C-section question

SwampWitch75

I keep seeing people reference c-sections as if they make losing weight/reducing the mummy tummy difficult.

I am curious to why, if this is the case. My first, over 7 years ago, was vaginal and my 3 month old was a section. My mummy tummy doesn't seem to be any different....

haanmom

I believe the answer as to why it is more common after a c-section is because of the incision across the abdominal muscles which then causes muscle weakness. But, I think skin overhang in that area happens to moms who had vaginal deliveries too.

Edited to add: I don't think all c/s moms get a skin shelf/overhang/flab though. There are probably a lot of factors involved besides just the surgery.

Ashwee87

I was fat before I got pregnant, but after having my son my entire abdominal area is pretty off looking and I do have that "pouch" that a lot of c-section women get. Like PP said, I think it has a lot to do with the muscle weakness.

SwampWitch75

I have the lovely pouch but I swear I had the same after my first. Maybe I'm remembering wrong.

Phrick

I have a stinking enormous "mommy apron" - both my kids were born vaginally. So I'm clearly of no help. :laugh:

sriley721

I had twins by Csection. As the years went by the "apron" just kept getting lower, if I lost weight it would look even bigger. Doctors kept telling there is nothing you can do to get rid of it. I went to a cosmetic surgeon who fix it with a tummy tuck.

SwampWitch75

Really, nothing?? Blerg.

CristinaL1983

I've only had one kid she was by c-section. I don't really have anything to compare it to. The more I weighed, the more there was a fatty skin droop going on. Now that I'm about getting pretty close to goal, it's not really an issue. The skin on my tummy is a little loose (I have a lot of stretch marks so it's kind of wrinkled) and there is a little fat but no drooping/hanging. I would say wait it out and see what happens when you lose weight. There is only so much you can do other than actually losing the fat. Oh yeah, for a while, my tummy was poochier but that was because of the weakened muscles. I have worked out a lot since then.

DatEpicChick

dont let anything get you down!! i had a c-section 2 1/2 years ago, and i thought my body was just ruined, and i allowed it to stay ruined for 2 years. this past january i made a dedicated change, and still am on top of it today with 68 days left on my program. my pooch is gone, and now it is all just one flat (soft) tummy. i need to tone, but it CAN HAPPEN its going to time, effort and a lot of DEDICATION! good luck to you!!!!!!!!!!!

dixiewhiskey

I have to say after having one child vaginally and the other brought into the world by c-section, I definitely had that apron and I blame having a c-section. My children are well spaced out so..

Regardless, not all is lost. I also thought my body was destroyed for life but in less than three months, I have almost lost all that lower belly pooch and look fitter than I ever did before children (and at 120lbs for that matter). You just have to commit, eat right and make no excuses!

SwampWitch75

Thank you, ladies. Ok, I have some hope.

naomi8888

I was really curious about this too. I have one child (naturally delivered) and my tummy just went back to normal (thankfully!) but all these women blame a c- section for the damage...I don't get it.

andiechick

I had a section with my first and even though I lost all my weight (and then some) within weeks and my stomach was almost flat, one side of my stomach has a little bit of a 'lip' while the other is perfectly fine. It was quite a difficult birth (my son was stuck and it took 2 doctors to get him out) so there was possibly a bit of damage to the muscle on that side. Don't let it bother me though, if it wasn't for that I wouldn't have my son :happy:

neandermagnon

I believe the answer as to why it is more common after a c-section is because of the incision across the abdominal muscles which then causes muscle weakness. But, I think skin overhang in that area happens to moms who had vaginal deliveries too.

Edited to add: I don't think all c/s moms get a skin shelf/overhang/flab though. There are probably a lot of factors involved besides just the surgery.

c-section surgery does not involve an incision of the actual muscles, they pull the abs apart (if necessary, generally during pregnancy the abs separate anyway) and the incision is made in the gap where the abs are parted.

After pregnancy, whether you have a c-section or vaginal delivery, you need to be sure that the abs have come back together again before resuming heavy exercise. With a vaginal delivery they go back together again more quickly on average. Also, after a vaginal delivery you can resume exercise much sooner (provided your abs have gone back together) whereas as for c-section you have a surgical incision which must heal fully first. C-section is a major surgery, vaginal delivery is a normal bodily process, so unless there are major complications with a vaginal delivery, the body heals a lot more quickly.