Advise please for stomach toning after a c-section

Kdp2015
Kdp2015 Posts: 519 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I had a c-section 5 and a half months ago, I've lost a couple of stone since but still have quite a big stomach. I don't think it's all fat, I'm sure the muscle is much weaker than before pregnancy. Can anyone suggest gentle exercise (I'm still a bit nervous about pain of scar tissue) that I can do at home without spending a fortune on equipment. I'm not expecting a six pack but would certainly like to look less pregnant! Thank you

Replies

  • elghee123
    elghee123 Posts: 489 Member
    I had C-Section and I tried doing 30DS after 3 months or so. It was too painful that I decided to stop until my son turned one. Blame it on laziness, burnout and stress.

    I did 30DS (twice) and no on Ripped in 30 by Jillian Michaels. All available for free on Youtube. The best part is, I don't have to go out.
  • ColeCake292012
    ColeCake292012 Posts: 247 Member
    I didn't have a C-section, but even so it took my abdominal muscles a ton of time to get somewhat back to normal. I aided by doing light crunches, side crunches and leg lifts. At first, it was nearly impossible, but over time my core got stronger. You don't really have to do a lot since you don't want to hurt yourself...just a bit here and there.

    Even though my abs are tighter, my skin is pretty loose which makes them look loose still too. -_- Be patient!
  • purpleleopard76
    purpleleopard76 Posts: 77 Member
    Do you have any abdominal separation (diastasis recti)? If you do you should avoid traditional stomach exercises like sit-ups, crunches etc which all put pressure on your tummy muscles and can make the separation worse. You should check this first before doing any type of tummy exercise.

    Your GP can check for you or you can check yourself by lying on the floor with your feet apart and flat on the ground (as though you're about to do a sit-up). Put your fingers at your belly button and lift only your head - if you have separation you will notice a soft bulge in the middle of your tummy. The wider and deeper the bulge, the more separation you have and the longer it will take to heal.

    I had my c-section 10 years ago followed by a natural birth 3 years later. I made the mistake of assuming I could get right back to my usual workouts but couldn't understand why no matter what I did, it made no difference to the size or shape of my belly and I had major lower back pain.

    Last year I researched it and seen my GP who confirmed it was a diastasis, I just wish I had been aware of this years ago. I now use core exercises like the plank and do standing tummy exercises which don't put pressure on my tummy muscles, spine or neck. I also use the Tupler Technique after being referred to the Julie Tupler book "Lose Your Mummy Tummy" by my fitness coach as the exercise programs are specifically designed for women who have had babies.

    The following site has loads of information if you need it and I would recommend watching the video "Check your belly before you wreck your belly".

    https://www.diastasisrehab.com/what-is-diastasis-recti

    Hope this helps :flowerforyou:

Categories