Is your stomach still a mess after having your twins?

Chairettie - posted on 06/05/2011

I gained about 40 pounds and my girls weighed 3 pounds lighter but I still have that bit of sagging skin ... and nothing but surgery will fix that. I won't but if it were an option I would get that fixed - and my belly button never recovered either :o(

Kate - posted on 02/15/2011

Nicole i have the same thing after my girls, and also had a c-section. I run 10 miles a day and eat healthy and have noticed no change at all. The only way to fix it is thru tummy tuck, im hoping to undergo by the time my girls are 2. Its frustrating and im sick of tucking the extra skin into my pants.

Jennifer - posted on 01/19/2011

Yes, I got my belly fixed. No amount of working out will get rid of the extra skin or belly. I found out that I had stretched my abs muscles apart and I also had two hernias. My wt got up to 180 lbs with my twins and I lost almost all of my wt down to 118 lbs. No amount of working the abs will get rid of it. I also had a C-section. The difference with the tummy tuck is you get a tube that comes out to get any liquid out of you. This comes out day 2. You get pain killers so you don't have any pain. It is hard to not lift over 10 lbs for the 1st 4 wks. It was so worth it. Before, I looked 6 months pregnant and now.. the belly is flat. I can't do any abs exercise because of the hernias take longer to heal. I have been walking and running at 6 wks post. You don't want to have this done until you are done having babies and lose most of your wt. You want them to get all the extra skin. I am back to size 2. Worth every single penny..

Franca - posted on 03/09/2010

I am now 9 weeks post-op and it was still one of the best things I ever did. I started Pilates 2 weeks ago to help rebuild the strength in my muscles, since I had the hernia repair and the mesh implanted. I feel good, and my tummy is so flat ... many jealous faces! And one size down in jeans. Would do it again in a heartbeat, the first week is hard but then it gets better every single day.

Glenda - posted on 03/07/2010

Wow! amazing responses to this. I had 3 sets of twins. There is a 14 year gap between my oldest and youngest. After Jonelle and Nicole were born in 2004, I had a tummy tuck when they were 6 months old. I did not want to wait until they were walking, due to the painful recovery and knowing that if they were already walking, it would be rough on them not having me up and about with them. My mother-in-law came and stayed with me for 2 weeks and my mother came for 1 week after that. It was very painful, the cut is long, from hip bone to hip bone. It is very painful for the first few weeks, but I am not sorry. It was the best thing I could have done. I still have stretch marks, as mine were as bad as all of yours from just under my ribs right down and across. I always say that my roadmap on my tummy is my trophy for my gorgeous 6 girls. However, the loose skin does not go away, the more weight I lost after having the girls, the more skin I gained!!!! It was uncomfortable, in fact so bad, that when I sat down, my tummy was literally on my lap! It totally grossed me out, so I saved and saved until I had enough to pay for it. It was my gift to me and totally worth it.

Cree - posted on 03/06/2010

girls i have a story for you. when i first got pregnant i weighed 155...with a nice stomach, boy were those the days. i had twins that were about 5 1/2 lbs a piece. and i also had a c-section. i had pre-eclampsia, which is when your body holds onto all the fluid you intake or produce with pregnancy. the day i was sent to the hospital to hae my twins i weighed 286lbs!!!! to make it easy...thats 131 lbs diference. after i had my babies i dropped down to 195 lbs and now my twins are almost 8 months old and i am currently 220 lbs. my stomach has the "pouch" as i call it. and i hate it too. its kind of gross, espcially looking back to pre-pregnancy beach days. however , when i get down i think i have beautiful healthy babies!!! I still exercise and try t eat good. and i am not ready to settle for my mommy body. My stretch marks have faded on the front of my belly but the ones on my sides are a little more stubborn. as far as tummy tucks go, i would if i had the money...

Vicky - posted on 02/28/2010

Hi i have twin daughters nearly 2 they were big too 8lb 5 and 7lb 9. i went to 39 weeks and had to be enduced. i was massive too got a wrinkly belly even though i managed to loose my weight lol :-)

Desiree - posted on 02/27/2010

my twins were about half that size and 10 weeks early so congrates! But ya my c-section totally screwed my tummy up. Not only am I numb where the made the cut but I have a "poutch". Its yucky and it jiggles.lol But I cant' do anything about it till I am done with the babies! Just one more on the way!

