Post c-section hard tummy

[CrescentMum]

Hello,
I'm quite worried about my post pregnancy belly and was wondering if anyone had experienced the same and has a solution or positive experience to share.

I gave birth just over a month ago, my DD was delivered at 41+3 via c-section as she was breeched (found out the morning of my sweep and waa delivered the same afternoon).
My pregnancy bump was massive. It deflated quite a lot during the first 2 weeks, but since then it's been the same. A hard round bump which makes me still look pregnant.

I'm not bleeding anymore, most of the blood was cleaned up during surgery.

Surgery was performed as I was just beginning to have some early labour contractions, so my body never went through labour. During surgery I was put asleep as half way through I was in pain (what I felt it was my stomach... not sure what actually was hurting)

[CrescentMum]

So... this is a pic of my belly now. It does get more kind of bloated by the end of the day.
I don't know if it's like that because of the way my DD was delivered or what... I'm worried is never going to go down. I was expecting more of a deflated pouch or something.

I just feel very embarrassed going out or having guests over and have read some horror stories of women stuck with a post pregnancy bump for years after giving birth 😦
It's affecting my confidence in particular with my husband, who I no longer want to see me naked.

I hope there is someone out there who can share a positive experience :)

Thanks for reading.
(Ps: I am a size 6, I was 47kgs before birth, I gained 10kgs and I'm now down to 59kgs... not sure if it's of any relevance)

[CrescentMum]

Sorry, down to 50kg not 59! ☺️

[IceLemonGin]

I can't help as I didn't have this after my c-section but didn't want to read and run. Could it be Diastasis Recti?

You need to be kind to yourself, you spent 9 months growing a baby and your body is still recovering from that and major surgery

[EdgarAllenPoe]

You should be getting your 6 week check soon. Be sure to have it looked at. Be careful about stomach exercises, especially after a csection. If your muscles haven't knitted together properly, you could do some permanent damage. Don't worry, there are ways of improving it (google post csection exercises). After my csection I was a huge soft, wobbly mess. I just had a lot of weight to lose and very stretched skin. It did go down eventually, over several months.

[mimiholls]

Could be diastisis recti- if you lie flat on the floor and lift your head up, feel for a gap between the two long muscles going down either side of your belly button. It shouldn't be more than a fingers width or so. You need to be careful with any exercise you do if it has not closed yet. I would find a good post natal Pilates teacher who is really experienced in this area. The right exercise is really important after c section to get all the muscles together again to support your core but you need to be careful about what you do.

[CrescentMum]

Thank you for all your replies. Yes, I think I do have some DR as I have a 3finger gap in between my tummy muscles. I will definitely start some pilates classes as soon as possible.
I am worried that my body still thinks I am pregnant as I never went into labour so my uterous is still so swollen. 😫 I really hope it is nothing other than DR.
Thanks

[TheChineseChicken]

Search on google for a good postnatal physio - someone who specialises. There are practices devoted to women's issues. You need someone to holistically address it rather than just going to some Pilates classes.

[TheChineseChicken]

Actually this is a good idea in general after having a baby. It can really throw our bodies out and it's good to get someone to help sort it all out

[CrescentMum]

It turns out it is DR. Went to see my gp and got an app with a physio, starting this week!

[sellotape12]

Hi

I know it’s ages since you posted this but I found it because I’m in exactly the same situation. And I’m so upset. I am almost 5 months postpartum and I used to be a size 6 beforehand. I know that have diastasis recti too but my tummy is also hard and tender, particularly at the end of the day. My physiotherapist thinks it isn’t just DR. I just wondered how you got on and if it ever closed for you, or if you find it was something else too?
I look just like your photo from 2017 only I’m 19 weeks postpartum and it hasn’t changed since week four 😿

[Katielou83]

Did you find out a solution? I have the exact same x

[sellotape12]

Hi Katie, I have learnt so much about my body. Unfortunately I had to pay for several private women’s health physiotherapists as I got none of these answers from the NHS. I definitely had diastasis recti and I had about a five finger gap between my muscles. I’ve had to do lots of very slow, very deliberate, deep core work as guided by a physiotherapist. There are plenty of DR exercises on YouTube. Take it really slow if this is what you think you have.

This was the main cause, but I also had really terrible bloating and to be honest it took me a year for it to calm down.

Your body goes through so many changes after pregnancy, almost everything changes and for me that meant having an intolerance to certain foods, which I’ve never had before. It got better with taking probiotics.

The other thing I found healed my tummy alongside the exercises was doing hypopressive breathing. Again, you should probably ask a physiotherapist about this or you can check on YouTube. It’s a popular method in Spain for healing postpartum belly as it involves taking the pressure out of your abdominal system so everything can figure out how to get back into place. The other two things I learned about myself, but this is unique to me – is that I have a really tight diaphragm, probably from having such a big baby in a small body. It is still tight over 18 months after giving birth. Additionally, because I had a C-section I have lots of very lumpy scar tissue. I just did not know that when they say ”massage the scar” you’re meant to do it really deep and really quite firm and vigorously. It’s not for cosmetic reasons on the skin, it’s because the tissue way underneath the skin gets lumpy and therefore the body can’t figure out how to heal itself. Definitely speak to a really good Womens health physiotherapist. Good luck! It does get easier and be really kind to yourself. Ignore the miracle women who seem to bring back after just a few months. Your pregnancy hormones remain in your body for two years.