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I want to have children one day... but there is something that always brings me to back to wanting to be a 50 year old childless world traveler and that is getting horrible--> Stretch Marks!!! I remember when I was younger watching my mother take her shirt off, and looking in horror at her bubbled up scarred stomach!! She only had two children and was a very thin woman most of her life, she was (5'6 like 110lbs).. My mother's stomach looked like she had 11 children back to back .. forget road map! like crumpled up newspaper!! I heard that how your body deals with stretch marks is heredity.. if it is .. I'm looking to adopt. Does anyone out here know if stretch marks are really preventable..? and I'm not talking about cocoa butter, please... otherwise I could forget going to the beach.. by the way I'm 26 and according to some people my clock is ticking
It's all hereditary, but just because your mother had them doesn't mean that you will. My hunch is that if a woman is as fit at possible before the pregnancy, with well toned abdominals to support the pregnancy better, she has done all she can to prevent stretchmarks.
It's definitely true that childless women keep their figures better, but only you can decide what your priorities are.
Just wait until you realize what lactating did to your breasts.
Are you sure you even want kids?
LOL, funny girl!
I didn't get stretch marks and my DD is preggy right now and she uses cocoa butter every night, that is hubbys job. I have them on my thighs from adolescence, growing too fast I guess. There are a lot more important things to worry about. A tummy tuck after might help.
I have three children, and never got a single stretch mark. Not all women get them. And I'm petite, and had large babies at 38 weeks (the last was 9.13 lbs), PLUS I had excess amniotic fluid. In other words, I was HUGE. Only towards the end of my pregnancies did I put any kind of creams on my stomach, and only because my skin started to hurt from the stretching. I just used plain old moisturizing lotion.
The sagging tummy though, well, no amount of ab work seems to help with that in my case. No
"bubbling" like the OP mentioned, but it's no longer firm. But I don't care how bad my tummy sags, and even if I was covered with stretch marks, they would all be worth it for my beautiful children.
I want to have children one day... but there is something that always brings me to back to wanting to be a 50 year old childless world traveler and that is getting horrible--> Stretch Marks!!! I remember when I was younger watching my mother take her shirt off, and looking in horror at her bubbled up scarred stomach!! She only had two children and was a very thin woman most of her life, she was (5'6 like 110lbs).. My mother's stomach looked like she had 11 children back to back .. forget road map! like crumpled up newspaper!! I heard that how your body deals with stretch marks is heredity.. if it is .. I'm looking to adopt. Does anyone out here know if stretch marks are really preventable..? and I'm not talking about cocoa butter, please... otherwise I could forget going to the beach.. by the way I'm 26 and according to some people my clock is ticking
The genetics in my family predispose both genders to developing stretch marks. Sometimes there is simply not enough collagen in the body. My mother, daughter, son, and I all developed at least some on our hips, knees, and/or lower backs during childhood growth spurts. It's life.
I find it extremely upsetting to hear you describe your mother's body the way you have, filled with so much revulsion.
I used to feel that way about my own body after my first child was born, for I too developed a roadmap (London, possibly? ). I hated myself.
It took decades to come to terms with the fact that I was not perfect. In America, the urge to become 'perfect' is obsessive and sick, IMO.
If you're that hung up on appearances, it may be best to adopt.
For the record, I earned every single mark...they're my badge of honor, and I wear it proudly. Many mothers feel the same way.
The sagging tummy though, well, no amount of ab work seems to help with that in my case. No
"bubbling" like the OP mentioned, but it's no longer firm. But I don't care how bad my tummy sags, and even if I was covered with stretch marks, they would all be worth it for my beautiful children.
Same here. I have already been told the only way my saggy tummy will look good again is if I have a tummy tuck. However my abs are awesome from working out. Hopefully if I keep at it for another 6 months- a year I hope to be able to see them again.
OP- Dont let the idea of strech marks keep you from being a mother if its what you really want. If I let my fears keep me from doing things, I wouldnt have done a single thing with my life. Its all about taking chances and living life to your fullest.
Lady, I'm trying for my first baby and I'm feeling a little scared about the overall changes to my body. Not like I'm super hot or anything, but I'm comfortable with the way I look and feel in my clothes. Naked is another story and I haven't worn a bikini since I was 16. I stick to tankinis and one piece suits that I think are classier and always have and I grew up on the beach. I'm not sure how heriditary stretch marks are. My mom is so opposite of me in every way. I'm built more like my dad with my dad's skin texture. My mom has horrible stretch marks. My theory is that I will use a natural, organic olive oil soap during pregnancy; alternate rubbing cocoa butter and olive oil on my tummy each day; and try to minimize weight gain to the most conservative amount. I don't believe that being pregnant means eating for two. I will also look into binding my stomach after healing from the delivery. It is something used by African women as well as other cultures and I think it helps the body bounce back quicker. All I want is to feel comfortable in my jeans.
And these people who like to tell others about their biological clocks are just ridiculous. We've thrown all privacy out the window. I'm 35 trying for baby number 1 so don't worry about it.
I have three children, and never got a single stretch mark. Not all women get them. And I'm petite, and had large babies at 38 weeks (the last was 9.13 lbs), PLUS I had excess amniotic fluid. In other words, I was HUGE. Only towards the end of my pregnancies did I put any kind of creams on my stomach, and only because my skin started to hurt from the stretching. I just used plain old moisturizing lotion.
The sagging tummy though, well, no amount of ab work seems to help with that in my case. No
"bubbling" like the OP mentioned, but it's no longer firm. But I don't care how bad my tummy sags, and even if I was covered with stretch marks, they would all be worth it for my beautiful children.
Wonderful post! That's exactly what it should be about - not vanity, IMO. (I would have repped you, but I couldn't )
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I remember when I was younger watching my mother take her shirt off, and looking in horror at her bubbled up scarred stomach!! She only had two children and was a very thin woman most of her life, she was (5'6 like 110lbs).. My mother's stomach looked like she had 11 children back to back .. forget road map! like crumpled up newspaper!! I heard that how your body deals with stretch marks is heredity.. if it is .. I'm looking to adopt. Does anyone out here know if stretch marks are really preventable..? and I'm not talking about cocoa butter, please... otherwise I could forget going to the beach.. by the way I'm 26 and according to some people my clock is ticking
I have them on my thighs from adolescence, growing too fast I guess. There are a lot more important things to worry about. A tummy tuck after might help.
Only towards the end of my pregnancies did I put any kind of creams on my stomach, and only because my skin started to hurt from the stretching. I just used plain old moisturizing lotion. 
No 
). I hated myself.
)