Sheree - posted on 02/27/2010

O my god i know exactly how you feel my boys are 6 months now and i had a c-section too. I hate how my stomach looks my weight went back to normal but i have the saggy skin, protruding belly and lots of ugly stretch marks. Because of the surgery i have a large hernia in my stomach that you can visibly see through my shirt. I'm gettin surgery for the hernia soon so after that i plan on joining a gym or workin out on my own to try to tighten up my stomach. I hope that works for me cuz if i doesnt when and if i ever have sex again i dont think i will take off my shirt LOL

Crystal - posted on 02/18/2010

I have posted that I was having a consult and then that I was doing the tummy tuck! Well...I did it! I love it! I am only 8 days post op and while I can't lift much, I am doing laundry, cooking, and showering! You are very restricted but I actually found it easier than recovering from my c section. I couldn't even sit up alone for the first 3 days after it but with this I was/am doing a lot on my own at even day one! I can't wait to show off my new body! (not to mention when I'm all healed and my hubby get his hands on me) I feel so much more confident in myself than I did 2 weeks ago and a guy at the bar I work at told me I could reach his glass (The bar is very wide and he had it on the outside corner) if I wasn't pregnant! That was a friday and I had the surgery wednesday! I hope he comes in when I'm there and I have form fitting clothes on! My Dr said I was the worst case ha has had in quite a while! I just made him work for his money:) Good luck with whatever you decide and don't take too much to heart like I did! People are rude and only say things to make themselves feel better!

Brandeis - posted on 02/08/2010

Renee...how did you handle the hernia repair? I have to have that done.
My stomach looks like I am 4-5 months pregnant. One day its kinda small then the next people think I am expecting. It drives me nuts!!! After reading everyone's post I feel better but am still not happy. Especially after finding out I have a hernia.

Crystal - posted on 02/06/2010

I am going to have a tummy tuck on wednedsay the 10th. Pain is temporary but the question, "when are you due?" when your not even pregnant never goes away. You have to be done having kids before even thinking about it! It is an out of pocket expense, and is not cheap. But my self confidence and even being comforable naked around my own husband will be worth it! I just turned 30 and hate my belly! Everything went back but that. The muscles are separated 4-5 inches and I have a hernia. Not to mention saggy skin and a ton of stretch marks. Most of the marks will be cut off though:) You also can't lift more than 5 pounds for the first 6 weeks so I would wait till the girls are older unless you have that much help. Awsome if you do:) Good luck!

Beth - posted on 02/02/2010

Abdominal Separation/Diastasis Recti its a valid medical condition , please check it out, it explains the physical reason for the tummy issue , and what you can do to help , a little, though the only pure cure is surgcal

Jennifer - posted on 01/28/2010

Twins do crazy things to our bodies. Mine are almost two and I still have 10 lbs to loose to be back to pre pregnancy weight. The weight doesn't bother me though. It's the way clothes fit me now. I fit into pre pregnancy pants but I have a little flab hanging over. My biggest problem though is my rib cage. Both of my babies went breech at 30 weeks and they stretched my ribs out so much that now shirts don't fit me the same. No plastic surgery, diet or exercise is every going to change that.

I have a story for all the woman that think a tummy tuck is the solution. My boss, who also had twins via c-section, had a tummy tuck 3 years ago and you can't even tell now. If you don't eat properly and exercise regularly you will just gain the weight back so it would be a waste of money and a lot of pain. The moral of the story is, you may as well try changing your diet and exercise routine before you go out and spend money on a tummy tuck because if you can't stick to a plan it will be pointless to go through surgery.

Justine - posted on 01/27/2010

I can't even see my c-section scar because my tummy hangs over it!! Reading this and other similar discussions it sounds as though it is pretty much par for the course after having twins - and I was the size of a ship so it's really not all that suprising that my body has some lasting damage! I'm just working on trying to keep my weight down - doesn't make it go away, but is better at least ... and now I'm thinking maybe magic knickers might be a non-surgical option worth trying!! I just try to remember that it really is a small price to pay for my beautiful girls, and the privlige of being the mother of twins!

