What helps stretch marks and an itchy, tight belly during pregnancy?
Stretch marks (striae gravidarum) come from skin stretching quickly over a growing belly, breasts, hips and thighs while pregnancy hormones change the skin's elastic fibers, and genetics decides much of who gets them. They appear in most pregnancies, often from the second trimester, as pink, red or purple lines that fade to pale, silvery marks over the year after birth. No cream or oil has been shown to prevent them, so belly care is about how the skin feels: a moisturizer or oil applied daily to damp skin eases the tight, itchy feeling as the skin stretches, and slow belly massage gives the hands something unhurried to do. Fragrance-free products with few ingredients suit skin that is more reactive during pregnancy. Intense itching, especially on the palms and soles or at night, is a reason to call your care provider the same day.
Call your care provider the same day for intense itching, especially on the palms and soles or worse at night, for a rash of itchy bumps spreading from the stretch marks, or for skin changes that worry you.
Who it's for: the pregnant body, belly, legs and arms, and the first weeks after.
Baby Bump Sensory, the full ritual
Baby Bump Sensory includes full sizes of BEB Soothing Serum, Silky Cream and Nurturing Oil, used in that order, Soothe, Hydrate, Seal. In an independent consumer study by the Good Face Project with 72 pregnant participants over eight weeks, participants described comfort for stretch marks and itchy skin, 98% agreed Silky Cream helps replenish and hydrate skin, and Nurturing Oil was described as calming and smoothing.
Baby Bump Sensory Bundle
For pregnancy skin, and for the baby after.
4.9 (253)
$144
Questions parents ask
Can I prevent stretch marks?
Stretch marks come down mostly to genetics, how fast the skin stretches and hormonal changes, and no cream or oil has been shown to prevent them. Daily moisturizing keeps the stretching skin softer and less itchy, and the marks fade over the year after birth. Staying hydrated and gaining weight at the pace your provider suggests are the other two things in your hands.
When do stretch marks appear in pregnancy?
Most stretch marks appear in the second and third trimesters, as the belly, breasts, hips and thighs grow fastest. They start pink, red or purple and feel slightly raised, then flatten and fade to pale lines over the months after birth. A few people first notice them in the final weeks.
Why is my pregnant belly so itchy?
Skin that is stretching loses moisture faster and the nerve endings in it are stretched too, so a mild all-over itch on the belly is common and eases with daily moisturizing and loose, breathable clothing. Intense itching, especially on the palms and soles or worse at night, can be a sign of a liver condition of pregnancy called cholestasis and needs a same-day call to your care provider. A rash of itchy bumps starting in the stretch marks is also worth a visit.
How do I massage a pregnant belly?
Warm a little oil in your palms and use slow, light strokes in circles around the belly, then down the sides toward the hips, for a few minutes once or twice a day. Light pressure is the rule, and lying on your side or propped up is more comfortable than flat on your back in later pregnancy. Many people find the ritual settles the day as much as the skin.
Can I use the same products on my baby after birth?
Yes. BEB Soothing Serum, Silky Cream and Nurturing Oil in Baby Bump Sensory are the same formulas as the Soothe, Hydrate and Seal steps of the baby routine, formulated for the most fragile skin and fragrance-free. One set of products, two people who need them.
Do stretch marks go away?
Stretch marks fade from red or purple to pale, silvery lines over six to twelve months after birth, and they become far less visible, though the texture usually remains. Moisturizing keeps the skin soft while they mature. A dermatologist can discuss treatments for marks that bother you later.
