Moms that had a c-section (or more)

dshea55
dshea55 Posts: 14
edited September 23 in Health and Weight Loss
I had a c-section when i had my son and I have found that a lot of excersizes irrate my scar area, and not in the good way! It gets very painful. So I have a little puch there and the rest of my tummy is kinda starting to flatten out. now i am wondering does anyone have tips or tricks that they used to help get rid of the pouch? I greatly appriciate your feed back!!

Replies

  • WarmDontBurn
    WarmDontBurn Posts: 1,253 Member
    I have had 2 sections so I will be watching this post :smile:
  • redandthin
    redandthin Posts: 4
    I have also had two.... Also will be watching the post. No advice to offer, though. :)
  • vixincali
    vixincali Posts: 7
    Ooooh. Good question. I had two c-sections as well. That area has never been right since. There is this one spot on my lowed abdomen that is still sorta numb. I hope someone gives you some positive feedback :)
  • TaneeisFitforLife
    TaneeisFitforLife Posts: 433
    I've had 3 c-sections & my incision area is numb...hold long ago was yours?
  • kappyblu
    kappyblu Posts: 654 Member
    I've had 3 c-sections. My scar is on the outside of my abdomen. (a few inches below my bellybutton) I never had problems with irritation, but my scar is kind of tucked in on itself. I have no idea how to get rid of that, I guess I was hoping it would all flatten out when I finally reach my goal weight. lol Oh well. I never planned on wearing a bikini anyway. :laugh: I hope someone can actually help on this subject. :smile:
  • javamom
    javamom Posts: 309
    I've had 2 as well - one 8 years ago and one 4 1/2 years ago. I have been stuck with a pouch as well. It gets smaller as I lose weight, but sags right above the incision. TMI??? Sorry. I do tons of crunches and other ab work and I feel stronger underneath, but the pouch remains.
  • kappyblu
    kappyblu Posts: 654 Member
    My last one was 4 1/2 years ago and the area still has no feeling there. I don't think that will ever change. No more kids for me. After 4 kids (including 3 c/s) I had those tubes cut and burned! lol
  • redhotsmacker
    redhotsmacker Posts: 227 Member
    Unfortunately, I am pretty sure you can't spot reduce weight loss. I have had 3 c-sections (2 horizontal and 1 vertical incisions). I have noticed though, that the pouch area seems to be the last place to go. It is slowly shrinking away like the rest of me. I am still working on losing, so I am not there yet, but I have hope that eventually the pouch will be almost non existent.

    For the time being, I do lots of cardio as well as strength training to help with the abdominal muscles underneath the flab.
  • ZumbaTriad
    ZumbaTriad Posts: 61 Member
    Had 3 surgeries on the same incision (2 were c-sections). Last one was 9 years ago .. WOW! That area is STILL numb and weak. Honestly, I still have issues sitting up without rolling over to my knees first.

    I can also promise that when I get to my goal weight, I will still have a pouch, so short of a tummy tuck,, I don't think there's much I can do. Not trying to be negative ... just realistic. But that's OK! I can always hold that scar over my kids' heads! LOL

    On the brighter side, it's not as sensitive as it used to be nor does it itch incessantly anymore. I used to work my abs hard and it was depressing because I could only do about 1/2 what everyone else in the class could. They did become stronger, but if you don't use it, you lose it! Really need to start back up ...
  • carina73
    carina73 Posts: 270 Member
    Ooooh. Good question. I had two c-sections as well. That area has never been right since. There is this one spot on my lowed abdomen that is still sorta numb. I hope someone gives you some positive feedback :)
    I also had 2 c-sections. stitches the first time. staples the second. OMG! i HATED the staples! :( and since the second, there's a large spot that's numb. I'm obese, so my belly is gross, and I don't know how disfigured I will be when I finally get to my goal weight. *shrug* sorry.