Linzy - posted on 01/25/2010

I am going through the samething. My twin boys are 2 1/2 and they each weighed 6.5 pounds. I am 5"3 and I was all belly. I didn't gain weight anywhere else so my belly stretched so far. After they were born I lost all my baby weight but my stomach just looked horrible. To this day I hate looking in the mirror. When I get pants I have to make sure they come up far enough to hold my saggy stomach in. And I can't wear tight fitting shirts. I want so badly to get a tummy tuck. But I they are a waste of money if you plan on having more kids. I for sure want at least one more baby so I can't get a tummy tuck till after. I also had a c-section and the recovery wasn't bad at all. But I am so tired of having the stretch marks and saggy stomach that I am willing to go throught the pain of a tummy tuck. I am only 25 and I don't want to look like this the rest of my life. It doesn't bother my husband one bit. He doesn't understand why it bothers me so much but I can't stand having to buy high rise pants and baggy shirts.

Amber - posted on 01/25/2010

I have 2 sets of twins, the yougest are 2 and my stomach still looks a mess. I have tried the diets and exercising... but it hasn't work much on my stomach. I have recently found a company called Ardyss who specializes in the reshaping line of undergarments. I am going to give them a try instead of opting for another surgery ( i had two c-sections and i refuse to go thru that kind of pain again). Look them up, they even have garments for pregnant women who have a hard time carring the extra load.

Terri - posted on 01/24/2010

Hi Nicole. I delivered twins 9 months ago via C-section as well. Mine were 7.2 lbs and 6.6 lbs. I have a small frame and my stomach was a mess. My abdominal muscles were split so far apart I could fit four fingers in between them. My belly button became an outey, I had some loose wrinkly skin, and I had a small hernia. I just had a tummy tuck to fix it. I can tell you that it was a lot more painful than the C-section. I found the C-section recovery pretty tolerable. This is painful. HOWEVER, it gets better every day. I am now 10 days post surgery and I no longer need the pain meds and am walking around pretty well. If you decide to do it, you should know that the surgery is not going to make your tummy look the same as it did before you were pregnant. My stomach is much tighter but I still have some wrinkely skin especially when I bend over. Also, ask if they would advise making a new belly button. They made a new one for me but left the old one and on me it looks a little weird. Another thing to know is that you can't pick up your kids for a few weeks after the surgery. It is really hard because I miss holding them. However, I think it is easier to do the surgery now rather than when they are a few years old.
It is a tough thing to do, but if it will make you feel better about yourself, I would recommend it.
Hope that helps.

Keziah - posted on 01/23/2010

Personally the only person I am trying to impress anymore is myself. I haven't been impressed in a long time. I am going natural with my hair (no chemical straighteners or hot irons) and only wearing makeup when I go out to DO something public which is almost never. My reason for that is because I'm trying to downplay my concern over my self-image on purpose and I don't have the energy/strength t do it. For instance, today I hung out with some of my cousins for the first time so I didn't want to look ill like I usually do/am. Other than that I would just like to get rid of this weird mid-section. I HATE that part of my body but I can deal with the stretchmarks. I'm not planning on being naked for anyone anytime in the near or distant future ... except for my back surgery. I just don't care anymore ... But, I do ... If that makes sense ... ?

Darcy - posted on 01/23/2010

LOL - wow, your babies were a very good size!! Mine were 4lbs each. If I had the money I would love to get a mommy makeover! ( a boob job and a tummy tuck ) But the cost for that is not in my budget. I have come to love spanx! Dr. 90210 makes some very nice ones for a decent price ( about $40 ) So that will do me just fine for now....plus, the only person seeing me naked is my husband, and I don't think he minds that much. =)

Letitia - posted on 01/23/2010

I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one feeling this way about my stomach. I've researched getting a tummy tuck and my gyno/ob. said that would be the only way to get off the extra "flab". I hate it. When I bend over it looks like an elephant or something. Just disgusting. The six weeks of no lifting or sudden movements scare me. My boys are going to be 4 in April so I might wait until they are five and really independent and get a procedure in the summer, I'm an art teacher and have a huge class and it would be difficult to maneuver around and you never know when you have to break up a fight or something...not to mention lugging around 50 lb boxes of clay. So summer would be best and when the boys are a little bit older. I think I will do it though despite the pain. I had C-sections with my singleton and the twins and it was painful a couple of days and then not too bad. I can see why this would be worse but from previous posts it sounds like it might be worth it. Oh, and I'm below my pre pregnancy weight, size 8 and 5' 6", I just have to watch where my shirt lands. If it's too high you can see the roll and it always lets me know it's there when I sit! I hate it!

