Stretch Marks and Saggy Skin

I haven't had a chance to use it but Earthmamaangelbaby.com has a C-section product that works wonders for strech marks. My friends have used it and realy like it. It's a bit expensive for my tastes so I will wait until I done breast feeding before I use it. Also 100% Jojoba oil does wonders. I'm using it on some scar tissue too.

Hi fellow Mama of twins, I have six month old twins, one boy one girl. This is what they call twin skin. A year or two down the road it may go back to semi-normal but the only thing I have found is a tummy tuck to permanently fix the issue.

Everyone and every pregnancy has different results postpartum. I'm sorry you're having a hard time adjusting to your new post-twin body. I've had stretch marks since 4th grade (the onset of puberty) and have always gotten more with hormonal and climate changes. So I'm pretty used to those at this point in time. Unfortunately, stretch marks are scars and the only way to remove them is to actually remove the skin. Fortunately, they fade dramatically in time (sometimes until they are almost invisible). Woo-hoo!

Here's a great website that helps women see all kinds of mommy bodies that are out there:
http://theshapeofamother.com/home.php
If you scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the link "And more inside!" you can view all the photos women have submitted and read their stories. You're not alone, and you have a completely normal, and beautiful, mother's body. I know this really helped me feel better about my mommy body. :-)

I suggest that you speak to your doctor. When one is pregnant, the abdominal muscles often will separate to allow for growth of the babies. Sometimes these muscles do not go back to the place they were prior to pregnancy. These can be surgically repaired if they are now providing frighteningly little support for your internal organs. Insurance probably will pay for the repair but you need to research that. You might consider a tummy tuck at the time of the repair, which you will have to pay for separately. Insurance should pick up the bulk of the cost. I had this done. Chris RN

I can share a prevention to your problem. At the end of pregnancy it may help to prevent the formation of deep stretch mark to wear a belly support, a wide elastic band available in maternity stores, there are several different styles; the idea is that it supports the weight so that your skin doesn't have to. I have found that women who have very tight stomach muscles before pregnancy are not as likely to develop severe stretch marks.It also promotes good positioning of the baby for an easier birth.
Congratulations on carrying your twins to such a nice weight. I look forward to reading suggestions for healing stretched skin.

Dont' waste your money on products, they dont' work! I have seen 3 doctors and my personal trainer at the gym, they all told me the same thing........the only way to restore your skin is to have a tummy tuck. Your body went through a lot and will never been the same. Stretch marks are like scars, you might be able to reduce the appearance of them but they will never fully go away.
D.

Congrats D.!

Well, this is maybe not what you want to hear, but no cream, lotion or other cosmetic will restore your belly to it's former tightness. It will help it's appearance and your comfort level to keep your skin supple and well hydrated and over time (we are talking months - maybe a year or two)you will see some improvement, especially if you start to exercise gently.
It sound like you may deal with more than just a little loose skin. You should get checked for a diastasis recti, which is a separation of the abdominal muscles (your doctor or midwife can check this best). Many pregnant women get this and it is more prevalent with multiples. Do this before you start exercising in order not to aggravate the condition.
It can be managed with exercise or surgery.

I just had to respond too:
I have had three big babies and even bigger pregnancies! I measured 51 inches around this last time! The stretch marks began right at the end of my first pregnancy, and pretty much faded away afterwards. But with my second pregnancy, it was like a run in a stocking, and the stretch marks just rippled up and around my belly and sides. They were so pink after her birth, and I was feeling down about it. But one of my post-partum nurses was feeling my belly after birth, and as I bemoaned my new appearance, she said, "It looks just like the tree of life!" And it did, with three branches coming out of my belly button. And now I do have three kids, and still my (faded but wrinkled) tree of life. How could I want it any other way?!!! Her words totally changed how I thought about my stretch marks. They are part of me, just like my sweet babies are. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Another thought: I've been working out at a gym since my last was born, and this awesome, fit, tiny trainer was helping me: she has 5 kids and lost all this weight after them and got totally fit. I was crying about how much weight I had to lose, and she said that you just have to have faith and work hard. But then she lifted up her shirt and showed me her shrivelled, saggy skin on her (slim) tummy. It's just there, and it ain't going anywhere. But she looked (and felt) great anyway. I found her honesty and encouragement utterly inspiring.

