-I could take a caramel bath anytime of the day. I wake up thinking about caramel and watermelon but not together. Actually, I might have to try that.
-I am sleeping through the night again, no more forcing Billy to wake up to play Angry Birds on our iPad at 3 in the morning with me anymore.
-Workouts are definitely slowing down but that’s okay…at least I am still getting in something 6 days a week.
-Tomorrow is my glucose test and I am kind of excited to drink the orange sugar bomb.
-I could sit and stare at my belly moving around from her kicks and punches all day long. My nieces love watching it too!
-Bandaids have completely saved my life. Now that my belly button is sticking out and chaffing like no other I just have to put two bandaids over it and all is right in the world again.
-I get heartburn at night if I haven’t eaten in a while….I thought people got heartburn AFTER eating something….I am confused.
-Billy’s best friend just told me on tonight, “You are looking REALLY fat but in the best way possible.” When will boys learn how to talk to pregnant woman:) Good thing I love him and love that my stomach is growing because that means she is too!
-I think I am carrying her REALLY high but my mom says that she carried all of her high too and could sometimes feel us kicking in her throat ha;)
-My two new favorite sports bras make me really really happy. No chaffing and I can breathe. I need to invest in 12 more of them.
I am trying to figure out what stretch mark creams to use…..SOMEONE HELP ME. What is the best?!?! Did you get stretch marks?
78 comments
amanda@runninghood
So cute!! I didn’t get stretch marks. But my skin is super stretchy. I did us cream too though. Cocoa butter or something.
Shay @ Whine Less, Breathe More
You look so happy and healthy!
I think I just used shea butter. I didn’t get stretch marks with my first pregnancy, but got a few with my second. They are mommy battle scars. :-)
Lindie
You look so cute!! I miss watching my belly move! That’s the best, but having my baby girl here is even better! I used the berts bees cream/belly butter! It’s the best and smells SO good!
Good luck on the glucose test! That drink tastes like a sugary melted orange otter pop !! :)
Sarah
You are carrying high (and prob getting stretch marks) bc you have strong abs. Congrats!
Mary Rose
Ok you are so stinking adorable! Love that belly! It makes me so happy to read your blog and to be so excited with you, she is going to be so beautiful! Bio oil is the best stuff ever!! I used it twice a day and I didn’t get one stretch mark! Oh and I don’t know of anyone has told you but also make sure you get your chest! Don’t want stretch marks there either :) haha I thought that was great advice!!
Sana
You look adorable :)
Rochelle
I think stretch marks are totally hereditary (spelling??) anyway i totally got them bad with my first – only gained 30 lbs and I put cream on religiously….if they are going to happen…try to embrace them and dream of a tummy tuck like I am…haha
Jennie
I sooooo agree! Same happened to me! (although I did put on more weight!) I dream of surgically correcting them too! My 2 year old nephew asked me “why I used a red crayon on my belly?” awesome! Men of all ages don’t know how to talk to girls!!!! ;)
Adios swimwear for me!
kelsey
I’ve read the same thing. Your skin either has good elasticity or it doesn’t, and genetics plays a role. But I slathered on lotion because it felt really cool and soothing!!! None on the belly for me, but I got some on my hips/butt. They itched like crazy, so the lotion helped a lot with that as well.
Good times!
Kelsey Tucket
you are ADORABLE janae!! I didn’t get strech marks till the last few weeks. I have been using the mustella strech mark cream and it’s amazing. a little spedy but worth it.
Emz
Omgosh
Omgosh
Omgosh!!!
The stuff at Costco!!
It’s oil it’s a little tinted orange oil. It freaking works. About $20.
Bio- oil! Yay I remembered the name! I think. ;) I’ll google it but unless I come back to comment again…that’s it.
I
Swear
By
It!
Buy 9. Seriously. I have 3 bottles just hoping I get pregnant!
Rene
I luckily didn’t get stretch marks – but the deterioration of my boobs more than made up for it.
I am really looking forward to hearing how the glucose test went; more specifically how the drinking the orange carbonated syrup was. Good luck.
Yo Momma Runs
I didn’t get stomach stretch marks, but I got leg and boob stretch marks. Dumb, right? I think I used whatever lotion we had but mainly because my belly was always so darn itchy. Constantly scratching it. So glamorous.
