised as i didnt see the point in spending heaps of money of bio oil when there was no guarantee it would work. I really like Tui bee balme and it lasts for ages, its also good for nappy balm after baby is born and good for massages too. Of course it doesnt say anywhere that it prevents stretch marks. But im not sure anythng really does. but i use it all over my body everyday, especially on my tummy when its really tight.
Sorry that probably wasnt helpful at all
|
|
MrsH23
Senior Member
Joined: 05 June 2008
Location: Perth
Points: 666
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 August 2009 at 9:47pm |
|
Angel is right, If you get them, you get them, you can't prevent them. I was moisturising daily with cocoa butter stuff but I don't think it made a difference, they have already faded quite alot though.
ETA: Bio oil might be useful afterwards though to help them fade, I haven't really tried it yet.
Edited by MrsH23
|
Lisa mummy to Ryan
|
|
ElfsMum
Senior Member
Joined: 04 June 2007
Location: Christchurch
Points: 11702
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 August 2009 at 9:48pm |
|
i agree with the others.. apparently it's genetic..if your Mum did you will too...i certainly did!
|
|
Mum to two amazing boys!
|
|
Tastic
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Points: 3921
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 August 2009 at 9:50pm |
|
I didnt get many with the boys however have noticed them already this time around
with the boys I used cocoa butter this time mostly just a vanilla moisturizer so will ask hubby to use the cocoa butter to help -prevent' more
|
|
Treen
Senior Member
Joined: 06 July 2008
Location: Clevedon, Auckland
Points: 832
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 August 2009 at 10:47pm |
If you're worried about the chemicals in Bio Oil, you could use organic rosehip oil however it's about the same price. I think I'll probably just use a paraben free body butter. If I get 'em, I get 'em. 
|
|
|
|
Jelly
Senior Member
Joined: 06 August 2009
Location: Auckland
Points: 1059
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 22 August 2009 at 9:23am |
|
Like the others have said, you can help your skin heal itself and stay soft so you hopefully won't have such bad marks, but you can't avoid them completely.
That said, I used bio oil on some old marks and they're nearly invisible now, and with palmers cocoa butter two new ones faded very quickly to be almost gone. So these things do help them fade!
|
|
|
|
bopmum
Senior Member
Joined: 05 November 2008
Location: Tauranga
Points: 657
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 22 August 2009 at 10:20am |
|
I started using bio oil but it irrated my skin - made it really, really icthy so stopped using it and got some palmers cocoa butter which is so much better! I haven't had any stretch marks show up yet..........
|
|
|
|
busyissy
Senior Member
Joined: 16 January 2007
Location: Hamilton
Points: 675
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 22 August 2009 at 12:56pm |
|
Unfortunately, if you are going to get them you can't do anything to stop them but I think that you can help lessen them by moisturising and exfoliating your skin, just helping it to stretch well. Don't forget your sides and back, breasts and thighs, no-one tells you it not just your tummy that stretches!
With Dominic I didn't notice any stretch marks while I was pregnant but I did have a shiny spot above my navel after I had him it became stretch marks.
|
|
LadyLizard
Senior Member
Joined: 12 February 2009
Points: 362
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 22 August 2009 at 6:19pm |
|
I have been using cocoa butter AND bio-oil and still have a few around where my appendix scar is....
Probably would have got them anyway.
|
|
|
|
Paws
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Auckland
Points: 5860
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 22 August 2009 at 6:25pm |
|
I got them aplenty last time but bio oil did seem to help with the fading afterwards.
