C-Section "Pooch".... will it ever go away??

dsak
dsak Posts: 367 Member
edited September 30 in Health and Weight Loss
Two C-Sections after the age of 40... overweight and out of shape for both pregnancies. I'm half way to my goal (still have 40-50lbs to go) and was wondering if my C-Section pooch will ever go away? I know I can't spot reduce, and... I know I have to lose more fat and build muscle to see more of a difference, but... just wondering if it ever goes away and if I'll ever have an abdomen without that pooch.

For those women who have were overweight before/during/after pregnancy and had c-sections... what is your experience???
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Replies

  • kapeluza
    kapeluza Posts: 3,434 Member
    No idea. I would like to know too.
  • kfitz10103
    kfitz10103 Posts: 354
    Well I still have mine, but it has gotten smaller. I had one c section almost a year ago, but I still have about 14lbs to go. Don't worry it will get smaller.
  • Honestly, it can vary on different factors, such as how the muscles were cut, the way your c-section was performed, how your body stores fat, etc. It will shrink though with loss. Good luck.
  • Sugarchef
    Sugarchef Posts: 319 Member
    It will get smaller, but you just might end up with extra skin there. At least that's what I'm ending up with after my 2 c-sections. Consider it a battle scar from having your beautiful kids :flowerforyou:
  • beckysbeauties
    beckysbeauties Posts: 61 Member
    I am below the weight I was before I ever got pregnant (I've had two c-sections) and I still have a very large "pooch". I asked my family doctor (who is a good friend of mine) and he said the only thing that will get rid of it is surgery :(
  • lmh0111
    lmh0111 Posts: 11
    bump
  • HeatherrSue
    HeatherrSue Posts: 106 Member
    It will get smaller but I don't think it will go away completely, not without a tummy tuck. I've had 2 cesections...one 3 years ago and one 12 years ago. Last year I was at 185 pounds, today I'm at 138 pounds. I still have about 13 pounds to hit my main goal but I still have a little pooch there. I just try to remember, I have that because I wanted children and I love my kids. I have strechmarks from mid stomach to my thighs from my 3 pregnancies and I'll have it forever, but it was for a good cause. Just remember, its healthier to have a little saggy skin from weight loss than it is to have tight skin that's full of fat under neath it. :-) Be proud of yourself and your body, every little imperfection. Besides, perfect is boring. Good luck!
  • 3 c sections and the pooch is getting smaller, but I do not expect to have a flat tummy, 17 lbs lost and 25lbs to go. Tummy tuck anyone?
  • kfitz10103
    kfitz10103 Posts: 354
    3 c sections and the pooch is getting smaller, but I do not expect to have a flat tummy, 17 lbs lost and 25lbs to go. Tummy tuck anyone?

    Maybe we can get a group discount?
  • Hi,

    I am a 26 year old overweight mother who had two c-sections very close together. I was overweight like you said before/during and after. I joined bootcamp and I have lost a total of 50 pounds (Wahoo). My stomach has definetely shrunk a lot, but I still have that "pooch" and I fricken hate it. It sucks because I went this long being overweight and finally I am ready for ya know the "bikini body" (well a one piece because of my stretch marks) and now I have to deal with this pooch that would ever fully go away. I am proud of my accomplishments so far as I look like a totally different person with my weight loss. Congrats on your children and good luck with your weight loss. :)
  • DK30096
    DK30096 Posts: 59 Member
    I too had a c - section. I see it going away while running. However I only had 1 so I'm not sure what a second cut would do. I think you can build muscle around there to help it get firm but I know it takes a lot for core building! I remeber when I was doing Pilates (sp?) there was a lot of lower ab working out and it kicked my stomachs butt!!!
  • Runs4Wine
    Runs4Wine Posts: 416 Member
    Well I had a pooch before my c/s 4 years ago... and now w/in 7 lbs of my goal weight I still have a pooch. I don't think I realistically expected otherwise, although it would've been nice . I'm working to tone my abs to make it less noticeable since it is something I can control.
  • bullriderswife08
    bullriderswife08 Posts: 207 Member
    3 c sections and the pooch is getting smaller, but I do not expect to have a flat tummy, 17 lbs lost and 25lbs to go. Tummy tuck anyone?

    Maybe we can get a group discount?

