Stretch marks during pregnancy are very common although this news doesn't make us feel any better about them. There is a lot of advise about preventing stretch marks during pregnancy including the advice of not bothering to even try to prevent them. It's true that there are many factors, including genetics, that play a part in determining whether or not you will get stretch marks. None the less, this is not a reason to give up and give in to stretch marks.
The many hormanal changes during pregnancy certainly effect our skin and it only makes sense to take special care of our skin during this time of high need.
Some of the advise about preventing stretch marks during pregnancy is obviously given by people who have never been pregnant. The skin changes during pregnancy along with the stretching of the skin, make it very sensitive. Any stretch mark prevention product or method should always be gentle to the skin or you will do more harm than good.
Another important factor is the smell of the product. Yes, the smell really does matter to many pregnant women. Is there any universal smell that will appeal to all pregnant women. No. Even unscented stretch mark creams can have a smell detectable by a pregnant woman.
It's often a matter of trial and error to find the perfect stretch mark cream for your particular skin, and what works during pregnancy may very well change after pregnancy when the skin becomes less sensitve.
Don't make the mistake of thinking it won't happen to you - stretch marks can literally appear overnight. Taking good care of your skin during pregnancy will make your post partum recovery that much more enjoyable; as stretch marks always look worse after the baby is born.