How did you come to terms with your stretch marks? - Page 2

[lesley&grace]

My skin care regime began at 14 when I started to wear small amounts of make-up my mom took me and showed me how to properly care for my skin (if I was gonna wear make-up, I was in for the entire wash and moisturise routine. I rarely wear make-up now, but my care routine is practically religious!), I have always moisturized from head to toe.

During pregnancy I coated my belly from the moment I found out I was carrying a baby in a lovely scented cocoa butter formula (called Belly Butter no less!) I went through several bottles, I was very liberal with it. As you all know, I have stretch marks anyway, but I like to think that they would have been much worse if I hadn't coated myself in the intensive moisturizer.

I know from experience that the marks will fade, and I thank you ladies for your experiences.

Oh, someone had mentioned tattoos on the belly. My friend had a shamrock on her belly, and we took pics of it at the beginning of her pregnancy and just before she gave birth...too bad we didn't measure it because we couldn't quite tell if it had changed :LOL . However, a few weeks after her baby boy was born, she noticed that her one and only stretch mark...was a thin line through her tattoo!

[orangefoot]

It is so true that it takes so many months to grow a baby and it takes as long if not longer to adjust to your new state, mentally and physically. Life and your body wil never be the same again.

Maybe the more wholesome we appear the less weare supposed to worry about these things for fear of comparing ourselves with the airbrushed super models and fake people on tv.

It took me a long time to look and see what had happened down there and I had very careful and sympathetic midwives. I spent months not liking looking at my belly when it slid towards the bed if I lay on my side. I sewed new trousers to accommodate my breasfeeding reserves on my hips and avoid the feeling of despair as I failed to be able to pull my trousers up or if I did couldn't hide the mushrooming me above the waistband!

Through all of this - and still, my husband stroked me, snuggled me and made me feel loved. He *likes* my stretch marks because he says they feel silky (he has a childhood thing for pleating ribbons or tafetta blanket edging between his fingers - its cheaper than other addictions!) I had stretch marks from my first two children when I met him and he didn't seem worried. I am a petite 5' 0" so there wasn't much room and I am just amazed that my belly skin could stretch so far and not fall to pieces, not once but 3 TIMES. Wow.

Like soulsistah says I have some gorgeous cami tops with matching boy shorts which keep everything where I want it and hide what I want to (not enough cleavage for a corset but that's another story) and make me feel............you know.

Its like being the gawky teenager, it takes a while to get to know how to make the best of what you've got!

Hang on in there mamas, the feeling of 'ripped up' will smooth to a new you and in the meantime don't hide yourself awayfind something special or just some everyday wear to make you feel and look good (even if it is from a thrift store!)

[starbarrett]

My husband took to calling my stretch marks my "tiger stripes" during my first pregnancy. I thought it was very sweet, but thought it was a little over the top.

But then I had dd. I birthed her after a 45 hr unmedicated labor. I nursed her on demand-- which for several months in the begining was every 20min. I woke up with her every 45 minutes at night during a miserable sleep period between 4 & 8 months. I have comforted her through many teeth and several colds. I play with her, I feed her, I teach her. I am a mother and I love it. And I have earned those stripes.

Don't be afraid to give yourself some credit.