    great thread tho. I'll keep an eye on it :happy:
  • countrydee
    countrydee Posts: 3
    Hello all! I had 2 c-sections and then a complete hysterectomy with the same incision. I have alot of numbness and ofcourse the pouch is there. Since my hysterectomy in '04 I have put on the pounds!! What do I do?
  • swalthes
    swalthes Posts: 14
    Yup, the dreaded C-section .... For me the area isnt sore on a regular basis, but the incision does get tender when the weather is bad. My doctor suggested doing crunches to help the muscles get stronger and to keep active in order to melt the fat away. Pounch will never go away 100% but with ALOT of effort and strenght training it doesnt have to be as bad. I just started dieting on January 1st so I cant say that this will work but it was the doctors words.
  • Shamrock40
    Shamrock40 Posts: 264
    I have had 2 c-sections and have discussed this at length with my OB/GYN. Unfortunately, he said there isn't a lot to be done about the pooch. No matter how much weight I lose, it will shrink, but will never magically defy gravity and suck back up above my scar because the skin has stretched so much, the "elasticity" is gone. He is a gym jock, and very physically fit, so I trust him. Mine is so bad, my stomach hangs over onto my legs and pelvis. If you have a smaller pooch, you may have hope. The irritation is most likely nerve damage, as is the numbness. I have an area on the right side of my scar that is numb, as well.

    My sweet hubby told me that we'll start saving for a tummy tuck (and maybe a boob job) as my prize for shedding all the weight. Talk about incentive!!!
  • dshea55
    dshea55 Posts: 14
    I had mine a little over 3 yrs ago. thats kind of what i figered. I was just hopeing maybe someone was like well this is what exercises worked to tame it a little. I told my hubby that when we are done having kids and i lose all the weight i am doing the mommy make over!!!
  • CGerman
    CGerman Posts: 539
    I've had 3 c-sections and I hear ya on the pouch. Mine is awful (had 2 sets of twins so was stretched out pretty good). I don't think short of a tummy tuck it will ever go away. I try to get in lots of cardio and am hoping it will at least shrink up enough it looks okay when I'm in clothes. No irritation in my incision, but my last was 4+ years ago.
  • Thinwithin2010
    Thinwithin2010 Posts: 166 Member
    Im have had 4 sections myself and for about 3 years after the last (she turned 18 yesterday) I had some mild pain if I leaned on the incision.. I am cut from the bellybutton down. Now it is just a numb spot on my stomach. Good luck ladies..
  • sonia02
    sonia02 Posts: 8
    I've had 3 kids and 2 c-sections and no pouch! I am also numb at the incision site, also. It could be genetics or that I have done pilates exercises and "8 min Abs" (an old video I've had forever) consistently after each baby, and/or the fact that I've always kept active and in shape. hope this helps!
  • Lizard863
    Lizard863 Posts: 26 Member
    I had one too. Mine had to be reopened and I have an ugly scar. Sometime sit kind of aches. There is defintely a pouch. I am working on my abdominal muscles to imporve strength. Sometimes if I laugh the worng way my abdominal muscles get a charley horse.
  • anna_b1
    anna_b1 Posts: 588 Member
    I had two sections and my pooch is poochiful that's for sure! I had my last one 11 years ago and it's still kind of numb and feels frozen. I don't think that will ever go away.

    I read somewhere today that it's next to impossible to lose the pooch and that crunches aren't helpful because of the layer of fat that resists shrinking. Sorry to be so negative. (It is good to learn that some of us have had some success at reducing the size of our tummies anyway)
  • ZumbaTriad
    ZumbaTriad Posts: 61 Member
    Oh my gosh! My problem is when I sneeze ... OUCH!
  • juliana1977
    juliana1977 Posts: 153 Member
    Well I had 2 c-section marks but one is from a surgery when I was 20 and the other is from my pregnancy with twins wehn i was 28 (now 34): one horizontal and one vertical, not a pretty belly here! Yuck! The vertical left a very ugly scar. The horizontal one is not so bad. I did not have the pooch until the pregnancy. Based on my mom's experience, she had 3 c-sections but the use the same insiction, the pooch did not go away. She is skinny all over, no stomach at all, but the pooch is there. She has a personal trainner and works out at least 4x a week and always did in her whole life. I think my maybe will get smaller but the streched skin that had felt over and formed the pooch will remain I guess... I accept that, I guess once I loose all my weight this will be the least of my problems, and just a reminder of my lovely pregnancy and its leftovers, lol!
  • TaneeisFitforLife
    TaneeisFitforLife Posts: 433
    I have no pouch...I'm never going to have a defined stomach but it's flat :) I do workout a lot though (it's my job!) & in fact one of my classes is a hardcore ab class.

