Stretchmarks Galore!!!

I have had 2 kids and gained 40+ with both pregnancys. After my first, it took me a long time to get my body toned down to something like it use to, but I never lost all the flab. I have a ton of stretch marks as well. I did the whole cocoa butter thing, but it doesn't really work IMO. Now after my second child, I can't seem to loose any of my belly flab like I had before. I have grown to love my stretch marks. I say they are the gift that my kids gave to me for giving them life. (That and a bigger bra size.)

I have a friend who, after 2 kids, has the same size body that she had in high school. It took her a few weeks after giving birth to get it that way with no help. Kind of makes me want to puke, but thats just the way her body is. Everyone's body does something different after giving birth.

i gained about 50 lbs when i was pregnant and i have lost about 30lbs and still going. before i was pregnant i was small (about 118lb and 5'1")so it really took a tole on my body! my stomach looks disgusting with stretch marks and it is really loose as well. i use 100% virgin shea butter and it is great for your skin although i haven't seen much improvement in my stretch marks! it just takes time as everyone else said!

Hi T.,
My daughter (only child) will be 15 on Sunday. I gained about 50 lbs when I was pregnant. My tummy did go back to normal. It took awhile. I do have some stretch marks left. But they are so faded and light, they are hardly noticable. I agree every body is different. I watch "The Biggest Loser" quite often and I think that if those people can lose over 100 lbs and have a tight tummy, then you could too. It might take some work, but, good luck!

There's a product called Pentaxal that works really well. I use it on my stretch marks and I notice a difference. I have had 3 C-sections so my belly needs lots of help.
:)

Here's a link for it so you can read up on it.
http://www.marketamerica.com/nicoleryan/index.cfm?action=...

First off congrads on the baby! And congrads to only gaining 14lbs. I wish only I had gained that much . . . with my fist it was 50lbs and my second 75lbs, and I'm a small girl 5 feet short.(my kids both were 9lbs 3oz) I have stretch marks all over my body. You can't do too much about them . . . they will fade over time. You are right your stomach will never be the same. If you wanted it to stay the way it was then you shouldn't have had kids. I know it sucks. But I think because you didn't gain a lot then your stomach will return very close to normal. It all depends on your skins elasticity. Your skin is just hanging there because if was stretched for so long it will take time to heal and go back. Even with having very large children my stomach is close to where it once was, so there is lots of hope for you. Best of Luck.

T.,
i only gained 9 lbs with my daughter, but my stretch marks are pretty intense as well. the first few weeks after she was born, my stomach would jiggle like a bowlful of jelly and we thought it was hysterical, because we were so exhausted! now it's a bit firmer but i still have the stretch marks! i guess it's just part of being a mom.

After my daughter was born I realized there were stretch marks all over my butt and thighs. The redness went away after about six months, but they're still there. My husband doesn't seem to mind, but if I feel self-conscious I put sunless tanning lotion on. It makes them almost invisible. Real tanning doesn't help--you will get tan all over, and the stretch marks will stay white.

My doctor said that cocoa butter, lotions and even laser treatments are useless. The only thing you can do is disguise them.

As far as your belly goes, you should wait until your body is completely healed before you start to exercise. Give yourself some time to rest. After that, try giving weight training a try. I was able to get my shape back really fast that way.