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Pregnancy

c section - say goodbye to my stomach?

5 replies

annady · 17/12/2008 13:32

i'm sorry and ashamed for dwelling on vanity when of course the health of the baby (and of me) is paramount.

but all the same: it's very likely i'll be forced to have a c-section because of my placenta.

i have one dc already, born 'naturally'. i kept myself fairly fit during that pregnancy and found it pretty easy to get back into shape / regain muscle tone in my stomach quite soon afterwards, mainly by walking and swimming when possible.

am i right in thinking, however, that with a c-section it's a different story, because they're cutting into you, and i'm hence unlikely to have a flat stomach / much control of my stomach muscles again?

is there anything i can do during pregnancy (am about half way through) that might help?

for even caring or bringing this up...

x

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alkar · 17/12/2008 13:37

I had my DS by c-section 10 months ago. My stomach is nearly back to normal but I can feel scar tissue and there is a little bulge around the scar. Think it will go in time though.

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Sidge · 17/12/2008 13:39

I've had 3 sections and my tummy is still pretty good

Not ironing board flat admittedly, but not bad. I exercise when I remember, try to keep my weight down and I imagine genetics has a lot to do with it (my tummy is ok but I have hideous thighs...)

I wouldn't say it's automatic that you will lose your stomach - I have a permanent little 'shelf' where they cut but it's very low so not obvious.

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NewHollyOtherIvy · 17/12/2008 13:48

Annady I wouldn't worry too much (you already seem in good shape and you got your pre-pregnancy shape back last time easily) - the cut is made in your pubic area and is a horizontal cut rather than a vertical one as used to happen, thus it won't necessarily affect your stomach muscles too much.

I've never been blessed with a particularly flat stomach but the scar is below my knicker-line and doesn't affect much at all.

As long as you don't try to do too much too soon after the birth... wait at least 6 weeks to allow things to heal.

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NellyTheElephant · 17/12/2008 13:55

You'll be fine. I've had 2 sections and third due in a couple of months. While there is a very slight 'step' where the scar is it's well below the knicker line, so I'm still fine in a bikini (well I was in the summer - not now oviously with enormous baby bump no.3) as it's not something you can notice under bikini bottoms. I'm not saying my stomach was perfect after no.2, but I don't think that the sections had had any particular effect on it one way or another. They don't cut the muscle (they stretch it apart) so once everything has had a chance to go back to normal you just need to build up the muscle tone again in the same way you did after your previous baby.

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annady · 17/12/2008 16:54

thanks so much for your replies, and for not chastising me for being concerned about this!
x

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