    Loose skin in general has a lot of factors & the pouch is no different.
  • newmeat30
    newmeat30 Posts: 766 Member
    I've had two c-sections. One in 2005 and one in 2008 which left me with two separate scars. They are both still kinda numb but they don't bother me when I workout. I do have a small pouch and the saggy skin from right below my bellybutton to my incision lines. I know from experience that losing weight just makes that skin saggier. So I'm planning on trading in my two c-sections scars in for a tummy tuck scar next summer (after losing all of my extra weight and keeping it off for 8 months).
  • annie422
    annie422 Posts: 114 Member
    I've had three c-sections so...bump.
  • ashley0616
    ashley0616 Posts: 579 Member
    I've had 2 c-sections in the past 2 years. My youngest is 11 months old. I have lost almost 20 pounds since I started in MFP in October.

    I have noticed that the top of my belly, so the area below my breasts to my navel, has gotten flatter. Then I have the hangy-down, stretchmarked, saggy extra skin area that hasn't budged. I have lost 3" off my waist, but none off that hip area that includes the baby belly. I'm hoping that eventually it will shrink when I reach my goal (90lbs lost will make everything smaller, I figure) but I don't expect it to go away. I'd love to get a mini tuck some day, just to get rid of that flabby stuff, but we'll see. From what I've seen and read, that pooch is kind of here to stay, so no super low riders in my future.

    The scar does not bother me when I am working out. I have noticed that my muscles are MUCH weaker than they used to be (I used to be able to do crunches for days, now just a few and I'm in serious pain!) and the surgical area is still numb, but other than that no change.
  • carina73
    carina73 Posts: 270 Member
    I heard that my medical insurance pays for a tummy tuck if you've had 3 or more c-sections.
    if you have insurance, it would be worth a call to ask. :happy:
  • nkoval
    nkoval Posts: 5
    I had 2 c-sections both vertical & I notice the same thing. The scar is still numb & my youngest is 3 years old... Can't wait to see if anyone has any ideas to help with this problem.
  • Zita_Jenn
    Zita_Jenn Posts: 252 Member
    I had 3 sections as well and have a pooch. My boys are 14, 8 and 5 years of age. I got this off a topic called Getting Rid of the "Mommy Pouch"

    "Sadly - we can't spot reduce fat. I would give anything to dump that tiny bit of back fat that just honestly will not go away. You can tone under any fat in your body (which is absolutely vital!) but the only way to lose fat, is a mix of cardio/weight training and nutritino.

    80% nutrition - 10% exercise - 10% genetics

    I see people and clients want to do crunches until they're unable to stand, but that won't get rid of belly fat. I've had amazing success by changing my macronutrients to 50% protein / 30% carbs / 20% fat. Almost all humans in our society eat way way way too low protein - women in particular in my experience eat too high carbs and way too low protein.

    There are a couple other things that really play into getting rid of the last couple percents of body fat - metabolism, starvation mode, weight training and more, but at least this will get us all started right :)

    The biggest thing is to keep going and not allow any plateaus to get you down. Plug away every day and you will get where you want to go!!!!

    Steve
    knightfit.com "

    For me... I am doing cardio, crunches, reverse cruches, leg and knee raises. I am still trying to lose my weight as well. Good luck to everyone.
  • marisol7649
    marisol7649 Posts: 484 Member
    mine does not hurt but iitches sometime. Buy since I had c section my back got weak and I have to be careful,
  • Zita_Jenn
    Zita_Jenn Posts: 252 Member
    mine does not hurt but iitches sometime. Buy since I had c section my back got weak and I have to be careful,

    Mine itches as well.. what I would do is either put baby powder on it or rub deodorant along the scaring.
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