LaNaya - posted on 01/23/2010

I understand completely. I have twins that will be 4 in April, and my stomach still hasnt' recoverd from that. They were 6lb 6oz and 6lb 10oz. If that wasn't bad enough I had to have another c-section to deliver our now 4 month old son who was a whopper at 9lb 4oz. I think surgery is the only way to get it back to normal, but only if you want to go that route. Give it a couple of years though, it does shrink down some more, and if your comfortable with that, then you'll be ok.

Keziah - posted on 01/22/2010

I gain weight in my tummy but can't work it off and the stretchmarks are very deep. I gained weight back when I first went on antidepressants in 2006. Stupid SSRIs! I don't eat much at all now but I don't have energy to cook to so I eat garbage because it's fast and the carbohydrates give me starches/sugars for energy during the day or make me sleepy before bed (an instant relief to insomnia) which made me gain weight again. I had lost a lot when I had a problem with my bile duct and threw up all the time for like 4 months straight). But I can't be very active so I'm gaining it back! :'( I don't mind the weight/curves but I want them in the right places! LOL

Heather - posted on 01/22/2010

I know exactly what you mean. I lost all of the weight really quickly, but I still have this litlle bit of sagging extra skin and my poor belly button will never be the same. I don't know what to do or if it will ever go away because there is muscle under there, and my stomach looks nice and flat under clothes, but the saggy skin really bothers me. I can deal with the stretch marks b/c they have faded a lot already, but I don't know what to do with the rest. I just don't know if I would ever have voluntary surgery to fix it. I'm just happy it looks good under clothes!

Keziah - posted on 01/21/2010

How much did that run you? That is the worst area for me to gain weight because the fat is disconnected from the muscle since I stretched so much and I am not able to work it off. :'(

Deb - posted on 01/21/2010

I had a c-sect for my twins and their sister, the only thing that corrected the excessive skin was an adbominoplasty (tummy tuck). This has help with the skin fold problems.

Keziah - posted on 01/21/2010

It could be due to the fact that you had a c-section and how much weight you gained. Yeah, see you didn't gain much weight so you didn't stretch as much. Did they do any "trimming?" My OBGYN said if I went back to him for another baby he would trim me up! LOL That's awesome ... But it's never gonna happen! I'm done with men I think. I hear you with the body image issues. I was so tiny before and after 11 years I am still not totally confident or comfortable with the extra weight and everything. I was a size 3-5 and now I'm like a 14, which isn't bad to me but I'm so short and I actually have to try stuff on before I buy it! I hate that STILL! :( I was going to get a tuck but I decided I have to live with it and appreciate that out of this wretched body came two beautiful miracles. It was a good sacrifice because they almost didn't make it. So, I try to think of my stretchmarks as battle scars. TRY ... lol

Alana - posted on 01/21/2010

I have some stomach issues as well. My twin boys Macon and Corbin were born on 9.1.09 they were 5 weeks earlt and weighed 3.9 lbs and 4 lbs. They are doing great and are both 12 lbs now at almost five months. I was 135 when I got pregnant and right now I weigh 160 so I only have 25 lbs to lose to be my pre baby- weight. It seems like most of what is left now is extra skin but it's not so bad that I have any flaps but I do have a bit of sagging right above my C-section scar. I also have strech marks but people keep telling me I look great after having twins. I seewomen all the time who only had one baby recently and a lot of the time I'm smaller than those women so soon after twins, but I'm also 5'9" so that probably distributes the weight. I have always had body image problems so my stomach is pretty hard for me to deal with eventho I figured it would be a lot worse. I am considering a tummy tuck and I have a consult this Monday.

