ok, I guess I'll sound a little vain, but I'd really like to start getting rid of my stretch marks if possible. The thing is I don't know if there are any stretch mark creams that are safe for people who are breastfeeding. does anyone have any ideas?

I heard that MaDerma works really well. I think it is over the counter now. It is for scar removal but is supposed to fade stretch marks really well. It is pretty expensive.

Welcome Terragon. I am glad to be the first to say that we are glad you found us. I am sorry to say however, that stretch marks cannot be creamed, oiled, or potioned away. Once the skin is stretched (which is the breaking of skin cells) it cannot be un-stretched. They will fade over time but anything short of surgery will do nothing to get rid of them. We all have them here, know you are not alone.

terragon,

I am glad Schoolmommy said that, because we all trust her education here.
I didn't think you could 'cream stretch marks away' either, but I was afraid to say it, but this is proof now.
All you can do is avoid them in the first place (by gaining weight slowly and moderately during pregnancy etc. ), and then live with it.

Save the money for more useful things, mho.

Well, You can't get rid of them once you have them the creams should be used before the skin starts to stretch in the first place.

When the skin begins to stretch it needs certain chemicals in order to adjust and nourish itself sudden changes require more nourishment

I don't have any stretch marks nor does my sister
what we did is after every shower we would rub raw coco butter on our skin while the skin is still moist I did my stomach, hips and breasts then we both resisted the urge to scratch as the skin stretches it itchs it is this itching that causes stretch marks because people scratch and damage the skin cells where they can not repair themselves instead each time my skin itched I used the coco butter. Remeber real cocobutter is hard and as it heats it melts it comes in a tube that you unroll not in a lotion and Eat alot of good rich omega 6 fatty acid food take your vitamins. NO SEA FOOD the amount of Mercury in salt water fish is too dangerous to eat when you are pregnant, I wouldn't risk it. Anyway, I'm sorry I didn't know you when you were prenant for this to do anygood but you can help them fade by rubbing them with cocobutter. But for the mothers to be who may be reading this start now..

my skin never itched

Okay for those who have a few stretch marks. We all know that we really can not get rid of them totally but they do fade. If it makes any one feel a little better; I was pregnant 9 times and with each pregnancy the marks got worse from stomach to breasts. My last child is 15 months old and I am really wondering if the stomach will ever get back to some what normal. I thought about a gerdle if I squeeze enough maybe things will go in where they are suppose to and other things will go back up.
Seriously I do feel for you. You will get back into shape and things will get better. It is also harder to get back in shape while breast feeding. You loose most of your weight faster but retain about an extra 5lbs until you ween baby. Give yourself some more time to heal.
Best wishes.

Red, I wish my skin never itched. My 4th boy was well over 9lbs and I am not that big. My marks actually tore the last 2 weeks. Yuck!