I’m 20 years old and pregnant with my first child. I’m 36 weeks pregnant. Before I got pregnant I’ve always been tiny 5’2 and 110 lbs. I loved my body and loved being skinny. Now I’ve already gained about 50 lbs and still gaining. About two days ago I noticed stretch marks and I haven’t stopped thinking about them since. I’m unsure of what to do about them and I’m really afraid of what my stomach will look like after birth. I have used cocoa butter my whole pregnancy it clearly doesn’t work. I’m do self concious and I’m not confident anymore. I just want to be happy with my body and I know I won’t be once I have the baby. Still trying to learn how to cope with everything :(
I am 31 and am the proud mother of a 7 month old girl. Like you, I am 5′ 2, and weighed 110 lbs. before pregnancy. Also like you, I gained about 50 lbs. I never had any of the nausea and food sensitivity issues that many pregnant women have. I was just really hungry all the time! Despite how huge my stomach got, I don’t have stretch marks. Cocoa butter really just helps with itchy skin as it stretches. The marks are genetic. If your mother got them, chances are you will too no matter how much you slather up. However, even without the stretch marks, I’m not currently thrilled with my body. I’ve lost half the weight I’ve gained, but I’m still at my pre-pregnancy heaviest. (years ago I put on 20 lbs. but managed to lose it and get back to 110.) it’s frustrating, because if I had only gained 25-35 like women of our size ate supposed to, I’d be back to normal. All can say is try to healthy as much as you can, and as soon as your able to, start doing moderate exercise. You can ramp it up after your body has healed. As for the marks, even if they never disappear, they will fade with time. Good luck to you, and above all, enjoy that precious little baby. Even though I get down on myself sometimes about how I look, I look at my baby and can honestly say she’s worth it.
You look adorable and I can barely see any stretchmarks. My midwife says that cocoa butter and the like don’t do a darn thing to prevent stretchmarks. This is because the marks originate in a deeper layer of skin than any cream will ever reach. So don’t feel like you did anything wrong or used the wrong lotion, none of it works! Hope you enjoy that little baby!
try those IT WORKS wraps
I am the same size as you pre-pregnancy and am also 36 weeks pregnant ( with my second baby), and I got stretch marks in the very last weeks as well – at first, they scared me, but they really faded away and since they are symmetrical ( one above my belly button looks like a heart!), I find them to be a sweet reminder of what I gave to have my son.
I call them Love Marks, and although I can’t say I love them particularly, I have them because I loved!
You look like your weight gain is ‘all baby’, and you WILL loose the weight and feel good about yourself again! Don’t stress about it, especially in the first few months after. You will only have a tiny baby for a very, very short amount of time. Your body will change, yes, but you will be able to get fit again in your own time.
Enjoy the moments of having your little one so close to you now, and the sweetness of the first few heavenly weeks :)
xox
The stretch marks will fade, it took about 4 months for mine to fade. I am 22 years old, 5’6″. Was 115 when I got pregnant, and gained 50 lbs despite healthy eating and walking everyday. I was HUNGRY ALL the time. My final weight was 165! About 2 weeks after giving birth I started walking around my neighborhood, gradually increasing the distance as the weeks went by. I’m now 120 lbs, however I must say I don’t have that pre-baby body anymore. I am a wife and a MOTHER, therefore I don’t long for that perfectly toned teenage look. So love yourself no matter what, because time is fleeting and your sweet babe will grow up before you know it. By the way you have a beautiful pregnant belly. And one more thing, this I read in Kevin Leman book. For every negative thought about your body counter it with a positive one. For example: “yeah I have stretch marks, but my boobs look sexy as hell”. It is only fair for a mother to implement this “equal time” rule when it comes to criticizing her body. Also stay away from people who tend to make comments about your body, some can be so insensitive. Be blessed, and may you have a safe delivery.
Well, girl am the same age, 20, i had a belly before but it wasn’t so bad as it is now. It is frustrating yes, i doesn’t even want to look at my belly but what you go do. If your husband/boyfriend really love you, he will tell you he love reguard less.
You look beautiful! I worried as well about getting stretch marks. I am now 35 weeks pregnant and have them on my sides. I constantly freaked out about them and thought about it all of the time. I, too, put cocoa butter on, vitamin E oil, coconut oil, anything I could think of, and nothing worked. Now, I have just learned to embrace them. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do about them! Except learn to accept them! Congrats on your pregnany and I wish you the best of luck!
You are gorgeous. Just be open to loving yourself, come what may…