Keziah - posted on 01/20/2010

My boys are almost 11 and I was petite when I got pregnant. I was a whale when I gave birth and yes, I STILL look like I was mauled by a tiger because of all of my deep stretchmarks. All the sit-ups in the world will not remove "twin skin!"

Latoya - posted on 01/20/2010

give yourself a lil more time to see some significant change and i'm told the breast feeding plays a factor in the womb coming back in place. but no i don't have sagging skin anymore

Christine - posted on 01/20/2010

Yes. I need t contantly work the abs muscles - CORE muscles. I have a little "stra" skin from them (they will be 10 in May) but it's worth it. I thank God they are healthy and surgery - not worth it unles you have tons!

Franca - posted on 01/19/2010

Please beware that if you have an abdominal hernia (or wide gap) doing exercises may not work and/or may make it worse if not done properly! I had a 7 cm (3") gap and extremely weakened muscles ... just exercising and doing sit ups is not going to help with that, because the muscles weren't even strong enough to deal with it. Not saying this goes for everybody, but be careful with doing (wrong) exercises. You may make it worse ...

Melissa - posted on 01/19/2010

Oh I hear ya! My stomach is still ruined from my twins and they are almost three, although I have had a singleton pregnancy inbetween that time (1 year ago).

I will need, unfortuntely, some plastic surgery to get rid of it. I have been exercising and doing weights and nothing fixes it.

Stephanie - posted on 01/19/2010

my goodness!! those are big babies!! my twins are 4 months now, and they both weigh a little over 12 lbs. they were 6lbs 8oz and 6lbs 12oz at birth... and yea i am definately still working on getting my tummy back to normal. i definately still have the stretch marks and my stomach muscles arent even close to back to normal...

I have to suggest that you do some kind of excersize tho.. I know how difficult that can be with twins (um duh... theres two of them demanding your attention) but even if its just going for a walk with the stroller 2-3 times a week it helps a TON! thats all i did for after my 6 week mark up until they turned 3 months and i could definatley tell a difference at least in the way my tummy felt.

Yoga is also really great because you can do a really simple, 15 minutes of it and you feel relaxed at the end. if you arent into that, then just trying to do some very easy stretches a few times a week helps too.

for the past month Ive been doing workouts at least 3 times a week on tv (we have on demand and there are lots of great one that Jillian Michaels does). of course if you are breast feeding, its extra hard to find the time and work around that schedule, but I do it when the kids are both asleep around 9 at night.

oh yea, I had a c-section too... i didnt think the recovery was bad at all either, but i wouldnt get a tummy tuck... i know people who have had surgeries like that and i know the recovery is much worse. another thing that helps too is that cocoa butter lotion too, but you really have to do it religiously... (you probably already know this.) i did it for a while everyday and i did notice some change.

Denise - posted on 01/19/2010

If you're back to your normal weight that tummy probably isn't going away, it's most likely extra bulk from the skin that stretched out! I asked my doc about it at my 6-wk post partum appt, he inspected my stomach and noted that most of it appeared to be skin and not fat (he said typical of twin moms), but he said wait 6 months to see what my tummy looked like, after that if it was still bulky I'd probably need a tuck. Well, my boys are 9 months old now and while my tummy has certainly gone down, there's still extra skin, if I suck in my stomach it looks all wrinkly - I don't think it will go back. I'm going to wait to see if we'll have another baby - my hubby says NO WAY but I want to just make sure, plus I've got about 10 lbs to lose so I'll lose that first, then I'll see if I want a tummy tuck. It is major surgery so it's a big decision, I'm torn on whether to have it but it'll be a couple of years before I'm ready to seriously tackle that idea. While I was pregnant I marvelled at how I got absolutely no stretch marks but it seems like it doesn't matter as my tummy is so wrinkly I wouldn't want to expose it to anyone anyway!

