Stretch Marks!

[ss_storm]

Up until the last few weeks I have been pretty lucky and was virtually stretch mark free...had a few silvery/spidery lines just above my belly button but that was about it.
Now... wow they are awful!! I can't actually see them unless I use a mirror, had a look last night, cause the midwife commented on them at my appointment yesterday and I was telling DF so naturally he had a look and said whoa..looks like you've been beaten up!

So yeah that made me feel really good about my body Had a peek with the mirror and they look awful!! They aren't very long, probably 3-4cm long but they are really red, and there is one below my belly button that is super red, really thick and does hurt a tad if I touch it/press it.... have been using cocoa butter on them but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. I guess at least they are out of sight..lol. But I think my bikini days are over (not that I ever wore bikinis to sart with ).

I was just so shocked to see them so red and awful looking!!

[Jellyfish]

I had (and still have, unfortunately) a super red, really thick one just bellow my belly button that hurt to press so I sympathize completely!! It has faded since the birth and isn't sore to touch now but still is visible. I am hoping with more time they will fade further so fingers crossed.

[AliBaby]

I sympathize, I could have written your post word for word in my last couple of weeks. I am still coming to terms with it and am having a hard time looking at my tummy in the mirror.

DP has been quite supportive and told me not to worry about them and they will fade. Hopefully your DP is quite supportive and tries to boost your self esteem.

[~Trish~]

They're awful aren't they? I got heaps of them when pg with DS1 and was mortified. I knew I'd never wear a bikini again (and yes, I did wear them back before he was in existence!). Luckily over time they did fade and weren't nearly as noticeable.

[Fleur]

They are life lines

Being young there's a good chance they will fade, mine did although you could still see them in the right light you had to really look hard.
Unfortunately I have had new ones each pregnancy... (none this time so far, but I'm waiting, sure it's just a matter of time).

But hey it's a small price to pay, as corny as that is the end result is worth it.

PS - FWIW I am more bothered by the varicose veins on my legs now there's a bikini killer (or any swimsuit killer for that matter)

[Kristin27]

I first noticed I had them the day before DD was born - thought I'd got through my pregnancy without them!

The stretch marks were all underneath my belly button. I massaged bio oil into them every night after having DD and they have faded completely! Took a few months, and I think because my tummy has shrunk back into shape (finally!) they're not noticeable.

Get some bio oil it works!

[angelaartsstudent]

If it will make you feel any better I am happy to post a picture link to mine. Looks like someone's toddler has red texta-ed all over my gut. :-) They are EVERYWHERE and very, very red. Also purple. Any deep...they feel like a crevice in my skin.

[~Kim~]

I can sympathise too
My belly was so big with Nate (he was a whopper) that I didn't even find mine until after he was born....that was a shock I can tell you....I thought I had gotten off scot free.

[Inertia]

They will start to fade some. Might take some time.

Personally I am not ashamed of mine at all. With 5 kids around me feet, you'd have to be an utter moron to think I didn't have any. My badge of honour. I was given the honour of being a mum. You can see them in my ticker pic! LOL

Its the ones around my bbs I hate. Mostly because they are not bfing success stories.

[LaDeeDa]

You poor thing .... I didn't get any until I was 37 weeks and I was HUGE and then over night commando style they appeared..... poor Lulu had to hear me whinging about them when we went swimming...LOL

They do get better though and I don't think that anything helps or prevents them....