XLMIC
I used Palmer’s cocoa butter…not the lotion but the tub of butter. You look so cutely pregnant!!!! I never really had a problem drinking that orange sugar stuff…I thought it was kind of good, actually! Baby moving…my absolutely favorite part of pregnancy…absolutely :) I used to drink a root beer every night to make the baby move … you know, to make sure everything was okay :)
Ali Mc
That’s what I used too and I literally have one small patch of stretch marks that’s about an inch by an inch ;)
Jen M
I used the tub of Palmer’s cocoa butter too. No stretch marks on my belly. I did, however, get them on my breasts.
Amber c
I tried Bio oil, cocoa butter and St. ives elastin moisturizer, maybe I wasn’t consistent enough because I got stretch marks but you do learn to accept and become proud of them:-) my nana used olive oil and swore it kept them at bay.
J
Stretch marks are not prevented by applying lotion to the skin. They have to do with heredity. Everyone has different skin elasticity, which is inherited from your parents. Putting lotion on will not help with that. It is just like when guys grow too tall too fast (like several inches over a summer). They may get stretch marks on their backs. Lotioning up would not have prevented that. I have had a few different OBs (because of moving), and have several friends that are dermatologists. They all say this is a wives tale. Sorry. Just think of them as well earned. After/ if you get them, you can ask for an Rx for retin A. While the marks are still pink they have the greatest chance of healing. Apply the retin A as directed by your OB or Derm guy will help with the appearance and end size of them. It did tend to help with mine. I only gained 15, 18, 20 lbs with the 3 pregnancies. Mom had them, so I got them. Embrace it!
Sarah
i used cocoa butter and never got stretch marks!
I failed the glucose test and had to go back for the 3 hour one where the poke you like 100 times. it was awful
Kristen @ notsodomesticated
You look so great, Janae! And I could take a caramel bath, too, but I’m not pregnant! ;) It just sounds fun!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats
He said you were fat?!? Haha probably not the best idea, especially the further along you get!
Losing Lindy
I used cocoa butter. Some people have more of a chance getting stretch marks, don’t worry about them. They do fade.
You look amazing!
Charissa Steyn
looking good!! my belly button sticks out ALOT- I never thought to use bandaids ;) And for stretch marks we have something in South Africa called Tissue Oil- like baby oil probably…
Michelle (Better with Berries)
You look so cute Janae – I am getting so excited for you!
Allison
I don’t think we have to worry about you having gestational diabetes. If your body has processed all of the sugar you have put into it all these years, it should still be going strong! :)
Kari @ Running Ricig
You’re such a cute pregnant woman, definitely not fat lol.
Melissa @ Get Fit and Sweat Trying
No stretch marks here, and I don’t know how that is even possible since I turned into a house…but I’ve heard Coconut Oil is the key!
Melissa K
You look great!!! I heard that coconut oil is good for stretch marks, if nothing else, it will make your skin super soft!
Robin
Agree with everybody who says stretch marks are hereditary. My (very fit) husband has some on his back from growing when younger. I escaped them the first time around, not sure if I’ll be so lucky this time.
I love how high you are carrying! I am still early on (15 weeks) but carrying low again, my poor bladder never gets a break.
Cindi B
I had always read that getting stretch marks (or not) was genetic. I never got them with my daughter or my twin boys, even though I was huge; however, it always felt really good on my itchy belly skin to rub body butter. I had some from the Body Shop and some from Target that was made by Boots.
Heather @ Run Eat Play
You are so cute!
I tried using cocoa butter, but it didn’t work. I gained a lot of weight with my son because I was on bedrest, so I got stretch marks. They used to upset me, but now I just think that my body grew a baby and that’s a miracle, and they don’t bother me so much anymore.
Abby @ Change of Pace
I think you look amazing and the popped belly is so great!
That’s interesting about your belly button! I say embrace th stretch marks. You’re getting them for the best reason in the world!
Jill
I just did my glucose test and at first it was real yummy, like a melted Popsicle. Then the sugar started to burn my throat and chest really bad. I’d take some bread or something non sugary to eat after your labs to soak up all that sugar; it may help!