Sophia - posted on 01/19/2010

i think this is all so funny, look at us all. i have 18 month twins and my stomach pre pregnancy was like a ironing bored lol, flat toned and my best asset. now its gone to s***, im still small and can still fit in to some off my pre pregnancy clothes but not many (not without a struggle any way). i have the skin like everyone else. im actually surprised by how little stretch marks i have, as when i was carrying my twins my stomach look like a road map haha. but like us women will always do, i will continue to diet and exercise in the hope that something will work. (my arse also got fat and im struggling to lose that aswell)....oh the joys xx

Brenda - posted on 01/19/2010

I had twin boys 9yrs ago, and yes they do a number on your body, the best advice I can give you is if you cannot afford plastic surgery then exercise, diet and watch your weight...your tummy will never look the way it did before the twins, but you can improve the apearance with exercise.

Lisa - posted on 01/18/2010

i have twin boys and went full term with them,I had to be induced..I had both boys natural and thought it was all smooth sailing until an 1hr after the birth when i pass out twice and no one new what the hell was happening only that 3 days later i had a postnal hamerage...My boys weighted 5pound6 and 5pound9....I go the gym every 2nd day and have noticed my belly n butt is coming down but it will never be the same as it was before i was pregnant...I only put ion 7 kilo's with my boys it was after i had them that i put on most of my weight though im sure have depression after my boys didnt help my situation one little bit...i figure that if u look at ur kids then think of ur flabby belly would u go bk n change anything,i Know i wouldnt

Teresa - posted on 01/18/2010

I've got 'twin skin' too. My girls are 8 now. I only weigh 90-95 pounds right now (was 88 pounds before getting pregnant w/ them), but still have the flabby belly and most likely always will. I won't get a tummy tuck as I don't ever support surgically altering my body for nonmedical purposes. That's my opinion though. :)

Crystal - posted on 01/18/2010

Hey Ladies, I had my Twin Girls Nov 5th 2009 and my stomach went down a little but i wish it would just go away. I went to the doctor to see what i could do and she said that i have to get a tummy tuck because it is just to much extra skin. My Girls were 6lbs 2oz and 6lbs 12oz and my doctor made me go in labor 3 weeks early.

Lisa - posted on 01/18/2010

Ladies, I am 48 and my twins are now thirtyone. Your stomach will not grt any better. I couln't stand it. I was onlt 89 pounds at 4'11 when I got pregnet, and the stomach was never my stomach again. The twins were 9 when I did a tummy tuck. WOW, what pain. Worth it............

Laura - posted on 01/18/2010

My twins are just 2 years old, but I have friends who have 5 and 9 year old twins, respectively. If your back hurts a lot -- get your doctor to send you to a physical therapist, as your abs might have separated and you need to exercise differently to help them come back together and prevent a hernia from lifting heavy kids! Most of the loose skin will eventually get better but might not go away entirely w/o surgery. So if you take care of the underlying muscle, the skin will look better in a few years.

Crystal - posted on 01/18/2010

I just went to a plastic surgeon for a consultation and need a full tummy tuck. I even have a hernia that I didn't know about. You will get medication to control the pain but you also can't lift for 6 weeks! So my advise would be to wait till they are older. (my twins are 2). He also pushed on my belly and could tell that the muscles are about 3-4 inches apart. that is the reason for the protruding belly. After the tuck he says i should be able to wear a bikini again as he will be cutting off so much skin that my stretch marks will be almost gone! The ones that will still be there will bew so low you won't be able to see them in a swim suit:) So as soon as we get our taxes back, in I go!

Shannon - posted on 01/17/2010

Well, I gained 54 lbs with my pregnancy and my girls were 6 weeks early at 5 1/2 lbs each. It took me about a year to get my stomach back in shape - it still is not perfect or looks like it did before my pregnancy but I'm wearing the clothes I wore then and its semi flat just a little bump really. Not bad.

Kerri - posted on 01/17/2010

I can say that i didnt have that prob my twins now almost a year old weighed only 3lbs 9ozs and 4lbs 1oz but i was very big no stretch marks and i just have a little baby fat. i was realy scared when i found out it was twins because i was so tiny and i coulndt see myself carrying them to term but some how my body did they were born at 37 1/2 wks and believe me i was happy. it was the worst pregnancy i have ever had. i couldnt breath i was tired all the time and my babies kicked and turned in all different directions i even peed my pants one time because my daughter kicked in my bladder that was horrible. i love my babies though and i wouldnt change it for the world!!!!!!!!!!!!