    Hahaha!!!! Wouldn't that be nice!
  • ambekat
    ambekat Posts: 9
    I had a c-section with my first baby, lost 46 pounds afterwards, and I had good firm toned abs, with a little bit of a c-section hang over still even at my low ideal weight. I really don't think it ever goes completely away w/o a tummy tuck, but it will get better. I have two more c sections since then, and am once again getting in shape now.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    mine hasn't and I've already lost 143 lbs with only 15 more to go. It has shrunk but still very there!!
  • scs143
    scs143 Posts: 2,190 Member
    Oh this is not good news! I hate mine! I had a c with my twins and this belly is horrible. The only thing that was ever small on me was my stomach. I was hoping all of you that are close to your goals were going to say that it's gone! :sad:
  • Dtho5159
    Dtho5159 Posts: 1,054 Member
    I had 2 c sections as well and I was told the only way to truly get rid of it was surgery.
  • sevencallmemom
    sevencallmemom Posts: 505 Member
    I've given up hoping it will be gone...I'm just gonna invest in some Spanx so at least it will be minimized under my clothes. :)
  • sevencallmemom
    sevencallmemom Posts: 505 Member
    Oh and I have 2 scars because the second time around they didn't want to deal with scar tissue from the first so they went up about 3 inches or more (I NEVER look at my scars so I'm not sure) to make the incision with the twins. Wonder how lovely that's gonna look 90 pounds from now. :/
  • dmbnj
    dmbnj Posts: 15 Member
    I doubt the pooch is from the c-sect. More likely it's from pregnancy or weight gain.
  • sevencallmemom
    sevencallmemom Posts: 505 Member
    I doubt the pooch is from the c-sect. More likely it's from pregnancy or weight gain.

    Mine is absolutely from weight gain and pregnancies, but I think the conclusion is that after those muscles have been cut, can you ever really get it back?
  • dmbnj
    dmbnj Posts: 15 Member
    For me since I can pinch it, it's skin, not muscles. I had the pooch going from 180-140 before pregnancy. It did not increase in size after my c-sec. :(
  • My pooch is definitely from the c-sections. I've had 2 and had I given birth vaginally, I wouldn't have the overhang where the scar is. It sucks that it will never completely go away but it's all worth it when I look at my 2 beautiful girls! :)
  • JackieLM
    JackieLM Posts: 127 Member
    The pooch is totally from the c-sections... there is a distinct line where the scar is and the pooch is over it. Mine is horrible. It seems to be the first place I gain weight when I do gain... but it tones fast once I get in a good grove of losing and eat REALLY clean. I am hoping that it will go away but after 4... yea 4, c-sections, I think my dream of having "jillian Michael" abs is not a possibility. would love to see anyone who may have "c-section pooch" before and after pics.... not pregnancy belly before and after... anyone that has ever had more than 2 c-section knows that the more you have, the worse the pooch gets. (if you were overweight before pregnancy).
  • Tebbspcad
    Tebbspcad Posts: 233
    The pooch sounds such a nice word for something i truely despise about myself, i've now had a natural birth & 2 c sections, I was a toned & healthy lady before my kids, i even had abs, now I'm about 149lbs with 9lbs to go to my current goal. I still have my pooch, don't get me wrong it shrinks when i lose weight but so does everywhere else too :( Surgery is the only way to go & i'm not prepared to do that considering what happened to me the last time I was there (trust me having surgery when the anaesthetic has worn off is no fun - hence the 'rush' to finish stitching me & the mess they left behind). So unfortunately i live with it but I will never love it or even consider it part of the journey we go through in having kids.
  • khbut
    khbut Posts: 10
    Hi,
    I've had two c sections with 13 year between them and the last section was 2years ago.
    I had a big fabby pouch for what felt like a long time,it was deffently getting on to a year but I now only have a gut due to the extra stone I still am carrying but i'm sure i didn't have such a big tummy at this weight as i did before 5years ago when i was this weight.
    I think if it is going to go down it will but it may take awhile,we all change in some way after having babies and the more we have the more we should expect to change. The problem is you are never going to know if a nother natural bith would of given you a pouch or not.
    I know plenty of women who haven't had a c section but have pouches and they are both tiny thin and over weight woman.
    If i have anymore children i'm expecting to get a pouch.
  • khbut
    khbut Posts: 10
    Oh yes i felt them stitching me up and should of said something but didn't....i really don't know why i didn't though.
  • emily_kenyon
    emily_kenyon Posts: 76 Member
    Hi ive had one child mine is no where near as big as it was when i started on here but its still there. I dont mind as much tho because its not as big the only down side ive lost all this weight and cant wear a bikini but oh well im made up with the weight ive lost :)


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  • Jodi827
    Jodi827 Posts: 40
    3 c sections and the pooch is getting smaller, but I do not expect to have a flat tummy, 17 lbs lost and 25lbs to go. Tummy tuck anyone?

    Maybe we can get a group discount?

    Sign me up for the group discount.
  • I had a C-section (bikin cut) 19 years ago; and it's still there. One of my co workers had the same cut and lots over 60 lbs., and it sort of just hung as excess skin. She was considering surgery to have it removed, but she ended up gaining all the weight back and then some...
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