When exactly do stretch marks appear?

[flossy]

And i thought I could escape them altogether!! I only got a few on my boobs with my son.. my tummy area was all clear.. So far so good this time.. however still a few weeks to go.. i will keep checking now in case they pop up and surpsise me..

[~Kaz~]

I got a couple of small ones on my right hip in the last 3 weeks or so. Got to term (40 weeks) and then BAM! they appeared overnight as a PP mentioned. All of a sudden they covered most of my lower stomach - all quite mild and faded looking but stretchies nonetheless.

[satya]

Mine came in after I gave birth. I so thought I'd escaped them. It started out with really itchy skin under my tummy flap that was there after the birth. Within 2 weeks I had stretchies - pretty minor ones which have since faded so they are hardly noticeable 9 months later. I had stopped using my tummy butter when I gave birth and wished I'd kept it up afterwards as I may have avoided them entirely.

[berrme]

My stretch marks also showed up after I had DS and my belly went down. They were never purple and obvious, just a few wiggly silver lines that come up from my pubic area in a fan shape. Quite pretty really.
I noticed the other day that they have moved up a little further this time but still only silver and that didn't happen until about 34/35 weeks.

[alioops]

I was about 35 weeks with DD1, they started off looking like flames coming up from my pubic area. I also had a couple coming from the scar where my belly button was pierced. To begin with it looked like the playboy bunny. They have gradually gotten bigger over susequent pregnancies, you can even see some of them in my ticker pic!!

[beau_9]

i have one dark red stretchie on the hole where my belly button ring was that looks like a cross, but other than that i haven't got one mark, which surprises me cause my belly feels very stretched. i didn't think you could get them afterwards....nooooo, i hope not. i suppose your right though it's a reminder of carrying your bub if you do get any.

[tutmae]

I look like I've been mauled by a tiger. It's outrageous!! Mine showed up fairly early, but I found out it was because I was taking steroids for hyperemesis. I have stopped the steroids now and haven't gotten a single fresh mark since. I used all the lotions and potions and they didn't do anything, I think it's just the luck of the draw unfortunately!