Stretch Mark Solutions, Baby Massage

I have to admit that I don't really believe that there is anything you can do externally to your skin to prevent stretch marks. My research indicates that whether or not you get them is largely due to genetics. However, I still used stretch mark prevention products on my belly throughout my pregnancy and didn't get any stretch marks. I did get stretch marks on my butt, thighs and breasts where I did not use products. I am just one person, so this isn't conclusive of anything. With that in mind, I'm going to go ahead and review some of the products that I used. If you are too pragmatic to buy into their claims of stretch mark prevention, you will still appreciate their moisturizing effect on your tight itchy belly.

Since I'm no longer pregnant, I'm using some of these products for baby massage. Sweet Pea's Tia Karen, a self profesed product whore, gave her the L'Occitane Mom & Baby Balm. I think it's Karen's intention to turn her niece into a little Diva. Sweet Pea likes a nice long massage before bedtime. So, I'm also reviewing these as baby massage products as well.

Dr. Hauschka Blackthorn Body Oil
I used this oil almost exclusively throughout my first and second trimester. Later in my pregnancy I decided that I wanted something a little thicker and started to experiment with balms. The oil absorbs easily and has a great weight and texture. I usually prefer unscented products, but I loved way this smelled. It had a warm, herbal fragrance without even a hint of floral sweetness. I could wear it everyday without tiring of the scent. The biggest downside to this oil is the price. It's not the most expensive product on this list. It's the second most expensive. But if you don't mind paying almost $30 for 3.4 oz, this is a good product to try.

I haven't tried this for baby massage and I'm not sure about whether some of the ingredients are appropriate for a baby.

L'Occitane Mom & Baby Balm
Like I said before, my sister bought this for me. I say this because there is no way that I could justify spending this much money on myself. But other than the price, I have no complaints about this product. The texture is perfect. The word velvet comes to mind. It is unscented, making it ideal for baby massage and nice for a pregnant woman's heightened sense of smell. I absolutely adore this lovely, creamy, ridiculously priced balm. I love it so much that even though I could never justify spending this much on myself, I might be able to justify spending it on my baby Diva.

WiseWays Herbals Beautiful Belly Balm
If you're looking for a something with a rich, balm texture for a reasonable price this is a great option. It is a bit thicker and oilier than the L'Occitane, but for the price this is easy to overlook. Some might even prefer the richer consistency. It does have a strong scent, so I'd recommend smelling it before you buy it. It should be noted that it doesn't have any added fragrance, the scent is primarily from the Cocoa Butter. When I was pregnant if I was having a queasy day I found the scent off-putting, but on most days I liked it. Everyone I've asked likes the way this stuff smells. Next to the Blackthorn Body Oil, this was my most used belly product.

I also really enjoy using this for baby massage. I feel good about using it on her because it has no artificial ingredients. Since it is so rich it works very well for massage. It also absorbs completely without any oily residue on the skin. But I wouldn't use it on a newborn since I just feel that unscented products are best for newborns.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Butter
This is the cheapest product on the list so if you're working with a budget, this is a good option. The scent isn't as strong as WiseWays Herbals, but it was still a little stronger than I would have liked. The texture is pretty firm. To use it I would scoop a little out and rub my hands together until it melted, but after spreading it on I'd still have little lumps of unmelted butter on my belly.

It contains more artificial ingredients than any of the products on the list, so I don't intend on using it for baby massage. I have been using it on my heels and it works well for that.


Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter
This is my least favorite of the products on this list. The texture is thick but sort of watery at the same time and just feels creepy when I'm rubbing it in. It doesn't absorb easily. Also, it has added fragrance. Icky. I wouldn't buy this again.

Burt's Bees Mama Bee Nourishing Body Oil
When I was having a queasy day, I loved the way this lemon-scented oil smelled, especially since it has real lemon oil and no artificial fragrance. The texture is nice and it is much less expensive than the Blackthorn Body Oil, but it doesn't absorb quite as well.

It's not my first choice for baby massage since the lemon scent is rather strong, but I have used it and she seemed to enjoy it. I wouldn't use it at night since the lemon oil might be too stimulating but I've used it in the morning. But then my Mom asked why my baby smelled like lemon. I definitely wouldn't use it on a newborn.

Motherlove Birth & Baby Massage Oil
I never used this on my belly, but I included this because it's a fantastic baby massage oil. It's unscented, so it's perfect for your sensitive little newborn. I used it for labor massage since it came with the Motherlove Laborcare Pack. It's a nice, basic massage oil that could be used for a variety of purposes.