I don’t have stretch marks yet but ive been using vaseline coco butter lotion :)
Lindsey
It’s worth a try to use cream, but I think stretch marks just happen for some women and not others..unfortunately a cream probably won’t prevent them if they’re meant to be. However, any lotion on your tummy will feel good because it’s going to get SO ITCHY! I didn’t get any but I don’t think I even would have minded if I did.
I also got heartburn at times when I wasn’t full…mostly when I laid down in bed, well after my food would have had time to digest. Tums on the bed side table saved my life!
Jennifer
I know this sounds super weird, but my sister had bad stretch marks and her doctor told her to use GREEN aloe vera gel stuff on it (like what you put on sunburns) and it really worked! I didn’t get stretch marks when i was pregnant, I guess cause i have stretchy skin, but i always put the green aloe vera and cocoa butter lotion on after a shower just to make sure! Seriously, try the green aloe vera. =)
Ali Mc
Janae, you’re looking fab. I got a few small stretch marks (that didn’t show up till I shrank afterwards) I used tons of different creams I don’t know that it matters just as long as you slather it all over you multiple times a day. Apparently a lot of it has to do with genetics too. I don’t know what your natural tummy looks like, but you and I eat similarly and I am CONVINCED I didn’t get stretch marks because I had that nice cushy layer of fat over my abs ;) all my tight athletic friends that ate healthy got them (no extra cush to move) lol…so eatup my friend, you know you’ll lose it after anyways ;)
Oh and heartburn! don’t even get my started. Never in my life did I know what heart burn even was until pregnancy. I actually didn’t even know what it was I was experiencing until a friend told me ;) good luck. I used to eat tums all the time (prego ones)
Liz Dean
You can’t really do much about stretch marks. Sure, you can use creams and all those butters, but in reality some women get them bad, not as bad and some don’t get them at all. If you really look into and research it, you’ll learn those butters are just a way to get you to spend more $$. I used cocoa butter w/ my first and honestly, I couldn’t tell a difference. Ugh! This time around, I haven’t noticed them getting any worse or getting any more of them so I’m not using anything but my regular daily lotion, thankfully!
Oh, and I seem to get heartburn just like you, even when I haven’t eaten in a while. Pregnancy can do strange things to us :)
Tyffany
You can put a lot of cream on the outside but what’s really going to help is drinking A LOT of water!! It will nourish your skin from the inside and give it the boost it needs to stretch as far as it needs to:)
Kat
Heartburn is the WORST. I had a stomach ulcer last year and I joked that I was practicing being pregnant. I was nauseous every morning, couldn’t have coffee or alcohol, and had heartburn constantly. When your stomach is empty, acids in your stomach can start to build up, and that is why you can get it when you haven’t eaten for awhile. What I found really helped me was just having a couple of saltines. (At one point, before I finally got a diagnosis of ulcer and started taking medicine for it, I carried around a sleeve of saltines and just ate half of one every 15 minutes so that my stomach never got empty!) You might want to have some more small snacks between meals, to see if that helps, and try keeping some saltines on hand. One or two should be enough to give your stomach acids something to do other than bubble up! You’re looking so great, too!
jen
A friend of mine had the no food = heartburn problem. Sucked for her big time. My friend’s husband used to say she looked like a planet. he was lucky her pregnancy hormones didn’t cause her to deck him!!! Boys.
Katelyn
if you find a cream that works…let me know! I tried just about everything and got the worst stretch marks of all time. Battle scars, I call them now. Guess you just have to accept them at some point :) You look great. I can’t believe you are almost to 30 weeks and still so tiny. Jealous!
Ricole Runs
You are looking so adorable!!!! Congrats on nearly 28 weeks!!
Stephanie
I used Shea butter cream that I bought at Bath and Body Works. I don’t know if they still sell it but I used it every single day and didn’t get one stretch mark…on my belly which is where I used it :) You are looking cuter than ever and it really doesn’t matter how fast or slow you work out it only matters that you are doing something.
CatieB
What a cute little belly you have!!!
This is the best stretch mark cream! : http://www.sephora.com/stretch-marks-double-action-P7286?skuId=432633
Megan
My father in law told me I was chunky when I was 6 months pregnant… I wanted to slap him…. He still doesn’t give me any types of “compliments” because I kinda went crazy on him :)
I tried a lot of different lotions when i was preggers but i have a ton of stretch marks…. You learn to love them.. I think of them as my “tiger stripes” and i earned them well….
