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I don't think you can really prevent them but you could try cocoa butter lotion.

From what I have read they are hereditary...you don't have a choice....I am 35 weeks, and I used cocoa butter lotion every day...still have the red badges of courage!!

There is nothing you can do...im a very athletic woman who has stretch marks that run through my family. At 3 months GUESS what starting popping up. I was even putting on lotion everyday grrrrr. Oh well im over it now and know they will be well worth it in a few weeks!

I found out I was pregnant with my first child at 5 weeks. I used Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion, Palmer's Cocoa Tummy Butter, Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Butter, Bio Oil & various other body butters & creams at least twice a day every day. I developed my first stretch marks on my belly at 36 weeks. I was devastated since I went to my 9th month without a mark & then they appeared. I think if you're going to get stretch marks that you can't prevent them. However, I can't say if my stretch marks would have been worse or appeared sooner if I hadn't used the products. I only got them on my belly & just a few marks on my upper thighs. I didn't get any on my breasts, arms, butt, back of thighs or my lower back.

You can reduce your "risk' but watching your RATE of weight gain, the quicker you gain weight the more likely you to get stretch marks as the skin has to keep up. Slow and stead wieght gain is good for Mama and baby!

I haven't gained any weight, and I have them all over my belly, and I am 37+ weeks.

I use the coco butter and the Palmers Belly butter and all that and I did not get them on my tummy, but did get them like crazy on my bbs, so I think it is heredity like previous posters have said. I have a friend who is very thin and was thin throughout her pregnancy with just a little belly and still got them everywhere. I just saw on that Doctors show that there are topical treatments you can apply after wards that help fade them.
CourtneyHope: I like the term you used for them. LOL