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I am so sorry to have to tell you that if your going to get stretch marks, you are going to get them no matter what you put on your skin. I am 37 weeks 2 days with our second child and have tried every cream and lotion out there and still ended up with some stretch marks from both pregnancies, however, they may have been lessened by the moisturizing. If you find the magic ingredient, please let the rest of us know.

Hi MJVDEC! Yes, I did hear that stretch marks are hereditary. But I have to believe that something might help? I purchased Palmer's Cocoa B___ter Formula but I can't stand the smell. It smells gross to me. So I went out and got Mama Bee's Belly B___ter, by Burt's Bees and thought I would give that a try. I hope that is not bad for me. Isn't it too bad that there isn't one magical cream out there??!? :) Congrats on being 37 weeks. You are almost there--so exciting!!! :)

There is a new one out by Curel. I haven't tried it, but the scent may be better for you. I haven't seen it at the grocery store, but I bet they have it at places like Rite Aid and Wallgreens. I also think that the size you are post pregnancy may also play a part in wether or not you get strectch marks. Here is my thought process... if you are already packing a bit extra around the middle, then you may not have as much give in your skin than if you are trim without a belly. I am not fat, but not as slim as I could be. I have several friends who were slim with very flat tummies, and never got any stretch marks. That is just my own theory, as to one potential reason why some women get them and some women don't.

I believe hereditary plays only a small part in many things. I think it all depends on your body, maybe how much elasticity you have in your skin, how much water you drink, maybe even how well you eat and retain your vitamins and minerals. But if there is a mircle cream I'd love to know about it : ). I love the Burts Bees products, I use them on my daughter. I never knew they made a belly cream tho, definately going to try it. The are a miracle for my dd's ezcema, hasn't had a flare up in a while now. Shes even been bathing everyday, which they say not to as it may dry their skin out and make eczema worse. I use the wash/shampoo and lotion on her. Right now I use the Palmers Belly Formula for pregnant women. I didn't mind the scent of the other one but hubby couldn't stand it, haha!

I'm about 20 weeks and I KNOW I'll probably get them eventually...I've heard it's good to make sure you're well hydrated for sure. I have been using Bio Oil for the last 3 months and slather it on after every shower...makes your skin feel very soft and smooth and maybe helps with elasticity? Who knows right...I think it's mainly so you don't get dry and itchy cuz from the sounds of it you get em or you don't! Goood luck :)

Burt's Bees makes a cream called "Mama Bee Belly B___ter"...I think it smells good and it's worked well for me. I got a few small ones (I'm 40 weeks and still hanging in there) but I also drank a lot of water the whole pregnancy. It's worth a try I guess.

This is my second and I swear palmer's coco b___ter works. I started using it the first months of pregnancy and everyday after my shower, on belly, hips, b___sts, n I don't have one stretch mark.

MJV, BRITT, APPLE, STEF, MARY: Thank you ladies so much for your input! I always greatly appreciate them! :)

Hi Newbie I agree with mjvdec01unfortunately no matter what you do, if you are going to get them, you are going to get them. Moisturising with a rich cream or lotion does help keep the skin supple & might help in preventing very bad stretch marks, but will not stop them from happening especially if you get really big. I am a pet_te build & was pretty much all baby with both pregnancies. I used a really rich cocoa b___ter cream with #1 & got dozens of small stretch marks on my hips & lower belly & dd was 7lb 9oz. With #2 I also incorporated pure vitamin E oil with the cocoa b___ter cream & I got HEAPS of stretch marks on my lower belly & some on the middle too & ds was 9lb 3oz. I continued using the vitamin E oil after having ds & am very lucky that they have faded considerably & pretty much match the colour of my skin now. I am currently 14wks with #3 & will still continue to moisturise as it helps with any itching from stretching, but fully expect to get more stretch marks as I seem to be easily prone to them. Goodluck with your pregnancy & I hope you don't get too many of them :)