Anyone else get striations on their breasts?

I have been breastfeeding the twins for 6 weeks now, and my breasts have increased about two cup sizes - to DDD! The past few days, I have been noticing small marks on the top of my breasts - little striations, almost like tiny stretch marks, but they are not red and are much smaller. They run downwards about one inch.
I am VERY concerned! Stretch marks on my belly can be hidden, but on the top of my breasts? I cry every time I catch a glimpse of the marks. Is this normal? Are they going to get worse? Is there anything I can do to prevent them - drink more water, moisterize?
I know this sounds terribly vain, but I'm having a hard time...

[JTsMom]

I got stretch marks on my breasts when I hit puberty- they grew practically overnight. They are very very light, and have faded more and more with time. I don't think there is anything you can do to prevent them, unfortunately, but I can tell you I'm the only one who would know mine are even there at this point. Also, I've heard Mederma works on stretch marks- I don't know if it's safe to use while bf'ing, especially on your breasts, so make sure you check first.

On a more positive note, the fact that you are bf'ing twins is awesome! Great job! :)

[tarahsolazy]

I got big purple ones right after DS was born. They are still there, but very faint and even with my skin tone (pasty white), now that DS is 19 mo old and just weaned. I think its normal, and you can't do much about it. They'll fade with time.

[jerseygirl07067]

Yes, I have them. Got them while pregnant with #1, then got pregnant with #2 when #1 was 8 months old and still nursing, now nursing #2 and plan to for hopefully at least a year.

My boobs are a busy road map....I don't even want to think about what they'll look like when I'm done nursing/having babies!

Marcy

[MarisaSF]

I got them and, boy, they were ugly. Not sure if they totally went away, but I can't see them anymore now that my breasts have shrunk back down. I used some kind of anti-stretch mark cream. I also used Vitamin E oil. I was told neither would work (because whether your stretch marks stay or not is genetic), but I figured it was worth a shot.
Good luck!

[lisams]

I got stretch marks on my breasts - they are faint now, but were much more noticable during the early months of breastfeeding. My breasts are small, but I guess going from an A to B size cup was too much for them. Poor things, now they are droopy too.

I went from an A-cup pre-pregnancy to an E cup when my milk came in, so I was not surprised at all to find stretch marks on my breasts! I, however, didn't get stretch marks anywhere else and was actually quite happy to only have them on my breasts since I knew most of the time they'd be covered up by my bra, while stretch marks on my stomach would be more likely to show (I was pregnant throughout summer and wore a bikini a lot). I actually thought my stretch marks on my breasts were kind of neat because they looked like rays from the sun! But anyways, they evenually faded and now after 2 years I don't notice them at all. Oh, and my boobs went away too-- back to my A-cups, but now they sag! Oh well, it's all worth it!

ETA: And I'm another one who totally believes that stretch marks are purely genetic and can't be prevented. I oiled myself twice a day religiously from my collar bone to mid-thigh from the first trimester on and just like my mother and grandmother (who had 7 kids) I got stretch marks all over my breasts, but nowhere else.

***Latia
Conner 8/19/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbo...pphire_24m.gif Self-weaned at 24 months! http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/9870.gif

[C99]

I have white stretch marks on the tops of my breasts, radiating out from the nipple. I've no idea if they will go away or not, but I am terribly worried about them. They are there now; stopping BFing will not cause them to go away. I'll worry about it later.

[stcelia]

I know how concerning it is. I didn't get any stretch marks until 7 days after I had the baby. How weird is that? Mine were on my stomach and hips. I already had them on my breasts, but since I'm so pale, even I can't really see them. Nonetheless, I cried the night I found the stretchmarks on my belly.

I just want to point out for the sake of a reality check, that nearly everyone has stretchmarks. Even men get them on their arms, and chests and even thighs when they go through puberty. My DH has more than I do. As a nurse and as a midwife, I've seen lots of nakedness, and we all have them, more or less.

This is one area where I really hate what the media has done to us. If we were all so airbrushed, the real beauty of our individuality would be completely lost. Freckles, moles, stretchmarks, even wrinkles, are part of our selves and our history. It is our real selves that make us beautiful.

I have a friend who calls her stretchmarks (on her belly from pregnancy) "ribbons of courage." Be proud. You are doing an amazing thing - you are keeping another human being alive with your own body! Think about it - That is really incredible. I'm sending you a hug, but you need to give yourself one, too!

Jenn

[hez]

> I have a friend who calls her stretchmarks (on her belly from pregnancy) "ribbons of courage."

I like that :) A DF asked me if there was anything she could do about them, and I told her to enjoy them :) It's another badge of motherhood. One of these days I may get courageous and wear a bikini again no matter how much they show!

I have stretch marks on my belly and yup, got 'em on the girls as well. I went from an A to B while pregnant, to a D when my milk came in and hung out as a C while nursing (now a little A again!). You can't see the stretch marks on my breasts now unless you really stretch the skin out. I'm sure they'll show up again next time they fill out.