During pregnancy I just use a good moisturizer.
|
|
|
|
Zasha
Senior Member
Joined: 18 July 2009
Location: Bay of plenty NZ
Points: 209
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23 August 2009 at 1:38pm |
Please excuse my ignorance as this is my first pregnancy and I've got a lot of learning to do, I'm just curious about approximately when do stretch marks start showing up?
|
|
|
|
busyissy
Senior Member
Joined: 16 January 2007
Location: Hamilton
Points: 675
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23 August 2009 at 6:58pm |
|
Well that depends on the women really. I couldn't see any stretch marks with my first pregnancy, just shiny spots, but once I had given birth it turned out those shiny spots were the stretch marks. A friend of mine had vertical stretch marks all over her tummy and sides after her first pregnancy and I remember seeing them quite early on. Some women don't get any til the second time round, you stretch more with each pregnancy, and some (lucky, lucky) women don't get any.
|
|
Babe
Senior Member
Joined: 21 May 2007
Location: New Zealand
Points: 2936
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23 August 2009 at 9:59pm |
|
The theory if you're going to get them you'll get them isn't strictly true. I didn't have any until 2 weeks before Jake was born then he turned overnight (seriously it was actually overnight) and since my tummy skin didn't have any time to stretch I got the marks. The only reason I got them was coz of the way he rolled and it showed coz my bump suddenly stuck out a good 30 cm more!
Anyway moisturiser, etc will help your skin repair itself faster even if it doesn't stop the stretchmarks. Mine are barely discernable now (they're right across my lower belly between button and pelvis) and I'm just gonna wait and see what happens with this bubba.
|
|
|
|
Berg19
Senior Member
Joined: 13 August 2009
Location: Kapiti Coast
Points: 332
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 24 August 2009 at 3:15pm |
Thanks everyone. Yeah stretch marks are one of those things huh, if you get them you get them. My midwife seemed very certain about telling me that nothing can prevent them! Oh well, I've got a aloevera plant outside and thats good at healing so i'll start putting that on my stretch marks i already have and on my tummy and other places! And about the no one tells you its not just your tummy you get them on is so true, ive got them on boobs, outer thighs and inner thighs AND hips. Buuuut its all part of the package huh!
And for zasha, it all depends on how big you get really, i didn't get quite big until coming up to 30 weeks and thats when i started them getting alot worse!
|
|
HuntersMama
Senior Member
Joined: 09 November 2008
Location: Auckland
Points: 1863
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 24 August 2009 at 3:57pm |
|
I think it might help to fade them afterwards? Im using an oil that my dad bought back from the UK. DOnt have a huge bump at the moment and no stretch marks (touch wood!)
|
|
|
|
busyissy
Senior Member
Joined: 16 January 2007
Location: Hamilton
Points: 675
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 25 August 2009 at 12:58pm |
|
They are scars from a journey and battle well fought and won. And even though they are ugly at first they do fade and are a permanant reminder of your pregnancy and journey into motherhood. Every time I see mine in the mirror it cause me to reflect back on my pregnancies.
|
|
Febgirl
Senior Member
Joined: 10 August 2007
Points: 1033
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 25 August 2009 at 1:10pm |
|
I didn't get any first pregnancy - well ok one which was tiny, about 2cm long on my right hip and that was it. I put on an awful lot of weight as well! This time around nothing yet.
I'm surprised as I have quite a few on my hips and upper arms from puberty so assumed that I'd get them during pregnancy too, but nope!
|
Two little girls under 2!
|
|
crafty1
Senior Member
Joined: 03 July 2008
Points: 1024
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 25 August 2009 at 4:52pm |
|
I used bio oil every day last time and didn't get any. I've already started oiling my tummy now as it gets itchy otherwise.
I'm not sure i would've bought the bio oil but it was given to me and one of those big $60 ones lasted the whole 9 months, so was actually not too bad pricewise. I've been given some belly oil this time and when that runs out i'll prob buy some bio oil.
|
|
|
|
RinTinTin
Senior Member
Joined: 04 February 2009
Location: Waikato
Points: 3518
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 25 August 2009 at 7:31pm |
|
Hi Berg
I'm also of the opinion that stretch marks depend on skin type. I am sure I will get them later on but have managed to avoid them so far.
I am just using moisturisers. I use them every night (sometimes twice daily) and I try to massage the skin as well, going around my back, over my hips and thighs and of course my bump.
I think preventing stretch marks involves more than just putting lotion on the skin, but if you massage the skin, it helps it to stretch a lot easier.
Hope this helps.
Oh and don't forget your boobs too. Otherwise you will end up with stripy boobs.
|
|
|
|
Good old stretch marks!
