Stretch marks πŸ˜–πŸ˜–πŸ˜–

Bridget
Just discovered huge patches of stretch marks all over my my ass/thighs. So, so, so upset. I know I should have expected this but the fact that they are where I have gained fat and not where my belly has grown from the baby makes me feel so much worse, like it is my fault and I could have prevented it had I not let my weight get out of control. Before I got pregnant I was 139, and I am now 174 at 29 weeks pregnant. Any suggestions? When will they fade? What helps make them go away? How much worse should I expect them to get before they start to fade? I am seriously so sad. I have been struggling with my self confidence my entire pregnancy and now this just makes everything so much worse. I know I should have expected this and I know it's a small price to pay for the beautiful life I'm creating... I just don't know how to handle these major physical changes. πŸ˜”