You look so adorable though! Makes me miss being pregnant :(
mallory
You are the cutest pregnant lady! You look beautiful and you’re taking such great care of your baby girl. She is so lucky to have you and Billy as parents!
Elizabeth @ reads recipes runs
Palmer’s has a stretch mark oil that is great! And it;s only like $10 at Target.
Katiemac
I used vitamin e lotion, some people use vitamin e oil but I am not an oil person. I did not get a single stretch mark, but they say that is more genetic. I put it on once a day after my shower and I probably forgot a few times a week. But I hear it is e most natural and the best! Plus it is so cheap and u can get it anywhere
Crissy
I could not stand the smell of Palmer’s when I was pregnant- and I heard it was the best. But honestly, it made me want to throw up.
I used Burt’s Bees Belly Cream (or whatever they call it) and I don’t have one stretch mark. Not one. And I really didn’t “pop” until the last month or so. I hope that helps!
Sorry I haven’t been posting much. I am still keeping up with your posts!
Allyssa
You look so cute! I do think you’re carrying really high. I carried both of my babies (boys) very low and although our body types/sizes look similar my belly was totally different looking than yours. I used the cocoa butter stretch mark creams while pregnant but I didn’t really get stretch marks that lasted anyways. I don’t think it has as much to do with lotions as it does genetics. They say if your mother has stretch marks you are also more likely to get them no matter what creams you put on it. Although the research behind the Mederma and similar creams do say it helps fade the color of stretch marks.
Jessica
For stretch marks I use Vaseline Cocoa Butter lotion during the day and Vaseline Cocoa Butter Body oil @ night — cocoa butter is supposed to help with stretch marks and i love the way it makes my skin feel.
Courtney LeDuc
I didn’t want to drink the flat orange syrup, so I begged for jelly beans and my dr let me eat those instead for the glucose test!! It was actually REALLY difficult because you have to chew a TON of jelly beans and swallow them all within a minute – those suckers are CHEWY! I guess that’s why they give liquid you can just chug real quick. Enjoy! ;)
jrm
You crack me up with the excitement over the orange glucose drink.
Can I ask, what is going on with the coat rack in the background? I only ask out of a place of love.
Lauren
Cocoa butter moisturizing stick from body shop. I didn’t get any stretch marks but that’s probably more genetics than the moisturizer
Holly
Hope your test went well today..I’m relying on you for advice on it :) You’ll have to let me know if you put the liquid in the fridge first (that’s what I’ve heard to do to make it a bit better). I hope it isn’t too terrible. I’m thinking of you! :)
I love your cute belly, I hope I look half as cute as you at 27 weeks!! :D
Xo
Heather S
Palmers! I gained 33 lbs and not a single strech mark and I wasn’t religious with it but tried to remember it once a day :)
mindy
you look SO cute. i love pregnant bellies. not fat. in fact, it bugs me when girls complain getting fat. like, where do you want the baby to grow?? but looking back at my pregnancy pictures, i’m pretty sure dane was growing in my thighs and butt and cheeks :)
seriously. you look great. and i was waiting for someone to comment about turkey. people are paranoid. which they should be. i was too. but my doc said the same thing…that it’s okay to eat. so live it up!
ps, thanks to you, i haven’t stopped thinking about which wich so i got online and signed up for their email club and got a coupon for a FREE ‘wich.’ i am beyond excited.
Amanda
You are carrying very high! So cute! I gained 45 pounds with my daughter and used Beautiful Belly Balm. You can find it on amazon, its got all natural ingredients and smells amazing:) Not a single stretch mark here. P.s. I lost those 45 pounds through a combo of breastfeeding and running. Dont worry about the weight you gain, enjoy the miracle that is happening to your body right now!
Jaeme + Randy
I have my glucose test on Friday. My sister said the drink tastes like flat orange soda, we will see, but I’m sort of excited to try it haha.
You are doing AWESOME on working out!
I lather a load of Nivea cream on my belly both day and night to avoid stretch marks. My sister and my mom both swear by this method and so far, it is working great for me :). And my skin looks very healthy from it (I’ve been using it since about 14 weeks). Nothing is actually confirmed to prevent stretch marks, but keeping your skin hydrated will help avoid them.
