Is Bio Oil safe to use during pregnancy?

[Hopeful15]

Hi Ladies, a little confused. I used Bio Oil prior to pregnancy for post op scarring but stopped when I discovered I was pregnant because the bottle says it contains Vitamin A which all of my food lists say is a big no no. However I note that a lot of women say it's good for stretch marks and I have a big expensive bottle just sitting there on my dressing table. What's the real score with this stuff? Advice gratefully received.

[Hotdiggitydog]

As far as I know it's fine to use in pregnancy. I used it. Doctor told me to use it as well. Note though.....it didn't stop my stretch marks from coming lol

[antogerskk in reply to Hotdiggitydog]

Stretch Mark Cream - stretchmarktherapycream.com... Started using this the last month of my pregnancy. The skin around my stomach was starting to get itchy and I was starting to notice stretch marks. Just had my daughter last week and my stomach is starting to deflate. I’m glad to say that I still don’t see any stretch marks!

[Hidden]

I think vitamin A is a no-no in terms of what not to eat. I used bio oil occasionally in pregnancy and I didn't get stretch marks. However, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, lotions and potions don't make much (if any) difference - it's all down to the skin type of the individual. X

[Hopeful15 in reply to Hidden]

Ah well. I'll tell the old man otherwise and con him into massaging me for the next 6 months anyway. Got to find a silver lining somewhere - if he complains about the marks I can tell him it's his fault for not doing it properly

[Hidden in reply to Hopeful15]

Damn... I should've thought about that when I was pregnant! Definitely continue to use it - it's a nice, pampering experience. Now my LO is here, I'm lucky to get a shower, never mind moisturise! x

[tazmania in reply to Hopeful15]

ha! sneaky! I am pretty sure vitamin A is only bad for pregnancy if ingested in large quantities through food/drink - absorbed through skin is okay. I used my usual body moisturiser throughout my pregnancy - I knew that there wasn't much I could do to influence whether or not I would get stretch marks, but important to keep skin soft and supple so that they don't get sore or itchy. I did get stretch marks quite badly but I am confident that they will fade as I have had bad them before from drastic weight fluctuation.

[Hidden]

Just been on Bio Oil's website and they recommend the following "Bio‑Oil should be massaged in a circular motion into the stretch marks, twice daily, for a minimum of 3 months. During pregnancy, it should be applied from the start of the second trimester to areas that are prone to stretch marks such as the abdomen, breasts, lower back, hips, buttocks and thighs.

Results will vary from individual to individual."

I'm assuming that due to the small amount that's needed it wouldn't pose as much as a danger to the amount likely to be ingested. That said, it would be absorbed through the skin (in the same way a nicotine patch works).

Personally I haven't bothered with any kind of preventative measures for stretch marks though. I'm quite petite and at nearly 37 weeks, I can't see any way the amount of stretching my skin has done could be undone by anything. I look like a whale lol

[Hopeful15 in reply to Hidden]

Lol! Oh Bless You. I bet you don't. I bet you look the picture of beauty, voluptuous fertility and flourishing motherhood. The perfect mother in bloom

[Curlyk250]

I agree that if you are destined to get stretch marks it's a gene thing - you probably will.

However I am a huge bio oil user, I used it in my 1st pregnancy, used it

2 x per day, no detrimental affect to baby, and escaped with just 3 stretch marks. ( if it works it works right??? )

[babesinbrum]

As with everything I think Its good to use in moderation as during pregnancy our skin can become very sensitive to things which may not had bothered our skin before.

Before my pregnancy last year I could use Nivea body lotion daily without any issue, but one day i used it (whilst pregnant) it felt like it was itching my skin and i had'to wipe it off straight away.

xx

[natasha-11]

I have been using bio-oil religiously for couple of months... I like the smell & there is no irritation. Few of my friends have used it during their pregnacy & the results varied from person to person. Although it had helped each one of them in getting rid of the unwanted scars to great extent.

[AnnaHoffius]

I used dermalmd stretch mark serum throughout my pregnancy twice a day, and not a stretch mark in sight. I highly recommend dermalmd stretch mark serum! Smells good, absorbs well, easy to use. I did go through quite a bit of it, so it wasn't cheap, but it was worth every penny!

[Supermummy]

I use bio oil actually we were advised to use it in our NCT class. Not sure if it will make a difference but we'll see. Its about the only smell I love right now! Lol.

[Hollibob]

I don’t think it was vitamin A, but I read somewhere else that there’s an ingredient that shouldn’t used in pregnancy....sorry can’t remember what it is now!

Baby oil is ok, but I moved to a product that my expert midwife sell.

It’s expensive, but the smell is lovely...like being in a spa 🙂

[Mantaray75]

I used bio oil and palmers butter daily and didn’t get any stretch marks.