What did you use to prevent stretch marks?

[JennyE]

TIA!

[jwatt]

"A Mother's Friend" It is about 5 or 6 dollars and they keep it in the pharmacy. I have gotten it at CVS and walmart.

[MrsPinecone]

The best way to avoid them is to be born to someone who didn't get them. It's genetic.

You can use whatever lotion or cream that you want to avoid the dry skin and itching that comes from the stretching.

[prindcar]

straight vitamin e helps with the itchy and dryness.. but yep .. genetics and not gaining 100 lbs is the best way.. ohh and lots of water..

(I was lucky ..none w/ my 2 boys and my mom has tons -- must've gotten the genes from my dad :)

[Michar]

totally all just genetics ... my doctor said all those cremes and whatnot are just sales pitches. They are slightly reduced if you don't gain an excessive amount of weight ( like 80 pounds plus!)

I was so excited I went until almost 7 months with no stretch marks then in like one week my stomach totally popped and it turned into a major city road map. It was kind of depressing. I figure oh well it's a sign of motherhood and DH doesn't seem to care :) he said it's just a memory of growing our child which I think is pretty sweet.

[TheWoman]

Originally Posted by Michar I was so excited I went until almost 7 months with no stretch marks then in like one week my stomach totally popped and it turned into a major city road map. It was kind of depressing.

I was 8 1/2 months along and congratulating myself that I wasn't going to get them. All of the sudden, over the next 24 hours I suddenly had them everywhere. I didn't gain that much weight in 24 hours.

[anothershopper2]

My dr said that it doesn't make a difference what cremes you use, they won't really work. Actually, I wasn't even planning on using them, and I didn't. My friend said she'd use anything even if it doesn't work. I think she used Palmer. I don't think I got any? I had a small baby. But I have that darn brown line down the center of my belly (does that count as stretch mark)... I heard it takes 6+ months to go away. It's not pretty.

[loladooder99]

There is one. The only way to prevent stretch marks or to reduce them is to avoid gaining to much weight while pregnant. Its mostly genetics. If your mother got them you most likely will. Good luck.

[CoffeeMom]

I have a TON of stretch marks on my belly and legs, not very attractive. My mother didn't get any at all, but I did gain over 70lbs...

[kbsparks]

While genetics does play a part I did not get any when I was pregnant with twins while both my mother and sister got them during their pregnancies. I drank a ton of water and used Palmers. I also agree that keeping the weight to a healthy level is important as well.