Leah
Bio Oil! Even if it doesn’t “work” it sure makes your skin soft n silky. I used it on my arms and legs too. I’m not using it for my second pregnancy and i’m wondering why I didn’t use it inbetween pregnancies too! I always apply it before bed beause it is quiet oily.. (name being bio oil).. and so it takes a while to soak in.
Leah
Sorry that is meant to say I AM using it for my second pregnancy now!
Tess
Okay, so I used cocoa butter liberally but it is hereditary, yes. My mother had them terribly. I have them hip to hip. I only gained 23lbs with all three pregnancies. Stretch marks showed up with the first. Bad. I don’t love them. Sorry Girls. I would love that little surgery. My 10 year old son once said to me, after getting a rare glimpse at my exposed tummy that is flat and tone but carries extra skin and scars, “that’s your stomach? wow…that’s gotta SUCK”. Yep. Feelin’ the love for that one right there.
K
Janae, I love reading your blog! I look forward to it every day! I used to work in a children’s boutique all of college and this was the best stuff for stretch marks http://www.mustelausa.com/. They make stretch mark cream and they make amazing creams for babies, even ones with extremely sensitive skin. It smells so gentle and fresh too.
Hope this helps. :)
Amy G
First of all, you are adorable! Second, my friend is preggers and I saw the baby move for the first time ever – it is crazy incredible! I couldn’t believe it! Also, LOVED the baby Tom’s!
Kay
You look so cute!
I’ve never tried them but I hear cocoa butter is great for stretch marks (Palmer’s I think is at most grocery stores/Targets), or Bio-Oil?
Ana
Congrats on almost 28 weeks! I started out with the Palmer’s tub but the smell was way too much for me. Plus, I checked ewg.org/skindeep and it is not very safe. I have been using 100% natural shea butter and it is much better. It is my first pregnancy but someone I know had good experience with shea butter.
Jess
The orange stuff really isn’t so bad. I actually kind of liked the taste, but then again I have a vicious sweet tooth. It made me a bit lightheaded though.
Stretchmarks are hereditary, no preventing them. I was lucky enough not to get them except for one where my belly button used to be pierced. I really liked St. Ives lotion because it was thick and holy hell, my belly itched like crazy!
Lindsay @ Lindsay's List
I loved Bio-Oil!! No stretch marks (but it’s a hereditary thing, like PP said!)
MR DETERMINED
Anything with Cocoa Butter or Shea Butter as the main ingredient.
Kara
I creamed my belly with coca butter like crazy and no stretch marks… missed my boobs and they grew 3 sizes during my pregnancy and i have two tiny marks underneath on one boob – so use cream there :)
Andrea
I used Queen Helen’s Coco-Butter cream. Kind of greasy, but got the job done. I actually didn’t get ANY stretch marks until AFTER my little guy was born (and none with my 2nd little guy). But…everything has faded and you can barely see them at all 3 years later! I’ve heard this is genetic and think I have stretchy skin….I didn’t tear at all either and I had a 9lber. ;) Sorry…might be TMI.
Katie M.
Coconut oil! It smells amazing! And you use it in cooking and baking…it’s one of those 101 uses kind of thing!
Stephanie
I use Palmers and *knock on wood* have yet to get a single stretch mark. I apply a very thick coating all over my thighs, stomach, hips and chest at least twice a day!!
Liz @ runbakerace
I used the cocoa butter and didn’t get stretch marks till AFTER I had the baby. UGHHHH…Looking good at 27.74 weeks :)
Kim @ The Family Practice
I used coconut oil on my tummy and hips – no stretch marks. The really important thing is to keep your skin moisturized now while its all tight AND continue the trend even after baby is born.
chelsea
you look amazing. I am so excited your having a little baby girl! i didnt get any stretch marks till my last 2 weeks of pregnancy, and there are just a few little lines on my sides and boobs of course, but i can still sport the bikini, its really not noticeable. I got lucky! good luck with that.
www.pickthechick.com
I every time emailed this webpage post page to all my associates,
as if like to read it afterward my friends will
too.
Abdgblume
Yasmin http://canadianeve21.com/ – compare rx prices pain meds online without doctor prescription