pre c-section belly?

Amy - posted on 02/15/2011

Probably going to sound odd, but I did everything also. Same type of situation, e c section. Which way did they cut? if it's vertical, I hear there isn't too much to do about it. But mine - it went back after I nursed my second child. I did bellydancing after my daughter and it did help a ton. But I got back to my normal 105 pound, flat tummied self after nursing. It somehow did something with my uterus. Also, if it pouches, uterus could be flipped a bit. My chiropractor helped with that. Made periods easier and i think also helped having it in the right position to tighten my tummy. I just had a bit of loose skin, but couldn't really tell. We'll see what happens after this third one gets here! Good luck. It IS possible!

Amanda - posted on 02/15/2011

I have had 2 csections. The first I had the muscles pulled aside. The recovery was great! I was up and walking the next morning with virtually no pain. My second was insanely painful. They cut me open and I had a lot of scar tissue. Because of this they had to cut my stomach muscles. The spinal wore off as they were stitching me up so by the time I got to recovery I was in agony. I had the morphine pump that you press every 5 minutes. They got me out of bed the next day and I could hardly walk. I looked like a old lady all bent over. Now nearly 2 years on I still have issues. I cannot contract my lower stomach muscles properly if at all. My posture is shockoing because I have no core muscles to hold me up. It hurts like mad to even try sit ups or core building excercises. Both were emergency c sections and while they were obviously needed I would not go through one voluntarily. So I have a csection pooch and while I don't like the way it looks or sits in jeans, its my battle scars. I have them so my kids could live

Emilie - posted on 02/08/2010

My cousin's wife had a C-sections and she went back to her pre C-section body right away, It is possible.

Tiffany - posted on 02/08/2010

During a cesarian they cut through a portion of connective tissue that runs vertically through your abdomen (called the linea alba), but your rectus abdominis muscle isn't cut---just pulled aside. :D



**edit: Google it if you don't believe me! I think they USED to cut through your rectus abdominis, but this is absolutely not necessary.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 02/08/2010

Infact Tiffany, yes they DO cut through muscle!! They also cut through many nerve endings, and that is why the numbness persists. Personnally I never lost the pooch after my c-section. I am 31 wks prego right now, and every month that passes my scar hurts a little more. Just try to excercise...lots of crunches! Good luck!

Michele - posted on 02/07/2010

I don't believe your abdominals ever really go back to their pre-pregnancy standards, as mine even after 10 years are neither as strong and still have seperation. I had my C-section almost 10 years ago and after about a year my stomach looked like it did before I was pregnant. All I did was get back to my pre-pregnancy weight by doing cardio and worked out with weights to strengthen my muscles, especially my abs, back, and hips. I would suggest strengthening your core area, hips and buttucks as I'm sure much of the problem is getting your muscles and liagaments back from the changes your pregnancy and hormones had on them. I hope this helps. Good Luck!!!

Tiffany - posted on 02/07/2010

They don't actually cut through your muscles in a c-section...the scarring/pooching (which I have slightly, although it has diminished significantly and seems to be getting ever less noticeable as time goes on) is actually from the scar tissue adhering to your abdominal wall. Massaging the scar tissue in a clockwise motion on a regular basis can help "break" the adherence, which should in turn reduce the pooching effect.

Hope this helps!

Stephanie - posted on 02/07/2010

My "pouch" was never really that bad but working my lower abs and hips seemed to help with mine. hopefully it works for you, too.

Charlene - posted on 02/07/2010

I'm not sure if short of a tummy tuck if there is anything you can do, I'm working really hard to get mine back to where I'm comfortable in my own skin. It seems harder since this is my second child and my second c-section. Good luck though

Ria - posted on 02/07/2010

Sorry I am in the same boat as you.... emergency c-section and my son is almost 10 months old and the pouch is still there, I have been told it won't really go away because they cut through the muscle. sorry :( but know u r not alone!

Sarah - posted on 02/07/2010

Hm. If your pouch is anything like mine, it's not terribly dramatic. It's only been about three months since my c-section, but already I've noticed that my pouch is going down the more I maintain good posture and do really mild core-strengthening exercises. My problem is that it's very sore and seems to become super tight, almost like it was in a permanent state of contraction. Does this happen to you, too?

Courtney - posted on 02/07/2010

my mom was in your boat...three kids later, her stomach was just as "pouchy" as ever. she had abs you could see, like a guys abs, but after kids, she eventually dropped ALL the baby weight, and then some, but the pouch wouldnt go away. Docs said the same to her, it can only be fixed with a tummy tuck. sorry if thats not what you wanted to hear. :(

Ashli - posted on 02/07/2010

Yeah if anyone can give any ideas I would like to know.