I hope that helps!!! Besides, I have a friend who did get a tummy tuck: they pulled down the skin and cut it off -- but guess what, they cut out her belly button, and made a new (fake) one. I don't know about you, but I love my goofy bellybutton, and it's my connection to my mother's womb. I would never want to lose that.

I hope that you can come to love (and tolerate) your mother body. Doesn't mean you don't do everything you can to improve it and keep it healthy (I do too), but isn't it amazing what we've done with our bodies? It's good to have a record of that!

H.

My first kiddos were twins (7.1 and 6.12 lbs). When they were 2.5 yrs old, I had another little one who tipped the scales at 9.13 lbs. My skin after the twins actually went back to "normal" alot quicker than it did this time, even though I didn't stretch out quite as much. With each pregnancy the skin kinda gets worse.....not to mention that age alone sucks the elasticity right out of it. I figure after I have my next one (if I can talk hubby into one more ;p) my *muffin top* will most likely be Costco sized!! LOL I am hoping to give myself a tummy tuck for my 30th birthday present!!!

At this point I am just watching what I eat and trying to be as active as possible to help combat the problem.... I do not know of any creams that help, sorry.

Side Note: Congrats on the *big* twins!!!!

Hello,

I am an Avon Representative and Avon has just come out with a new stretch mark remover. I have heard great things about it and I know from my customer comments that their similar products work well.
My website is www.youravon.com/adoerfler

D., congratulations on the little ones and God Bles you! Hope you are able to sleep....I wanted to tell you about a product that I used but someone has beat me to it, therefore, I will tell you that what she said is true. The Arbonne Body System is amazing for helping tighten skin. My mother lives in Texas and works in the yard constantly. She had wrinkles to her arms and a very deep tan. After using the Body System, I asked her what had scratched her arms because she had all these little white lines....she giggled and said it was where the sun could not get down between the wrinkles. She is a Regional Vice President with Arbonne and has actually smoothed the skin on her arms back to normal! If you are interested, you can actually receive the Body System for free with my current sales special. I'm new to Washington and giving away 100.00 in free products for hosting a presentation. I understand we have similar products to Mary Kay so I would be happy to only bring products that you do not carry. You can take a further look at my website, www.J..myarbonne.com or call me at ###-###-####.

We also carry a wonderful water relief treatment serum that works with our cellulite diminisher system. I'm using this system right now to loose my "C-section belly" before my husband returns from Iraq!

Best of luck and love those little boys!

Ditto on what Diane said. I had my son when I was 24, and I have been secretly cherishing a future tummy tuck. I wanted to wait until I was sure I wasn't going to have any more kids (around 35). But, I recently heard about people getting infections. So, now I'm just exercising, eating right, I'm still a bit flabby and the stretch marks are still there. But, life goes on. I'm healthy and that's what matters. But, I do feel your pain. I miss my bikini! Good luck!

I feel your pain D.. I only had one baby and he wasn't that big, but I do NOT have good skin. He's 7 months old and I have severe stretch marks and very saggy skin and I'm losing weight still and my skin isn't stretching back. I've heard of a spa that does laser treatments for stretch marks that will visibly reduce them and fade the color. Other than that, I've been told I will probably have to wait till I've had all my babies and get a tummy tuck to get rid of the excess skin :( I'm hoping some other people respond with better suggestions!

I am 12 weeks over the rainbow from a breast reduction....I have two beautiful girls Ava 4 and Amelia 2. Big babies. Believe me I never thought that plastic surgery could or would be for me, however.....2 pounds of breast/skin removed from each side has been a rebirth for me!!! I looked good before babies, got back to pre-baby weight and was still hauling "roman numeral" sized stretched skin breasts!!! What to do.... After a year of not nursing....alas I went searching for a plastic surgeon. You know your own body and super stretched skin. My friend is having a tummy tuck this summer, she is beautiful inside and out but will be greatly relieved when 10 pounds of destroyed skin is removed. And I might add she is the pilates queen, in perfect shape except she wears thick/tight tank tops 24/7 to "smooth" her middle. The PS said, "This will not go away by it's self." Get checked for hernias because that kind of repair could cover alot of the tummy tuck costs...operating room, anestesia and hospital stay etc... It is an insurance game. Pick a really good PS (plastic surgeon)with lots of before and after photos to show you. No photos...walk out the door. Do your home work interview at least 3 PS's Also check out (help me heal)it is a plastic surgery chat/site, I would have gone crazy if not for the ladies there. Breast reduction was the absolute most selfish thing I have done in my entire life. Also has made me a new person, my comfort is 1000% improved. Scheduling "mommy down time" is going to be a huge. Don't wait too long, you'll just look back and say gosh I wish I did that years ago!!! Hope you find this helpful. ____@____.com Best of luck...Twins...two for one pregnancy!!! Brilliant!!! A.

