Belly Butter or Balm

I didn't use either. I used my regular lotion (St. Ives collagen & elastin) & put it on often. The girls at work helped a bunch-when I started absentmindedly scratching my belly, they'd slap my hand & pass me the lotion. It's really the motion, rather than what you use-massaging it in helps a bunch. I got 2 stretch marks (1/2" long coming out of my belly button) w/my first & just used my regular lotion. My 2nd baby, I didn't lotion & I've got what looks like a map on my belly now.

I have heard that stretch marks are hereditary, and if you are going to get them, you are going to get them. With that said, I have had 5 children, 4 of them full term, and I used REAL Cocoa Butter (the kind that gets hard in the cold), and REAL Vitamin E oil, both purchased at our local herbal store. After every shower or bath, or before bed, or both, I would combine them in my palm and rub away on my big belly. I have no stretch marks on my stomach after 5 little blessings. Try it, I hope it helps.

I really liked the 100% shea butter from Bath and Body Works. Best of luck with your pregnancy!

Try www.supersalve.com for their pregnancy belly oil. Everything they make is all natural herbal products. I used as soon as I found out I was pregnant with my first and have no stretch marks at all.

I really liked Badger Balm's Evolving Body Balm. I used it every day when I was pregnant. Hard to tell how much it helped with stretch marks. Mine weren't too bad, but that could be genetic. I don't know how easy the Badger Balm is to find (my mom sells it in her store in SLC, but I don't know of anyone else).

Another product I've really liked since then is Mary Kay's cellu-shape system. It tightens and repairs skin to reduce cellulite and can also work to reduce stretch marks. During pregnancy you may prefer the Visibly Fit body lotion. Both lotions are very smooth and non-greasy (the one drawback of the Badger Balm) and good for all over, not just belly area. You can find a Mary Kay consultant by going to www.marykay.com and entering your zip code.

Hi D. - your best bet is to use something that has shea butter, cocoa butter or better yet both in it. Also use something in a solid form/stick because it means it has more of these ingredients and less "fillers" to make it liquid plus the added benifits of wax to hold it to skin and hold moisture in. I used one everyday on my belly during my pregnancies after showering and even with my dry/fair skin I don't have a single stretchmark - although I wish someone told me to use it on my butt - which also stretched during pregnancy ;-)LOL! There is a great one sold in this chocolate spa kit, but just message them and ask to purchase just the stick alone, they will sell it to you for only $10 and it will last your whole pregnancy and then some. Enjoy and best wishes on your pregnancy! http://getspaed.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info...

There are some really great ones out there, and one of my favorites is called Udderly Smooth Udder Cream. It's got cow spots on the packaging. : ) You used to be able to find it at Walmart and Target, but I haven't looked for a while so I'm not sure. While it is mostly a heredity issue, anything that helps your skin is great! Not sure how much of it is hereditary and how much is the balms I have used, but I've had seven and have very few (and very light) stretch marks! (and yes, my moms were worse, with fewer children!)

Earth Mama Stretch Oil...company is earth mama angel baby. Smells great, absorbs well, isn't greasy. You can find it at Vitamin Cottage or Whole Foods or online. My waist grew 12 inches--not a single stretch mark even though I am prone to them. I would also recommend taking omega 3 fatty acids because this will help you skin stretch from the inside. Those are the two things I did and I never even got an itchy belly.
Good luck and congrats on your pregnancy!
J.

The best I've ever tried is "Mother's Special Blend." It's not a belly butter or balm, both of which I've tried and have not had as good success as with the MSB. MSB is an oil and can be found at Whole Foods or ordered online. Seriously, it's worth the price. I used this faithfully with my first pregnancy, and I was HUGE. I didn't get a single stretch mark. I used a belly butter on my second and got stretch marks. I haven't used anything faithfully for my third and I have more stretch marks. I can't say that stretch marks are hereditary or not. I would imagine that whether they are or not you can do something to mitigate their severity. Good luck!

Honestly D., as a doula and a mom of three, there is no miracle product. If it's for itching, any lotion will work, but if it's to prevent stretch marks, save your money. Sorry!

W. Nichols-Dewey, CD(DONA)
www.birthfirstdoula.com

Hi D.! There is NOTHING like raw coconut oil for preventing stretch marks. It is the best moisturizer there is. It is a solid at room temp and it melts when it comes in contact with your skin. It's a bit messy at first but it's so amazing that it's worth it.

I used pure shea butter and really liked it. I have also heard a lot of others like pure cocoa butter. My son has eczema when he was a baby and the dr told us "the thicker the lotion the better".... if you can pump it or spray it, it has too much water in it. You want to find something you have to dig out of a jar. Many of those you also want to use at night before bed...so it doesn't get your daytime clothes greasy.

I used cocoa butter, and that special cream for pregnancy and stretch marks. It did help with the itching from the stretching skin...but my tummy looks like a roadmap or stretchmarks. I guess the good thing is i didnt get any new ones with my second, but my first baby was over 10 pounds and made my belly stretch way too much. I believe stretchmarks are unavoidable. you are either ment to get them or you arent. You cant chose.

Beautiful Belly Butter by Little Moon Essentials, made in Steamboat Springs, Colorado! www.littlemoonessentials.com. Herbal, all natural, so it has a slight medicinal scent, but that goes away and it works like a charm. Also, its inexpensive!

Burt's bees makes a belly butter, called mama bee belly butter. I used it everyday, and it worked, no stretchmarks. It is thick and takes time to absorb, but I recommend it.