4 Signs You Might Get Pregnancy Stretch Marks

Tracy Perez
·4 min read

Find out if pregnancy stretch marks are something you should expect while you're expecting.

Getty Images
Getty Images

Pregnancy stretch marks probably don't make the list of all the things you're looking forward to on the road to parenthood. But the truth is, you'll probably get them.

Research shows nine out of 10 people develop stretch marks during pregnancy—usually in the sixth or seventh month, says Debra Jaliman, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. The— ahem—silver lining? You're definitely not alone!

Read on for four signs you may be more likely to develop pregnancy stretch marks.

Your Gestational Parent Had Pregnancy Stretch Marks

Genetics plays a huge role in almost any human condition, and stretch marks are no exception. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), stretch marks seem to be hereditary. So, if people in your family get stretch marks, you might, too.

Stretch marks occur when your skin expands faster than the collagen and elastin (fibers in your skin) can accommodate. This is different for everyone. But if your parent developed them during pregnancy, it could be because their skin's collagen and elastin are less able to accommodate these rapid changes.

You're Young

Think of youthful skin like a new rubber band: It's firm and taut, so when stretched too far, it's likely to tear under the pressure, says Mona Gohara, MD, a dermatologist in New Haven, Connecticut. An older 2010 study found that 70% of pregnant people under 25 developed pregnancy stretch marks, while 29% of those over 25 did.

A more recent 2015 study found similar results: 84% of people under 20 developed pregnancy stretch marks, while 24% of those over 20 did.

As skin matures, it naturally begins to lose firmness, so it doesn't have to stretch as much to account for your growing body. Stretch marks occur when you gain weight, which is a perfectly natural part of pregnancy.

Related: Is There a Best Age To Get Pregnant?

You Gain Weight Quickly

Stretch marks occur when you gain weight, especially rapidly, a natural part of pregnancy. That's why stretch marks sometimes appear during the rapid growth spurts during puberty. In fact, researchers have found prevalence rates in adolescents from 6% to 86%.

Everyone's different, and there's only so much in your control, but doctors recommend that you gain weight slowly and steadily.

Gaining weight gradually during pregnancy is perhaps the one thing that's within your control regarding prevention. Staying within the recommended amount of 25 to 35 pounds if you were a normal weight pre-pregnancy is what OB-Gyns advise.

You Got Stretch Marks in Puberty

Hormonal changes can contribute to increased skin fragility, making it more prone to tearing, says Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. If you can still see the scars from your teen years on your hips, abdomen, breasts, and buttocks, chances are good history will repeat itself.

Stacie T., 35, a first-time mom of an 8-month-old girl in Silver Spring, Maryland, says she got stretch marks on her breasts during puberty, but it wasn't until the seventh month of her pregnancy that she started seeing the little squiggles on her lower abdomen.

"I felt like it happened overnight," she recalls. Now, when she looks at herself in the mirror, she admits, "They bother me. But I try to reframe it in my head: I have a happy, healthy, beautiful baby. If this is the sacrifice I had to make to get her, who cares?"

Related: It's Time To Embrace Your Postpartum Belly

Prevention and Treatment of Pregnancy Stretch Marks

Despite these signs, if you're still hoping to prevent them, dermatologists agree your best defense is to moisturize twice a day with a rich cream or oil.

If prevention doesn't work, some options may help reduce the appearance of pregnancy stretch marks. Researchers suggest the following moisturizing ingredients as safe during pregnancy:

  • Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA)

  • Ammonium lactate

  • Organic silica

  • Phospholipid

  • Cholesterol

  • Fatty acid

  • Propylene glycol

  • Glycerin

  • Sorbitol

  • Hyaluronic acid

But there's another option, too: Adopt Stacie T.'s attitude and wear those battle scars with pride.

Related: 9 Natural Stretch Mark Treatments Backed by Science

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