Franca - posted on 01/17/2010

As I posted earlier, I had the surgery done including an abdominal hernia repair (they had to put a net in to strengthen the muscles because they were so weak). My twins had a combined weight of 7kg / 15 1/2 lbs. My first was 9lbs2oz. I looked at my tummy for 3 years, lost all the weight (gained 43 pounds in total so not too bad), didn't have a whole of stretch marks but just this pouch and it was actually getting worse because the muscles weren't doing anything and fat kept accumulating and pushing out because of the hernia. The recovery, I find quick. It's been 11 days now. I had it done on Thursday, had horrible reactions from the anesthesia, had to stay for 3 nights because I couldn't get any food down (I was under for 4 hours), came back home on Sunday (was able to walk and go potty since Friday already), drains out on Monday and since that Monday (so one week ago today) I have been doing things, walking around, going out a little, driving a car ... they say it's like a c/s (which I never had) + a little bit worse (possibly also because of the anesthesia). It looks sooooooooo much better. All specialists assured me that I could not have improved this without surgery. I am not saying others can't but with the gap (abdominal hernia of 7 cm) that I had plus the very weak muscles, surgery was my only option. I figured I do it now, now that I am done with kids, still fairly young, active and strong (36) and have time to enjoy it! The recovery hasn't been bad, but I've been quite lucky. The anesthesia was my major bottle neck. Just visit a plastic surgeon, a consult doesn't cost the world and you can at least know what your options are ...

Saina - posted on 01/17/2010

I have also given birth [thru c-section] to fraternal twins who are now 18mons old. I too have grown so big as my twins both weigh approx 3kgs each. Just like you dieting and exercise did not bring my stomach down. I realise with my other pregnancies, after delivery (normal), in 3 mons, my stomach returns to normal or I even loose weight. BUt this one is such a difficult one. My twin doc advised that it should return to normal by summer, but that did not eventuate. I have very bad stretch marks and i have alot of ugly, loose sagging skin. I think plastic surgery would be our option, but let me know if there is another way of ridding these sagging.

Davina - posted on 01/17/2010

I'm in the same boat as all you ladies. I gave birth to my twin girls 8 months ago and feel like my body is never going to go back to the way it was. My starting weight was between 95-100 pounds. By the end the time I gave birth I was at 180 pounds! I am proud of the progress I have made thus far as I am down to around 115 pounds and the stretch marks don't bother me one bit however the 2 inches of saggy extra skin just grosses me out! I think of getting a tummy tuck all the time but am scared to death of the surgery and the recovery as my sister had a tummy tuck and the recovery was quite a bit to handle. For now I will just keep exercising and prey that by some miracle my stomach will tighten up.

Celeste - posted on 01/17/2010

I know exactly what you mean! I had my twins 9 months ago too. And my poor belly was stretched to the max! I had a c-section at 38 weeks and thank goodness cause I don't know if I could have stretched any further! My son was 6 pounds 15 ounces and my daughter was 5 pounds 9 ounces. The rest of my body got back into shape pretty quickly. The majority of the weight I gained during my pregnancy with the twins was mainly baby weight thankfully. But I'm afraid my tummy will never be the same! I'm horrified every time I look at it to be perfectly honest. It's saggy and wrinkly, and it just looks awful. I hate it!
I would love to get a tummy tuck, however bad the recovery may be. But if I do it won't be for a while yet. For one, it's costly so I couldn't afford one right now anyway. And another, I'd rather wait until the twins are older in hopes that maybe, just maybe time will heal my poor tummy first. And too, if it's a long, hard recovery I would like my babies to be a bit older before I go through any surgery.
So my advice is, go for it. You went through alot and if it makes you feel good about yourself why not? You deserve it! But if you can help it, wait a couple years like me to see what time does for your tummy first.
Hope that helps!

Jamie - posted on 01/17/2010

I've tried to do numerous sit ups and even changed my diet so that I was eating more belly-fat busting foods (like blueberries) and nothing really seems to make that extra cushion of fat go away completely. I would consider plastic surgery to tighten my tummy, but I'm holding out until I have one more child because once you tigthen everything up, you dont want to stretch back out again.



I had a c-section as well, I didnt think it was a horrible recovery. my posture suffered alittle from always hunching over.