When exactly do stretch marks appear?

[Megsy]

I'm currently 32 + weeks and so far I have not seen any sign of stretch marks. When do most people see them (if they are going to appear at all) and where exactly is the most common place? What do the early stages of stretch marks look like? I'm thinking my belly can't possibly grow any bigger without experiencing some type of stretching!

[hj1981]

They appear just when you think you are going to get through your pregnancy without them!
You go to bed one night with no stretch marks not even a sign and than the next morning SURPRISE they are there!
Well thats what happened to me anyway - i think i was about 37wks when i got them!!!
I just have them on the front of my belly!

[fionas]

I was lucky (and I believe it is luck because I didn't use any lotions or potions to try to prevent them) enough not to get any so you may still escape!

[Maruschke]

I am due the same day as you, and haven't gotten any yet, but I keep looking LOL.

By the way, here is a link to your belly buddies thread https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...-2009-9-a.html we would love to go through this exciting time with you while counting down to meet your long-awaited bundle .

[jess_s]

I was the same, thought I had gotten away with not getting any but by about 34 weeks some appeared on the sides of my hips... it was like I had a pair of elastic waisted pants that were too tight and had imprinted my skin!

I didn't think I had too many however once I had bub and tummy went down there they were... around my navel and above my bikini line

I guess though they are a beautiful reminder of the life I carried inside me for 9 months

[SweetPea]

Mine appeared at 38 weeks

[AliBaby]

They appear just when you think you are going to get through your pregnancy without them!
You go to bed one night with no stretch marks not even a sign and than the next morning SURPRISE they are there!
Well thats what happened to me anyway - i think i was about 37wks when i got them!!!
I just have them on the front of my belly!

Ditto!!!

I thought I was going to make it through without them and then they appeared I think around 34-35weeks and were underneath my belly in front. I couldnt actually see them unless I looked in the mirror and I have to say now that my bump is gone, they look worse, however I know that they will fade and I have a gorgeous little girl because of them.

[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!

[Karina]

Not everyone gets them. I didnt get any stretch marks at all.

[Visitor8]

Actually my first is a funny story. I was so happy that i had made it to 8 months without any, then a few days later I was looking down at my tummy saying how happy I was that I didn't get any and my friend goes "umm Mel you have a couple underneath"... sure enough a couple had popped up! Within a week I had them all over The second and third just extended the previous ones

[Daydream Believer]

I didnt get any on my stomach & I only got 1 small one on my breast, when my milk came in