Your body after c section

[moomin35]

I didn't have stretch marks all pregnancy but following the birth my stomach is now a map of stretch marks my tummy is also now a funny shape, I wondered what your bodies were like after your c sec?

[InvaderZim]

I have a pudgier tummy than I did before, but it's way above my scar so I suspect it's an effect of pregnancy.

[beccajoh]

I had a bit of a shelf right after, that gradually receded back to some semblance of normality. Then I fell pregnant again (9 months after the first section). Currently six months post section number 2 and it's going normal-ish again. I mean I was never wash-board flat EVER but it's kind of similar to how it was before I had kids.

[moomin35]

Ooh that explains mine well- a shelf! So that disappears eventually?

[Banana82]

I'm the same. No stretch marks all pregnancy. I actually lost a stone whilst pregnant. After my section I have noticed stretch marks tracking down from my belly button to my scar. Why do they appear when your skin relaxes back?? I thought I had escaped them!

[WeAreAllStarDust]

Another shelf here! My ds is 14months old and only now can I say things are back to what they were, which was never small to begin with!

[Anomaly]

I've had three sections and have an overhang which would be much improved if I lost 7-10 pounds. I also had separated stomach muscles. Its very common in pregnancy and can make your tummy dome shaped when you tense your stomach muscles. I did the tupler technique which has made a massive difference. But recently I saw a physio and she's given me some more exercises to help flatten the tummy. I think an appointment with a physio should be routine for women with separated tummy muscles.

They stretch marks really can come on last minute - mine all appeared in the very last few weeks under my bump - I could only see them once baby was out. Also I got massive water retention following my first section and that gave me stretch marks too.

[Deluge]

I wasnt prepared for what my body would be like after my first c-section. I also had stretchmarks that hadnt seemed to be there before (??), an awful belly and was very swollen and pregnant-looking for months.

Have to be honest - my tum has never fully recovered. Had a second section 3 yrs later, though, and it was no worse after that. Kids are now primary school age and in clothes I am slim, the overhang isnt too obvious and its all OK. Naked my tum is saggy and there is a weird rim of hard tissue that creates the little overhang. I'm used to my bod now so doesnt bother me, but it was a real shocker at first.

[Happy36]

I had 2 c-sections. I used almond oil on the bump during pregnancy to avoid stretch marks. After my first child was born my stomach went back to normal quie quickly - I am not overweight and didn't too much during pregnancy - so the only difference was the scar. Since the second one (3 years ago) I feel like my stomach sticks out although it measures more or less the same as 7 years ago before either pregnancy. I don't really like it and always choose high waisted bikinis. Scars have faded a lot thanks to more almond oil.

My friend has also had 2 caesareans, around the same time as me, and her stomach's totally flat so I expect if I went on a diet mine would be the same. I do exercise so my stomach's not flabby or floppy, it just protrudes!

[WeAreAllStarDust]

Water retention. Interested to know more. And in what way does the water go, sorry if it's a tmi Q

[Only1scoop]

No stretch marks....scar is almost invisible

[Stevie77]

Not really many stretch marks (I was quite lucky in both pg) and I put little weight on (slimmer now than before pg) BUT after my first section I don't remember my tummy hanging over the scar the same! Granted, this baby was a lb heavier and did lie right down in my pelvis from quite early on, I think they just did a crappy job when sewing me up. It's a bit like they've sewn it up really tight IYKWIM?

It's really annoying. It's not obvious when dressed as it's not massive, but it's there. Because I didn't have it after the first section I knew nothing about this, otherwise I would've asked them to make sure they do a good job.

I have considered going to the GP about it but think they'll just tell me to suck it up.

[Happy36]

Stevie77 I guess it can´t hurt to go to your GP...the worst that could happen is nothing, but you could be lucky and they´ll have a solution.

[feekerry]

i have had 2 sections and 1st time round all was okay but this time 6m on my tummy is fucked! tonnes of deep stretch marks, massively seperated muscles and belly button that does weird things....but tbh i think this is down to pg rather than cs. i had a big baby this time and put on less than 1 stone in pg so was all bump.
have been referred to a phyiso to see if they can help this mess!!