Hi D.,
I'm with you there! I had my twins almost 4 years ago. My stomach shrunk back down and the minimal (in my case) stretch marks around my belly button have faded away so they aren't noticable. But, I still have some "twin skin" encircling my belly button that when I lay on my back or do sit ups sinks into a "hole" in my stomach, which I believe is a diastasis recti. I've done sit-ups and the muscles underneath are strong, but I've resolved that they are never going to be back the same without surgery or I'll just have to learn to live with it. I've thought of surgery, but just been too chicken to look further into it. I don't feel like a vain person, but it does affect my confidence in watching what I wear now, so I feel it has made me more insecure. I'm reading your posts in hopes of some solutions, too, so thanks for this posting. For those who have gone for it and liked the results, I hope they can recommend a doctor they loved to reassure those of us who are considering it. Good luck with your kiddos!

Try mustela 9 months, they have great stretch mark products and they make a post partum restructuring gel too. There's also the love handler by bliss. A friend of mine had a tummy tuck and loves her results.

Such a bummer what we have to put our bodies through for our precious little ones, isn't it? :-)

I've never had a tummy tuck, so I can't comment on that personally. But for a non-surgical approach to help your tummy, you might consider trying Arbonne's NutriminC RE9 Anti-aging Body Care System ... I've just posted a Before/After picture on my website (www.pamelagreb.myarbonne.com - click on NEW PRODUCTS) that will just floor you! The picture I have is of the after effects of 5 pregnancies (the image may feel quite familiar to many of you) along with the results of using this product duo for just 6 weeks. Her skin was sagging and loose, but after using the system for just 6 weeks there was a dramatic change, as you'll see. The system is a Body Serum, and a Body Lotion (retails for $87). It is a treatment set (skin conditioner/rejuvenator), not just a moisturizer. Great for stretch marks, tightening up loose skin, exfoliating and rehydrating and helping to encourage and rebuild elasticity. Certainly a less expensive option than a tummy tuck. Might be worth a try before going under the knife.

I am one of the lucky ones who didn't have big babies or twins, so I didn't have too much sagging skin post-birth, just the standard pooch from a c-section and 2 pregnancies. But this product really works (in more areas than just a tummy too). It's great for rough feet, which I can personally attest to!! All of my clients absolutely LOVE this product.

Feel free to contact me for additional details. Good luck, D.!

Pam
Area Manager
Arbonne Int'l
www.pamelagreb.myarbonne.com
###-###-####

I haven't had twins, but I have a friend of mine who has. She was worried about her skin not going back, but it eventually did-and after her last child (she had 4), she got a tummy tuck (when her youngest child was 3 or 4). She told me that after she had her twins (and they were big too) her stomach went back after a year. Her theory was-it took 9 months for it to get that way, it will take longer for it to get back. After she had her 4th baby, her stomach didn't go back-she said her skin could only stretch so much.
She did opt for a tummy tuck. And it went well. She told me there was no way she could have done it with smaller kids, she waited until they were old enough to do most things for themselves. She has a small incesion underneath her abdomin, she can wear a bikini (but she doesn't) and it doesn't show the scar. She told me the first week was hard, but after it healed, she was happy with it.
Another friend of her's wanted a tummy tuck after she had her twins-they were 7 months old, and most surgeons told her she needed to wait at least a year before they would do it. She had consults with 2-3 surgeons-they told her she needed to wait for a year after you have had a baby for your skin's "memory" to go back.
Most Plastic Surgeons have website's and have pictures of thier work.

I feel your pain! I am a mom of three, a 6yr old girl, 22month old boy and a 3-week old girl. Although I didn't have twins, my last two pregnancies were of 9lbs 8oz babies. After my second I had the saggy, thin skin around the belly button. I used lots of lotion with collagen (to help with the elasticity of my skin) and worked out. Tightening my stomach muscles quickly after my sons birth helped tighten the skin and the lotion got it back to normal. You never would of know that I had such a big baby! It worked so well that even while recovering from my third pregnancy of a large baby, my skin around my belly button looks great and didn't get as weak and saggy as it did with my second. Good Luck!